Interior rearview mirror for vehicles, in particular, motor vehicles

• US 6,299,319 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Rommel, Bernd, Mertens, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/540,171
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 250/208.1, 250/227.25, 250/341.7, 250/339.1, 318/443, 318/444, 318/480, 318/483
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0881 characterized by the attachment means on the windshield
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0885 the sensor being integrated in a rear-view mirror module

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror for a vehicle has a mirror base and a mirror head connected to the mirror base. A rain sensor is arranged in the mirror base. The mirror base is connected to a base plate glued to the windshield of the vehicle by clamping and securing elements engaging depressions in the base plate. The rain sensor is pressed against the windshield by the pulling force of the clamping and securing elements acting on the mirror base.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror comprising:

a mirror base (2) configured to be connected to a windshield (1) of the vehicle;

a mirror head (6) connected to said mirror base (2);

at least one rain sensor (8) arranged in said mirror base (2) and secured by said mirror base (2) on the windshield (1);

a base plate (20) configured to connect said mirror base (2) to the windshield (1) so that said at least one rain sensor (8) is secured on the windshield (1) with interposition of said base plate (20);

at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) configured to secure said mirror base (2) to said base plate (20);

wherein said base plate (20) has depressions (21, 22, 23) and wherein said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) engages said depressions (21, 22, 23);

wherein said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) has angled ends (18, 19) engaging said depressions (21, 22, 23);

wherein said base plate (20) has a rim portion (25) extending from a plane in which said depressions (21-23) are arranged in a direction away from the windshield (1), wherein said rim portion (25) is configured such that said angled ends (18, 19), initially resting against said rim portion (25) during mounting of said interior rearview mirror (3) on the windshield, slide into said depressions (21-23) when said interior rearview mirror (3) is pivoted during mounting.

2. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said mirror base (2) has a support arm (5) on which said mirror head (6) is supported.

3. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said rim portion (25) has a curved or slanted profile in cross-section.

4. An interior rearview mirror for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror comprising:

a mirror base (2) configured to be connected to a windshield (1) of the vehicle;

a mirror head (6) connected to said mirror base (2);

at least one rain sensor (8) arranged in said mirror base (2) and secured by said mirror base (2) on the windshield (1);

wherein said mirror base (2) has a support arm (5) on which said mirror head (6) is supported;

wherein said mirror base (2) has a cover (4) and said support arm (5) projects into said cover (4), wherein said at least one rain sensor (8) in a mounted position of said interior rearview mirror (3) is positioned inside said cover (4).

5. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 4, further comprising a base plate (20) configured to connect said mirror base (2) to the windshield (1) so that said at least one rain sensor (8) is secured on the windshield (1) with interposition of said base plate (20).

6. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 5, further comprising at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) configured to secure said mirror base (2) to said base plate (20).

7. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 6, wherein said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) is spring-elastic.

8. The interior rearview mirror according to claims 6, wherein said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) is strip-shaped.

9. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 6, wherein said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) is a bracket.

10. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 6, wherein said mirror base (2) is pulled against said base plate (20) by a force exerted by said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14).

11. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 6, wherein said base plate (20) has depressions (21, 22, 23) and wherein said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) engages said depressions (21, 22, 23).

12. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 11, wherein said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) has angled ends (18, 19) engaging said depressions (21, 22, 23).

13. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 11, wherein said base plate (20) has an outer circumferential sidewall and wherein said depressions (21-23) are provided in said outer circumferential sidewall.

14. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 6, wherein said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) exerts a pulling force on said base plate (2) and wherein said mirror base (2) is configured such that a pressure force counteracting the pulling force of said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) is provided, wherein the pulling force is greater than the pressure force.

15. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 14, wherein said mirror base (2) has a spring (10) generating the pressure force.

16. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 15, wherein said spring (10) is located between said at least one rain sensor (8) and said support arm (5).

17. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 6, wherein said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) embraces said at least one rain sensor (8) on three sides of said at least one rain sensor (8).

18. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 4, wherein said mirror base (2) has a cover (4) and said support arm (5) projects into said cover (4) of said mirror base (2).

19. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 4, wherein said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14) is provided on said support arm (5).

20. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 4, wherein said support arm (5) has a bearing for said at least one clamping and securing element (13, 14).

21. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 20, wherein said support arm (5) has at least one laterally positioned transverse member (11, 12) forming said bearing.

22. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 21, wherein two of said laterally positioned transverse members (11, 12) are positioned on opposite sides of said support arm (5), wherein each one of said laterally positioned transverse members receives one of said at least one clamping and securing members (13, 14).

23. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 21, wherein said support arm (5) has an end portion remote from said mirror head (6) and said at least one laterally positioned transverse member (11, 12) projects transversely from said end portion of said support arm (5).

24. The interior rearview mirror according to claim 21, wherein said at least one laterally positioned transverse member (11, 12) has a U-shaped cross-section.