Mounting assembly for vehicle interior mirror

• US 20060061008A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R., Karner, Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/226,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061008A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/250
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0017 moulding interconnected elements which are movable with respect to one another, e.g. chains or hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14754 being in movable or releasable engagement with the coating, e.g. bearing assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1671 with an insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0058 Mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/30 Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/00 Reinforcements or ply arrangement of pneumatic tyres inserts having reinforcing means B60C5/08; bead structure, e.g. turnup or overlap construction, B60C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1269 with sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 : using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/308 : by overlaying the real scene, e.g. through a head-up display on the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 : in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 : for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/808 : for facilitating docking to a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 : Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30232 : Surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30261 : Obstacle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/13 : Edge detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 : Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 : Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0456 : with a reflective area and a transmissive area combined in one pixel, such as in transflectance pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 : Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 : Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 : using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 : based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/026 : Control of mixing and/or overlay of colours in general G09G5/022 and G09G5/024 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A method of making a mounting assembly of an interior rearview mirror assembly includes providing a mounting arm having at least one ball member at at least one end thereof and having at least one electrical conductor element passing the mounting arm and extending therefrom, and molding at least one of a mounting base portion and a mirror mounting portion over the ball member. The ball member is pivotally received in the mounting base portion and/or mirror mounting portion after the mounting base portion and/or mirror mounting portion is molded and cured. The pivot joints defined by the ball members and overmolded portions may provide different frictional resistance to provide different threshold torques for pivoting the mirror assembly or mounting arm about the respective pivot joints.

Claims

1. A method of making a mounting assembly of an interior rearview mirror assembly, said method comprising:

providing a mounting arm having at least one ball member at at least one end thereof and having electrical conducting elements extending therethrough; and

molding at least one of a mounting base portion and a mirror mounting portion over said at least one ball member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one ball member is pivotally received in said at least one of a mounting base portion and a mirror mounting portion after said at least one of a mounting base portion and a mirror mounting portion is molded and cured.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one ball member comprises a first ball member at one end of said mounting arm and a second ball member at the other end of said mounting arm.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein molding at least one of a mounting base portion and a mirror mounting portion comprises molding a mounting base portion over said first ball member and molding a mirror mounting portion over said second ball member.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said mounting base portion comprises a first material and said mirror mounting portion comprises a second material, said first material being different than said second material.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said first ball member has a first surface characteristic and said second ball member has a second surface characteristic, said first surface characteristic being different than said second surface characteristic.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein molding said mounting base portion comprises insert molding a channel element at least partially within said mounting base portion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said mirror mounting portion comprises a toggle portion.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one ball member comprises a partial ball member having a partial spherical surface and an annular surface at at least one end of said partial ball member.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein molding at least one of a mounting base portion and a mirror mounting portion over said at least one ball member includes closing a mold cavity around a shaft portion of said mounting arm and generally against said annular surface.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises at least one of a metallic material, a nylon material and an acetal material.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one of a mounting base portion and a mirror mounting portion comprises a polyolefin material.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical conducting elements are insert molded within and at least partially along said mounting arm.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said electrical conducting elements include a connector at at least one end for connecting to a corresponding connector at at least one of said mounting base portion and said mirror mounting portion.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said corresponding connector is located at said mounting base portion, said corresponding connector including electronic circuitry associated with an accessory of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15 including locating said corresponding connector and electronic circuitry within a receiving portion of said mounting base portion and attaching a cover to said receiving portion to substantially contain said corresponding connector and electronic circuitry within said receiving portion.