Mirror assembly movable into rearwardly folded position with reversing spring bias

• US 5,477,391 A
• Filed: 08/16/1993
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LOWE Engineering Company
• Original Assignee: LOWE Engineering Company
• Inventors: Boddy, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US08/106,756
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 359/841, 359/873, 359/874, 359/877, 16/227, 16/277, 16/291, 16/289, 16/293, 16/296
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/076 yieldable to excessive external force and provided with an indexed use position B60R1/0617, B60R1/074 take precedence

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly comprising a fixed support structure, a movable mirror housing structure having a mirror unit adjustable mounted therein, and a spring-biased mounting assembly mounting the movable structure on the fixed structure (1) for spring-biased movement into a normal operating position wherein said movable structure extends laterally outwardly from the exterior of the vehicle where it is susceptible to the application of unwanted forwardly directed forces or unwanted rearwardly directed forces, (2) for movement forwardly through a forward range of movement out of said operative position in response to the application of unwanted forwardly directed force so that upon release of the force the spring bias is operable to return the movable structure to its operative position and (3) for movement rearwardly through a rearward range of movement out of the operating position in response to the application of an unwanted rearwardly directed force sufficient to overcome the spring bias which spring bias decreases to zero as the distance of rearward movement of the movable structure out of the operative position increases to an intermediate point within the rearward range of movement and thereafter reverses to bias the movable structure into a rearwardly folded limiting position so that upon release of the force the spring bias is operable to return the movable structure to its operative position or to move the movable structure into its rearwardly folded limiting position depending upon the distance of rearward movement which has taken place.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly for mounting on the exterior of a motor vehicle so as to be viewed by the driver within the vehicle, said rearview mirror comprising

a fixed support structure adapted to be fixed to the exterior of the vehicle,

a movable mirror housing structure,

a spring-biased mounting assembly including a spring system forming a fixed connection with the fixed support structure and connected between said fixed support structure and said movable mirror housing structure, said spring-biased mounting assembly mounting said movable structure on said fixed structure (1) for spring-biased movement into a normal operating position wherein said movable structure extends laterally outwardly from the exterior of the vehicle where it is susceptible to the application of unwanted forwardly directed forces or unwanted rearwardly directed forces, (2) for movement forwardly through a forward range of movement out of said operative position in response to the application to said movable structure of an unwanted forwardly directed force sufficient to overcome the spring bias of said movable structure into said operative position which spring bias increases as the distance of forward movement of the movable structure out of said operating position within said forward range of movement increases so that upon release of the application of the unwanted forwardly directed force while the movable structure is within said forward range of movement the spring bias is operable to return said movable structure to said operative position and (3) for movement rearwardly through a rearward range of movement out of said operating position in response to the application to said movable structure of an unwanted rearwardly directed force sufficient to overcome the spring bias of said movable structure into said operative position which spring bias decreases to zero as the distance of rearward movement of the movable structure out of said operative position reaches an intermediate point within said rearward range of movement and thereafter reverses to bias said movable structure into a rearwardly folded limiting position so that upon release of the application of the unwanted rearwardly directed force while the movable structure is within said rearward range of movement the spring bias is operable (i) to return said movable structure to said operative position when the distance of rearward movement is less than the distance from the operative position to the intermediate point and (ii) to move said movable structure into said rearwardly folded limiting position when the distance of rearward movement is greater than the distance from the operative position to the intermediate point, and

a mirror unit mounted with respect to said movable structure for movement into any position within a range of movement positions suitable to accommodate different drivers.

2. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 including a manually controlled mechanism operatively connected with said mirror unit for effecting movement of said mirror unit with respect to said movable structure in response to a remote manual movement by the driver within the vehicle.

3. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said mirror unit movement effecting mechanism is a power pack assembly fixed to said movable structure including electrically controlled electrical motors, said power pack assembly and said mirror unit having cooperating snap-in connections for mounting said mirror unit on said power pack assembly and for effecting movement of said mirror unit from said power pack assembly by the operation of said electrical motors.

4. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring-biased mounting assembly further includes a mounting arm pivotally connected with said fixed structure for movement with respect thereto about a first generally vertically extending axis toward and away from a stop position with respect to said fixed structure,

said movable structure being pivotally connected with said arm for movement with respect thereto about a second axis extending generally parallel with said first axis toward and away from a stop position with respect to said arm,

said spring biased mounting assembly also including a cam surface on said fixed structure and a cam follower on said movable structure, said spring system being connected between said fixed structure and said movable structure in such a way that when said movable structure is in said operative position the spring system is operable to bias (1) said movable structure into its stop position with respect to said arm, (2) said arm into its stop position with respect to said fixed structure, and (3) said cam follower into engagement with said cam surface.

5. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the forward range of movement of said movable structure is accomplished by the pivotal movement of said mounting arm about said first pivotal axis while said movable structure is retained in its stop position with respect to said arm and the cam follower is disengaged from said cam surface.

6. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein the rearward range of movement is accomplished by pivoting the movable structure about said second axis while the engagement of the cam follower along the cam surface causes the arm to pivot about the first pivotal axis to thereby move the second axis on opposite sides of a plane passing through the effective points of connection of said spring with said fixed and movable structures.

7. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said spring system is connected with said fixed structure (1) laterally outwardly and rearwardly of said first axis, (2) laterally outwardly and forwardly of said second axis when said movable structure is in said operative position, and (3) laterally inwardly and rearwardly of said second pivotal axis when said movable structure is in said rearwardly folded limiting position.

8. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said fixed and movable structures are unfinished exteriorly and separate fixed and movable cover members are provided to define an exterior configuration and finish for said fixed and movable structures respectively,

said separate fixed and movable cover members being constructed so as to be mounted in covering relation to said fixed and movable structures respectively while said movable structure is mounted on said fixed structure,

said separate fixed and movable cover members being fixedly secured to said fixed and movable structures respectively after being mounted in covering relation thereto so as to present a finished exterior surface which substantially completely covers said fixed and movable structures when said movable structure is in said operative position with respect to said fixed structure while permitting movement of said movable structure out of said operative position with respect to said fixed structure.

9. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said movable cover member is in the form of a thin wall shell having upper, lower, forward and laterally outward merging wall portions defining a finished convexly curved exterior surface and a mounting strap fixedly interconnected between the rearward laterally inward corners of said upper and lower wall portions so as to define (1) with rearward edges of said upper, lower and laterally outward wall portions a rearward opening through which said mirror unit is disposed and (2) with laterally inward edges of said upper, lower and forward wall portions a laterally inward opening through which said movable mirror housing structure is received.

10. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said movable cover member is fixedly secured to said movable structure by fasteners extending between said mounting strap and an abutting portion of said movable structure.

11. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said fixed cover member is in the form of an irregular tubular wall having a laterally outward peripheral edge disposed in closely spaced relation with the laterally inward edges defining the laterally inward opening of said movable cover member when said movable structure is in said operative position.

12. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 8 including a manually controlled mechanism operatively connected with said mirror unit for effecting movement of said mirror unit with respect to said movable structure in response to a remote manual movement by the driver within the vehicle.

13. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said mirror unit movement effecting mechanism is a power pack assembly fixed to said movable structure including electrically controlled electrical motors, said power pack assembly and said mirror unit having cooperating snap-in connections for mounting said mirror unit on said power pack assembly and for effecting movement of said mirror unit from said power pack assembly by the operation of said electrical motors.

14. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said fixed and movable structures are unfinished exteriorly and separate fixed and movable cover members are provided to define an exterior configuration and finish for said fixed and movable structures respectively,

said separate fixed and movable cover members being constructed so as to be mounted in covering relation to said fixed and movable structures respectively while said movable structure is mounted on said fixed structure,

said separate fixed and movable cover members being fixedly secured to said fixed and movable structures respectively after being mounted in covering relation thereto so as to present a finished exterior surface which substantially completely covers said fixed and movable structures when said movable structure is in said operative position with respect to said fixed structure while permitting movement of said movable structure out of said operative position with respect to said fixed structure.

15. A rearview mirror assembly for mounting on the exterior of a motor vehicle so as to be viewed by the driver within the vehicle, said rearview mirror comprising

a fixed support structure adapted to be fixed to the exterior of the vehicle,

a movable mirror housing structure,

a spring-biased mounting assembly including a spring system forming a fixed connection with the fixed support structure and connected between said fixed support structure and said movable mirror housing structure, said spring-biased mounting assembly mounting said movable structure on said fixed structure (1) for spring-biased movement into a normal operating position wherein said movable structure extends laterally outwardly from the exterior of the vehicle where it is susceptible to the application of unwanted forces and (2) for movement out of said operative position including movement rearwardly through a rearward range of movement out of said operating position in response to the application to said movable structure of an unwanted rearwardly directed force sufficient to overcome the spring bias of said movable structure into said operative position which spring bias decreases to zero as the distance of rearward movement of the movable structure out of said operative position reaches an intermediate point within said rearward range of movement and thereafter reverses to bias said movable structure into a rearwardly folded limiting position, and

a mirror unit mounted with respect to said movable structure for movement into any position within a range of movement positions suitable to accommodate different drivers.

16. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein said spring-biased mounting assembly includes a mounting arm pivotally connected with said fixed structure for movement with respect thereto about a first generally vertically extending axis toward and away from a stop position with respect to said fixed structure,

said movable structure being pivotally connected with said arm for movement with respect thereto about a second axis extending generally parallel with said first axis toward and away from a stop position with respect to said arm,

said spring biased mounting assembly also including a cam surface on said fixed structure, a cam follower on said movable structure and a spring system connected Between said fixed structure and said movable structure in such a way that when said movable structure is in said operative position the spring is operable to bias (1) said movable structure into its stop position with respect to said arm, (2) said arm into its stop position with respect to said fixed structure, and (3) said cam follower into engagement with said cam surface.

17. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein the rearward range of movement is accomplished by pivoting the movable structure about said second axis while the engagement of the cam follower along the cam surface causes the arm to pivot about the first pivotal axis to thereby move the second axis on opposite sides of a plane passing through the effective points of connection of said spring with said fixed and movable structures.

18. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said spring system is connected with said fixed structure (1) laterally outwardly and rearwardly of said first axis, (2) laterally outwardly and forwardly of said second axis when said movable structure is in said operative position, and (3) laterally inwardly and rearwardly of said second pivotal axis when said movable structure is in said rearwardly folded limiting position.

19. A rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein said fixed and movable structures are unfinished exteriorly and separate fixed and movable cover members are provided to define an exterior configuration and finish for said fixed and movable structures respectively,

said separate fixed and movable cover members being constructed so as to be mounted in covering relation to said fixed and movable structures respectively while said movable structure is mounted on said fixed structure,

said separate fixed and movable cover members being fixedly secured to said fixed and movable structures respectively after being mounted in covering relation thereto so as to present a finished exterior surface which substantially completely covers said fixed and movable structures when said movable structure is in said operative position with respect to said fixed structure while permitting movement of said movable structure out of said operative position with respect to said fixed structure.