Electrically adjustable external rear view mirror

• US 6,340,231 B1
• Filed: 03/26/1999
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Hohe GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Hohe GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Polzer, Herwig
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/277,465
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 359/872, 359/873, 359/874, 359/876, 359/877, 359/871, 359/841, 359/843, 359/875, 248/476, 248/479, 248/481, 248/485, 362/142
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle

Abstract

An electrically adjustable external rear view mirror (1) for a motor vehicle with a mirror element (4), a housing (3) and a mirror base (2) which may be fixed to the motor vehicle. The mirror element (4) and the housing (3) are rigidly connected together and an adjustment gear (5) which may be driven by at least one electric motor (10, 11) is arranged between housing (3) and mirror base (2).

Claims

1. An electrically adjustable external rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, the electrically adjustable external rear view mirror comprising:

a mirror element comprising a mirror reflector surface, said mirror element having a rearward view when mounted on the motor vehicle to enable a driver of the vehicle to see traffic behind the vehicle;

a housing, said mirror element being incorporated in a cavity formed by said housing, said housing and said mirror element being rigidly connected together such that said mirror element cannot move independent of movement of said housing;

a mirror base fixable to the motor vehicle, said housing connecting to and adjustable about said mirror base;

an electrically operated adjustment device comprising at least one electric motor for adjustment of said housing about two non-parallel axes of rotation relative to said mirror base wherein said rearward view of said mirror element is electrically adjusted by said two-axis adjustment of said housing relative to the vehicle body allowing the driver to set said rearward view at a preferred setting from a plurality of settings according to the body size and seating position of the driver of the vehicle and wherein said adjustment device includes at least one anti-rotational element whereby inadvertent swiveling of said housing is reduced; and

wherein said adjustment device comprises at least one worm gear operated by said at least one electrical motor, said at least one anti-rotational element being arranged directly on said at least one worm gear.

2. The external rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein said mirror element is arranged adjoining an outside of said housing in a substantially flush manner.

3. The external rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein there is no gap between said mirror and said housing, at a mirror surface side of said mirror.

4. The external rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein said electrically operated adjustment device comprises a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a connection between said first electric motor and one or both of said mirror base and said external housing for adjusting the position of the mirror surface relative to said mirror base about said first axis of rotation and another connection between said second electric motor and one or both of said mirror base and said housing for adjusting the position of the mirror surface relative to said mirror base about said second axis of rotation.

5. The external rear view mirror according to claim 4, wherein said first electric motor and said second electric motor are located at least partially in said housing.

6. The external rear view mirror according to claim 5, further comprising:

a reinforcement plate connected to said housing, said first electric motor and said second electric motor being connected to said housing via said reinforcement plate.

7. The external rear view mirror according to claim 4, wherein at least on said first electric motor and said second electric motor are located partially in said mirror base.

8. The external rear view mirror according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting device included in said external rear view mirror.

9. The external rear view mirror according to claim 8 wherein said lighting device comprises an entry light.

10. The external rear view mirror according to claim 8 wherein said lighting device comprises a direction indicator.

11. The external rear view mirror according to claim 8 wherein said lighting device comprises at least one light emitting diode.