Remote-control device for vehicle rearview mirror
First Claim
1. A remote control apparatus for pivotally positioning a rearview mirror in two coordinate positions, said remote control apparatus comprising:
- mirror housing means;
a crosspiece pivotally mounted to said mirror housing means such as to pivot about a first preselected axis relative to said mirror housing means;
mirror means pivotally mounted to said crosspiece such as to pivot about a second preselected axis relative to said crosspiece, said second preselected axis being perpendicular to said first preselected axis;
a crosspiece portion disposed remote from said first preselected axis;
a first transmission cable having a first end interconnected with said crosspiece portion and a second end opposite said first end, said first end extending in a direction substantially parallel to said second preselected axis such that displacement of said first transmission cable causes said mirror means to pivot about said first preselected axis relative to said mirror housing means;
a lever having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and an intermediate portion disposed between said first and second ends thereof, said lever being pivotally fastened to said mirror housing means at said intermediate portion such as to pivot about a third preselected axis disposed parallel to said first preselected axis;
a second transmission cable having a first end interconnected with said first end of said lever and a second end opposite said first end, and said first end of said second transmission cable extending in a direction generally parallel to said second preselected axis such that displacement of said second transmission cable causes said lever to pivot about said third preselected axis; and
hinge means interconnecting said second end of said lever with said mirror means at a preselected location on said mirror means spaced away from said second preselected axis such that pivoting motion of said lever about said third preselected axis causes pivoting motion of said mirror means about said second preselected axis relative to said mirror housing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remote control apparatus for a vehicle rearview mirror including a control device disposed inside the vehicle and connected, by way of two transmission cables, to a mirror actuating device disposed inside the rearview mirror housing, on the exterior of the vehicle. The control device has a support member in which two transmission members are mounted for sliding in parallel and a control member pivotally and rotatably mounted to the support member. Each of the transmission members are connected to a transmission cable. One of the transmission members has a slot located in a place perpendicular to its sliding axis, in which slot is engaged one end of the control lever. The other of the transmission members has a slot inclined relative to the plane perpendicular to the sliding axis. A pin extends from the control member in a direction perpendicular to the one end thereof and engages the slot in the other transmission member. The actuating device includes a mirror housing, a crosspiece pivotally mounted to the mirror housing, a mirror pivotally mounted to the crosspiece, and the free end of one of the transmission cables interconnected with the crosspiece such as to pivot the mirror in one coordinate direction. The actuation device also includes a lever pivotally interconnected with the mirror housing, hingedly interconnected with the mirror, and fixedly interconnected with the free end of the other transmission cable to pivot the mirror in the other coordinate direction.
9 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A remote control apparatus for pivotally positioning a rearview mirror in two coordinate positions, said remote control apparatus comprising:
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mirror housing means; a crosspiece pivotally mounted to said mirror housing means such as to pivot about a first preselected axis relative to said mirror housing means; mirror means pivotally mounted to said crosspiece such as to pivot about a second preselected axis relative to said crosspiece, said second preselected axis being perpendicular to said first preselected axis; a crosspiece portion disposed remote from said first preselected axis; a first transmission cable having a first end interconnected with said crosspiece portion and a second end opposite said first end, said first end extending in a direction substantially parallel to said second preselected axis such that displacement of said first transmission cable causes said mirror means to pivot about said first preselected axis relative to said mirror housing means; a lever having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and an intermediate portion disposed between said first and second ends thereof, said lever being pivotally fastened to said mirror housing means at said intermediate portion such as to pivot about a third preselected axis disposed parallel to said first preselected axis; a second transmission cable having a first end interconnected with said first end of said lever and a second end opposite said first end, and said first end of said second transmission cable extending in a direction generally parallel to said second preselected axis such that displacement of said second transmission cable causes said lever to pivot about said third preselected axis; and hinge means interconnecting said second end of said lever with said mirror means at a preselected location on said mirror means spaced away from said second preselected axis such that pivoting motion of said lever about said third preselected axis causes pivoting motion of said mirror means about said second preselected axis relative to said mirror housing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A remote control apparatus for pivotally positioning a rearview mirror in two coordinate dimensions, said remote control apparatus comprising:
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mirror housing means; mirror means pivotally interconnected with said mirror housing means such as to universally pivot relative to said mirror housing means about a first preselected axis and a second preselected axis perpendicular to said first preselected axis; first pivot control means interposed said mirror means and said mirror housing means for selectively pivoting said mirror means relative to said mirror housing means about said first preselected axis; second pivot control means interposed said mirror means and said mirror housing means for selectively pivoting said mirror means relative to said mirror housing means about said second preselected axis; a first transmission cable having a first end interconnected with said first pivot control means and a second end opposite said first end, such that displacement of said first transmission cable actuates said first pivot control means to pivot said mirror means relative to said mirror housing means about said first preselected axis; a second transmission cable having a first end interconnected with said second pivot control means and a second end opposite said first end, such that displacement of said second transmission cable actuates said second pivot control means to pivot said mirror means relative to said mirror housing means about said second preselected axis; support means disposed remote from said mirror housing means; a first plate slidably mounted to said support means such as to slide relative to said support means along a fourth preselected axis, said second end of said first transmission cable being interconnected with said first plate for translation therewith; a second plate slidably mounted to said support means such as to slide relative to said support means along a fifth preselected axis disposed parallel to said fourth preselected axis, said second end of said second transmission cable being interconnected with said second plate for translation therewith; a first slot formed in said first plate, said first slot being disposed in a first preselected plane perpendicular with said fourth preselected axis, said first slot defining, through the sliding motion of said first plate relative to said support means, a second preselected plane perpendicular to said first preselected plane; a second slot formed in said second plate, said second slot being inclined relative to said first preselected plane and further being inclined relative to said fifth preselected axis, said second slot further defining, by the sliding motion of said second plate relative to said support means, a third preselected plane perpendicular to both of said first and second preselected planes; pivot means pivotally interconnected with said support means such as to universally pivot relative to said support means about a sixth preselected axis perpendicular to said third preselected plane and about a seventh preselected axis parallel to said fourth preselected axis, about a pivot point adjacent said first and second slots; handle means for selectively pivoting said pivot means on said pivot point about said sixth and seventh preselected axes; first slot engagement means extending from said first pivot means into said first slot such that when said handle means causes said pivot means to pivot about said sixth preselected axis, said first slot engagement means causes displacement of said first plate relative to said support means without causing displacement of said second plate relative to said support means; and second slot engagement means extending from said pivot means into said second slot such that, when said handle means causes said pivot means to pivot about said seventh preselected axis, said second slot engagement means causes displacement of said second plate relative to said support means without displacing said first plate relative to said support means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A remote control apparatus for pivotally positioning a rearview mirror in two coordinate dimensions, said remote control apparatus comprising:
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a mirror housing; a support member fixedly interconnected with said mirror housing and disposed therein; a crosspiece pivotally mounted to said support member such as to pivot about a first preselected axis relative to said mirror housing; a mirror support pivotally mounted to said crosspiece such as to pivot about a second preselected axis relative to said crosspiece, said second preselected axis being perpendicular to said first preselected axis; a mirror plate fixedly interconnected with said mirror support, said mirror plate cooperating with said mirror housing to enclose said support member, said crosspiece and said mirror support; a crosspiece portion disposed remote from said first preselected axis; a first transmission cable having a first end interconnected with said crosspiece portion and a second end opposite said first end, said first end extending in a direction substantially parallel to said second preselected axis such that displacement of said first transmission cable causes said mirror support to pivot about said first preselected axis relative to said mirror housing; a lever having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and an intermediate portion disposed between said first and second ends thereof, said lever being pivotally fastened to said support member at said intermediate portion such as to pivot about a third preselected axis disposed parallel to said first preselected axis; a second transmission cable having a first end interconnected with said first end of said lever and a second end opposite said first end, said first end of said second transmission cable extending in a direction generally parallel to said second preselected axis such that displacement of said second transmission cable causes said lever to pivot about said third preselected axis; first socket means formed in said second end of said lever; second socket means formed in said mirror support at a preselected location on said mirror support spaced away from said second preselected axis; knuckle joint means having a first end inserted in said first socket means such as to be pivotable therein and a second end opposite said first end inserted in said second socket means such as to be pivotable therein, said knuckle joint means transferring pivoting motion of said lever about said third preselected axis to said mirror support such that pivoting motion of said lever about said third preselected axis causes pivoting motion of said mirror support about said second preselected axis relative to said mirror housing; and control means remote from said mirror housing for selectively displacing said first and second transmission cables. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification