AUTO TILT CLUTCH MECHANISM
First Claim
1. A rearview mirror for a vehicle, comprising:
- a substrate having a reflective surface thereon; and
an actuation mechanism coupled within the substrate and including;
a socket plate rotatably coupled with the substrate at a first end thereof and extending to a second end;
a link element rotatably coupled with the substrate adjacent the second end of the socket and engaged with the socket plate to rotate the socket plate about the first end by rotation of the link element;
a clutch plate rigidly coupled with the link element about an axis thereof; and
an input element positioned on, rotatable about, and slideable along the axis of the link element, the input element releasably engaging the clutch plate under a force applied thereto along the axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rearview mirror for a vehicle includes a substrate having a reflective surface thereon and an actuation mechanism coupled within the substrate. The actuation mechanism includes a socket plate rotatably coupled within the cavity of the housing at a first end thereof and extending to a second end and a link element rotatably coupled within the cavity of the housing adjacent the second end of the socket and engaged with the socket plate to rotate the socket plate about the first end by rotation of the link element. The actuation mechanism further includes a clutch plate rigidly coupled with the link element about an axis thereof and an input element positioned on, rotatable about, and slideable along the axis of the link element. The input element releasably engages the clutch plate under a force applied thereto along the axis.
2 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rearview mirror for a vehicle, comprising:
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a substrate having a reflective surface thereon; and an actuation mechanism coupled within the substrate and including; a socket plate rotatably coupled with the substrate at a first end thereof and extending to a second end; a link element rotatably coupled with the substrate adjacent the second end of the socket and engaged with the socket plate to rotate the socket plate about the first end by rotation of the link element; a clutch plate rigidly coupled with the link element about an axis thereof; and an input element positioned on, rotatable about, and slideable along the axis of the link element, the input element releasably engaging the clutch plate under a force applied thereto along the axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle, comprising:
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an imaging system including a rear view camera; a windshield; and a rearview mirror mounted adjacent the windshield and including; a substrate having a reflective surface thereon; and an actuation mechanism coupled within the substrate and including; a socket plate rotatably coupled with the substrate cat a first end thereof and extending to a second end; a link element rotatably coupled with the substrate adjacent the second end of the socket and engaged with the socket plate to rotate the socket plate about the first end by rotation of the link element; a clutch plate rigidly coupled with the link element about an axis thereof; and an input element positioned on, rotatable about, and slideable along the axis of the link element, the input element releasably engaging the clutch plate under a force applied thereto along the axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for moving a mirror substrate, comprising:
causing rotation of an input element, the input element being coupled with a link element by way of a clutch plate rigidly coupled with the link element about an axis thereof, the input element being positioned on, rotatable about, and slideable along the axis of the link element with the input element releasably engaging the clutch plate under a force applied thereto along the axis, the rotation of the input element being such that the input element remains releasably engaged with the clutch plate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
Specification