Electronic vibration dampening central rearview reinforcing assembly

• US 6,830,351 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jonathan Force Newcomb
• Original Assignee: Jonathan Force Newcomb
• Inventors: Newcomb, Jonathan Force
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US10/392,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20040184169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 359/854, 359/871, 359/872, 359/881, 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/477, 248/478, 248/479, 248/481, 248/488, 310/318, 310/326, 310/329, 310/338, 310/339, 310/345, 310/348
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A reinforcing structure for an automobile'"'"'s central rearview mirror which includes an electronic vibration-dampening device. The reinforcing structure includes Piezo electric elements attached to a support structure, a clamping mechanism to stabilize the reflective mirror element and electronics including LEDs to dissipate energy extracted from the mirror. The vibration-dampening features include Piezo electric crystals attached to a support structure to press against the central rearview mirror housing and a circuit card with various components to dissipate unwanted vibration. Also, the invention includes a spring loaded, pivoted clamping system to further stabilize the entire structure. The invention achieves dampening mainly through the application of an inertial dampening system that utilizes Piezo crystals and weights to adequately absorb excess vibration. The invention allows for compatibility between various styles of rearview mirrors as well as allowing for adjustment of the angle of the mirror through a detachable pivot which attaches the inertial dampening system connected to the support structure to a clamping base. The proposed invention can adequately dampen dangerous and unwanted vibration as well as provide an entertaining indication as to when vibrations are being suppressed electronically.

Claims

1. An apparatus for damping vibrations in a central rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle comprising:

a first mounting platform with a defined interior space;

said first mounting platform including an indentation and support apparatus suitable for the insertion of a central rearview mirror bracket;

an inertial damper comprised of a piezo crystal mounted within a housing structure sandwiched between flexible rubber supports with weights mounted on the outside of said rubber supports, such mounting allowing the inertial damper to vibrate independently of the housing structure;

a detachable pivot attached to said inertial damper;

a secondary mounting platform suspended on said detachable pivot;

a piezo electric vibration damping device attached to said secondary mounting platform, wherein said secondary mounting platform is in the form of a support arm to match the shape of a central rearview mirror housing backing;

said piezo electric vibration damping device being attached inside said secondary mounting platform, wherein said piezo electric vibration-damping device consists of piezo crystals with electrical outputs;

said secondary mounting platform including mirror clamps, with protruding arms, at their extremities;

said mirror clamps having a spring-loaded sleeve pushing against the clamp'"'"'s protruding arms; and

wherein said first mounting platform includes a circuit card supporting a detachable input connection, silicon bridge rectifiers, a two-position switch, light emitting diodes, and a detachable DC output connection.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first mounting platform is a support structure, and said secondary mounting platform is a pivoted support arm.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inertial damper supports a mount for said secondary mounting platform.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piezo crystals are attached to said secondary mounting platform, and the piezo crystals are backed by relief springs mounted on weights that comprise part of said secondary mounting platform.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mirror clamps are mounted on pivots at the extremities of said secondary mounting platform to bridge around the perimeter of a mirror support housing to make direct contact with a reflective rearview mirror element;

and said mirror clamps each include a protruding arm to extend through the pivot in effect creating a lever; and

wherein said mirror clamps include a tension spring mounted within a pivoted structure mounted behind the mirror clamp'"'"'s protruding arm pushing against said protruding arm to maintain pressure against the mirror clamp'"'"'s protruding arm; and

wherein said pivoted structure allows for pivoting to alleviate pressure against said mirror clamp'"'"'s protruding arm, in effect removing the clamp'"'"'s pressure from the mirror element.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detachable pivot of said secondary mounting platform allows for rotation of said secondary mounting platform relative to said first mounting platform;

and wherein said pivot is detachable to allow for detachment of the secondary mounting platform from the first mounting platform.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said secondary mounting platform includes an extension that threads a screw that protrudes to a flat plate supported by said inertial dampener creating a friction lock.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said indentation of said first mounting platform allows for a mirror bracket clamp and wherein said indentation includes two halves of a tubular structure cut lengthwise are bound together at one end by a hinge to form a clamp;

and a clasp is mounted atop one half of the said tubular structure; and

mounted atop the other said half is a receiver for the clasp to allow for clamping of said tubular structure around said rearview mirror bracket.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further include light emitting diodes housed in said mirror clamps;

and wherein said apparatus is wired in such a manner that in one position light emitting diodes housed in said mirror clamps illuminate and in another position, light emitting diodes in the housing structure illuminate to dissipate electrical energy converted from extracted vibration energy from said rearview mirror assembly; and

said piezo crystals feed into said detachable input while said detachable DC output connects the light emitting diodes housed in said mirror clamps to the circuit card; and

the detachable connections allow for detachment of electrical connections while detaching the secondary mounting platform from the first mounting platform.