Exterior vehicle mirror with forward folding feature

• US 6,976,761 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Original Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Inventors: Olijnyk, Mark, Gersch, Alex, Schwarz, Paul, VanDeLoo, Paul, McCaffery, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/735,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20040141245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/872, 359/877, 248/476, 248/479
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2692 retractable lights retractable headlights B60Q1/05
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1276 with radio receivers, loud-speakers or buzzers
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3266 using the mirror of the vehicle

Abstract

An exterior mirror for a vehicle, which is forward foldable for storage and shipment of a vehicle. The mirror may also fold to the rear and includes lights and accessories in the sail and the mirror casing.

Claims

1. An exterior mirror for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror housing assembly including a reflective element normally facing in a direction for viewing rearward;

an attachment assembly for attaching said mirror housing to a vehicle;

at least one telescopic arm extending between and connecting said mirror housing and said attachment assembly, wherein said at least one arm pivotally connects to said attachment assembly;

an electrically powered folding mechanism contained within said attachment assembly having a power driven worm gear engaged to a shaft fixed for rotation with said worm gear, a pinion located at an end of said shaft, said pinion is in meshed engagement with a drive gear that is coupled for rotation with said at least one telescopic arm;

wherein the mirror housing is operable to travel a greater arctuate distance in the forward direction relative to the distance traveled in the rearward direction, wherein the overall width dimension of the vehicle is reduced.

2. The mirror according to claim 1 wherein said mirror housing is substantially ahead of a vehicle windshield when folded in the forward direction.

3. The mirror according to claim 1 wherein said attachment assembly includes a sail portion.

4. The mirror according to claim 1 wherein the mirror is foldable to a second position adjacent a side window.

5. The mirror according to claim 1 wherein said at least one telescopic arm comprises a first lateral structure and a second lateral extending structure, wherein said first lateral structure and said second lateral structure are moveable in an axial direction relative to one another to provide a telescoping action.

6. The mirror according to claim 5 wherein said first lateral structure is fixedly coupled to said mirror housing and said second lateral structure is coupled to said attachment assembly, wherein said second lateral structure telescopes in and out of said first lateral structure.

7. The mirror according to claim 5 wherein said first lateral structure is fixedly coupled to said attachment assembly and said second lateral structure is fixedly coupled to said mirror housing, wherein said first lateral structure telescopes in and out of said second lateral structure.

8. The mirror according to claim 1 wherein said drive gear has a clutch mechanism for operably engaging and disengaging the drive gear from said mirror housing.