Toggle switch lock and cushioned toggle switch for FDM

• US 10,464,485 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Lundy, Eric S., Hallack, Jason D., Berry, Richard A., Pollack, Christopher D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdur, Rahman
• Application Number:
  US15/405,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20170203694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 359604, 359601, 359607, 359872, 359873, 359871, 359875, 248477, 248478, 248479, 248481
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/086 using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A rearview mirror includes a housing defining an interior cavity and an opening to an exterior of the housing, a notch extending from an edge of the opening and an actuation mechanism coupled within the interior of the housing. The actuation mechanism has a toggle barrel rotatably positioned within the interior cavity of the housing and a lever extending from the toggle barrel through the opening. The lever defines a first major surface and includes a locking rib extending from the first major surface adjacent the barrel. The lever and toggle barrel are rotatable between a first position and a second position, the locking rib being positioned within the notch of the housing when the lever and the toggle barrel are in the first position and being positioned away from the notch when the lever and the toggle barrel are in the second position.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing defining an interior and an opening from the interior to an exterior of the housing, a notch extending from the interior to the exterior of the housing contiguous with the opening from an edge of the opening, the opening having a first width and the notch having a second width less than the first width; and

an actuation mechanism coupled within the interior of the housing and including;

a toggle barrel rotatably positioned within the interior cavity of the housing; and

a lever extending from the toggle barrel through the opening, the lever defining a first major surface having a third width greater than the second width and including a locking rib extending from the first major surface adjacent the barrel and having a fourth width less than the third width and less than the second width, the lever being rotatable with corresponding rotation of the toggle barrel with respect to the housing between a first position and a second position, the locking rib being positioned within the notch of the housing when the lever and the toggle barrel are in the first position and being positioned away from the notch when the lever and the toggle barrel are in the second position.

2. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein:

the actuation mechanism further includes a mounting plate rotatably coupled within the cavity of the housing at a first end thereof; and

the toggle barrel is operatively coupled with the mounting plate such that rotation of the toggle barrel between the first position and the second position rotates the housing about the first end of the mounting plate between first and second stable positions respectively corresponding with the first and second positions of the toggle barrel.

3. The rearview mirror of claim 2, wherein the actuation mechanism further includes a spring plate coupled with the mounting plate and having a resiliently deformable arm extending away from the mounting plate, the arm portion of the spring plate operably coupling the mounting plate with the toggle barrel.

4. The rearview mirror of claim 3, wherein the arm is biased against the toggle barrel to urge the toggle barrel toward a nearest of the first and second positions.

5. The rearview mirror of claim 2, wherein the first and second stable positions are rotationally spaced about the first end of the mounting plate at an angle of between 5 degrees and 10 degrees.

6. The rearview mirror of claim 2, further including a mounting arm coupled with the mounting plate, wherein:

the housing defines an aperture, the mounting arm extending through the aperture to an exterior of the housing.

7. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein the locking rib forcibly engages with the notch when the lever is in the first position thereby resisting movement of the lever out of the first position.

8. The rearview mirror of claim 7, wherein the locking rib defines an undercut including a surface angled towards the first major surface, the undercut receiving a portion of the notch therein when the lever is in the first position to contribute to rib forcibly engaging with the notch.

9. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein the lever includes:

a body, the first major surface and the rib being defined on the body; and

a first damper insert coupled with the body along a portion of the first major surface.

10. The rearview mirror of claim 9, wherein:

the body further defines a second major surface opposite the first surface; and

the lever further includes a second damper insert coupled with the body along a portion of the second major surface.

11. The rearview mirror of claim 10, wherein:

the body portion is of a first material having a first hardness; and

the first and second damper portions are of a second material having a second hardness that is less than the first hardness.

12. The rearview mirror of claim 10, wherein:

the body portion defines an aperture therethrough; and

the first and second damper portions are integrally joined through the aperture.

13. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein:

the interior of the housing defines a support rib having a cradle portion and a ramp portion; and

the toggle barrel is rotatably positioned within the housing by operative engagement with the support rib such that, during rotation of the toggle barrel between the first and second positions by movement of the lever, the toggle barrel is positioned within the cradle portion and, when the toggle barrel is in the first position, a force applied on the housing moves the toggle barrel at least partially into the ramp portion, thereby moving the locking rib into contact with a portion of the notch.

14. The rearview mirror of claim 1, further including a display substrate coupled over the open side of the housing and having a reflective surface thereon.

15. A vehicle, comprising:

a windshield;

a headliner adjacent an upper edge of the windshield; and

a mirror assembly, comprising;

a housing defining an interior cavity and an opening from the interior to an exterior of the housing, a notch extending from the interior cavity to the exterior of the housing and contiguous with an edge of the opening, the opening having a first width and the notch having a second width less than the first width; and

an actuation mechanism coupled within the interior of the housing and including;

a toggle barrel rotatably positioned within the interior cavity of the housing; and

a lever extending from the toggle barrel through the opening, the lever defining a first major surface having a third width greater than the second width and including a locking rib extending from the first major surface adjacent the barrel and having a fourth width less than the third width and less than the second width, the lever being rotatable with corresponding rotation of the toggle barrel with respect to the housing between a first position and a second position, the locking rib being positioned within the notch of the housing when the lever and the toggle barrel are in the first position and being positioned away from the notch when the lever and the toggle barrel are in the second position.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the locking rib defines an undercut including a surface angled towards the first major surface, the undercut receiving a portion of the notch thereunder when the lever is in the first position to contribute to rib forcibly engaging with the notch.

17. The rearview mirror of claim 15, wherein the lever includes:

a body, the first major surface, the rib, and a second major surface opposite the first surface being defined on the body;

a first damper insert coupled with the body along a portion of the first major surface; and

a second damper insert coupled with the body along a portion of the second major surface.

18. The rearview mirror of claim 17, wherein:

the body portion is of a first material having a first hardness; and

the first and second damper portions are of a second material having a second hardness that is less than the first hardness.

19. The rearview mirror of claim 17, wherein:

the body portion defines an aperture therethrough; and

the first and second damper portions are integrally joined through the aperture.

20. A rearview mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing defining an interior cavity and an opening from the interior cavity to an exterior of the housing, a notch extending from the interior cavity to the exterior of the housing and contiguous with an edge of the opening, the opening having a first width and the notch having a second width less than the first width; and

an actuation mechanism coupled within the interior of the housing and including;

a toggle barrel rotatably positioned within the interior cavity of the housing; and

a lever extending from the toggle barrel through the opening, the lever defining a first major surface having a third width greater than the second width and including a locking rib extending from the first major surface adjacent the barrel and having a fourth width less than the third width, the lever being rotatable with corresponding rotation of the toggle barrel with respect to the housing including into a first position wherein the locking rib is forcibly engaged with the notch to resist movement of the lever out of the first position.