Vehicle rearview mirror remote-control device

• US 4,512,633 A
• Filed: 04/06/1982
• Issued: 04/23/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Manzoni-Bouchot
• Original Assignee: Manzoni-Bouchot
• Inventors: Manzoni, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kent, Lynn Vandenburgh
• Application Number:
  US06/366,034
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 350/289, 74/501 M
• US Class Current: 359/876
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20432 for moving a mirror

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle rearview mirror remote-control device, mounted in a casing containing a control mechanism including a support member integral with the body of a vehicle and which extends inside the casing through an opening. The support member has a first axis around which is pivotally mounted a cross-piece, on which cross-piece is pivotally mounted the casing carrying the mirror, on a second axis perpendicular to the first, first movement-controlling means being provided between the support member and the cross-piece and second-movement controlling means being provided, in an offset manner with respect to the second axis, between the cross-piece and the casing.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror remote-control device for controlling the movement of a mirror about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis comprising:

a hollow mirror casing having a front face mounting said mirror, an inboard and an outboard lateral side, a support means aperture through said inboard lateral side, and inboard and outboard casing bearing means mounted within said hollow mirror casing to define said horizontal axis therethrough;

support means having a body end adapted to be secured to a body of a vehicle and a casing end extending through said support means aperture into said hollow mirror casing, said casing end comprising support bearing means defining and locating said vertical axis within said hollow mirror casing substantially closer to one side of said inboard and outboard lateral sides than to the other of said sides, said support means further comprising a first support arm comprising said body end, a second support arm comprising said casing end, and clutch means pivotably coupling said first and second support arms for normally preventing relative movement therebetween until a torque greater than a predetermined torque is applied to one of said first and said second support arms whereby said casing end is allowed to move relative to said body end only when a torque greater than said predetermined torque is applied to said hollow mirror casing;

cross-piece means pivotably secured to said inboard and outboard casing bearing means so as to allow a vertical pivoting about said horizonal axis and further being pivotably supported by said support means so as to allow a horizontal pivoting about said vertical axis, whereby said horizontal pivoting of said cross-piece means about said vertical axis also pivots said hollow mirror casing thereabout;

vertical movement controlling means mounted to one of said hollow mirror casing and said cross-piece means for controlling said vertical pivoting of said hollow mirror casing relative to said cross-piece means about said horizontal axis; and

horizontal movement controlling means mounted to one of said support means and said cross-piece means for controlling said horizontal pivoting of said cross-piece means and said hollow mirror casing relative to said support means about said vertical axis.

2. The rearview mirror remote-control device of claim 1, wherein said horizontal and vertical movement controlling means are each disposed between said vertical axis and said outboard casing bearing means.

3. A rearview mirror remote-control device for controlling the movement of a mirror about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis comprising:

a hollow mirror casing having a front face mounting said mirror, an inboard and an outboard lateral side, a support means aperture through said inboard lateral side, and inboard and outboard casing bearing means respectively mounted to an inside surface of each of said inboard and outboard lateral sides within said hollow mirror casing to define said horizontal axis therethrough;

support means having a vehicle end adapted to be secured to a body of a vehicle and a casing end extending through said support means aperture into said hollor mirror casing, said casing end comprising support bearing means defining and locating said vertical axis within said hollow mirror casing substantially closer to one side of said inboard and outboard lateral sides than to the other said sides, whereby said other side may swing through a substantially greater distance about said vertical axis than said one side, said support means further comprising clutch means;

cross-piece means pivotably secured to said inboard and outboard casing bearing means so as to allow a vertical pivoting about said horizontal axis and further being pivotably supported by said support means so as to allow a horizontal pivoting about said vertical axis, whereby a horizontal pivoting of said cross-piece means about said vertical axis also pivots said hollow mirror casing thereabout;

vertical movement controlling means mounted to one of said hollow mirror casing and said cross-piece means for controlling said vertical pivoting of said hollow mirror casing relative to said cross-piece means about said horizontal axis; and

horizontal movement controlling means mounted to one of said support means and said cross-piece means for controlling said horizontal pivoting of said cross-piece means and said hollow mirror casing relative to said support means about said vertical axis.

4. The rearview mirror remote-control device of claim 3, wherein said horizontal and vertical movement controlling means are both disposed between said vertical axis and said outboard casing bearing means.