Double walled carrier plate and related mirror assembly

• US 6,416,191 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Lang, Heinrich, Seiboth, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US09/505,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20020030902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/871, 359/872, 359/873, 359/874, 359/876, 248/475.1, 248/479
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A double walled mirror carrier plate is disclosed for an external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly including a mirror holder for attachment to the vehicle, a housing pivotably secured to the mirror holder so as to pivot around a pivot axis, and a mirror pane disposed within the housing. One embodiment of the carrier plate includes a base plate defining a curved substantially U-shaped first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The first end portion has a radius of curvature along the end portion extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis. The end portion curves substantially around the pivot axis, the mirror pane being securable to the base plate spaced from the first end portion. Other carrier plate designs and related mirror assemblies are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a mirror holder for attachment to the vehicle;

a housing pivotably secured to the mirror holder so as to pivot around a pivot axis;

a mirror pane attached to the housing; and

a carrier plate disposed within the housing, the mirror pane mounted to the housing via the carrier plate, the carrier plate defining a curved substantially U-shaped first end portion with a radius of curvature along the first end portion extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis, the first end portion curving substantially around the pivot axis, the carrier plate having a substantially wedge-shaped second end portion spaced from the first end portion, the carrier plate tapering inward toward the second end portion.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end portion defines an open space within the first end portion.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further including a bolt assembly extending through the mirror holder and the carrier plate along the pivot axis, the housing and the carrier plate pivoting around the bolt assembly relative to the mirror holder.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further including a motorized fold-up apparatus mounted in the housing for pivoting the housing around the pivot axis relative to the mirror holder.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further including an electric adjustment assembly secured to the carrier plate for moving the mirror pane relative to the carrier plate.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further including a manual adjustment assembly for permitting movement of the mirror pane relative to the carrier plate.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the manual adjustment assembly includes a series of spring-loaded spherical surfaces.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the manual adjustment assembly includes a plate having a spherical position and a flange portion, the flange portion secured to the carrier plate.

9. An external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a mirror holder for attachment to the vehicle;

a housing pivotably secured to the mirror holder so as to pivot around a pivot axis;

a mirror pane attached to the housing; and

a carrier plate disposed within the housing, the mirror pane mounted to the housing via the carrier plate, the carrier plate defining a curved substantially U-shaped end portion with a radius of curvature along the end portion extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis, the end portion curving substantially around the pivot axis, the end portion defining an open space within the end portion, the carrier plate including a web extending across the end portion within the open space.

10. An external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a mirror holder for attachment to the vehicle;

a housing pivotably secured to the mirror holder so as to pivot around a pivot axis;

a mirror pane attached to the housing;

a carrier plate disposed within the housing, the mirror pane mounted to the housing via the carrier plate, the carrier plate defining a curved substantially U-shaped end portion with a radius of curvature along the end portion extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis, the end portion curving substantially around the pivot axis; and

a spring-loaded bolt assembly extending through the mirror holder and the carrier plate along the pivot axis, the housing and the carrier plate pivoting around the bolt assembly relative to the mirror holder.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the bolt assembly includes an indexer assembly for selectively positioning the housing in one of a plurality of positions relative to the mirror holder.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the indexer assembly includes a first toothed ring secured to the housing and a second toothed ring secured to the mirror holder.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second toothed rings are located coaxial with the pivot axis.

14. An external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a mirror holder for attachment to the vehicle;

a housing pivotably secured to the mirror holder so as to pivot around a pivot axis;

a mirror pane attached to the housing;

a carrier plate disposed within the housing, the mirror pane mounted to the housing via the carrier plate, the carrier plate defining a curved substantially U-shaped end portion with a radius of curvature along the end portion extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis, the end portion curving substantially around the pivot axis, the end portion defining an open space within the end portion; and

a road marking detection sensor disposed within the open space.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the sensor includes an infra-red sender and an infra-red receiver.

16. An external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a mirror holder for attachment to the vehicle;

a housing pivotably secured to the mirror holder so as to pivot around a pivot axis;

a mirror pane attached to the housing; and

a carrier plate disposed within the housing, the mirror pane mounted to the housing via the carrier plate, the carrier plate including a base plate defining a front wall, a rear wall, and an end portion connecting the front wall and the rear wall, the front wall and the rear wall being spaced from each other adjacent the end portion so as to define an open space therebetween, the front wall, the rear wall, and the end portion being integrally formed, the pivot axis extending through the open space, the front wall and the rear wall converging in a direction away from the end portion to form a wedge shape.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein carrier plate includes a web extending across the end portion within the open space.

18. The assembly of claim 16, further including a bolt assembly extending through the mirror holder and the carrier plate along the pivot axis, the housing and the carrier plate pivoting around the bolt assembly relative to the mirror holder.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the bolt assembly includes a spring-loaded bolt.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the bolt assembly includes an indexer assembly for selectively positioning the housing in one of a plurality of positions relative to the mirror holder.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the indexer assembly includes a first toothed ring secured to the housing and a second toothed ring secured to the mirror holder.

22. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the front wall, the end portion, and the rear wall are configured substantially as a loop, when viewed in the direction of the pivot axis.

23. A double walled mirror carrier plate for an external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly including a mirror holder for attachment to the vehicle, a housing pivotably secured to the mirror holder so as to pivot around a pivot axis, and a mirror pane disposed within the housing, the carrier plate comprising:

a base plate defining a curved substantially U-shaped first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the first end portion having a radius of curvature along the first end portion extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis, the first end portion curving substantially around the pivot axis, the mirror pane being securable to the base plate spaced from the first end portion, the base plate tapering inward in a direction toward the second end portion to form a wedge shape.

24. The carrier plate of claim 23, wherein the base plate includes a structure for receiving an electric adjustment assembly for moving the mirror pane relative to the carrier plate.

25. The carrier plate of claim 23, wherein the base plate includes a structure for receiving a manual adjustment assembly for permitting movement of the mirror pane relative to the carrier plate.

26. The carrier plate of claim 25, wherein the structure includes a spherical surface.

27. The carrier plate of claim 23, wherein the second end portion is substantially wedge-shaped.

28. The carrier plate of claim 23, wherein the first end portion defines an open space within the first end portion.

29. A double walled mirror carrier plate for an external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly including a mirror holder for attachment to the vehicle, a housing pivotably secured to the mirror holder so as to pivot around a pivot axis, and a mirror pane disposed within the housing, the carrier plate comprising:

a base plate defining a curved substantially U-shaped first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the first end portion having a radius of curvature along the first end portion extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis, the first end portion curving substantially around the pivot axis, the mirror pane being securable to the base plate spaced from the first end portion, and a web extending across the first end portion within the open space.

30. An external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a mirror holder for attachment to the vehicle;

a housing pivotably secured to the mirror holder so as to pivot around a pivot axis;

a mirror pane attached to the housing; and

a carrier plate disposed within the housing, the mirror pane mounted to the housing via the carrier plate, the carrier plate including a base plate defining a front wall, a rear wall substantially opposing the front wall, and an end portion connecting the front wall and the rear wall, the front wall and the rear wall being spaced from each other adjacent the end portion so as to define an open space therebetween, the front wall, the rear wall, and the end portion being integrally formed, the pivot axis extending through the open space, the mirror pane mounted to the carrier plate solely via the front wall.

31. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the carrier plate is substantially wedge-shaped.

32. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the carrier plate includes a web extending across the end portion within the open space.

33. The assembly of claim 30, further including a road marking detection sensor disposed within the open space.

34. The assembly of claim 30, further including a bolt assembly extending through the mirror holder and the carrier plate along the pivot axis, the housing and the carrier plate pivoting around the bolt assembly relative to the mirror holder.

35. A double walled mirror carrier plate for an external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly including a mirror holder for attachment to the vehicle, a housing pivotably secured to the mirror holder so as to pivot around a pivot axis, and a mirror pane disposed within the housing, the carrier plate comprising:

a base plate defining a front wall, a rear wall substantially opposing the front wall, and an end portion connecting the front wall and the rear wall, the front wall and the rear wall being spaced from each other adjacent the end portion so as to define an open space therebetween, the front wall, the rear wall, and the end portion being integrally formed, the pivot axis extending through the open space, the carrier plate configured for receiving the mirror pane solely via the front wall.

36. The carrier plate of claim 35, wherein the carrier plate is substantially wedge-shaped.

37. The carrier plate of claim 35, wherein the carrier plate includes a web extending across the portion within the open space.

38. The carrier plate assembly of claim 35, further including a road marking detection sensor disposed within the open space.