Mirror assembly for vehicle

• US 7,527,403 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Uken, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; Anabel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spinella; Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/451,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20070019426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 362/459, 362/487, 362/488, 362/494, 362/492, 362/560, 362/489, 359838-884, D12187-189
• US Class Current: 362/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element, a frame portion around a perimeter of the reflective element, and one or more user inputs or buttons movably mounted to the frame portion. At least one bezel segment is positioned partially around the perimeter of the reflective element and frame portion and defines a space or gap along the frame portion between opposed and spaced apart ends of the bezel segment or segments. The input or button is mountable to the frame portion at the space and is movable by a user to engage and actuate an electronic switch within the mirror assembly.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a reflective element;

a frame portion around a perimeter of said reflective element;

at least one user input movably mounted to said frame portion;

at least one bezel segment positioned partially but not completely around the perimeter of said reflective element and said frame portion, said at least one bezel segment terminating at a first terminal end and a second terminal end, said first and second terminal ends generally opposing one another and spaced apart by a gap, said gap between said opposed and spaced apart first and second terminal ends of said at least one bezel segment being devoid of said at least one bezel segment, said gap spanning a height dimension of said first and second terminal ends of at least one bezel segment proximate said gap, said height dimension comprising a generally vertical dimension of said at least one bezel segment when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle; and

said at least one user input being mountable to said frame portion at said gap and in said gap between said first and second terminal ends of said at least one bezel segment and separate and distinct from any portion of said at least one bezel segment and being movable by a user to engage and actuate an electronic switch within said interior rearview mirror assembly, said at least one user input having a height dimension that generally matches the height dimension of said at least one bezel segment proximate said first and second terminal ends of said at least one bezel segment.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said user input has an exterior surface that is curved to generally correspond with an exterior surface of said at least one bezel segment that is adjacent to said user input, said exterior surfaces of said user input and said at least one bezel segment cooperate to define a generally continuous trim portion along the perimeter region of said reflective element.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said user input is configured to attach to an attachment element of said frame portion.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein said user input is pivotable about said attachment element to contact said electronic switch.

5. The interior rearview minor assembly of claim 4, wherein said user input includes an extension for contacting said electronic switch when said user input is pivoted about said attachment element in response to a user pressing said user input.

6. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said user input includes a haptic element at an outer surface thereof to assist a user in actuating said user input by guiding the user'"'"'s finger so that the user presses in an appropriate area of said user input.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 including an illumination source for illuminating said user input.

8. The interior rearview minor assembly of claim 7, wherein said user input is backlit by said illumination source.

9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said user input includes a thin-walled region to allow for backlighting of said user input via said illumination source.