Vehicular pivot mirror

• US 7,350,931 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Donnelly Mirrors North America, LLC (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Peterson, Kenneth C., Boddy, Ian, Foote, Keith D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer; Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US11/162,013
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/872, 359/873, 359/877
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing

Abstract

A vehicular pivot mirror assembly comprises a reflective element assembly pivotably attached to a support arm to enable rotation of the reflective element assembly relative to the support arm about a pivot connection. A positioning assembly enables rotation of the reflective element assembly in response to a rotational force applied to the reflective element assembly and prevents rotation of the reflective element assembly when the rotational force is removed.

Claims

1. A vehicular mirror assembly, comprising:

a reflective element assembly;

a support arm for supporting the reflective element assembly;

a pivot connection connecting the reflective element assembly to the support arm and enabling the reflective element assembly to be rotated between a first position and a second position relative to the support arm, the pivot connection including a retainer which prevents axial movement of the reflective element assembly relative to the support arm; and

a clutch assembly interposed between the reflective element assembly and the support arm comprising a threaded shaft associated with one of the reflective element assembly and the support arm, and a follower nut received on the threaded shaft and associated with the other of the reflective element assembly and the support arm, for maintaining the reflective element assembly in one of the first position and the second position and permitting rotation of the reflective element assembly relative to the support arm between the first and second positions;

wherein linear movement of the follower nut along the threaded shaft is translated into pivotal movement of the reflective element assembly with respect to the support arm.

2. The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the pivot connection comprises a pair of juxtaposed bearing sleeves associated with a respective one of the support arm and the reflective element assembly.

3. The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein the pair of juxtaposed bearing sleeves is made from a low-friction material.

4. The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein the retainer comprises a press-fit ring received on one of the support arm and the reflective element assembly and encapsulating the pair of juxtaposed bearing sleeves between the retainer and the other of the support arm and the reflective element assembly.

5. The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 4 wherein the support arm further comprises a stop in register with the other of the first and second positions, wherein the stop defines an end-of-travel position for the reflective element assembly with respect to the support arm.

6. The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a motive-producing element connected to the threaded shaft for introducing rotation to the threaded shaft, and causing the nut follower to travel along the threaded shaft.

7. The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 6 wherein the clutch assembly further comprises a slip clutch located between the threaded shaft and the motive-producing element.

8. A vehicular mirror assembly, comprising:

a reflective element assembly;

a support arm for supporting the reflective element assembly comprising a stop defining an end-of-travel position for the reflective element assembly with respect to the support arm;

a pivot connection comprising a pair of juxtaposed bearing sleeves made from a low-friction material and associated with a respective one of the support arm and the reflective element assembly, the pivot connection connecting the reflective element assembly to the support arm and enabling the reflective element assembly to be rotated between a first position and a second position relative to the support arm, the pivot connection including a retainer comprising a press-fit ring received on one of the support arm and the reflective element assembly and encapsulating the pair of juxtaposed bearing sleeves between the retainer and the other of the support arm and the reflective element assembly, which retainer prevents axial movement of the reflective element assembly relative to the support arm; and

a clutch assembly interposed between the reflective element assembly and the support arm for maintaining the reflective element assembly in one of the first position and the second position and permitting rotation of the reflective element assembly relative to the support arm between the first and second positions;

wherein the clutch assembly comprises a detent on one of the reflective element assembly and the support arm, offset from an axis of rotation of the reflective element assembly relative to the support arm, and a pivot arm on the other of the reflective element assembly and the support arm, the pivot arm having a roller parallel to the axis of rotation of the reflective element assembly and adapted for engagement with the detent, so that the roller is received by the detent when the support arm is located in one of the first and second positions; and

wherein the stop is in register with the other of the first and second positions.

9. A vehicular mirror assembly, comprising:

a reflective element assembly;

a support arm for supporting the reflective element assembly;

a pivot connection connecting the reflective element assembly to the support arm and enabling the reflective element assembly to be rotated between a first position and a second position relative to the support arm, the pivot connection including a retainer which prevents axial movement of the reflective element assembly relative to the support arm; and

a clutch assembly interposed between the reflective element assembly and the support arm for maintaining the reflective element assembly in one of the first position and the second position and permitting rotation of the reflective element assembly relative to the support arm between the first and second positions;

wherein the clutch assembly comprises a detent on one of the reflective element assembly and the support arm, offset from an axis of rotation of the reflective element assembly relative to the support arm on one of the reflective element assembly and the support arm, a biased member in register with the detent on the other of the reflective element assembly and the support arm, wherein the biased member is received by the detent when the support arm is located in one of the first and second positions, and a pivot arm on the other of the reflective element assembly and the support arm, the pivot arm having a roller parallel to the axis of rotation of the reflective element assembly and adapted for engagement with the detent, so that the roller is received by the detent when the support arm is located in one of the first and second positions.

10. The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 9 wherein the support arm further comprises a stop in register with the other of the first and second positions, wherein the stop defines an end of travel position for the reflective element assembly with respect to the support arm.

11. The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 9 wherein the biased member comprises the pivot arm.

12. The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 11 wherein the biased member further comprises a spring for biasing the roller into the detent.