Vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly with actuator

• US 6,672,730 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hadley Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hadley Products Corporation
• Inventors: Sizemore, David N., Gahan, Edward A., Hanft, Karl H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US10/307,747
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 359/876, 359/877, 359/871, 359/872, 359/855, 359/864, 359/865, 359/874, 359/875, 248/476, 248/481
• US Class Current: 359/876
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0612 by electrically actuated means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly for large vehicles, such as trucks, includes a reflective element, a support bracket, and an actuator mounting the reflective element to the support bracket. A mirror housing is secured to the support bracket. The electrical actuator is mounted to the support bracket by a plurality of fasteners and includes an actuator housing, which has a peripheral surface extending around the fasteners. The support bracket provides bearing contact for at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the housing to reduce the vibration and improve the stability of the mirror assembly. The electrical actuator includes a movable member which supports the reflective element for movement therewith and which extends into the actuator housing and frictionally engages the housing to minimize vibration of the movable member when it pivots. The electrical actuator preferably includes a biasing member to enhance the friction between the movable member and the housing to further reduce the vibration of the movable member and, therefore, the reflective element supported thereon.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for large vehicles, such as trucks and vans, said exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a reflective mirror element;

a mirror casing adapted to mount to a vehicle;

a mounting surface provided in said mirror casing;

an actuator having an actuator housing and a movable portion engaging said reflective element, said movable portion provided at one side of said actuator housing, said actuator housing being mounted to said mounting surface; and

an annular member extending around said actuator housing to enhance frictional engagement between said actuator housing and said movable member to enhance the vibration performance of said actuator.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein annular member comprises a resilient annular member.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said resilient annular member comprises an elastic ring.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein said actuator housing has a recessed portion and a raised peripheral portion having a substantially planar surface extending around said recessed portion and facing said mounting surface, said raised peripheral portion on an opposite side of said actuator housing from said movable portion.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 4, Wherein bearing contact is provided between said mounting surface and at least a portion of said substantially planar surface of said actuator housing, and said planar surface contacting said bearing contact whereby said assembly has reduced vibration and improved stability.

6. The mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said bearing contact comprises a resilient member interposed between said mounting surface and said portion of said planar surface of said actuator housing.

7. The mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein said resilient member comprises a resilient pad.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said resilient member comprises a pair of resilient pads.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said mounting surface comprises a support bracket.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said support bracket provides bearing contact for at least 50% of said substantially planar surface of said actuator housing.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said movable member extends into said actuator housing.

12. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for large vehicles, including trucks and vans, said mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror casing;

a reflective mirror element; and

an actuator supporting said reflective mirror element in said casing, said actuator being mounted to a mounting surface in said mirror casing, said actuator including an actuator housing and a movable portion for engaging said reflective element, said actuator housing having a base with an annular-shaped lip and a cover, said movable portion extending between said lip and said cover and frictionally engaging said lip, and said lip being urged radially inward to increase the frictional engagement between said movable portion and said lip to enhance the vibration performance of said actuator.

13. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said actuator housing includes a plurality of mounting openings and a raised portion extending around said mounting openings.

14. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 13, wherein said raised portion makes bearing contact with said mounting surface.

15. The exterior rearview mirror assembly according to claim 14, herein said raised portion comprises an annular surface.

16. The mirror assembly according to claim 12, further comprising an annular member extending around said lip to urge said lip into frictional engagement with said movable portion.

17. The mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein said annular member comprises a resilient annular member.

18. The mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein said annular member comprises an elastic ring.

19. The mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein said lip includes at least one elongate slot.

20. The mirror assembly according to claim 19, wherein said lip includes a plurality of elongate slots.