Fillable and stiffened rearview mirror assembly

• US 6,652,107 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Popp, Albrecht, Lang, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amari, Alessandro V.
• Application Number:
  US09/652,298
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 359/855, 359/865, 359/871-872, 359/876, 359/870, 359/883, 248/476, 248/479, 248/481, 248/483
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A fillable rearview mirror assembly and method of molding a carrier for the assembly are provided. The mirror assembly has a hollow carrier that can be at least partially filled with a material having a density different than that of the carrier. A mirror can be attached to the carrier and the carrier attached to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a plastic carrier having a first hollow space therein, the first hollow space extending substantially through the majority of the carrier, the carrier having a first and a second side;

a mirror housing attached to the first side of the carrier;

a carrier arm having a proximal end affixed to the second side of the carrier opposite the mirror housing the carrier arm having a distal end extending away from the proximal end, the distal end configured to attach the carrier to the vehicle, the arm having a second hollow space therein;

a mirror element affixed to the mirror housing; and

a fill material filling the first hollow space of the carrier and the second hollow space of the carrier arm.

2. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the carrier is unitary construction.

3. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second hollow spaces has a dividing wall and a hollow bubble therein.

4. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 3, wherein the hollow babble is filled with the fill material.

5. The rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, further comprising at least two carrier arms substantially parallel to each other, the arms perpendicular to the vehicle.

6. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a stiffening structure affixed to the carrier within the first hollow space of the carrier.

7. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 6, wherein the stiffening structure is grid-like ribs.

8. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 6, wherein the stiffening structure is tubes.

9. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 6, wherein the stiffening structure is grid-like ribs and tubes.