Power pack for an automotive exterior mirror assembly
First Claim
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1. In combination, an automotive exterior mirror power pack and an apparatus which retains a pivot cup to a post in said automotive exterior mirror power pack, said apparatus comprising:
- a central ring portion with a central opening, said central ring portion having a plurality of relief slots radiating outwardly from the central ring portion'"'"'s central opening, anda plurality of S-shaped spring arms radiating outwardly from and downwardly below said central ring portion,wherein said automotive exterior mirror power pack comprises said pivot cup, said post, and at least one intermediate member, andwherein at least one of said plurality of arms holds said at least one intermediate member against said pivot cup.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a power pack for an exterior automotive mirror assembly having a central depression in its upper housing whereby a large diameter pivot cup can be used. The pivot cup, of this power pack, is separate from the mirror casing and is retained by a unique spring retainer.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. In combination, an automotive exterior mirror power pack and an apparatus which retains a pivot cup to a post in said automotive exterior mirror power pack, said apparatus comprising:
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a central ring portion with a central opening, said central ring portion having a plurality of relief slots radiating outwardly from the central ring portion'"'"'s central opening, and a plurality of S-shaped spring arms radiating outwardly from and downwardly below said central ring portion, wherein said automotive exterior mirror power pack comprises said pivot cup, said post, and at least one intermediate member, and wherein at least one of said plurality of arms holds said at least one intermediate member against said pivot cup. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A power pack for an automotive exterior mirror comprising:
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a mirror casing having a first surface adjacent to a mirror and a backside oppositely disposed therefrom, a central portion of said backside being bordered by a lip outwardly extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom for substantially surrounding the edges of said mirror; a pivot cup having a partially spherical center portion circumferentially bordered by a substantially flat rim, said rim being in snap fit engagement with said backside of said mirror casing, said mirror casing disposed between said mirror and said partially spherical center portion of said pivot cup, said pivot cup being an independent member from said mirror casing wherein said mirror casing can be disassembled without destruction from said pivot cup for replacement, an open edge of said partially spherical center portion of said pivot cup adjacent to said rim substantially abutting against a back side of said mirror casing; and an electric motor actuable for moving said pivot cup and said mirror casing. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A power pack for an automotive exterior mirror comprising:
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a mirror casing having a first surface adjacent to a mirror and an oppositely disposed backside, a central portion of said backside being bordered by a lip outwardly extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom for substantially surrounding the edges of said mirror; a pivot cup having a partially spherical center portion circumferentially bordered by a substantially flat rim, said rim being in snap fit engagement with said backside of said mirror casing, said mirror casing disposed between said mirror and said partially spherical center portion of said pivot cup, said pivot cup being an independent member from said mirror casing wherein said mirror casing can be disassembled without destruction from said pivot cup for replacement, said pivot cup having an inside diameter of at least 35 millimeters; a pair of motors; an upper housing having a centrally located and upwardly protruding post, said upper housing having a centrally located and partially spherical depression, said upper housing spherical depression partially extending below the top horizontal plane of said pair of motors, said upper housing spherical depression serving to provide frictional contact with the lower surface of said pivot cup'"'"'s spherical center portion, said post of said upper housing extending through an aperture within the center of said pivot cup'"'"'s spherical portion; a pivot sleeve having a partially spherical shape, said pivot sleeve being frictionally located against the top of said pivot cup'"'"'s central spherical portion, said pivot sleeve having a central orifice through which said upper housing post extends; a geared powertrain pivotally moving said pivot cup, said pivot cup sliding between said pivot sleeve and said upper housing; a pivot retainer having a partially spherically shaped lower surface, said pivot retainer being forcibly located against the top of said pivot sleeve, said pivot retainer having a central void through which said upper housing post extends; a retainer clip attached to the top of said upper housing post, said retainer clip forcibly retaining said pivot retainer, said pivot sleeve, and said pivot cup against said upper housing; and a lower housing having a substantially flat central surface with upwardly extending ribs, said lower housing central surface being bordered by a raised side wall, said lower housing having cavities for locating said pair of motors, said lower housing having locations for positioning said geared power train, said lower housing being retained to said upper housing by a means for attachment.
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13. A power pack for an automotive exterior mirror comprising:
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a mirror casing having a first surface adjacent to a mirror and an oppositely disposed backside, a central portion of said backside being bordered by a lip outwardly extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom for substantially surrounding the edges of said mirror; and a pivot cup having a partially spherical center portion circumferentially bordered by a substantially flat rim, peripheral edges of said rim being in snap fit engagement with snap fits extending from said backside of said mirror casing, said rim extending flush from an open edge of said partially spherical center portion, said rim having a mirror-facing surface disposed substantially parallel to said mirror from said open edge to said peripheral edges and substantially abutting against a back side of said mirror casing, said mirror casing disposed between said mirror and said partially spherical center portion of said pivot cup, said pivot cup being an independent member from said mirror casing wherein said mirror casing can be disassembled without destruction from said pivot cup for replacement.
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Specification