Blind connector for rearview mirror

• US 7,746,535 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Spence, William R., LeVesque, Andrew J., VanderWel, Peter Wm., Ostreko, John B., Kelley, Julie A., Hooper, Kristi L., Ypma, Kenton J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, JOSEPH P
• Application Number:
  US12/139,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20080310006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 359/265, 359/267, 361/748
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly comprising a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device and a circuit board with a second electrical connection device, with first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device being configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the rear housing section are moved relatively towards each other. The rearview mirror assembly can also include a circuit board with a third electrical connection device and a reflective element with a fourth electrical connection device, with third electrical connection device and the fourth electrical connection device being configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the reflective element are moved relatively towards each other.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly comprising:

providing a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device;

providing a circuit board with a second electrical connection device;

moving the circuit board and the rear housing section relatively towards each other to automatically mate the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device;

providing the rear housing section with a flat mount connection panel portion;

connecting a mount to the rear housing section at the flat mount connection panel portion;

wherein the flat mount connection panel portion includes a center opening for routing of the wiring therethrough; and

providing the rear housing section with clips for holding the wiring.

2. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the mount comprises a two ball mount.

3. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim claim 1, further including:

providing a washer having a central opening therethrough;

positioning the mount on a first side of the flat mount connection panel portion;

positioning the washer on a second side of the flat mount connection panel portion;

connecting the mount to the washer; and

routing the wiring through the center opening of the flat mount connection panel portion and the central opening of the washer.

4. A method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly comprising:

providing a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device;

providing a circuit board with a second electrical connection device;

moving the circuit board and the rear housing section relatively towards each other to automatically mate the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device; and

providing the rear housing section with guide posts;

wherein moving the circuit board and the rear housing section relatively towards each other includes aligning the circuit board using the guide posts by abutting the circuit board against the guide posts.

5. A method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly comprising:

providing a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device;

providing a circuit board with a second electrical connection device; and

moving the circuit board and the rear housing section relatively towards each other to automatically mate the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device;

wherein a first one of the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device comprises a housing having a funnel receiver for accepting a second one of the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device therein.

6. A method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly comprising:

providing a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device;

providing a circuit board with a second electrical connection device; and

moving the circuit board and the rear housing section relatively towards each other to automatically mate the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device;

wherein the first electrical connection device comprises a first electrical connection housing having at least one slot for accepting the wiring therein.

7. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, further including:

providing the rear housing section with at least one connection clip flange;

providing the first electrical connection housing of the first electrical connection device with at least one clip accepting opening; and

connecting the first electrical connection device with the rear housing section by inserting the least one connection clip flange into the at least one clip accepting opening.

8. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein:

the wiring comprises an outer sheath covering a plurality of wires, each of the wires having an internal wire member and an external sheath; and

the at least one slot for accepting the wiring therein comprises a plurality of slots, with at least one of the slots accepting one of the wires therein.

9. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, further including:

providing each of the slots with a knife member; and

exposing the internal wire member by inserting the wires into the slots and cutting the external sheath with the knife members, thereby electrically connecting the internal wire members to the knife members.

10. A method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly comprising:

providing a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device;

providing a circuit board with a second electrical connection device;

moving the circuit board and the rear housing section relatively towards each other to automatically mate the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device;

providing the circuit board with a third electrical connection device;

providing an reflective element with a fourth electrical connection device; and

moving the circuit board and the reflective element relatively towards each other to automatically mate the third electrical connection device and the fourth electrical connection device.

11. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein:

moving the circuit board and the reflective element relatively towards each other allows the wiring to supply power to the reflective element.

12. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein:

the reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a front glass element and a rear glass element, with electrochromic material located between the front glass element and the rear glass element.

13. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein:

the third electrical connection device comprises an conductive compressive member; and

further including abutting the conductive compressive member against the fourth electrical connection device.

14. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 13, wherein:

the fourth electrical connection device comprises a clip with a resilient flap; and

abutting the conductive compressive member with the fourth electrical connection device comprises abutting the conductive compressive member against the resilient flap.

15. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein:

a first one of the third electrical connection device and the fourth electrical connection device comprises a receiver and a second one of the third electrical connection device and the fourth electrical connection device comprises a prong; and

moving the circuit board and the reflective element relatively towards each other to automatically mate the third electrical connection device and the fourth electrical connection device includes inserting the prong into the receiver.

16. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein:

the receiver comprise a plurality of fingers, with the prong being inserted between the fingers.

17. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device;

a circuit board with a second electrical connection device; and

a mount;

wherein the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device are configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the rear housing section are moved relatively towards each other;

wherein the rear housing section includes a flat mount connection panel portion;

wherein the mount is connected to the rear housing section at the flat mount connection panel portion;

wherein the flat mount connection panel portion includes a center opening for routing of the wiring therethrough; and

wherein the rear housing section includes clips for holding the wiring.

18. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein:

the mount comprises a two ball mount.

19. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, further including:

a washer having a central opening therethrough;

the mount being positioned on a first side of the flat mount connection panel portion and the washer being positioned on a second side of the flat mount connection panel portion;

wherein the mount is connected to the washer; and

wherein the wiring is routed through the center opening of the flat mount connection panel portion and the central opening of the washer.

20. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device; and

a circuit board with a second electrical connection device;

wherein the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device are configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the rear housing section are moved relatively towards each other;

wherein the rear housing section includes guide posts; and

wherein the circuit board is aligned within the rear housing section by abutting the circuit board against the guide posts.

21. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device; and

a circuit board with a second electrical connection device;

wherein the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device are configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the rear housing section are moved relatively towards each other; and

wherein a first one of the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device comprises a housing having a funnel receiver for accepting a second one of the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device therein.

22. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device; and

a circuit board with a second electrical connection device;

wherein the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device are configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the rear housing section are moved relatively towards each other; and

wherein the first electrical connection device comprises a first electrical connection housing having at least one slot for accepting the wiring therein.

23. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 22, wherein:

the rear housing section includes at least one connection clip flange;

the first electrical connection housing of the first electrical connection device includes at least one clip accepting opening; and

the least one connection clip flange is inserted into the at least one clip accepting opening.

24. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 22, wherein:

the wiring comprises an outer sheath covering a plurality of wires, each of the wires having an internal wire member and an external sheath; and

the at least one slot for accepting the wiring therein comprises a plurality of slots, with at least one of the slots accepting one of the wires therein.

25. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 24, wherein:

each of the slots includes a knife member; and

the internal wire member is exposed by inserting the wires into the slots and cutting the external sheath with the knife members, thereby electrically connecting the internal wire members to the knife members.

26. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a rear housing section with wiring connected to a first electrical connection device; and

a circuit board with a second electrical connection device;

wherein the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device are configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the rear housing section are moved relatively towards each other; and

wherein the circuit board further includes a third electrical connection device; and

an reflective element with a fourth electrical connection device;

wherein the third electrical connection device and the fourth electrical connection device are configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the reflective element are moved relatively towards each other.

27. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 26, wherein:

the wiring supplies power to the reflective element.

28. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 26, wherein:

the reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a front glass element and a rear glass element, with electrochromic material located between the front glass element and the rear glass element.

29. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 26, wherein:

the third electrical connection device comprises an conductive compressive member; and

the conductive compressive member abuts the fourth electrical connection device.

30. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 29, wherein:

the fourth electrical connection device comprises a clip with a resilient flap; and

the conductive compressive member abuts the resilient flap.

31. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 26, wherein:

a first one of the third electrical connection device and the fourth electrical connection device comprises a receiver and a second one of the third electrical connection device and the fourth electrical connection device comprises a prong; and

the prong is inserted into the receiver.

32. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 31, wherein:

the receiver comprise a plurality of fingers, with the prong being inserted between the fingers.

33. A method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly comprising:

providing a circuit board with a first electrical connection device;

providing an reflective element with a second electrical connection device;

moving the circuit board and the reflective element relatively towards each other to automatically mate the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device;

wherein the first electrical connection device comprises an conductive compressive member; and

abutting the conductive compressive member against the second electrical connection device.

34. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 33, wherein:

the reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a front glass element and a rear glass element, with electrochromic material located between the front glass element and the rear glass element.

35. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 33, wherein:

the second electrical connection device comprises a clip with a resilient flap; and

abutting the conductive compressive member with the second electrical connection device comprises abutting the conductive compressive member against the resilient flap.

36. A method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly comprising:

providing a circuit board with a first electrical connection device;

providing an reflective element with a second electrical connection device;

moving the circuit board and the reflective element relatively towards each other to automatically mate the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device;

wherein a first one of the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device comprises a receiver and a second one of the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device comprises a prong; and

moving the circuit board and the reflective element relatively towards each other to automatically mate the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device includes inserting the prong into the receiver.

37. The method of constructing a rearview mirror assembly of claim 36, wherein:

the receiver comprise a plurality of fingers, with the prong being inserted between the fingers.

38. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a circuit board with a first electrical connection device; and

a reflective element with a second electrical connection device;

wherein the first electrical connection device and the second electrical connection device are configured to automatically mate when the circuit board and the reflective element are moved relatively towards each other;

wherein the first electrical connection device comprises an conductive compressive member; and

wherein the conductive compressive member abuts the second electrical connection device.

39. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 38, wherein:

the wiring supplies power to the reflective element.

40. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 38, wherein:

the reflective element comprises an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a front glass element and a rear glass element, with electrochromic material located between the front glass element and the rear glass element.

41. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 38, wherein:

the second electrical connection device comprises a clip with a resilient flap; and

the conductive compressive member abuts the resilient flap.