Vibration stabilized rearview mirror for vehicles
First Claim
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1. A vibration-stabilized rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
- a mirror housing having an inside surface defining an interior space;
a reflective mirror element having a perimeter edge and adjustably mounted for pivotal movement about a center of rotation within said housing interior space, said center of rotation having a pair of axes of rotation which are perpendicular to one another and pass therethrough;
a first vibration stabilizer mounted for sliding movement on said mirror element along one of said axes of rotation, extending beyond said perimeter edge of said mirror element, and engaging a first portion of said inside surface of said housing;
a second vibration stabilizer mounted for sliding movement on said mirror element along the other of said axes of rotation and extending beyond said perimeter edge at a position spaced from said first stabilizer, said second stabilizer extending perpendicular to said first stabilizer and engaging a second portion of said inside housing surface;
a spring engaging and biasing said stabilizers outwardly of said mirror element perimeter edge such that said stabilizers continuously engage said inside housing surface to reduce vibration of said mirror element while extending and retracting against said spring to adjust for varying distances between said perimeter edge of said mirror element and said inside housing surface when the position of said mirror element within said housing is adjusted;
said spring simultaneously engaging both said first and said second stabilizers, simultaneously biasing both said stabilizers into engagement with their respective inside housing surface portions, and being positioned to provide substantially equal force and loading on said first and second stabilizers.
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Abstract
A vibration-stabilized rearview mirror assembly for vehicles includes a reflective mirror element pivotally mounted in a mirror housing with at least one vibration stabilizer slidably mounted on and biased outwardly beyond the perimeter edge of the mirror element to engage the inside of the housing and to dampen and reduce vibration of the mirror element. Preferably, two stabilizers are slidably mounted parallel to the mirror element at spaced locations and are engaged by a single spring which equalizes the spring force on both stabilizers. Stop surfaces limit extension of the stabilizers.
24 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A vibration-stabilized rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
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a mirror housing having an inside surface defining an interior space; a reflective mirror element having a perimeter edge and adjustably mounted for pivotal movement about a center of rotation within said housing interior space, said center of rotation having a pair of axes of rotation which are perpendicular to one another and pass therethrough; a first vibration stabilizer mounted for sliding movement on said mirror element along one of said axes of rotation, extending beyond said perimeter edge of said mirror element, and engaging a first portion of said inside surface of said housing; a second vibration stabilizer mounted for sliding movement on said mirror element along the other of said axes of rotation and extending beyond said perimeter edge at a position spaced from said first stabilizer, said second stabilizer extending perpendicular to said first stabilizer and engaging a second portion of said inside housing surface; a spring engaging and biasing said stabilizers outwardly of said mirror element perimeter edge such that said stabilizers continuously engage said inside housing surface to reduce vibration of said mirror element while extending and retracting against said spring to adjust for varying distances between said perimeter edge of said mirror element and said inside housing surface when the position of said mirror element within said housing is adjusted; said spring simultaneously engaging both said first and said second stabilizers, simultaneously biasing both said stabilizers into engagement with their respective inside housing surface portions, and being positioned to provide substantially equal force and loading on said first and second stabilizers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vibration-stabilized rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
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a mirror housing having an inside surface defining an interior space; a reflective mirror element having a perimeter edge and adjustably mounted for pivotal movement about a center of rotation within said housing interior space, said center of rotation having a pair of axes of rotation which are perpendicular to one another and pass therethrough; a pair of vibration stabilizers extending perpendicular to one another at spaced locations on said mirror element along a respective one of said axes of rotation, each stabilizer mounted for sliding movement on said mirror element and extending beyond said perimeter edge of said mirror element, one of said stabilizers engaging a first portion of said inside housing surface, the other of said stabilizers engaging a second portion of said inside housing surface which is spaced from said first portion; and a spring mounted on said mirror element and simultaneously engaging and biasing said stabilizers outwardly of said mirror element for continuous engagement with said respective inside housing surface portions to reduce vibration of said mirror element, said spring being positioned to provide substantially equal force and loading on said stabilizers whereby said spring provides loading of said stabilizers for extension and retraction to adjust for varying distances between said perimeter edge and said inside housing surface when the position of said mirror element is adjusted within said housing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A vibration-stabilized rearview mirror assembly for vehicles comprising:
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a mirror housing having an inside surface defining an interior space; a mirror unit including a reflective mirror element and a support member which holds said mirror element, said mirror element mounted on said support member, said support member having a perimeter edge; a pivot mount within said interior space of said housing, said pivot mount pivotally supporting and allowing pivotal adjustment of said mirror unit about a center of rotation within said housing interior space, said center of rotation having a pair of axes of rotation which are perpendicular to one another and pass therethrough; said support member including a first vibration dampening member which reduces the vibration of said mirror unit, said first dampening member slidably mounted on said support member along one of said axes of rotation, extending beyond said perimeter edge of said support member, and engaging a first portion of said inside surface of said housing; a second vibration dampening member mounted for sliding movement on said support member along the other of said pair of axes of rotation in a direction perpendicular to said first vibration dampening member and extending beyond said perimeter edge at a position spaced from said first dampening member, said second dampening member engaging a second portion of said inside housing surface; a spring simultaneously engaging and biasing said first and second dampening members outwardly of said support member, said spring simultaneously biasing both said first and second dampening members into engagement with their respective inside housing surface portions, said spring being positioned to provide substantially equal force and loading on said vibration dampening members; a stop which engages and limits extension of said first dampening member such that said dampening member constantly engages said inside housing surface and is extended by and retracts against said spring to adjust for varying distances between said perimeter edge of said support member and said inside housing surface when the position of said mirror unit is adjusted; and a second stop which engages and limits extension of said second dampening member. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification