External rearview mirror

• US 6,382,805 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metagal Indãºstria E Comã©Rcio LTDA
• Original Assignee: Metagal Indãºstria E Comã©Rcio LTDA
• Inventors: Miyabukuro, Pedro Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US09/795,734
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 359/841, 359/876, 359/877, 359/881, 248/476, 248/479, 248/485, 248/487, 248/549
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

An external rearview mirror has a mirror plate, a device for regulating a position of the mirror plate and including an activator, a support structure for supporting the activator, a housing accommodating the mirror plate, the activator and the support structure, a vertical pivot point located inside the housing, a device for stabilization of mirror positions incorporated in the support structure and assembled in an articulated way around the post, a base placable on a side of a vehicle and having a protuberance in which the post is supported, and a reinforcing structure located in the base, the support structure, the post and the reinforcing structure being composed of a plastic material which is similar to a plastic material for other components wherein a main part, a fitting part, receptors of screws, a lateral part in form of a sleeve and its indented side, are all composed of a plastic material and together form a single integral element.

Claims

1. An external rearview mirror, comprising a mirror plate;

a device for regulating a position of said mirror plate and including an activator;

a support structure for supporting said activator;

a housing accommodating said mirror plate, said activator and said support structure;

a vertical pivot post located inside said housing;

a device for stabilization of mirror positions incorporated in said support structure and assembled in an articulated way around said post;

a base placeable on a side of a vehicle and having a protuberance in which said post is supported, and a reinforcing structure located in said base, said support structure, said post and said reinforcing structure being composed of a plastic material which is similar to a plastic material of other components;

fitting means provided on a main part of said support structure and on said housing for fitting said support structure with said housing, said main part being provided with receptors for fixing elements for fixation of said activator of said regulating device to said support structure, said main part also having a window for passing of cables of said regulation device, said support structure also having a lateral part formed as a sleeve which is a part of said stabilization device articulated around said post and having an indented surface;

said main part, said fitting part, said receptors of fixing elements, said lateral part in the form of said sleeve and its indented side, are all composed of a plastic material and together form a single integral element.

2. An external rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said base includes a plate provided with said protuberance, said post having an indented surface cooperating with said indented surface of said support structure, said base also having a reinforcing surface provided in a posterior face of said plate and formed by reinforcement ribs and receptor towers for further fixing elements, said base with said plate, said protuberance, said post, and said reinforcing structure with said reinforcing ribs and said receptor towers being composed of a plastic material and together form a one-piece integral part.

3. An external rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said support structure in its inferior side is provided with a plastic part formed as a plate which belongs to an inferior wall of said housing, said housing having an opening through which said support structure is introduced and which is closed by said plate.