Clear bezel

• US 9,676,334 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Minikey, Jr., Danny L., Lisowski, Michael F., Roth, Mark R., Fogg, Jeremy A., Rizk, Peter N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US14/319,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20140307344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens

Abstract

A rearview assembly having a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle. A housing is operably connected with the mounting structure and a rearward viewing device is supported by one of the housing and the mounting structure. The rearward viewing device provides a rearward view to a vehicle driver and includes a front substrate and a rear substrate. The entire front surface of the front substrate is exposed and the entire rear substrate is positioned behind the front substrate. A concealing layer is disposed about a periphery of the rearward viewing device between the front substrate and the rear substrate. A partially optically transparent bezel is disposed adjacent to both the rearward viewing device and the housing, the optically transparent bezel having an edge radius greater than 2.5 mm and the optically transparent bezel being substantially flush with the front surface of the front substrate.

Claims

1. A rearview assembly comprising:

a housing defining a forward peripheral rim, the forward peripheral rim defining a forward opening;

a mount operably coupled with the housing, wherein the mount is configured for attachment to a windshield, the housing being pivotal relative to the mount; and

a substantially planar viewing surface operably coupled with the housing proximate the forward peripheral rim, the substantially planar viewing surface including a perimeter that is at least as large as the forward peripheral rim, wherein when viewed from the front, a first angle is defined between a line of sight to a midpoint of the viewing surface and a planar extent of the viewing surface, and wherein a second angle is defined within the housing between a sidewall of the housing and the planar extent of the viewing surface, the first angle being equal to or larger than the second angle, resulting in the substantially planar viewing surface concealing the housing from view.

2. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the substantially planar viewing surface is operably coupled with the housing utilizing a bezel-less connection.

3. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the substantially planar viewing surface includes a rounded peripheral edge.

4. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of sidewalls is generally planar.

5. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the first angle and the second angle are measured along a planar and substantially horizontal cross-section that is parallel with a longitudinal extent of the housing.

6. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the mount extends substantially orthogonally from the windshield, and wherein the housing and the substantially planar viewing surface are angled toward the driver between approximately 12 degrees and 17 degrees.

7. A rearview assembly comprising:

a housing defining a forward peripheral rim, the forward peripheral rim defining a forward opening;

a mount operably coupled with the housing, wherein the mount is configured for attachment to a windshield, the housing being pivotal relative to the mount; and

a substantially planar viewing surface operably coupled with the housing proximate the forward peripheral rim, the substantially planar viewing surface including a perimeter that is at least as large as the forward peripheral rim, wherein when viewed from the front, a first angle is defined between a line of sight from a driver to a point on the perimeter of the planar viewing surface and a planar extent of the viewing surface, and wherein a second angle is defined within the housing between a sidewall of the housing and the planar extent of the viewing surface, and wherein the first angle is equal to or larger than the second angle, resulting in the substantially planar viewing surface concealing the housing from view.

8. The rearview assembly of claim 7, wherein the substantially planar viewing surface is operably coupled with the housing utilizing a bezel-less connection.

9. The rearview assembly of claim 7, wherein the substantially planar viewing surface includes a rounded peripheral edge.

10. The rearview assembly of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of sidewalls is generally planar.

11. The rearview assembly of claim 7, wherein the first angle and the second angle are measured along a planar and substantially horizontal cross-section that is parallel with a longitudinal extent of the housing.

12. The rearview assembly of claim 7, wherein the mount extends substantially orthogonally from the windshield, and wherein the housing and the substantially planar viewing surface are angled toward the driver between approximately 12 degrees and 17 degrees.

13. A rearview assembly comprising:

a housing defining a forward peripheral rim, the forward peripheral rim defining a forward opening;

a mount operably coupled with the housing, wherein the mount is configured for attachment to a windshield, the housing being pivotal relative to the mount; and

a substantially planar viewing surface operably coupled with the housing proximate the forward peripheral rim, the substantially planar viewing surface including a perimeter that is at least as large as the forward peripheral rim, wherein when viewed from the front, a first angle of between approximately 61 degrees and 66 degrees is defined between a line of sight from a driver to the perimeter of the planar viewing surface and a planar extent of the viewing surface, and wherein a second angle that is less than the first angle is defined between a sidewall of the housing and the planar extent of the viewing surface, resulting in the substantially planar viewing surface concealing the housing from view.

14. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein the first angle is approximately 66 degrees.

15. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein the substantially planar viewing surface is operably coupled with the housing utilizing a bezel-less connection.

16. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein the substantially planar viewing surface includes a rounded peripheral edge.

17. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of sidewalls is generally planar.

18. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein the first angle and the second angle are measured along a planar and substantially horizontal cross-section that is parallel with a longitudinal extent of the housing.

19. The rearview assembly of claim 13, wherein the mount extends substantially orthogonally from the windshield, and wherein the housing and the substantially planar viewing surface are angled toward the driver between approximately 12 degrees and 17 degrees.