Rearview mirror assembly for motor vehicles

• US 20040184172A1
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Centmayer, Stefan, Lang, Heinrich, Seiboth, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 7,370,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/879
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly has a holding component and clamping parts to clamp the mirror assembly to the holding component. Alternative embodiments of the holding component and clamping parts are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror, especially for motor vehicles, with a mirror housing (2) which includes a mirror housing framing (4), a mirror element (6) which is located in the mirror housing (2), and a clamp connection (8) with a first and a second clamping part for the connection of the rearview mirror with a mirror holding component (10;

50, 52), therein characterized, in that the first clamping part is the mirror housing framing (4), in that the second clamping part is a clamping bracket (12), and in that the mirror element (6) is fastened to the clamping bracket (12).

2. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 1, therein characterized, in that the mirror housing framing (4) is made of plastic and in that the clamping bracket (12) is composed of a stronger material than is the mirror housing framing (4).

3. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 2, therein characterized, in that the clamping bracket (12) is made of reinforced plastic, especially reinforced by means of glass fiber, or is made of metal.

4. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the clamping bracket (12) is secured by force fit clips on one side of the mirror housing framing (4) and on the other side is secured by screws to the mirror housing framing (4).

5. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the mirror element (6) possesses a mirror pane (39) mounted on a glass carrying plate (32), which is connected to a preferably electric motor driven glass positioning apparatus (34), and in that the glass positioning apparatus (34) is fastened to the clamping bracket (12) by means of a screw connection (26).

6. A rearview mirror in accord with claim 5, therein characterized, in that the glass carrier plate (32) has no peripheral edging.

7. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the mirror housing (2) includes a mirror housing cover (5), which, by means of a snap-in connection is releasably bindable to the mirror housing framing (4).

8. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the clamping connection (8) possesses means (56, 58) for shape-forced connection between the mirror housing framing (4) and the mirror holder component (10;

50, 52) and/or the clamping bracket (12) and the mirror holding component (10;

50, 52).

9. A rearview mirror in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the clamping bracket (12) possesses an opening (40).