Mirror actuator electrical connector

• US 6,755,544 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schnell, Robert E., Willmore, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/274,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 554/872, 554/877, 439/350, 439/352
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

A vehicle exterior mirror actuator includes an actuator case, at least two electric motors, and a wire harness. The wire harness includes a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at the connector. The connector includes at least three electrical terminals electrically interconnected with the wires. When the connector is joined with the actuator case, one of the terminals of the connector makes direct contact with one of the terminals of one of the motors and a second of the connector terminals makes direct contact with the corresponding terminal of the other motor. The third connector terminal makes electrical contact with the other two corresponding terminals of the motors to provide a common electrical path for the other two corresponding terminals.

Claims

1. A vehicular exterior mirror actuator assembly for adjustably positioning a reflective element, said mirror actuator assembly comprising:

an actuator having an actuator case and at least first and second electric motors, said first electric motor including a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal, and said second electric motor including a third electrical terminal and a fourth electrical terminal;

a wire harness having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at said connector, said connector including at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with said wires;

said connector joined with said actuator case by at least one retention member, said retention member being captured by said actuator case to positively engage said connector with said actuator case, one connector terminal of said at least three connector terminals making direct contact with said first terminal of said first electric motor, a second connector terminal of said at least three connector terminals making direct contact with said third terminal of said second electric motor, and a third connector terminal of said at least three connector terminals making electrical contact with said second and fourth terminals of said first and second electric motors to provide a common electrical lead for said at least first and second electric motors; and

said connector comprising two body portions joined in facing relationship, and said two body portions capturing said wires therebetween, and said body portions being joined by a living hinge.

2. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and third terminals of said first and second electric motors comprises a power terminal, wherein said third connector terminal provides a common ground lead for said at least first and second electric motors.

3. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one retention member comprises a pair of retention members.

4. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 3, wherein said case includes complementary retention members engaged by said retention members of said connector when said connector is joined with said actuator case.

5. The minor actuator assembly according to claim 4, wherein said actuator case includes an exterior surface, said complementary retention members of said actuator case provided at said exterior surface wherein said retention members of said connector do not penetrate said actuator case when joined with said actuator ease.

6. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 4, wherein said complementary retention members of said actuator case protrude from said exterior surface of said actuator case.

7. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 6, wherein each of said retention members of said connector comprises an outer frame surrounding a central opening, said outer frames of said retention members extending around said complementary retention members of said vase when said connector is joined with said case to thereby mechanically retain said connector in position against said case.

8. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 7, wherein said retention members comprise resilient retention members arid provide a snap alignment with said complementary retention members of said actuator case.

9. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of said complementary retention members of said actuator case includes a camming surface, said camming surfaces urging said retention members of said connector to expand outwardly when said connector is joined with said case, and said retention members substantially returning to a pre-installed configuration when said retention members of said connector are moved passed said camming surfaces.

10. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 9, wherein each of said complementary retention member includes an engagement surface, each of said retention members of said connector including an engagement surface, and said engagement surfaces of said retention members of said actuator case and said connector being generally parallel when said connector is fully engaged with said actuator case.

11. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 3, wherein said retention members comprise flexible retention members, said retention members initially expanding outwardly when said connector is joined with said case, and said retention members engaging an exterior surface of said case when fully engaged with said case to thereby retain said connector joined with said case without penetrating said case.

12. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 1, wherein said terminals of said motors comprise female terminals.

13. The minor actuator assembly according to claim 1, wherein said two body portions are joined in facing relationship by one of cold staking, heat staking, snap welding, sonic welding, and adhesive bonding.

14. A vehicular exterior mirror actuator assembly for adjustably positioning a reflective element, said mirror actuator assembly comprising:

an actuator having an actuator case and at least one electric motor, said actuator being adapted to provide adjustment to a reflective element having a rearward field of view in order to adjust the rearward field of view, and said case including an exterior surface and opposed sides, each side having a retention member;

a wire harness having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at said connector, said connector including a corresponding plurality of connector terminals electrically interconnected with said wires; and

said connector having at least two flexible retention members for engaging said retention members of said actuator case, said retention members of said actuator case urging said flexible retention members to expand outwardly when said connector is initially mounted on said actuator case, said retention members of said connector positively engaging said retention members of said actuator case wherein said connector straddles said actuator case when said connector is joined with said actuator case to thereby retain said connector joined with said actuator case without penetrating said case, and at least one of said connector terminals making direct contact with a terminal of said electric motor when said connector is joined with said case.

15. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 14, wherein each of said flexible retention members comprise an outer frame surrounding a central opening, said outer frames surrounding at least a portion of said retention members of said actuator case when said connector is joined with said actuator case.

16. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 14, wherein said connector comprises two body portions joined in facing relationship, and said wires being captured between said two body portions.

17. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 16, wherein said body portions are joined by a living hinge.

18. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 16, wherein said body portions are joined in facing relationship by one of cold staking, heat staking, snap welding, sonic welding, and adhesive bonding.

19. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 14, wherein said at least one electric motor comprises at least a first electric motor and a second electric motor, said first electric motor including a first terminal and a second terminal, staid second electric motor including a third terminal and a fourth terminal, said connector including at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with said wires, a first connector terminal of said at least three connector terminals making direct contact with said first terminal of said first electric motor, and a second connector terminal of said at least three connector terminals making direct contact with said third terminal of said second electric motor when said connector is joined with said case.

20. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 19, wherein a third connector terminal of said at least three connector terminals makes electrical contact with said second and fourth terminals of said first and second electric motors to provide a common electrical lead for said motors when said connector is joined with said case.

21. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 19, wherein each or said first and third terminals comprise power terminals, wherein said third connector terminal provides a common ground lead for said first and second electric motors.

22. A vehicular exterior actuator assembly for adjustably positioning a reflective element, said mirror actuator assembly comprising:

an actuator having an actuator case and at least first and second electric motors, said first electric motor including a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal, and said second electric motor including a third electrical terminal and a fourth electrical terminal;

a wire harness having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at said connector said connector including at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with said wires;

said connector joined with said actuator case by at least one retention member, said retention member being captured by said actuator case to positively engage said connector with said actuator case, one connector terminal of said at least three connector terminals making direct contact with said first terminal of said first electric motor, a second connector terminal of said at least three connector terminals making direct contact with said third terminal of said second electric motor, and a third connector terminal of said at least three connector terminals making electrical contact with said second and fourth terminals of said first and second electric motors to provide a common electrical lead for said at least first and second electric motors; and

said actuator case including an exterior surface, said at least one retention member comprising a pair of retention members, and said actuator case including complimentary retention members engaged by said retention members of said connector when said connector is joined with said actuator case, said complimentary retention members of said actuator case provided at said exterior surface wherein the retention members of said connector do not penetrate said actuator case when joined with said actuator case, and said actuator case having opposed sides, said complimentary retention members of said actuator case provided at said opposed sides wherein said connector straddles said actuator case when said connector is joined with said actuator case.

23. The mirror actuator assembly according to claim 22, wherein said connector terminals are generally aligned between said retention members.