Honeycomb structure carrier plate for external rearview mirror and related mirror assembly

• US 6,520,653 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Lang, Heinrich, Stenzel, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASSAF, FAYEZ G
• Application Number:
  US09/266,987
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/848, 359/855, 359/864, 359/865, 359/872, 359/877, 359/883, 359/870, 248/476, 248/481
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means

Abstract

An external rearview mirror includes a holder for affixing the mirror to a motor vehicle. A carrier plate is located in a housing that is secured to the holder. At least one mirror assembly with a mirror pane is mounted pivotally on the carrier plate in the housing. At least one means of adjustment is mounted on the carrier plate and bound to the mirror assembly. A base plate is attached to the carrier plate, the base plate having a honeycomb structure with a multiplicity of cells on at least one side. The cells are integral and normal to the base plate and may vary in both height and diameter.

Claims

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

a housing;

a carrier plate within the housing;

a mirror adjustment assembly mounted to the carrier plate; and

a mirror assembly mounted to the mirror adjustment assembly including a mirror glass extending substantially in a given plane, the carrier plate including a base portion extending substantially parallel to the given plane, the base portion having a front side and back side, the carrier plate further including a honeycomb structure formed integrally with the base portion and defining a plurality of cells, the honeycomb structure being located on the front and back sides, the cells of the honeycomb structure on the front side offset from the cells of the honeycomb structure on the back side.

2. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, further including a holder connected to the carrier plate for connecting the housing to the vehicle.

3. The external mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein the carrier plate includes an integrally molded recess for receiving the holder.

4. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the cells has six walls.

5. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the cells extend substantially perpendicularly from the base portion.

6. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the carrier plate is integral with the housing.

7. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the carrier plate is attached to the housing.

8. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the cells have varying diameters.

9. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the cells have varying heights.

10. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the carrier plate includes a molded plastic.

11. The external mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein the carrier plate includes integrally molded fastening elements for securing the carrier plate to the base portion.

12. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the carrier plate defines a recess for receiving the mirror adjustment assembly via a press fit.

13. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a peripheral rim for limiting pivoting of the mirror pane.

14. A carrier plate for attachment to a bar-shaped holder of a rearview mirror assembly and for holding a mirror adjustment assembly, the carrier plate comprising:

a substantially planar base having a front side, a back side, and a honeycomb structure defining a plurality of cells, the cells being disposed on the front and back sides wherein the cells on the front side are offset from the cells on the back side, the base plate and honeycomb structure being integrally molded with the base plate of a plastic, the carrier plate including a first structure for attachment to the holder and a second structure for attachment to the mirror adjustment assembly.

15. The carrier plate of claim 14, wherein each of the cells has six walls.

16. The carrier plate of claim 14, wherein the carrier plate is formed integral with a mirror housing.

17. The carrier plate of claim 14, wherein the cells have varying heights.

18. The carrier plate of claim 14, wherein the first structure is a first recess and the second structure is a second recess.