Vehicular rearview mirror with blind spot viewing system
First Claim
1. An exterior rearview mirror blind spot viewing system for vehicles comprising:
- an exterior rearview mirror assembly including;
a reflective mirror element having a center and a peripheral edge;
a pivot member for pivotally mounting said reflective mirror element on said assembly to adjust the position of said mirror element for different fields of view for different vehicle drivers, said pivot member pivotally mounting said mirror element on an axis generally aligned with said mirror element center;
a support member having a joint for pivotally mounting said reflective mirror element between a first rearward viewing position and a blind spot viewing position, said joint being spaced laterally outwardly of said center axis; and
a motive power source for moving said support member and said reflective mirror element on said joint between said first rearward viewing position and said blind spot viewing position;
said motive power source including an electric motor, a gear and a threaded member driven for extension and retraction by said electric motor and gear;
whereby said blind spot viewing position provides an enhanced field of view for the vehicle driver in an area adjacent the vehicle on which said assembly is mounted.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular exterior rearview mirror blind spot viewing system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly which enables moving the reflective mirror element to an alternate position for viewing of areas adjacent the vehicle which otherwise would be hidden in the driver'"'"'s blind spot. The blind spot system includes a reflective mirror element mounted on a pivot member such as an electric actuator for adjusting the field of view of the mirror element for different drivers about an axis which is preferably centered on the mirror element. A support member has a joint spaced laterally of the axis and pivotally connected to the pivot member for moving the mirror element between a first rearward viewing position and a blind spot viewing position. A power source such as an electric motor is preferably mounted on the pivot member and is spaced from the support member joint, and includes a threaded member pivotally connected to the support member and driven by a gear. The electric motor is preferably connected via a control circuit to a remote switch such as in the passenger compartment to allow the driver to pivot the support member and mirror element for blind spot viewing when desired.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. An exterior rearview mirror blind spot viewing system for vehicles comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly including;
a reflective mirror element having a center and a peripheral edge;
a pivot member for pivotally mounting said reflective mirror element on said assembly to adjust the position of said mirror element for different fields of view for different vehicle drivers, said pivot member pivotally mounting said mirror element on an axis generally aligned with said mirror element center;
a support member having a joint for pivotally mounting said reflective mirror element between a first rearward viewing position and a blind spot viewing position, said joint being spaced laterally outwardly of said center axis; and
a motive power source for moving said support member and said reflective mirror element on said joint between said first rearward viewing position and said blind spot viewing position;
said motive power source including an electric motor, a gear and a threaded member driven for extension and retraction by said electric motor and gear;
whereby said blind spot viewing position provides an enhanced field of view for the vehicle driver in an area adjacent the vehicle on which said assembly is mounted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An exterior rearview mirror blind spot viewing system for vehicles comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly including;
a reflective mirror element;
a pivot member for pivotally mounting said reflective mirror element on said assembly to adjust the position of said mirror element for different fields of view for different vehicle drivers, said pivot member pivotally mounting said mirror element on an axis at a predetermined position with respect to said reflective mirror element;
a support member having a joint for pivotally mounting said reflective mirror element between a first rearward viewing position and a blind spot viewing position, said joint being spaced from said axis; and
a motive power source for moving said support member and said reflective mirror element on said joint between said first rearward viewing position and said blind spot viewing position, said motive power source being mounted on said pivot member at a position spaced from said predetermined position of said axis, said motive power source including an electric motor, a gear and a threaded member driven for extension and retraction by said electric motor and gear;
said threaded member pivotally secured to said pivot member;
whereby said blind spot viewing position provides an enhanced field of view for the vehicle driver in an area adjacent the vehicle on which said assembly is mounted. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification