Carrier plate for mirror assembly

• US 6,702,449 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Lang, Heinrich, Stenzel, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASSAF, FAYEZ G
• Application Number:
  US10/295,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 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 attachable within the housing by one of a sliding attachment, a screw attachment, a snap-in attachment, a shape-fit attachment, a clamping attachment and combinations thereof;

a mirror adjustment assembly mountable to the carrier plate; and

a mirror arrangement mountable to one of the mirror adjustment assembly and the carrier plate, the mirror arrangement having 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 a back side, the carrier plate further including a honeycomb structure formed integrally on the front and back sides of the base portion and defining a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells on the front side offset from the plurality of cells on the back side.

2. The external mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a peripheral rim configured to limit pivoting of the mirror assembly.

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

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

5. A mirror assembly comprising:

a carrier plate defining a first side, a second side, and an opening therethrough, the first side configured for attachment of a mirror arrangement, the second side configured for removable attachment within the mirror assembly by one of a sliding attachment, a screw attachment, a snap-in attachment, a shape-fit attachment, a clamping attachment and combinations thereof, wherein the opening is a plurality of cells forming a honeycomb structure, the plurality of cells being disposed on the first and second sides offset from each other, the honeycomb structure integral to the carrier plate, the carrier plate including a first attachment structure and a second attachment structure; and

a mirror adjustment assembly attached to the carrier plate and operably disposed in the mirror assembly to adjust the mirror arrangement.

6. The mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein the honeycomb structure is located on both of the first and second sides.

7. The mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the cells has six walls.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of cells have varying heights.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein the first attachment structure is a first recess and the second attachment structure is a second recess, one of the recesses configured for attaching the carrier plate to the mirror arrangement, the other of the recesses configured for attaching the carrier plate within the mirror assembly.

10. A mirror assembly having a rearview mirror for a vehicle, the mirror assembly comprising:

a carrier plate having a base portion with a front side and back side, a plurality of openings therethrough, and a sidewall with at least one indentation thereon, the at least one indentation configured for removable attachment of the carrier plate in the mirror assembly and removable attachment of the rearview mirror to the carrier plate, wherein the rearview mirror extends substantially in a given plane, the base portion extending substantially parallel to the given plane; and

a mirror adjustment device attachable to the carrier plate and operably disposed within the mirror assembly, the carrier plate and the mirror adjustment device cooperable to adjust the rearview mirror,

wherein the plurality of openings includes a plurality of honeycomb cells formed integrally with the base portion and offsettingly disposed on the front and back sides.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the cells has six walls.

12. The mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the cells extend substantially perpendicularly from the base portion.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of cells have varying diameters.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of cells have varying heights.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein the carrier plate is removably attached to a housing of the mirror assembly via the at least one indentation.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein the carrier plate is removably attached to the mirror adjustment device, the mirror adjustment device attached to a housing of the mirror assembly.

17. The mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the carrier plate defines a recess for adjustably attaching the mirror adjustment device.

18. The mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein the carrier plate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a metal, an alloy, and combinations thereof.

19. A method for assembling a mirror assembly with a mirror and a detachable carrier plate, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the detachable carrier plate, the detachable carrier plate defining a front side, a back side, and an opening therethrough, wherein the opening includes a plurality of cells defining a honeycomb structure offsettingly disposed on the front and back sides;

b) attaching the mirror to one of the detachable carrier plate and an adjustment device; and

c) attaching the detachable carrier plate and the adjustment device within the mirror assembly.

20. The method as in claim 19, further comprising the substeps of attaching the mirror to the adjustment device and attaching the adjustment device to the detachable carrier plate, the adjustment device operably disposed in the mirror assembly to adjust the mirror.

21. The method as in claim 19, further comprising the substeps of attaching the mirror to the detachable carrier plate and attaching the detachable carrier plate to the adjustment device, and attaching the detachable carrier plate and the adjustment device within the mirror assembly by one of a sliding attachment, a screw attachment, a snap-in attachment, a shape-fit attachment, a clamping attachment and combinations thereof, the adjustment device operably disposed in the mirror assembly to adjust the mirror.

22. The method as in claim 19, wherein attaching the carrier plate is selected from the group of substeps consisting of snap-fitting, slidably connecting, rotatably connecting and combinations thereof.

23. The method as in claim 19, wherein the mirror assembly includes a peripheral rim configured to limit pivoting of the mirror.

24. The method as in claim 19, wherein each of the cells has six walls.

25. The method as in claim 19, wherein the plurality of cells have varying heights.

26. The method as in claim 19, wherein the carrier plate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a metal, an alloy, and combinations thereof.