Rearview mirror constructed for efficient assembly
First Claim
1. A mirror subassembly for use in a rearview mirror assembly having a housing including an arm adapting the housing for attachment to a vehicle in a position outside of the vehicle and a power pack attached to the housing and including an angularly adjustable mount, the mirror subassembly comprising:
- a mirror element having a front surface and a rear surface; and
a carrier for the mirror element, the carrier adapted to support the mirror element and having retainers adapted for engaging the adjustable mount and a flange substantially surrounding the retainers for preventing distortion of the carrier when attached to the adjustable mount.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror assembly includes a housing, an angularly adjustable power pack, wires for supplying power and mirror angle control, an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a heater, and a turn signal device. The components include individual connectors that plug into a multi-prong connector on the bundle of wires, or that piggyback into each other. Optionally, the heater incorporates an internal wire with end connectors for communicating power to opposite sides of the heater, and also includes layers of light-transmitting/diffusing material for diffusing light passing from the turn signal device through the diffusing material. A printed circuit board fits into a pocket in the panel-shaped carrier, and an integral retainer releasably secures the printed circuit board. The power pack is attached to the carrier via a ring of resilient fingers, and a continuous hoop flange prevents distortion of the carrier and in turn of the glass elements in the mirror subassembly.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A mirror subassembly for use in a rearview mirror assembly having a housing including an arm adapting the housing for attachment to a vehicle in a position outside of the vehicle and a power pack attached to the housing and including an angularly adjustable mount, the mirror subassembly comprising:
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a mirror element having a front surface and a rear surface; and a carrier for the mirror element, the carrier adapted to support the mirror element and having retainers adapted for engaging the adjustable mount and a flange substantially surrounding the retainers for preventing distortion of the carrier when attached to the adjustable mount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 15, 34)
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6. A mirror subassembly for use in a rearview mirror assembly having a housing including an arm adapting the housing for attachment to a vehicle in a position outside of the vehicle and a power pack attached to the housing and including an angularly adjustable mount, the mirror subassembly comprising:
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a mirror element; a carrier for the mirror element, the carrier supporting the mirror element and including retainers adapted for engaging the adjustable mount; and a bezel configured to be engaged with the carrier; the carrier including an extension that extends past a perimeter of the mirror element; wherein a first one of the bezel and extension of the carrier includes at least one hook; wherein the other one of the bezel and the extension of the carrier includes at least one slot; and wherein the bezel is configured to be engaged with the carrier by inserting the hook into the slot. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 35)
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11. A mirror subassembly for use in a rearview mirror assembly having a housing including an arm adapting the housing for attachment to a vehicle in a position outside of the vehicle and a power pack attached to the housing and including an angularly adjustable mount, the mirror subassembly comprising:
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a mirror element; a carrier for the mirror element, the carrier having a support surface supporting the mirror element and including retainers adapted for engaging the adjustable mount; and a bezel configured to be engaged with the carrier; the carrier including a perimeter portion including an extension substantially perpendicularly to the support surface; wherein a first one of the bezel and extension of the carrier includes at least one hook; wherein the other one of the bezel and the extension of the carrier includes at least one slot; and wherein the bezel is configured to be engaged with the carrier by inserting the hook into the slot. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 36)
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16. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror subassembly; and a heater positioned relative to the mirror subassembly for heating the mirror subassembly, the heater including a first electrical conduction element on one portion of the heater that is adapted for connection to a power source and a second electrical conduction element on another portion of the heater with an electrical conductor ending through and across the heater and connecting the first and second electrical conduction elements, whereby electrical energy can be communicated by the electrical conductor to different portions of the heater for operating an electrically-operated component associated with the mirror subassembly. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 37)
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22. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror subassembly; and a first electrically-operated component associated with the mirror subassembly and positioned relative to the mirror subassembly, the first electrically-operated component including a first electrical connection element on one portion of the first electrically-operated component that is adapted for connection to a power source and a second electrical connection element on another portion of the first electrically-operated component with an electrical conductor extending through and across the first electrically-operated component and connecting the first and second electrical connection element, whereby electrical energy can be communicated by the electrical conductor of the first electrically-operated component for operating a second electrically-operated component associated with the mirror subassembly; wherein one of the first and second electrically-operated components comprises a heater for heating the mirror subassembly. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 38)
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Specification