Mirror with interchangeable appearance covers

• US 7,216,996 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• 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: Rehill, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; Drew A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McNaull; Aline D
• Application Number:
  US10/311,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 359/879
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A mirror system having a common framework that allows interchangeability of mirror styles. The mirror system includes a first skeleton support structure operatively attached to a portion of a vehicle. The support structure including a mounting bracket therein. A removable cover adapted to be attached thereover for providing a stylistic appearance to the bracket portion. A second support structure is provided for attachment to the bracket portion. A second support structure includes attachments for supporting a mirror assembly therein. The support assembly includes a connection structure. An outer interchangeable cover portion is provided, which is interchangeably fitted to the support structure for providing a variable stylistic outer surface to the mirror.

Claims

1. A method of attaching an interchangeable cover to a mirror housing, comprising:

providing a mirror support framework having a portion thereof being an outside show surface of the mirror housing, wherein said mirror support frame work has a first fixed securement structure formed on an exterior surface thereof and a tang formed on said exterior surface;

providing a first interchangeable outer cover member having an opening formed therein, which is adapted to surround the portion for forming a substantially continuous surface, and the first interchangeable outer cover member being slidable over the mirror support framework for providing an outer cover to the mirror housing;

providing a substantially vertical receiving structure formed on the interior surface of said first interchangeable outer cover member;

installing said first interchangeable outer cover member over the mirror support framework by engaging said first fixed securement structure to said substantially vertical receiving structure;

providing a mounting bracket portion for attachment to a vehicle, including an underlying framework having a second fixed securement surface formed on the surface of said mounting bracket portion;

providing a second interchangeable outer cover member for changing the stylistic appearance of said mounting bracket portion, wherein said second interchangeable outer cover member has an attachment protrusion formed on an interior surface of said second interchangeable outer cover member; and

installing said second interchangeable outer cover member to said mounting bracket portion by engaging said attachment protrusion to said tang.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mirror support framework and the bracket mounting portion are foldably attached with respect to one another.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said foldable attachment is interchangeable between a manual fold mechanism and a powerfold module.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of first interchangeable outer cover members for filling over said mirror support framework and a plurality of second interchangeable outer cover members for filling over said mounting bracket and selecting a particular style of said plurality of said first outer cover members and said plurality of said second outer cover members and attaching said selection to said mirror housing for filling over said mirror support framework and selecting a particular style and attaching it to said mirror support framework.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said mirror support framework includes a control module accepting portion thereof for receiving an interchangeable mirror control module, providing an interchangeable support module, and snap fitting the module into said mirror support framework prior to installing said first interchangeable outer cover member.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said portion thereof being an outside show surface forms a bottom portion of the mirror housing.

7. A mirror system comprising:

a first outer decorative cover portion having an area defining a first aperture;

a second outer decorative cover portion having an area defining a second aperture;

a single structural member adapted for attachment to a vehicle, said structural member including a mounting bracket and a mirror support;

wherein said mirror support is operable to be received through said first aperture such that said first decorative cover portion is operable to cover a first portion of said mirror support;

wherein said mounting bracket is operable to be received through said second aperture such that said second decorative cover portion is operable to cover a second portion of said structural member; and

wherein said mirror support is operable to support a mirror member, said mirror support including a portion for receiving a mirror adjustment module therein;

wherein said structural member includes a first fixed securement structure formed on an exterior surface thereof and a tang formed on said exterior surface;

wherein said mounting bracket includes a second fixed securement structure formed on an exterior surface thereof;

wherein the first fixed securement structure is operable to engage a substantially vertical receiving structure formed on an interior surface of the first decorative cover portion and the second securement structure has an attachment protrusion formed on an interior surface of the second decorative cover portion for engaging said tang;

wherein either the first or second decorative cover portion are interchangeable with respective first or second decorative cover portions.

8. The mirror system of claim 7, wherein said structural member is a skeletonized support structure for supporting said mirror and either of said first and second outer decorative cover portions.

9. The mirror of claim 7, wherein said single structural member and said mirror support are foldable with respect to one another.

10. The mirror system of claim 9, wherein said folding mechanism can be interchanged between a manual fold and power fold mechanism.

11. The mirror system of claim 7, wherein said mirror member is manually adjustable in said mirror support.

12. The mirror system of claim 11, wherein said mirror member is remotely adjustable from inside the vehicle.

13. The mirror system of claim 7, wherein said mirror member is electronically adjustable from inside the vehicle.

14. The mirror system of claim 7, wherein a bottom portion of said bracket forms an outer surface of a mirror housing.

15. The mirror system of claim 7, wherein said mirror support receives a generic module which is inserted for providing a manually top type adjustable mirror, an electronically adjustable mirror, a remote manually adjustable mirror, or an electrically adjustable mirror with memory.

16. The mirror system of claim 8, wherein said skeletonized support structure accepts a cover portion selected from a plurality of different designs of cover portions having a commonly configured attachment securement structure.

17. A mirror system having interchangeable component parts, comprising:

a skeletonized mirror support structure for supporting a mirror control module having a mirror attached to said skeletonized mirror support structure;

said skeletonized mirror support structure being configured for supporting one of a plurality of mirror control modules having pre-selected features;

said skeletonized mirror support structure has a first fixed securement structure formed on an exterior surface thereof for attaching one of a plurality of first cover members using a substantially vertical receiving structure formed on the interior surface of each said first plurality of cover members;

an adaptable folding mechanism for providing folding between a bracket and said skeletonized mirror support structure, wherein said folding mechanism is adaptable for configuration between a manually foldable configuration and a power foldable configuration while maintaining the configuration of the skeletonized mirror support structure and the bracket structure;

a mounting bracket structure adaptable for attachment to a vehicle;

said bracket structure including a second fixed securement structure formed on an exterior surface of said mounting bracket structure; and

said second fixed securement structure allowing attachment of a second outer cover selected from a plurality of second outer covers using a tang formed on the exterior of said first fixed securement structure and an attachment protrusion formed on the interior surface of said second outer cover.