Lightweight rearview mirror assembly

• US 6,481,862 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Popp, Albrecht, Lang, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/652,297
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 259/871, 259/872, 259/873, 259/874, 259/841, 259/850, 259/877, 259/854, 259/857, 248/479, 248/481, 248/482
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly blowmolded carrier for vehicles and method of blowmolding the carrier are provided. The mirror assembly has a blowmolded carrier with a hollow space and a recess to affix a mirror element.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a blowmolded carrier having a plurality of hollow spaces therein, the carrier having a proximal end for affixing the carrier to the vehicle and a distal end extending from the proximal end remote from the vehicle, the distal end having a recess thereon, at least one of the plurality of hollow spaces configured to be filled with a fill material; and

a mirror element affixed to the recess.

2. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the carrier is plastic.

3. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, further comprising an attachment element affixed to the proximal end to attach the mirror assembly to the vehicle.

4. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 3, wherein the attachment element has an opening therethrough for insertion of a screw, the attachment element, opening, and screw cooperating to attach the carrier to the vehicle.

5. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the mirror element comprises a mirror and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the mirror, the adjusting mechanism attached to the recess and the mirror adjustably attached to the adjusting mechanism.

6. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the hollow space is a plurality of hollow bubbles.

7. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 6, further comprising a fill material filling at least one of the bubbles.

8. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 7, wherein the fill material is gelatin.

9. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 7, wherein the fill material is a plastic foam.

10. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 9, wherein the plastic foam is a gradient foam.

11. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 9, wherein the plastic foam is polyurethane.

12. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 7, wherein the fill material is granulate.

13. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 12, wherein the fill material is sand.

14. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 12, wherein the fill material is plastic granulate.

15. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 7, wherein the fill material is gelatin and granulate.

16. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a supporting element attached within a first hollow space to the carrier.

17. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 16, wherein the supporting element is comprised of tubes.

18. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 16, wherein the supporting element is comprised of ribs.

19. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 16, wherein the supporting element is comprised of tubes and ribs.

20. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a carrier arm unitarily constructed with the carrier, the carrier arm having a second hollow space therein.

21. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 20, wherein the carrier arm is substantially perpendicular to and extending from the carrier opposite the recess.

22. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 20, further comprising a dividing wall and at least one other hollow bubble within the second hollow space.

23. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 22, further comprising a fill material filling the at least one other bubble, the fill material in stiffening, fixed communication with the carrier.