Power pack for an automotive exterior mirror assembly

• US 5,546,240 A
• Filed: 10/04/1994
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Camryn Industries LLC (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc. (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Perry, William M., Helmer, Kerry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Juba, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US08/317,720
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 359/877, 359/874, 359/876, 359/838, 359/872, 359/873, 359/871, 248/485, 248/487, 248/544, 318/3, 318/17
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/06 Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0661 the two co-operative parts each having both convex and concave interfaces

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.

Claims

1. A power pack for an automotive exterior mirror comprising:

an upper housing having a plurality of fastening bores, said upper housing having a plurality of bosses extending from the backside thereof, said bosses being hollow and located substantially coaxial with each of said plurality of fastening bores, said bosses being compressible toward their axial centerline;

a lower housing having a plurality of second fastening bores disposed therein for receiving said bosses of said upper housing so as to temporarily retain said upper housing to said lower housing;

a bracket for retaining said power pack to an automotive vehicle; and

all threaded fasteners fastening said upper housing to said lower housing also simultaneously fastening both to said bracket.

2. The power pack of claim 1 further comprising:

a mirror casing for holding a mirror, said mirror casing having a non-appearance backside;

a pivot cup having a partially spherical center portion circumferentially bordered by a substantially flat rim therearound, said rim being in proximate contact with said non-appearance backside of said mirror casing;

said upper housing having a centrally located post protruding upward therefrom, said upper housing having a partially spherical depression centrally located therewithin, said upper housing spherical depression partially extending below the top horizontal plane of a pair of motors contained therewithin, 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 an orifice in the center thereof such that said upper housing post extends therethrough;

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 void in the center thereof such that said upper housing post extends therethrough; and

retention means for retaining attached to the top of said upper housing post, said retention means forcibly retaining said pivot retainer, said pivot sleeve, and said pivot cup against said upper housing.

3. The power pack of claim 2 wherein:

said lower housing has a substantially flat central surface with ribs upwardly extending therefrom, said lower housing central surface is bordered by a raised side wall extending around the circumference thereof, said lower housing has cavities for locating said pair of motors therewithin, said lower housing also has locations for positioning a means for driving thereupon, said lower housing retained to said upper housing by a means for attachment; and

said driving means pivotally moves said pivot cup, said pivot cup slides between said pivot sleeve and said upper housing.

4. The power pack of claim 3 wherein:

each of said pair of motors has a drive shaft extending therefrom;

said lower housing holds said pair of motors, the rearward end of each of said pair of motors being angled toward each other and said drive shafts being displaced at an angle away from one another; and

said upper housing has said partially spherical depression centrally located therewithin, said upper housing spherical depression partially extends below the top horizontal plane created by said pair of motors and said upper housing spherical depression protrudes downwards into the space between said pair of motors.

5. The power pack of claim 2 wherein:

said mirror casing has a central portion which is substantially flat with ribs thereupon, said central portion is bordered by a lip outwardly extending therefrom; and

said pivot cup is an independent member from said mirror casing, whereby said mirror casing and said mirror, retained thereupon, can be disassembled from said pivot cup for repair.

6. The power pack of claim 5 wherein said driving means comprises:

a pair of worm gears, each being attached to drive shafts by an interference fit, said drive shafts supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of worm gears;

a pair of idler gears each having two different teeth sets axially spaced thereupon, said pair of idler gears each being axially held upon said upper housing by a pin extending downward therefrom, said pair of worm gears supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of idler gears;

a pair of screw gears each having geared teeth surrounding a lower circular portion thereof, each of said pair of screw gears having a plurality of fingers extending upwards therefrom, said plurality of fingers each having internally directed points thereupon, said pair of screw gears being located in a pair of cavities within said lower housing, each of said pair of idler gears supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of screw gears;

a pair of O-rings placed around said plurality of fingers on each of said pair of screw gears for maintaining inward pressure of said plurality of fingers;

a pair of jack screws each being externally threaded, the external threads of each providing an engagement surface thereupon with said plurality of fingers of said screw gear, said plurality of fingers supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of jack screws, said pair of jack screws each having a generally spherical top with a pin extending centrally therefrom, said pin being generally affixed perpendicular to each of said pair of jackscrews'"'"' axes; and

said pivot cup rim having a pair of pivoting and attachment cavities thereupon, whereby said pair of jack screws provides the pivotal drive means for said pivot cup.

7. The power pack of claim 6 wherein:

said upper housing has a pair of openings, each of said pair of openings has a wall peripherally extending upward therefrom, said walls have outwardly extending partial flanges thereupon;

said pair of jack screws each protrudes upward through said pair of openings in said upper housing;

a boot has a pair of conical shapes extending upwards therefrom, each of said pair of conical shapes has a passage in the top thereof, each of said pair of conical shapes has a lip extending generally perpendicular therebelow, said lips are connected by a substantially flat central portion; and

said boot is retained to said upper housing through a fit of said conical lip upon said upper housing opening flanges, each of said pair of jack screws extends through each of said pair of passages within said boot.

8. The power pack of claim 2 wherein said retention means comprises a central ring portion with a central opening located therewithin, said central ring portion has a plurality of relief slots radiating outwards from the central ring portion'"'"'s central opening, said central ring portion has a plurality of S-shaped spring arms radiating outwards therefrom and down below thereof.

9. The power pack of claim 2 wherein said pivot cup has an inside diameter of at least 35 millimeters.

10. An automotive exterior mirror comprising:

an upper housing having a plurality of fastening bores, said upper housing having a plurality of bosses extending therefrom, said bosses being hollow and located substantially coaxial with each of said plurality of fastening bores;

a lower housing having a plurality of second fastening bores for receiving said bosses of said upper housing;

a bracket for positioning said housings away from an automotive vehicle; and

all threaded fasteners fastening said upper housing to said lower housing also simultaneously fastening both to said bracket.

11. An automotive exterior mirror comprising:

an upper housing having a first plurality of fastening bores, said upper housing further having a first plurality of hollow and substantially cylindrically extending bosses each of which is located substantially coaxial with each corresponding one of said first plurality of fastening bores;

a lower housing having a second plurality of fastening bores, said lower housing further having a second plurality of hollow and substantially cylindrically extending bosses each of which is located substantially coaxial with each corresponding one of said second plurality of fastening bores;

one plurality of said pluralities of bosses snugly engaging within the other plurality of said pluralities of bosses by an interference fit;

a bracket for positioning said housings away from an automotive vehicle; and

a set of threaded fasteners fastening said upper housing to said lower housing through said pluralities of bosses and bores while simultaneously fastening said housings to said bracket.

12. The power pack of claim 11 further comprising:

a mirror casing for holding a mirror, said mirror casing having a non-appearance backside;

a pivot cup having a partially spherical center portion circumferentially bordered by a substantially flat rim, said rim being in proximate contact with said non-appearance backside of said mirror casing;

said upper housing having a centrally located and upwardly protruding post, said upper housing having a centrally located partially spherical depression, said upper housing spherical depression partially extending below the top horizontal plane of a pair of motors contained within said housings, 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 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; and

a retainer attached to the top of said upper housing post forcibly retaining said pivot retainer, said pivot sleeve, and said pivot cup against said upper housing.

13. The power pack of claim 12 further comprising:

a pair of worm gears attached to drive shafts by an interference fit, said drive shafts supplying rotational movement to said pair of worm gears;

a pair of idler gears each having two different axially spaced teeth sets, said pair of idler gears each being axially held upon said upper housing by a downwardly extending pin, said pair of worm gears supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of idler gears;

a pair of screw gears each having geared teeth surrounding a lower circular portion, each of said pair of screw gears having a plurality of upwardly extending fingers, said plurality of fingers each having internally directed points, said pair of screw gears being located in a pair of cavities within said lower housing, said pair of idler gears supplying rotational movement to said pair of screw gears;

a pair of O-rings placed around said plurality of fingers on each of said pair of screw gears for maintaining inward pressure of said plurality of fingers;

a pair of jack screws each being externally threaded, the external threads providing an engagement surface with said plurality of fingers of said screw gear, said plurality of fingers supplying rotational movement to said pair of jack screws, said pair of jack screws having a generally spherical top with a centrally extending pin, said pin being generally affixed perpendicular to each of said pair of jackscrews'"'"' axes; and

said pivot cup rim having a pair of pivoting and attachment cavities.

14. The power pack of claim 12 wherein said pivot cup has an inside diameter of at least 35 millimeters.

15. A power pack for an automotive exterior mirror comprising:

an upper housing having a plurality of fastening bores, said upper housing having a plurality of bosses extending from the backside thereof, said bosses being hollow and located substantially coaxial with each of said plurality of fastening bores, said bosses being compressible toward their axial centerline;

a lower housing having a plurality of second fastening bores disposed therein for receiving said bosses of said upper housing so as to temporarily retain said upper housing to said lower housing;

a bracket for retaining said power pack to an automotive vehicle;

fasteners simultaneously fastening said upper housing to said lower housing and both to said bracket;

a mirror casing for holding a mirror, said mirror casing having a non-appearance backside;

a pivot cup having a partially spherical center portion circumferentially bordered by a substantially flat rim, said rim being in proximate contact with said non-appearance backside of said mirror casing;

said upper housing having a centrally located and upwardly protruding post, said upper housing having a centrally located partially spherical depression, said upper housing spherical depression partially extending below the top horizontal plane of a pair of motors contained within said housings, 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 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; and

a retainer attached to the top of said upper housing post and forcibly retaining said pivot retainer, said pivot sleeve, and said pivot cup against said upper housing.

16. The power pack of claim 15 further comprising:

a pair of worm gears each being attached to drive shafts by an interference fit, said drive shafts supplying rotational movement to said pair of worm gears;

a pair of idler gears each having two different axially spaced teeth sets, said pair of idler gears being axially held upon said upper housing by a downwardly extending pin, said pair of worm gears supplying rotational movement to said pair of idler gears;

a pair of screw gears having geared teeth surrounding a lower circular portion thereof, each of said pair of screw gears having a plurality of upwardly extending fingers, said plurality of fingers having internally directed points, said pair of screw gears being located in a pair of cavities within said lower housing, said pair of idler gears supplying rotational movement to said pair of screw gears;

a pair of O-rings placed around said plurality of fingers on said pair of screw gears for maintaining inward pressure of said plurality of fingers;

a pair of jack screws being externally threaded, the external threads of each providing an engagement surface with said plurality of fingers of said screw gear, said plurality of fingers supplying rotational movement to said pair of jack screws, said pair of jack screws having a generally spherical top with a centrally extending pin, said pin being generally affixed perpendicular to each of said pair of jackscrews'"'"' axes; and

said pivot cup rim having a pair of pivoting and attachment cavities.

17. The power pack of claim 15 wherein said pivot cup has an inside diameter of at least 35 millimeters.