Adjusting mechanism for an external rear view mirror for motor vehicles

• US 6,244,714 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Mertens, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US09/405,912
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 359/507, 359/508, 359/512, 359/872, 359/877, 359/514, 248/479, 248/481
• US Class Current: 359/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators

Abstract

An adjusting mechanism for an external rear view mirror for motor vehicles is provided. The adjusting mechanism includes a mirror glass holder connected to a drive housing. A mirror glass is mounted on the holder, and at least one electrical drive is provided for adjusting the holder. At least one heating element is also provided for heating the mirror glass. A single plug component is provided for supplying power to both the drives and the heating element, with the plug component being adapted to be connected to a power supply cord.

Claims

1. An adjusting mechanism for an external rear view mirror for motor vehicles, comprising:

a drive housing 9;

a mirror glass holder 2 pivotably connected to said drive housing;

a mirror glass 3 mounted on said mirror glass holder 2;

at least one electrical drive means 31,32 for adjusting said mirror glass holder 2;

at least one heating element for heating said mirror glass 3;

a single plug component 13 for supplying power to both said at least one drive means 31,32 and said at least one heating element 6, wherein said plug component 13 is adapted to be connected to a power supply cord 34, and is mounted on said drive housing;

prong contact means 24,27, said prong contact means further including lead means for connecting said single plug component 13 to said prong contact means, wherein said prong contact means includes at least one prong 27 connectable to said glass holder; and

an adjusting disk 7, wherein said prong contact means includes at least one contact element 24 that is provided on said adjusting disk.

2. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said at least one heating element 6 is connected to said at least one prong 27.

3. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said at least one prong 27 is provided on at least one printed circuit board or second conductor plate 28.

4. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said at least one printed circuit board 28 is disposed between said at least one heating element and said mirror glass holder.

5. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said prong contact means 24 is disposed in a recessed portion 25 of said adjusting disk 7.

6. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting disk 7 is connected to said mirror glass holder 2.

7. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said prong contact means 24 is connected to said plug component 13 by means of leads or conduction paths 16, 17.

8. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said drive housing 9 is provided with an extension 20, and wherein said leads or other conduction paths 16,17 extend through said extension 20.

9. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said drive housing is provided with a cover 11, and wherein said extension 20 projects from said cover.

10. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 9, wherein further including a spherical joint 8 for pivotably connecting said mirror glass holder 2 with said drive housing 9, wherein said spherical joint 8 includes a joint socket 5 disposed on said cover 11, and wherein said extension 20 projects centrally through said joint socket 5.

11. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said prong contact means 24 and said at least one prong 27 are sealed.

12. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said prong contact means 24 and said at least one prong 27 are surrounded by a seal means 30.

13. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said seal means 30 is disposed in a recess 29 of said adjusting disk 7.

14. An adjusting mechanism for an external rear view mirror for motor vehicles, comprising:

a drive housing 9;

a mirror glass holder 2 connectable to said drive housing 9;

an adjustment plate 7 connectable to said mirror glass holder 2, said adjustment plate further comprising at least one contact element 24;

a mirror glass 3 mountable on said mirror glass holder 2;

at least one heating element 6 for heating said mirror glass 3;

at least one drive means 31, 32 for adjusting said mirror glass holder 2;

a conductor plate 28 electrically connectable to said heating element 6;

a prong 27 formed in said conductor plate 28;

a single plug component 13 for supplying power to both said at least one drive means 31, 32 and said at least one heating element 6, wherein said plug component 13 is adapted to be connected to adjustment plate 7; and

prong contact means 24, 27, said prong contact means further including lead means for connecting said single plug component 13 to said prong contact means, wherein said prong contact means includes at least one prong 27 connectable to said glass holder.