Rearview vehicle mirror with audio speakers

• US 6,127,919 A
• Filed: 03/10/1999
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Wylin, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/266,057
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/427, 340/474, 455/345, 455/347, 359/871
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1276 with radio receivers, loud-speakers or buzzers

Abstract

A combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker for a vehicle. An audio speaker is coupled to the rear side of the body of a rear-view vehicle mirror. Wiring for the audio speaker or speakers is festooned between the roof of the vehicle and the head liner and down a front support pillar to the audio signal amplifier. In this location, the audio speakers are thus hidden from the vehicle occupants. This location also precludes the obstruction of the vehicle occupants'"'"' view through the vehicle windows or rear-view mirror and positions the sound waves eminating from the speakers at the level of the vehicle occupants'"'"' ears. Configuration in this manner allows the rear-view mirror assembly to be used across a wide range of vehicles with little or no impact on the vehicle interior, as well as in a wide range of audio systems, including surround-sound systems.

Claims

1. A combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker for a vehicle comprising:

a body portion having a speaker aperture in a rear exterior side of said body portion;

a mirror coupled to a front side of said body portion;

an articulating arm coupled to said body portion, said articulating arm adapted for mounting said combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker to said vehicle; and

an audio speaker disposed at least partially within said speaker aperture and fixed to said body portion, said audio speaker adapted to produce a sound wave, said sound wave emanating from said audio speaker in a direction away from the rear exterior side of said body portion.

2. The combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein said speaker aperture includes a recessed flange and said audio speaker includes a speaker flange, said recessed flange receiving said speaker flange when said audio speaker is fixed to said body portion.

3. The combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein said speaker aperture includes a bore formed in the rear exterior side of the body portion and said audio speaker includes a terminal post adapted for engaging a wire harness plug, said bore receiving said terminal post when said audio speaker is fixed to said body portion.

4. The combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker for a vehicle of claim 3 wherein said terminal post includes a pair of signal terminals adapted for receiving an audio signal.

5. The combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein said audio speaker is a tweeter.

6. A combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker for a vehicle comprising:

a body portion having a speaker aperture in a rear exterior side of said body portion, said speaker aperture including a recessed flange and a bore;

a mirror coupled to a front side of said body portion; and

a tweeter having a speaker flange and a terminal post with a plurality of signal terminals adapted for receiving an audio signal, said tweeter fixed to said body portion such that said tweeter is disposed at least partially within said speaker aperture, said recessed flange receiving said speaker flange and said bore receiving said terminal post, said tweeter adapted to produce a sound wave, said sound wave emanating from said tweeter in a direction away from the rear exterior side of said body portion.

7. An audio system for a vehicle having a windshield, said audio system comprising:

a combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker for a vehicle having a body portion, a mirror, an articulating arm and an audio speaker, said body portion including a speaker aperture in a rear external side of said body portion, said mirror coupled to a front side of said body portion, said articulating arm coupled to said body portion at a first end, said articulating arm adapted for attachment to said vehicle at a distal end, and said audio speaker disposed at least partially within said speaker aperture and fixed to said body portion, said audio speaker adapted to produce a sound wave, said sound wave emanating from said audio speaker in a direction away from the rear exterior side of said body portion;

an audio signal amplifier spaced apart from said combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker; and

a wiring harness coupled at a first end to said audio signal amplifier and to said audio speaker at a second end.

8. The audio system for a vehicle of claim 7 wherein said speaker aperture includes a recessed flange and said audio speaker includes a speaker flange, said recessed flange receiving said speaker flange when said audio speaker is fixed to said body portion.

9. The audio system for a vehicle of claim 7 wherein said speaker aperture includes a bore formed in the rear exterior side of the body portion and said audio speaker includes a terminal post for engaging a plug on said wire harness to electrical couple said audio speaker and said wire harness, said bore receiving said terminal post when said audio speaker is fixed to said body portion.

10. The audio system for a vehicle of claim 9 wherein said terminal post includes a pair of signal terminals.

11. The audio system for a vehicle of claim 7 wherein said audio system is a surround-sound audio system and said combination rear-view mirror and audio speaker is a center-channel of said surround-sound audio system.

12. The audio system for a vehicle of claim 7 wherein said audio speaker is a tweeter.