Modular exterior rearview mirror assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a housing;
a mirror element; and
a mirror support for mounting said element within said housing;
said housing including an upper part, a lower part, and a connection for mounting said assembly on a vehicle;
each of said upper and lower parts having an exterior wall defining a shell having a rim for partially enclosing said mirror support and mirror element and exposing said mirror element for viewing, said shell on each of said upper and lower parts terminating in generally horizontally extending, curved contact surface, said contact surfaces corresponding with and engaging one another and forming a horizontal joint at which said upper and lower parts are joined together, said shells combining to form an exterior surface on one side of said assembly, and an opening exposing said mirror element for viewing on the side of said assembly opposite said one side when said upper and lower parts are joined at said contact surfaces.
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Abstract
An exterior rearview mirror for vehicles includes a housing, a mirror support, a mirror element and other elements such as a mirror actuator or lighting unit each formed as a separate module and connected to each other by plug type or locking connectors. Electric conductors are integrated in the modules and/or connectors. A lower housing part receives an upper housing part along corresponding, generally horizontally extending, contact surfaces to form an exterior surface on the assembly.
286 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a housing; a mirror element; and a mirror support for mounting said element within said housing; said housing including an upper part, a lower part, and a connection for mounting said assembly on a vehicle;
each of said upper and lower parts having an exterior wall defining a shell having a rim for partially enclosing said mirror support and mirror element and exposing said mirror element for viewing, said shell on each of said upper and lower parts terminating in generally horizontally extending, curved contact surface, said contact surfaces corresponding with and engaging one another and forming a horizontal joint at which said upper and lower parts are joined together, said shells combining to form an exterior surface on one side of said assembly, and an opening exposing said mirror element for viewing on the side of said assembly opposite said one side when said upper and lower parts are joined at said contact surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising a plurality of modules which are joined together and connected to each other by plug-type and locking connectors to form said assembly, said plurality of modules including a mirror element and at least one of a housing and a mirror support and at least one of an electric actuator and a light module;
- said assembly including electrical conductors integrated in at least one of said housing, said mirror support and said mirror element, said electrical conductors conducting electricity to at least one of said electric actuator and said light module when said one of said electric actuator and light module is connected to at least one of said housing, said mirror support and said mirror element whereby electrical energy is provided to said at least one of said electric actuator and said light module.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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19. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising a housing, a mirror support, a mirror element, and a light module each formed as a separate module and connected to each other by plug-type and locking connectors, said assembly including electrical conductors integrated in said modules and in said plug-type and locking connectors whereby electrical energy is provided through said assembly to said light module;
- said housing including a lower part and an upper part, said lower part being a support module receiving said mirror support, said mirror element, an adjustable actuator for adjusting the position of said mirror element, said light module, and said housing upper part.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
Specification