CLEAR BEZEL

• US 20120268961A1
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Minikey, Danny L. Jr., Roth, Mark R., Tonar, William L., Fogg, Jeremy A., Lisowski, Michael F., Rizk, Peter N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,827,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/516
• 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 mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle;

a housing operably connected with the mounting structure;

a rearward viewing device supported by one of the housing and the mounting structure, the rearward viewing device providing a rearward view to a vehicle driver and including a front substrate and a rear substrate, wherein the entire front surface of the front substrate is exposed and wherein the entire rear substrate is positioned behind the front substrate;

a concealing layer disposed about a periphery of the rearward viewing device between the front substrate and the rear substrate; and

a partially optically transparent bezel 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.

2. The rearview assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a hiding layer disposed between one of;

the bezel and rearward viewing device; and

the bezel and the housing.

3. The rearview assembly of claim 1, wherein the partially optically transparent bezel includes an outer perimeter that is larger than an outer perimeter of the housing edge.

4. A rearview assembly comprising:

a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle;

a housing operably connected with the mounting structure;

a rearward viewing device supported by one of the housing and the mounting structure, the rearward viewing device being adapted to provide a rearward view to a vehicle driver;

a partially optically transparent bezel disposed adjacent to both the rearward viewing device and the housing; and

a hiding layer disposed between one of;

the bezel and rearward viewing device; and

the bezel and the housing.

5. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the hiding layer at least partially reduces the visibility of a peripheral portion of the rearward viewing device.

6. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the rearward viewing device includes one of an electrochromic element and a prism-type element.

7. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the bezel includes a bulbous peripheral frame that extends around an outer edge of the rearward viewing device.

8. The rearview assembly of claim 7, wherein the bulbous peripheral frame includes a multi-radius arcuate outer edge.

9. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the bezel is constructed from at least one of a transparent plastic, transparent elastomer, acrylic, polycarbonate, cyclic polyolefin, polyolefin, polysulfone, PVC, epoxy, silicone, polyurethane.

10. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the bezel includes a rear wall that extends behind the rearward viewing device.

11. The rearview assembly of claim 10, wherein the rear wall includes a plurality of connecting members separated by slots.

12. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the bezel includes a plurality of flexible protuberances that flex against the rearward viewing device.

13. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the hiding layer is a reflective layer that is formed from one of an opaque, diffuse, reflective, and translucent material.

14. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the hiding layer is integrally formed in the bezel.

15. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the bezel includes a plurality of light sources spaced substantially uniformly about the bezel.

16. The rearview assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

one or more light sources that are in optical communication with the bezel via a plurality of light pipes.

17. The rearview assembly of claim 15, wherein the bezel includes a rear wall and wherein the plurality of light sources are disposed proximate an interior portion of the rear wall.

18. The rearview assembly of claim 15, wherein the bezel includes a rear wall and wherein at least one total internal reflection reflector is disposed on the rear wall.

19. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein a forward edge of the bezel is substantially flush with a front surface of the rearward viewing device.

20. The rearview assembly of claim 4, wherein the optically transparent bezel includes an arcuate outer edge substantially flush with a forward edge of the rearward viewing device and a side edge of the housing.

21. A rearview assembly comprising:

a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle;

a housing operably connected with the mounting structure;

a rearward viewing device having a front surface and being operably coupled with the housing proximate a forward edge of the housing, wherein the rearward viewing device is configured to provide a rearward view to a vehicle driver;

a substantially optically transparent bezel disposed adjacent to the rearward viewing device and the housing, the bezel having a forward edge that is substantially flush with the front surface of the rearward viewing device and an outer perimeter that is larger than an outer perimeter of the forward edge of the housing; and

further comprising a hiding layer between one of;

the bezel and the rearward viewing device; and

the bezel and the housing.

23. The rearview assembly of claim 21, wherein the hiding layer is a reflective layer that is formed from one of an opaque, diffuse, reflective, or translucent material.

24. The rearview assembly of claim 21, wherein the rearward viewing device includes one of an electrochromic element and a prism-type construction.

22. (canceled)

25. A rearview assembly comprising:

a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle;

a housing with an outer wall operably connected to the mounting structure;

a rearward viewing device having a front surface, the rearward viewing device being operably connected to the housing and adapted to provide a rearward view to a vehicle driver;

an at least partially optically transparent bezel disposed adjacent to both the rearward viewing device and the housing, the bezel having a forward edge that is substantially flush with the front surface of the rearward viewing device and a side edge that is substantially flush with the outer wall of the housing; and

a hiding layer disposed on the bezel.

26. The rearview assembly of claim 25, wherein the hiding layer at least partially reduces the visibility of a peripheral portion of the rearward viewing device.

27. The rearview assembly of claim 25, wherein the hiding layer is a reflective layer that is formed from one of an opaque, diffuse, reflective, or translucent material.

28. The rearview assembly of claim 25, wherein the rearward viewing device includes one of an electrochromic element and a prism-type construction.

29. The rearview assembly of claim 25, further comprising:

a light source adjacent to the bezel and configured to illuminate a portion of the bezel.

30. A rearview assembly comprising:

a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle;

a housing operably connected with the mounting structure;

a rearward viewing device supported by one of the housing and the mounting structure, the rearward viewing device being adapted to provide a rearward view to a vehicle driver;

a bezel including an arcuate outer wall that is at least partially optically transparent and an inner wall adjacent to an outer periphery of the rearward viewing device; and

a light source adjacent to the bezel and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the bezel.

31. The rearview assembly of claim 30, wherein the bezel is constructed from a first material that is substantially optically clear and from a second material that is not substantially optically clear.

32. The rearview assembly of claim 30, wherein the bezel further includes a recess that encompasses a forward edge of the housing.

33. The rearview assembly of claim 30, wherein the inner wall includes a stepped construction.

34. The rearview assembly of claim 30, wherein the inner wall includes an angled portion that defines a triangular void between the inner wall and the rearward viewing device.

35. The rearview assembly of claim 30, wherein the inner wall includes an arcuate portion that defines an arcuate void between the inner wall and the rearward viewing device.

36. The rearview assembly of claim 30, wherein the inner wall includes a reflective layer disposed thereon.

37. The rearview assembly of claim 30, wherein the inner wall includes a plurality of channels disposed thereon.

38. A rearview assembly comprising:

a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle;

a housing operably connected with the mounting structure;

a rearward viewing device supported by one of the housing and the mounting structure, the rearward viewing device being adapted to provide a rearward view to a vehicle driver;

a substantially optically transparent bezel operably connected with a forward edge of the rearward viewing device;

a decorative treatment disposed between the optically transparent bezel and the rearward viewing device; and

a light source proximate the substantially optically transparent bezel that optically communicates with first and second light receiving ends of the bezel.

39. The rearview assembly of claim 38, wherein one of the substantially optically transparent bezel and the forward edge of the rearward viewing device includes an arcuate portion, thereby defining an arcuate void between the bezel and the forward edge.

40. The rearview assembly of claim 38, wherein one of the substantially optically transparent bezel and the forward edge of the rearward viewing device includes an angled portion, thereby defining a triangular void between the bezel and the forward edge.

41. The rearview assembly of claim 38, wherein one of the substantially optically transparent bezel and the forward edge of the rearward viewing device includes a plurality of acute channels.

42. The rearview assembly of claim 38, wherein the bezel is operably connected to the housing via a snap-fit connection.

43. The rearview assembly of claim 38, wherein the bezel is operably connected to a carrier disposed inside the housing via a snap-fit connection.

44. (canceled)

45. A rearview assembly comprising:

a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle;

a housing operably connected with the mounting structure;

a rearward viewing device supported by one of the housing and the mounting structure, the rearward viewing device being adapted to provide a rearward view to a vehicle driver;

a substantially optically transparent bezel operably connected with a forward edge of the rearward viewing device;

a decorative treatment disposed between the optically transparent bezel and the rearward viewing device; and

a light source proximate the substantially optically transparent bezel and a reflector proximate the light source, wherein the reflector is adapted to reflect light from the light source to a light pipe that is in optical communication with the bezel.

46. The rearview assembly of claim 45, wherein the reflector is a total internal reflection reflector.