REARVIEW DEVICE WITH MOVEABLE HEAD ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SAME

• US 20180265005A1
• Filed: 03/15/2018
• Published: 09/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Lettis, Andrew, Rehill, Graham, Scott-Collins, Callum
• Granted Patent: US 10,661,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• 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 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system

Abstract

A rearview device for a motor vehicle includes a moveable head assembly, an actuator assembly having a fixed part and a moveable part, the moveable part being attached to the head assembly, a motor cradle configured to attach the actuator assembly to the moveable head assembly. A method of assembling a rearview device comprises providing the rearview device and attaching the actuator assembly to the moveable head assembly using the motor cradle.

Claims

1. A rearview device for a vehicle, comprising:

a moveable head assembly;

an actuator assembly comprising a fixed part and a moveable part, the moveable part being attached to the head assembly; and

a motor cradle configured to attach the actuator assembly to the moveable head assembly.

2. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein the moveable head assembly comprises a lower case and the actuator assembly is attached to the lower case of the moveable head assembly using the motor cradle.

3. The rearview device of claim 2, wherein the lower case comprises one or more vertical fixation lugs, the motor cradle comprises one or more cradle projections, and the one or more vertical fixation lugs are configured to engage the one or more cradle projections in response to the motor cradle being attached to the lower case.

4. The rearview device of claim 2, wherein the motor cradle is configured to attach to the lower case using a turn and snap or hook and snap connectivity.

5. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein the motor cradle further comprises one or more cradle teeth and the one or more cradle teeth of the motor cradle are configured to engage one or more corresponding gaps formed in a ring of the actuator assembly.

6. The rearview device of claim 2, further comprising a cradle clamp configured to clamp the actuator assembly to the motor cradle, the lower case, and a light module.

7. The rearview device of claim 6, wherein the cradle clamp comprises

one or more clamp cams configured to be received by a space formed between the actuator assembly and the motor cradle;

one or more clamp prongs configured to be received by a space formed between the actuator assembly and the motor cradle;

one or more clamp clips configured to clip on to corresponding features of the motor cradle;

one or more case locking prongs configured to lock the actuator assembly to the lower case; and

one or more light module locking prongs configured lock the actuator assembly to the light module.

8. The rearview device of claim 2, further comprising a light module which is attached to the lower case.

9. The rearview device of claim 8, wherein the light module comprises one or more tabs and one or more clips,

the lower case comprises one or more tab receiving portions, and

the one or more tab receiving portions of the lower case are configured to receive the one or more tabs of the light module.

10. The rearview device of claim 8, wherein the light module is configured to lock and attach to the lower case by pressing the light module on the lower case and sliding the light module with respect to the lower case.

11. A method of assembling a rearview device for a vehicle, comprising:

providing a moveable head assembly, an actuator assembly comprising a fixed part and a moveable part, and a motor cradle;

attaching the actuator assembly to the moveable head assembly using the motor cradle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the moveable head assembly comprises a lower case, and the method further comprises attaching the moveable head assembly to the lower case using the motor cradle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the lower case comprises one or more vertical fixation lugs and the motor cradle comprises one or more cradle projections, and

the method further comprises engaging the one or more vertical fixation lugs with the one or more cradle projections to attach the motor cradle to the lower case.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising attaching the motor cradle to the lower case by turning or hooking the motor cradle and snapping the motor cradle into the lower case.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the motor cradle further comprises one or more cradle teeth, and

the method further comprises engaging the one or more cradle teeth of the motor cradle to the one or more corresponding gaps formed in a ring of the actuator assembly to attach the actuator assembly to the motor cradle.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a cradle clamp configured to clamp the actuator assembly to the motor cradle, the lower case, and a light module.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cradle clamp comprises

one or more clamp cams configured to be received by a space formed between the actuator assembly and the motor cradle;

one or more clamp prongs configured to be received by a space formed between the actuator assembly and the motor cradle; and

one or more clamp clips configured to clip on to corresponding features of the motor cradle;

one or more case locking prongs configured to lock the actuator assembly to the lower case; and

one or more light module locking prongs configured lock the actuator assembly to the light module.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a light module which is configured to be attached to the lower case.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the light module comprises one or more tabs and one or more clips,

the lower case comprises one or more tab receiving portions, and

the method further comprises engaging the one or more tab receiving portions of the lower case with the one or more tabs of the light module.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising locking and attaching the light module to the lower case by pressing the light module on the lower case and sliding the light module with respect to the lower case.