Mirror actuator and support means therefor

• US 3,870,404 A
• Filed: 05/01/1973
• Issued: 03/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harold R. Wilson, Marc A. Kamerling
• Inventors: Wilson, Harold R., Kamerling, Marc A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Application Number:
  US05/356,075
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 350/281,280,279
• US Class Current: 359/606
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/086 using a mirror angularly movable between a position of use and a non-glare position reflecting a dark field to the user, e.g. situated behind a transparent glass used as low-reflecting surface; Wedge-shaped mirrors

Abstract

A vibration minimizing actuator for pivotally shifting the piston of a mirror case and mirror element of a day-night rearview mirror assembly and means for supporting the same within the mirror case. The mirror case and element are pivoted about a pivot axis by a pivotal toggle assembly included on the actuator, the plane parallel to the front of the mirror and including the pivot axis being spaced as close as possible to the parallel plane including the center of gravity of the case and element. The support means enable easy insertion, secure retention, and precise positioning of the actuator in the day-night positions as well as control of the force required to pivot the assembly between day and night positions.

Claims

1. A day-night mirror assembly comprising a mirror case, a prismatic mirror element having non-parallel, generally planar front and back surfaces supported and retained therein, and an actuator means for shifting said case and mirror element with respect to a support external of said assembly between a predetermined reflectivity day position and a reduced reflectivity night position, said actuator means including two side edges and two spaced, generally parallel shaft means for supporting said actuator means in said case;

said case including spaced support means for pivotally supporting said actuator means therebetween;

said support means including a one-piece support member adjacent and along each side edge of said actuator means, each of said support members including means defining apertures having completely closed peripheries for receiving the ends of both of said shaft means along one side edge of said actuator means whereby said two shaft means and their corresponding apertures are maintained in the same spaced relationship by said one-piece support member throughout said shifting of said case and mirror;

said support members being movable with respect to one another to permit insertion of said actuator means; and

locking means for positively securing said support members following insertion of said actuator means to retain said actuator means in position in said case.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuator means is pivotable between at least two positions and includes a generally planar front surface area and stop projections extending from portions of its rear surface;

said spaced support member positioned on either side of said actuator means and including recesses and stop ledges;

said actuator means having portions of said front surface are extending into said recesses such that when said actuator means is pivoted to said day position, said front surface abuts against said stop ledges retaining said fRont surface of said actuator means generally parallel to said rear surface of said prismatic mirror element, said rear surface having a reflective layer thereon; and

when said actuator means is pivoted to said night position, said stop projections abut against said case back to retain said front surface of actuator means generally parallel to the uncoated front surface of said prismatic mirror element.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises an actuator member having a body with opposing sides, opposing ends, and a specified thickness;

said shaft means including an axle at one end of said actuator member with ends projecting beyond said sides, and two coaxial spindles at the other end of said actuator member, said spindles projecting beyond said sides generally parallel to said axle, and integral tab means projecting from said axle for pivoting the same with respect to said body;

each of said spaced support members comprising elongated, upstanding walls positioned on either side of said actuator member;

said support members including coaxial apertures receiving said spindles and axle ends;

said mirror case, including said support members and said mirror element, having a center of gravity;

the plane including the pivot axis of said spindles and corresponding coaxial apertures being spaced a perpendicular distance from the plane including said center of gravity to minimize the effects of vibration transmitted to said assembly through said actuator;

said planes being parallel to said front planar surface of said mirror element.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the pivot axis of said axle and corresponding coaxial apertures is offset from said center of gravity a distance greater than is said pivot axis of said coaxial spindles and their coaxial apertures.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said apertures in said support members for said spindles are countersunk to facilitate insertion of said spindles therein.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said mirror assembly, including said support members and said mirror element but excluding said actuator means, has a center of gravity;

said means defining apertures defining two sets of receptacles for pivotally supporting said shaft means of said actuator means, each of said receptacles having a closed periphery;

one set of said receptacles receiving axle means which are a portion of said shaft means, said axle means having a pivot axis about which said mirror assembly pivots when said actuator is shifted between said day and night positions;

said pivot axis included in a plane parallel to said front surface of said mirror element, said plane spaced a predetermined perpendicular distance from a second plane also parallel to said front surface of said mirror element and including said center of gravity.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said locking means include projecting means for preventing said mirror element from shifting laterally across the widthwise dimension of said case.

8. A day-night mirror assembly comprising a mirror case, a prismatic mirror element having non-parallel, generally planar front and back surfaces supported and retained therein, and an actuator means for shifting said case and mirror element with respect to a support external of said assembly between a predetermined reflectivity day position and a reduced reflectivity night position, said actuator means including two side edges and two spaced, generally parallel shaft means for supporting said actuator means in said case;

said case including spaced support means for pivotally supporting said actuator means therebetween;

said support means including a one-piece support member adjacent and along each side edge of said actuator means, each of said support members including means defining apertures for receiving said shaft means whereby said two shaft means and their corresponding apertures are maintained in the same spaced relationship throughout said shifting of said case and mirror;

said support members being moVable with respect to one another to permit insertion of said actuator means; and

locking means for positively securing said support members following insertion of said actuator means to retain said actuator means in position in said case;

said mirror case having a back and longitudinal and widthwise dimensions, said support members extending generally transverse to said longitudinal dimension and generally parallel to said widthwise dimension;

said support members including hinge means for hinging said members to said case back such that they are pivotable towards the longitudinal ends of said case.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said case is molded from a thermoplastic material;

said support members comprising two generally rectangular, elongated, upstanding walls molded integrally from said thermoplastic material with said case;

said shaft means including axles extending beyond said side edges of said actuator means at either end of said actuator means;

said apertures formed adjacent each end of each of said upstanding walls;

said hinge means comprising hinges also molded integrally from said thermoplastic material;

said thermoplastic hinges being inherently sufficiently resilient and flexible to allow pivoting of said walls to allow said insertion of said actuator therein.

10. A day-night mirror assembly comprising a mirror case, a prismatic mirror element having non-parallel, generally planar front and back surfaces supported and retained therein, and an actuator means for shifting said case and mirror element with respect to a support external of said assembly between a predetermined reflectivity day position and a reduced reflectivity night position;

said case including spaced support means for pivotally supporting said actuator means therebetween;

said support means being movable with respect to one another to permit insertion of said actuator means; and

locking means for positively securing said support means following insertion of said actuator means to retain said actuator means in position in said case;

said mirror case having a back and longitudinal and widthwise dimensions, said support means comprising support members extending generally transverse to said longitudinal dimension and generally parallel to said widthwise dimension;

said support members including hinge means for hinging said members to said case back such that they are pivotable towards the longitudinal ends of said case;

said case being molded from a thermoplastic material;

said support members comprising two generally rectangular, upstanding walls molded integrally from said thermoplastic material with said case;

said walls having apertures formed therein for receiving said actuator;

said hinge means comprising hinges also molded integrally from said thermoplastic material;

said thermoplastic hinges being inherently sufficiently resilient and flexible to allow pivoting of said walls to allow said insertion of said actuator therein;

said case including at least one upstanding, stationary support rib molded generally parallel to and adjacent each of said walls in said case for supporting said mirror element and strengthening said case;

said locking means comprising locking members on said walls molded integrally with said walls from said thermoplastic material and integral hinges molded from said thermoplastic material hingedly securing said locking members to said walls;

said support ribs including apertures for receiving tabs formed on said locking members;

said locking members being pivotable about said hinges such that said tabs are fitted into said rib apertures after insertion of said actuator between said walls to retain said walls generally parallel to said support ribs and generally normal to the front surface of said mirror element.

11. A day-night mirror assembly comprising a mirror case, a prismatic mirror element having non-parallel, generally planar front and back surfaces supported and retained therein, and an actuator means for shifting said case and mirror element wiTh respect to a support external of said assembly between a predetermined reflectivity day position and a reduced reflectivity night position, said actuator means including two side edges and two spaced, generally parallel shaft means for supporting said actuator means in said case;

said case including spaced support means for pivotally supporting said actuator means therebetween;

said support means including a one-piece support member adjacent and along each side edge of said actuator means, each of said support members including means defining apertures for receiving said shaft means whereby said two shaft means and their corresponding apertures are maintained in the same spaced relationship throughout said shifting of said case and mirror;

said support members being movable with respect to one another to permit insertion of said actuator means; and

locking means for positively securing said support members following insertion of said actuator means to retain said actuator means in position in said case;

said spaced support members including hinge means pivotally securing them to said case;

said locking means including hinge means hingedly securing said locking means to said support members.

12. In a day-night rearview mirror assembly for vehicles including a mirror case having a back, and a prismatic mirror element having non-parallel, generally planar front and back surfaces supported and retained therein;

a mirror assembly actuator having connecting means for securing the same to a support external of said assembly; and

toggle means for shifting the position of said mirror case and mirror element between a predetermined reflectivity day position and a reduced reflectivity night position, said mirror case and mirror element having a center of gravity, the improvement comprising;

two generally parallel, shaft means spaced a predetermined first distance apart for pivotally supporting said actuator and corresponding support members including receptacle means for receiving said supporting shaft means, said receptacle means in said support members spaced apart a predetermined second distance, said support members including connecting means separate from said case back and extending between said receptacles for maintaining said predetermined spacing of said receptacle means constant including during the shifting of said mirror case and element;

one of said supporting shaft means and its corresponding receptacle means in said support members comprising a pivot axis about which said mirror case and mirror element pivot when shifted between said positions;

said pivot axis included in a first plane parallel to said front surface of said mirror element;

said first plane spaced a minimal perpendicular distance from a second plane including said center of gravity whereby the effects of vibration transmitted through said actuator to said assembly are minimized.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 12 wherein said first plane is spaced between said second plane and the back of said case.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 12 wherein said one supporting shaft means comprise two coaxial, cylindrical axle projections;

the other of said supporting shaft means comprising a continuous axle;

said axle projections and said continuous axle extending beyond either side of said actuator at either end thereof;

said axle projections and continuous axle being substantially parallel to one another and extending in substantially the same directions.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 12 wherein said actuator includes a body;

said toggle means comprising a cylindrical axle having a pivot axis, the two ends of said axle comprising the other of said supporting shaft means, said ends pivotally received in said receptacle means in said support members;

said axle having a toggle tab extending radially therefrom and an integral hinge connecting said axle to said body;

said one of said supporting shaft means comprising two coaxial, cylindrical spindles extending generally parallel to and in the same direcTion as said axle from either side of said actuator;

said spindles pivotally received in another portion of said receptacle means in said support members;

the pivot axis of said axle lying in a third plane parallel to said front surface of said mirror element;

said third plane spaced a perpendicular distance from said second plane which is greater than said distance of said first plane from said second plane.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 15 wherein said actuator body includes an integral spring member;

said axle being hingedly connected to said spring member;

the outside surfaces of said axle and coaxial spindles being spaced apart said predetermined first distance parallel to the widthwise dimension of said case;

said receptacle means being spaced apart said second distance which is less than said predetermined first distance between said axle and spindles such that said spring member is placed in compression to bias said actuator into one of said day or night positions.

17. In a day-night rearview mirror assembly for vehicles including a mirror case having a back, and a prismatic mirror element having non-parallel, generally planar front and back surfaces supported and retained therein;

a mirror assembly actuator having connecting means for securing the same to a support external of said assembly; and

toggle means for shifting the position of said mirror case and mirror element between a predetermined reflectivity day position and a reduced reflectivity night position, said mirror case and mirror element having a center of gravity, the improvement comprising;

two generally parallel, shaft means spaced a predetermined first distance apart for pivotally supporting said actuator and corresponding support members including receptacle means for receiving said supporting shaft means, said receptacle means in said support members spaced apart a predetermined second distance, said support members including means for maintaining said predetermined spacing of said receptacle means constant including during the shifting of said mirror case and element;

one of said supporting shaft means and its corresponding receptacle means comprising a pivot axis about which said mirror case and mirror element pivot when shifted between said positions;

said pivot axis included in a first plane parallel to said front surface of said mirror element;

said first plane spaced a perpendicular distance from a second plane including said center of gravity whereby the effects of vibration transmitted through said actuator to said assembly are minimized;

said support members being elongated, upstanding support walls extending along and adjacent the sides of said actuator, said support members being formed integrally with said case and including hinges connecting them to said case and allowing said members to be pivoted away from one another for insertion of said actuator therebetween;

said support members further including hinged locking members for securing said support members in position after insertion of said actuator;

said receptacle means including receptacles having closed peripheries;

said means for maintaining said spacing of said receptacle means including continuous portions of said upstanding support walls in which said receptacles are formed.

18. An actuator for vehicular mirror assemblies adapted to shift a mirror case including a prismatic mirror element between at least a predetermined reflectivity day position and a reduced reflectivity night position, said actuator comprising a body having front and back surfaces and a predetermined thickness therebetween, two sides, and two ends, two generally parallel axle means each having a pivot axis for pivotally supporting said actuator in a mirror case;

biasing means for biasing said axle means away from one another;

toggle means supporting one of said axle means for pivoting said actuator between said day and night positions; and

integral hinge means for connecting said toggle means to said biasing means;

the pivot axis of the other oF said axle means being included in a first plane extending through said body generally parallel to said front surface;

said hinge means spaced to one side of and offset from said first plane;

said toggle means providing means for pivoting said one axle means toward and away from said offset first plane; and

cylindrical stop members on said back surface and projecting outwardly therefrom for accurately positioning said actuator within said mirror case when received in a case.

19. The actuator of claim 18 wherein said actuator is molded in one piece from a thermoplastic material with said axle means, biasing means, toggle means and hinge means being molded integrally together;

said actuator including a support member molded therein and projecting normally from said back surface for supporting a mirror assembly including said actuator from a support external of such an assembly.

20. The actuator of claim 18 wherein said one of said axle means comprises a continuous axle located adjacent one end of said body and having ends extending beyond either side of said body;

said one axle forming a portion of said toggle means and being pivotally connected to said biasing means via said hinge means.

21. The actuator of claim 20 wherein said other of said axle means comprise two coaxial spindles extending from either side of body adjacent the end of said body opposite said one end, said spindles extending in the same direction as the ends of said continuous axle;

said spindles having their common pivot axis closer to said front surface of said actuator than the axis of said continuous axle.

22. The actuator of claim 21 wherein said spindles and continuous axle are substantially cylindrical;

said continuous axle including a reinforcing rod member located centrally therein, a pivot tab extending radially therefrom, and said hinge means comprising a hinge of molded, thermoplastic material extending radially from said axle to said biasing means in a direction opposite the direction of extension of said pivot tab.

23. The actuator of claim 20 wherein said biasing means comprises a generally U-shaped member formed integrally with said body with a cross member spaced from and extending generally parallel to one of said ends of said body and said continuous axle;

said cross member and said axle each including inclined surfaces on either side of said hinge means;

said inclined surfaces on each side of said hinge means respectively abutting one another when said actuator is in each of said day and night positions to define the extent of pivoting of said actuator when positioned in a mirror case.

24. A mirror case for receiving both a mirror element and an actuator for shifting the position of said case and mirror element with respect to a fixed support;

said actuator being of the type including front and rear surfaces, side edges, end edges, and two generally parallel shaft means for supporting said actuator in said case;

said case including spaced, one-piece support members adapted to receive such an actuator therebetween, one support member extending along and adjacent either side edge of the actuator when fitted in the case;

each of said support members including receptacles spaced a predetermined distance apart therein for receiving the shaft means and pivotally supporting the actuator and connecting means extending between said receptacles for maintaining said receptacles in said predetermined spacing during shifting of the actuator;

means for movably securing said support members to said case for movement with respect to one another for insertion of the actuator; and

locking means for securing said support means after insertion of the actuator to retain the actuator therein.

25. The mirror case of claim 24 wherein said locking means is included on said support members.

26. The mirror case of claim 24 wherein said case includes a back wall;

said receptacles in said spaced support members including sets of spaced, coaxial receptacles, each receptacle having a cLosed periphery;

each of said sets being offset a different distance from said back wall.