Carrier plate for mirror assembly

• US 6,840,641 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• 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 A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASSAF, FAYEZ G
• Application Number:
  US10/643,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 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. A method for assembling a mirror assembly having a mirror element and a housing defining an interior therein, a rim, and a covering, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a carrier plate and locating said carrier plate spaced apart from said rim and cover, said carrier plate having a plurality of openings therethrough and a transversely extending clamping recess thereon;

b) providing a holder and clamping said clamping recess to said holder with said holder extending across and positioning the carrier plate in said spaced apart position;

c) mounting a mirror adjustment assembly to the carrier plate; and

d) mounting the mirror element to the mirror adjustment assembly.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of mounting the mirror element is by one of a sliding attachment, a screw attachment, a snap-in attachment, a shape-fit attachment, a clamping attachment and combinations thereof.

3. The method as in claim 1, including configuring the plurality of openings to dampen vibrations of the mirror assembly.

4. The method as in claim 1, further including providing the housing defines a peripheral rim configured to limit pivoting of the mirror assembly.

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

a housing defining an interior therein, a rim, and a covering;

a holder extending through the housing into the interior, the holder configured for attachment to the vehicle;

a carrier plate including a base portion having a clamping recess extending transversely thereover and a plurality of openings therethrough, the carrier plate being attachable within the interior by clamping the clamping recess to the holder, positioning the carrier plate in spaced apart position from the rim and the covering;

a mirror adjustment assembly mountable to the carrier plate; and

a mirror arrangement having a mirror glass extending substantially in a given plane, the mirror arrangement being mountable to one of the mirror adjustment assembly and the carrier plate wherein one of the housing, the carrier plate and combinations thereof are cooperable to provide structural support for at least one of the mirror adjustment assembly and the mirror arrangement.

6. The external rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said carrier plate includes a plurality of adjacent cells configured to dampen vibration of the mirror assembly.

7. The external rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein the clamping recess is shaped complementary to the holder such that the holder grippingly protrudes into the clamping recess.

8. The external rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein the housing includes a peripheral rim configured to limit pivoting of the mirror assembly.

9. The external rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of openings vary in diameter and in height.

10. The external rearview mirror of claim 5, wherein the mirror arrangement is mountable to one of the mirror adjustment assembly and carrier plate by one of a sliding attachment, a screw attachment, a snap-in attachment, a shape-fit attachment, a clamping attachment and combinations thereof.