Vehicular rearview components and assemblies

• US 7,488,083 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Fogg, Jeremy A., Ypma, Kenton J., Hoek, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer; Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US11/209,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20070041110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 359/604, 359/871, 359/872, 248/479, 248/481, 248/475.1
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides improved vehicular rearview assemblies and components for incorporation into rearview assemblies.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a vehicular rearview element;

a rearview assembly housing and a housing support member, said housing comprising an interconnecting cable aperture, said housing is attached to said housing support member with at least three housing fasteners, said housing fasteners being substantially evenly spaced surrounding said interconnecting cable aperture, said vehicular rearview element being supported by the rearview assembly housing; and

a rearview assembly mount comprising a first interlock and a connector comprising a second interlock wherein said first interlock and said second interlock are configured to secure said connector to said mount, the rearview assembly mount supporting the rearview assembly housing and the housing support member.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said housing fasteners are screws threadingly received within said housing support member.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a washer configured such that said housing is sandwiched between said washer and said housing support member.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said connector is sufficiently secured to said mount such that a wire harness can be engaged with said connector without additional restraint of said connector,

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 configured as a rearview assembly comprising an accessory module, said accessory module comprising at least one device selected from the group comprising:

an imager, an automatic exterior light control module, a moisture sensor module, a compass sensor, a compass, a speaker, a microphone, a windshield wiper automatic control, a digital signal processor, an automatic defogger control, a collision avoidance control, a lane departure warning module, an electro-optic mirror element control module, a supplemental illuminator module, a photo sensor and a processor.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5 configured as a rearview assembly, said housing comprising said at least one device.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 configured as a rearview assembly, said housing comprising at least one device selected from the group comprising:

an imager, an automatic exterior light control module, a one moisture sensor module, a compass sensor, a compass, a speaker, a microphone, a windshield wiper automatic control, a digital signal processor, a digital sound processor, a GPS system, a navigation system, an automatic defogger control, a collision avoidance control, a lane departure warning module, an electro-optic mirror element control module, a supplemental illuminator module, a photo sensor and a processor.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a vehicular rearview element;

a rearview assembly mount comprising a first interlock and a connector comprising a second interlock wherein said first interlock and said second interlock are configured to secure said connector to said mount, wherein said connector is sufficiently secured to said mount such that a wire harness can be engaged with said connector without additional restraint of said connector; and

a housing and a housing support member, said housing comprising an interconnecting cable aperture, said housing is attached to said housing support member with at least three housing fasteners, said housing fasteners being substantially evenly spaced surrounding said interconnecting cable aperture;

said vehicular rearview element being supported by the housing; and

the rearview assembly mount supporting the housing and the housing support member.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said housing fasteners are screws threadingly received within said housing support member.

10. An apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising a washer configured such that said housing is sandwiched between said washer and said housing support member.

11. An apparatus as in claim 8 configured as a rearview assembly, said housing comprising at least one device selected from the group comprising:

an imager, an automatic exterior light control module, a one moisture sensor module, a compass sensor, a compass, a speaker, a microphone, a windshield wiper automatic control, a digital signal processor, a digital sound processor, a GPS system, a navigation system, an automatic defogger control, a collision avoidance control, a lane departure warning module, an electro-optic mirror element control module, a supplemental illuminator module, a photo sensor and a processor.