Side-view mirrors

• US 6,267,480 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2000
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Hirano, Yoshihisa, Omi, Kyozo
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/547,675
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 359/877, 248/476, 248/484, 248/485
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/062 with remote control for adjusting position B60R1/0607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/068 using cables
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators

Abstract

Side-view mirrors are provided in which, without adversely, affecting operations of retracting side-view mirrors and adjusting mirror surfaces, mechanisms are greatly simplified and a waterproofing/dustproofing mechanism can be omitted, thereby resulting in much lower manufacturing costs. In a switching driving section of the control device which adjusts the mirror surfaces of a pair of left-side and right-side side-view mirrors, a motor is selectively meshed with gears or gears by a switching operation by a plunger. The mirror surfaces of the side-view mirrors can thereby be adjusted to an arbitrary mounting angle. Namely, driving mechanisms provided for each of a left-side and a right-side as in conventional structures are combined into the single switching driving section, and thus the manufacturing costs are greatly reduced.

Claims

1. A pair of left-side and right-side side-view mirrors for a vehicle, comprising:

mirror surfaces;

mirror visors covering the mirror surfaces; and

a control device by which the mirror surfaces are adjustable, the control device including;

connecting members connected independently to the pair of left-side and right-side side-view mirrors, said connecting members subjecting the side-view mirrors to a mirror surface adjustment operation by transferring to the side-view mirrors a mechanical driving force which is applied to said connecting members;

a switching driving section disposed outside of said mirror visors and having a drive source, and switchable between a state in which one connecting member of said connecting members is independently connected to the drive source and a state in which another connecting member of said connecting members is independently connected to the drive source, and applying mechanical driving force to the connecting member which is connected to the drive source; and

an operation for carrying out driving and a switching operation of the drive source of said switching driving section.

2. The side-view mirrors of claim 1, wherein said drive source is movable between a position at which the drive source is connected to one connecting member and a position at which the drive source is connected to another connecting member.

3. The side-view mirrors of claim 2, wherein said switching driving section switches the drive source between the position at which the drive source is connected to the one connecting member and the position at which the drive source is connected to the other connecting member, by the switching operation of said operation portion.

4. The side-view mirrors of claim 1, wherein said connecting members are coaxial wires, the coaxial wires have outer sheath tube portions and inner wires, the outer sheath tube portions are fixed to the mirror visors, and the inner wires are connected to the mirror surfaces.

5. The side-view mirrors of claim 4, wherein driving force from the drive source is transferred, by the inner wire of one connecting member connected to the drive source, to the side-view mirror to which the one connecting member is connected.

6. The side-view mirrors of claim 5, wherein the mirror surface adjustment operation is carried out by pulling the inner wire by driving force from the drive source.

7. The side-view mirrors device of claim 1, wherein a switching mechanism at said switching driving section is a plunger.

8. The side-view mirrors of claim 1, wherein at said switching driving section, driving force is applied from the drive source to said connecting member by meshing of a pinion provided at the drive source and a gear connected to said connecting member.