Power pack for an automotive exterior mirror assembly

• US 5,363,246 A
• Filed: 05/12/1993
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc. (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Perry, William M., Helmer, Kerry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Assistant Examiner(s): Juba, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US08/060,268
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 359/843, 359/872, 359/873, 359/874, 359/876, 359/877, 248/478, 248/479, 248/481, 248/483
• US Class Current: 359/874
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/06 Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0661 the two co-operative parts each having both convex and concave interfaces

Abstract

The present invention relates to a power pack for an exterior automotive mirror assembly having a central depression in its upper housing whereby a large diameter pivot cup can be used. The pivot cup, of this power pack, is separate from the mirror casing and is retained by a unique spring retainer.

Claims

1. A power pack for an automotive exterior mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror casing for holding a mirror, said mirror casing having a non-appearance backside;

a pivot cup having a partially spherical center portion circumferentially bordered by a substantially flat rim therearound, said rim being in proximate contact with said non-appearance backside of said mirror casing;

an upper housing having a centrally located post protruding upward therefrom, said upper housing having a partially spherical depression centrally located therewithin, said upper housing spherical depression partially extending below the top horizontal plane of a pair of motors contained therewithin, said upper housing spherical depression serving to provide frictional contact with the lower surface of said pivot cup'"'"'s spherical center portion, said post of said upper housing extending through an aperture within the center of said pivot cup'"'"'s spherical portion;

a pivot sleeve having a partially spherical shape, said pivot sleeve being frictionally located against the top of said pivot cup'"'"'s central spherical portion, said pivot sleeve having an orifice in the center thereof such that said upper housing post extends therethrough;

a pivot retainer having a partially spherically shaped lower surface, said pivot retainer being forcibly located against the top of said pivot sleeve, said pivot retainer having a void in the center thereof such that said upper housing post extends therethrough;

a retention means for retaining said pivot retainer, said pivot sleeve, and said pivot cup, said retention means attached to the top of said upper housing post and thereby retaining said pivot retainer, said pivot sleeve, and said pivot cup against said upper housing;

a lower housing having a substantially flat central surface with ribs upwardly extending therefrom, said lower housing central surface being bordered by a raised side wall extending around the circumference thereof, said lower housing having cavities for locating said pair of motors therewithin, said lower housing having locations for positioning a means for driving thereupon, said lower housing being retained to said upper housing by a means for attachment; and

said driving means pivotally moving said pivot cup, said pivot cup sliding between said pivot sleeve and said upper housing.

2. The power pack of claim 1 wherein:

said mirror casing has a central portion which is substantially flat with ribs thereupon, said central portion being bordered by a lip outwardly extending therefrom; and

said pivot cup is an independent member from said mirror casing, whereby said mirror casing and said mirror, retained thereupon, can be disassembled from said pivot cup for repair.

3. The power pack of claim 2 wherein:

each of said pair of motors has a drive shaft extending therefrom;

said lower housing holds said pair of motors, the rearward end of each of said pair of motors being angled toward each other and said drive shafts being displaced at an angle away from one another; and

said upper housing has said partially spherical depression centrally located therewithin, said upper housing spherical depression partially extending below the top horizontal plane created by said pair of motors and said upper housing spherical depression protruding downwards into the space between said pair of motors.

4. The power pack of claim 3 wherein said driving means comprises:

a pair of worm gears, each being attached to said drive shafts by an interference fit, said drive shafts supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of worm gears;

a pair of idler gears each having two different teeth sets axially spaced thereupon, said pair of idler gears each being axially held upon said upper housing by a pin extending downward therefrom, said pair of worm gears supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of idler gears;

a pair of screw gears each having geared teeth surrounding a lower circular portion thereof, each of said pair of screw gears having a plurality of fingers extending upwards therefrom, said plurality of fingers each having internally directed points thereupon, said pair of screw gears being located in a pair of cavities within said lower housing, each of said pair of idler gears supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of screw gears;

a pair of O-rings placed around said plurality of fingers on each of said pair of screw gears for maintaining inward pressure of said plurality of fingers;

a pair of jack screws each being externally threaded, the external threads of each providing an engagement surface thereupon with said plurality of fingers of said screw gear, said plurality of fingers supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of jack screws, said pair of jack screws each having a generally spherical top with a pin extending centrally therefrom, said pin being generally affixed perpendicular to the axis each of said pair of jack screws; and

said pivot cup rim having a pair of pivoting and attachment cavities thereupon, whereby said pair of jack screws provides the pivotal driver means for said pivot cup.

5. The power pack of claim 4 wherein:

said upper housing has a pair of openings, each of said pair of openings having a wall peripherally extending upward therefrom, said walls having outwardly extending partial flanges thereupon;

said pair of jack screws each protrudes upward through said pair of openings in said upper housing;

a boot has a pair of conical shapes extending upwards therefrom, each of said pair of conical shapes having passages in the top thereof, said pair of conical shapes each having a lip extending generally perpendicular therebelow, said lips of said conical shapes being connected by a substantially flat central portion; and

said boot is retained to said upper housing through a fit of said lips of said conical shapes upon said upper housing opening flanges, each of said pair of jack screws extending through each of said pair of passages within said boot.

6. The power pack of claim 3 wherein said retention means comprises a central ring portion with a central opening located therewithin, said central ring portion having a plurality of relief slots radiating outwards from the central ring portion'"'"'s central opening, said central ring portion having a plurality of S-shaped spring arms radiating outwards therefrom and down below thereof.

7. The power pack of claim 3 wherein said pivot cup partially spherical portion has an inside spherical diameter from about 35 millimeters to about 37 millimeters.

8. A power pack for an automotive exterior mirror comprising:

a mirror casing for holding a mirror, having a non-appearance backside, said mirror casing having a central portion which is substantially flat with ribs thereupon, said central portion being bordered by a lip outwardly extending therefrom;

a pivot cup having a partially spherical center portion circumferentially bordered by a substantially flat rim therearound, said rim being in proximate contact with said non-appearance backside of said mirror casing, said pivot cup being an independent member from said mirror casing;

an upper housing having a centrally located post protruding upwards therefrom, said upper housing having a partially spherical depression centrally located therewithin, said upper housing spherical depression partially extending below the top horizontal plane of a pair of motors, said upper housing spherical depression protruding downwards into the space between said pair of motors, said upper housing spherical depression serving to provide frictional contact with the lower surface of said pivot cup'"'"'s spherical center portion, said post of said upper housing extending through an aperture within the center of said pivot cup'"'"'s spherical portion;

a pivot sleeve having a partially spherical shape, said pivot sleeve being frictionally located against the top of said pivot cup'"'"'s central spherical portion, said pivot sleeve having an aperture in the center thereof such that said upper housing post extends therethrough;

a pivot retainer having a partially spherically shaped lower surface, said pivot retainer being forcibly located against the top of said pivot sleeve, said pivot retainer having a void in the center thereof such that said upper housing post extends therethrough;

means for retention attached to the top of said upper housing post, said retention means forcibly retaining said pivot retainer, said pivot sleeve, and said pivot cup against said upper housing;

a lower housing having a substantially flat central surface with ribs upwardly extending therefrom, said lower housing central surface being bordered by a raised side wall extending around the circumference thereof, said lower housing being retained to said upper housing by a means for attachment, said lower housing having cavities for locating said pair of motors therewithin, the rearward end of each of said pair of motors being angled toward each other and a drive shaft extending from each of said pair of motors being displaced at an angle away from one another;

a pair of worm gears, each being attached to said drive shafts by an interference fit, said drive shafts supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of worm gears;

a pair of idler gears each having two different teeth sets axially spaced thereupon, said pair of idler gears each being axially held upon said upper housing by a pin extending downward therefrom, said pair of worm gears supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of idler gears;

a pair of screw gears each having geared teeth surrounding a lower circular portion thereof, each of said pair of screw gears having a plurality of fingers extending upwards therefrom, said plurality of fingers each having internally directed points thereupon, said pair of screw gears being located in a pair of cavities within said lower housing, each of said pair of idler gears supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of screw gears;

a pair of O-rings placed around said plurality of fingers on each of said pair of screw gears for maintaining inward pressure of said plurality of fingers;

a pair of jack screws each being externally threaded, the external threads of each providing an engagement surface thereupon with said plurality of fingers of said screw gear, said plurality of fingers supplying rotational movement to each of said pair of jack screws, said pair of jack screws each having a generally spherical top with a pin extending centrally therefrom, said pin being generally affixed perpendicular to the axis each of said pair of jack screws;

said pivot cup rim having a pair of pivoting and attachment cavities thereupon, whereby said pair of jack screws provides a means for pivotally driving said pivot cup; and

said drive means pivotally moving said pivot cup, said pivot cup sliding between said pivot sleeve and said upper housing.