Wing mirror unit

• US 7,631,978 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V. (Flex, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V. (Flex, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gelderen, Arjen Van, Brouwer, Stefan Frits, Van Stiphout, Paulus Gerardus Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Stephone B
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAK, JENNIFER L
• Application Number:
  US10/553,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20060285235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 359/877, 359/841, 359/872, 359/875
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle

Abstract

A wing mirror unit for a vehicle includes a base plate, a supporting frame pivotally connected to the base plate, and an actuator including an engaging part that is connected to the supporting frame. The supporting frame is pivotal with respect to the base plate between a folded orientation and an unfolded orientation. The engaging part in operable connection with the supporting frame is adjustable between a first orientation located near the body of a vehicle and a second orientation located farther outward with respect the body of said vehicle.

Claims

1. A wing mirror unit for a vehicle, comprising:

a base plate;

a supporting frame pivotally connected to the base plate about a main pivot and an auxiliary pivot; and

an actuator including an engaging part connected to the supporting frame, the actuator being connected to the main pivot and configured to move the main pivot in a linear path further outwardly from said vehicle than the auxiliary pivot;

wherein the supporting frame is pivotal with respect to the base plate between a folded orientation, in which the supporting frame substantially abuts along a body of said vehicle, and an unfolded orientation, in which the supporting frame is substantially oriented transversely to the body of said vehicle; and

further wherein the engaging part is adjustable between a first orientation located near the body of said vehicle and a second orientation located farther outward with respect the body of said vehicle.

2. The wing mirror unit according to claim 1, wherein the main pivot is configured for pivoting the supporting frame from the unfolded orientation to an emergency folded orientation.

3. The wing mirror unit according to claim 2, wherein the main pivot is adjustable transversely to the body of said vehicle between the first orientation and the second orientation.

4. The wing mirror unit according to claim 2, wherein the engaging part supports the main pivot.

5. The wing mirror unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electric actuator.

6. The wing mirror unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator adjusts the engaging part towards and away from the base plate.

7. The wing mirror unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a linear actuator including a driving arm.

8. The wing mirror unit according to claim 7, wherein the driving arm forms the engaging part.

9. The wing mirror unit according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary pivot is disconnectably anchored or attached to the base plate or the supporting frame.

10. The wing mirror unit according to claim 9, wherein the supporting frame pivots around the auxiliary pivot with respect to the base plate when the actuator adjusts between the folded orientation and the unfolded orientation.

11. The wing mirror unit according to claim 1, wherein the engaging part is configured with play with respect to the actuator.

12. The wing mirror unit according to claim 11, wherein the engaging part, to overcome a dead center during an adjustment, can pivot.

13. The wing mirror assembly according to claim 11, wherein the engaging part is configured with play with respect to the actuator.

14. The wing mirror unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a driving arm.

15. The wing mirror unit according to claim 14, wherein the driving arm is configured as a curved rack.

16. A wing mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a base plate;

a supporting frame;

a means for pivoting the supporting frame with respect to the base plate; and

an actuator including an engaging part that operatively engages the supporting frame;

wherein the means for pivoting the supporting frame includes a main pivot for pivoting the supporting frame from a folded orientation to an unfolded orientation, an auxiliary pivot for pivoting the supporting frame with respect to the base plate, and the main pivot is configured to move in a linear path further outwardly from said vehicle than the auxiliary pivot.

17. The wing mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein the engaging part is adjustable between a first orientation located near a body of said vehicle and a second orientation located transversely outwardly with respect to the body of said vehicle.

18. The wing mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein the main pivot is adjustable transversely with respect to the vehicle between the first orientation and the second orientation.

19. The wing mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein the engaging part supports the main pivot.

20. The wing mirror assembly according to claim 19, wherein the actuator adjusts the main pivot towards and away from the base plate.

21. The wing mirror assembly according to claim 16, wherein the actuator is a linear actuator including a driving arm, and wherein the driving arm forms the engaging part.

22. A wing mirror system for a vehicle comprising:

a body portion;

a base plate extending from the body portion;

an actuator including an engaging part;

a supporting frame pivotally connected to the actuator about a main pivot and pivotally connected to the base plate about an auxiliary pivot;

wherein the engaging part supports the main pivot and the position of the main pivot is adjustable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the body of said vehicle such that the main pivot point is configured to move from a position that is closer than the auxiliary pivot to said vehicle to a position that is further outwardly from said vehicle than the auxiliary pivot.

23. The wing mirror system according to claim 22, wherein the supporting frame is pivotal with respect to the base plate between a folded orientation, in which the supporting frame substantially abuts along the body of said vehicle, and an unfolded orientation, in which the supporting frame is substantially oriented transversely to the body of said vehicle.

24. The wing mirror system according to claim 22, wherein the main pivot is adjustable along a curved path between a first orientation located near the body of said vehicle and a second orientation located outward with respect to the body of said vehicle.