Linkage arrangement for the adjustment of rearview mirrors

• US 8,246,266 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Lang, Heinrich, Seiboth, Wolfgang, Centmayer, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, JOSHUA T
• Application Number:
  US11/903,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20080073477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 403/87, 403/90, 403124-127, 403/135, 248481-484, 359/872, 359/874, 359/876
• US Class Current: 403/87
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/066 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/06 Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32286 Clamping screw traverses sliding complementary arcuate bearing surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32647 Plural concave surfaces with diverse curvature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32672 Swiveled ball parts or seat

Abstract

A first linkage component including a ball socket having a concave profiling and a second linkage component including a projection having a convex profiling received in the concave profiling of the ball socket. A sliding plate carried between the ball socket and projection having a convex profiling conforming to the concave profiling of the ball socket and a concave profiling conforming to the convex profiling of the projection. The convex profilings of the projection and sliding plate have a larger radius of curvature than the concave profilings of the sliding plate and the ball socket. A connecting rod connects the first linkage component, the second linkage component, and the sliding plate together. Wherein the larger radius of curvature of the convex profiling of the sliding plate and projection causes the projection and sliding plate to be further received in the ball socket after abrasive wear to prevent play between components.

Claims

1. A linkage arrangement for a rearview mirror comprising:

a first linkage component having a ball socket having a concave surface including a plurality of first profilings which are one of concave and convex and have a longitudinal axis;

a second linkage component having a convex projection including a plurality of second profilings which are one of convex and concave and have a longitudinal axis;

a sliding plate carried between said ball socket and said projection having a plurality of third profilings which are one of convex and concave and are configured to be received in said first profilings of said ball socket and a plurality of fourth profilings which are one of concave and convex and are configured to be received in said second profilings of said projection;

said second profilings of said projection and said third profilings said sliding plate having a larger radius of curvature than said fourth profilings of said sliding plate and said first profilings of said ball socket; and

,

a connecting rod connecting said first linkage component, said second linkage component, and said sliding plate together;

wherein,

said larger radius of curvature of said second and third profilings of said sliding plate and said projection allows said second and third profilings to be fully received in said first and fourth profilings of said ball socket and said sliding plate only after abrasive wear, thereby extending the life of said linkage by continuing to prevent play between the components.

2. The linkage arrangement as in claim 1, wherein the profilings of said ball socket, said second linkage and said sliding plate each define one of a plurality of parallel grooves and elevations, said plurality of grooves being adapted for receiving said plurality of elevations.

3. The linkage arrangement of claim 2, wherein said grooves and elevations of the respective profilings define a substantially uniform waveform.

4. The linkage arrangement of claim 1, wherein the profilings of said ball socket cooperate with the profilings of said sliding plate to define a first axis of rotation, and said profilings of said projection cooperate with said profilings of said sliding plate to define a second axis of rotation moving perpendicular to said first axis of rotation.

5. The linkage arrangement of claim 4, wherein the projection, the sliding plate and the ball socket each include an opening for receiving said connecting rod to connect the ball socket, the sliding plate, and the projection together.

6. The linkage arrangement of claim 5, wherein one of the openings is configured to extend along said first axis of rotation and a second of said openings is configured to extend along said second axis of rotation to permit selective pivoting of the linkage components.

7. The linkage arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sliding plate is generally hemispherical in shape and includes both concave and convex profilings.

8. A linkage arrangement for a rearview mirror comprising:

a first linkage member defining a first hemispherical component having at least one inner concave surface having a plurality of parallel concave profilings along a first plane;

a second linkage member defining a second hemispherical component having an outer convex surface having a plurality of parallel convex profilings along a second plane;

a third linkage member defining a third hemispherical member having an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface, said outer convex surface having a plurality of parallel convex profilings along said first plane and said inner concave surface having a plurality of parallel concave profilings along said second plane;

a connection assembly configured to clamp said first, second and third linkage members together with the concave profilings of said first linkage member engaged in said convex profilings of said third linkage member and said convex profilings of said second linkage member engaged in said concave profilings of said third linkage member, said engagement of said connection assembly and said profilings limiting movement between said linkage members to be along the respective planes defined by the engaged concave and convex profilings.

9. The linkage arrangement of claim 8 wherein said convex profilings have a larger radius of curvature than said concave profilings allowing said convex profilings to be fully seated in said concave profilings only after abrasive wear, thereby extending life of said linkage.

10. The linkage arrangement of claim 8, wherein said convex profilings have a larger radius of curvature than said concave profilings and said concave and convex profilings are plastically deformable allowing engagement along a closed contact strip surface, thereby extending life of said linkage.

11. The linkage arrangement of claim 8, wherein the connection assembly includes a helical spring.

12. The linkage arrangement of claim 8, further including a pressure disk, the pressure disk and the connection assembly configured to position the third linkage member in engagement with said first and second linkage members.

13. The linkage arrangement of claim 8, wherein said plurality of convex profilings and said plurality of concave profilings respectively have substantially uniform height and depth to define a uniform waveform.

14. The linkage arrangement of claim 8, wherein the first, second and third linkage members each define an opening and the connection assembly includes a rod inserted through said openings connecting said first, second and third linkage members together.