Dual-arm linear slide mechanism for an extendable rearview mirror for vehicles

• US 6,896,380 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delbar Products, Inc. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delbar Products, Inc. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Keith, McPherson, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Juba, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US10/684,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/871, 359/872, 359/875, 359/877, 359/881, 248/480, 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/214, 248/226.11, 248/227.4, 248/229.13, 248/229.23
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing

Abstract

An extendable outside rearview mirror for a vehicle includes a spring-clamped slide mechanism that ensures a zero clearance fit between sliding components to avoid vibration. Bearing members between the sliding components reduce friction and provide a consistent reaction force to ensure smooth operation of an actuator mechanism which extends or retracts the mirror assembly along a support arm. The support arm includes V-shaped guiderails vertically aligned with opposing V-shaped guiderails on the mounting bracket assembly. Rod-like bearing means are interposed between the opposing guiderail pairs. A cantilever clamp jaw with spring means biases one guiderail toward the other with a high spring force which provides superior rigidity and thus enhanced mirror image clarity. The attachment end of the support arm may be divided into two attachment legs providing a dual-arm configuration for less wind resistance.

Claims

1. An extendable rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a support arm for attachment to a vehicle body by a mirror mount comprising first and second legs separated by a substantial void which extends along the support arm forming separated horizontal parallel segments;

a mirror assembly mounted on said support arm, said mirror assembly including a bracket and a surrounding housing affixed thereto;

a mirror subassembly affixed to a first side of the bracket and lying within said housing; and

clamp means on said bracket for slidably affixing said bracket to said support arm, comprising;

a first jaw being stationary with respect to said bracket and engaging a first guide rail located along one edge of said support arm; and

a second, movable jaw including pivot means, said second jaw forceably engaging a second guide rail located along a second edge of said support arm.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein a clamping plane between the jaws is substantially vertical.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 1 further including first bearing means interposed between said first jaw and said first guide rail and second bearing means interposed between said second jaw and said second guide rail.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein said first jaw further includes a guide rail and faces opposite said first support arm guide rail, both guide rails further including surfaces which have a V-shaped cross-section.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein the first and second bearing means are elongate, rod-shaped members.

6. The mirror assembly of claim 5 wherein the bearing rods extend the length of the guide rails on the bracket.

7. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein said bearing means are composed of solid PFTE.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein said bearing means are composed of a substantially ablatable material such that initial operation of said slide mechanism causes said bearing means to deposit friction-reducing material upon the surfaces of the guide rails.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein said movable clamp jaw includes a lever arm having an end which engages spring means, the end of said lever arm extending to an opposite side of said bracket.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 9 wherein said bracket includes a fulcrum about which the lever arm pivots.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 10 wherein said spring is a coil-type compression spring.

12. The mirror assembly of claim 11 wherein said fulcrum is located along said bracket which holds the spring and the second jaw in their operative positions solely by the co-mutual compression of engaged parts.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 11 wherein said spring operates between the end of the lever arm and an abutment both being located on the opposite side of said bracket.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said second jaw includes a guide rail and faces opposite said second support arm guide rail, both guide rails further including surfaces which have a V-shaped cross-section.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said second jaw includes force-applying spring means urging said second jaw in a direction of clamping.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said mirror sub-assembly includes a mirror glass, a support plate, and motor-driven positioning means.

17. The mirror assembly of claim 16 wherein the second jaw is movable to a point of release where the bracket is laterally releasable from the support arm.

18. The mirror assembly of claim 16 wherein the aggregate center of mass of all components is substantially in the clamping plane.

19. The mirror assembly of claim 18 further described in that said first jaw is adjacent the top of the housing and said second jaw is adjacent the bottom of the housing.

20. The mirror assembly of claim 1 further including a pair of two-part telescoping covers fully encasing each of said support arm legs, one part of each cover being affixed to each of said legs and a second part of each cover being affixed to said mirror housing.

21. The mirror assembly of claim 20 wherein said telescoping covers are non-load-bearing.

22. The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second jaws define a clamping plane between them which lies along the bracket.

23. An extendable mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a support arm having two horizontally extending legs at one end and a mounting bracket affixed thereto at an opposite end in slidable engagement therewith; and

clamp means on said bracket including two jaws each engaging top and bottom edges of the support arm respectively, said clamp means including at least one movable jaw which extends from a lever arm and pivots on a fulcrum extending from said bracket and forceably engages a bearing surface along one of said edges of the support arm.

24. The mirror assembly of claim 23 wherein said bracket is slidably affixed to said support arm on only one side thereof such that when said movable jaw is moved to a point of release, the jaws of said clamp means and said bracket are laterally releasable from the edges of said support arm.