Adjusting device for motorcar mirrors

• US 4,281,899 A
• Filed: 09/19/1979
• Issued: 08/04/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industrie KOOT BV
• Original Assignee: Industrie KOOT BV
• Inventors: Oskam, Aane A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Application Number:
  US06/076,953
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 350/289, 248/476, 248/479, 248/487
• US Class Current: 359/876
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

A device for adjusting the mirror of an automotive vehicle, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,538, includes drive and transmission devices consisting of two motors, each provided with a planetary transmission system mounted on a motor shaft, the two motor transmission systems being arranged mirror-symmetrically relatively to a median plane of a housing, the median plane containing the axis of a stiffening element.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the mirror of an automotive vehicle about at least two perpendicular axes, said device comprising:

a cup-shaped housing having a raised edge and a ridge extending along a median plane of said housing;

said ridge having an upper edge having at the center of the length thereof a substantially semi-cylindrical fulcrum;

a tiltable adjusting ring mounted in said housing for relative movement with respect thereto, said ring being in sealing contact with said raised edge of said housing in all positions of said ring;

a stiffening element of U-shaped cross-sectional configuration defined by two legs, said stiffening element having opposite ends received in diametrically opposed holes in said adjusting ring, and said stiffening element being mounted in contact with said semi-cylindrical fulcrum of said ridge and with said two legs positioned on opposite sides of said ridge;

first and second mirror adjustment members mounted for engagement with said adjusting ring at positions off-set from each other by 90°

with respect to said adjusting ring, each said adjustment member including a rack portion; and

first and second drive and transmission means for achieving relative movement of said ring with respect to said housing in at least two perpendicular axes, said first and second drive and transmission means being arranged mirror-symmetrically relative to said median plane of said ridge of said housing and extending in directions enclosing an acute angle, each said drive and transmission means comprising a motor having an output shaft, a planetary transmission system mounted on said motor output shaft and having an output shaft, and a gear fixed to said transmission system output shaft and engaging a said rack portion of a respective said adjustment member.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ridge has opposite side walls, each having thereon a crescent-shaped guide lug at a position below said fulcrum, each said leg of said stiffening element has formed therein a crescent-shaped recess, and said guide lugs are snappingly engaged in said recesses.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said opposite end of said stiffening element comprises a pin having therein a V-shaped recess, each said hole in said adjusting ring comprises an anchor-shaped bearing hole, and each said pin is journalled into a respective said bearing hole such that said adjusting ring is rockable with respect to said housing and said ridge from a position of equilibrium thereof through approximately 20°

in opposite directions.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive and transmission means are retained in said housing exclusively by a retaining plate having at least three pins snappingly engaging in respective recesses in said housing.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ring has a raised edge, and further comprising a mirror glued to a mirror mounting plate secured to said ring by fastening means comprising a hexagonally shaped mounting spring having six straight sides, said spring being connected to said mounting plate, with said six straight sides engaging behind said raised edge of said ring.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said spring has two ends in the form of parallel legs extending outwardly and retained under tension between two pegs on said mounting plate.