Powerfold exterior mirror assembly

• US 7,093,946 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pavao, Leo W., Shapin, Eric, Weber, Richard J., Barve, Amit S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/929,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/877
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a base portion mounted to the vehicle and a movable portion that is pivotable relative to the base portion via a motor or motorized actuator or powerfold unit or the like. The powerfold unit is operable to pivot the movable portion relative to the base portion. The powerfold unit is mounted at one of the movable portion and the base portion and engages a receiving portion of the other of the movable portion and the base portion. A resilient element is positioned between and at least partially in engagement with the powerfold unit and the receiving portion. The resilient element is resilient and may at least partially compress as the powerfold unit is engaged with the receiving portion, thereby reducing or dampening vibration of the head portion relative to the base portion of the mirror assembly.

Claims

1. A powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a base portion fixedly mountable to the vehicle;

a movable portion pivotally mounted to said base portion and pivotable about a pivot axis;

a powerfold unit having a pivotable portion having an outer surface, said powerfold unit being mounted at one of said movable portion and said base portion and engaging a receiving portion of the other of said movable portion and said base portion;

said receiving portion non-rotatably receiving said pivotable portion to mount said movable portion to said base portion, said receiving portion having an inner surface opposed to said outer surface of said pivotable portion when said pivotable portion is received in said receiving portion;

a resilient element positioned between and at least partially in engagement with said outer surface of said pivotable portion of said powerfold unit and said inner surface of said receiving portion, said resilient element being resilient to at least partially compress between said inner and outer surfaces as said powerfold unit is engaged with said receiving portion;

said powerfold unit being operable to pivot said pivotable portion to pivot said movable portion relative to said base portion; and

said resilient element engaging said powerfold unit and said receiving portion to provide a substantially tight engagement of said movable portion to said powerfold unit to enhance vibrational performance of said mirror assembly.

2. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said powerfold unit is mounted to said base unit and said movable portion comprises said receiving portion.

3. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element is positioned partially within a recess or channel in at least one of said powerfold unit and said receiving portion.

4. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element comprises a polymeric material.

5. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element comprises a metallic material.

6. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element comprises an elastomeric material.

7. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element comprises an elastomeric coating over at least a portion of one of said powerfold unit and said receiving portion.

8. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said resilient element comprises a flexible clip that flexes from an expanded position to a compressed position as said pivotable portion is received at least partially within said receiving portion.

9. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said resilient element is biased toward said expanded position.

10. A powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a base portion fixedly mountable to the vehicle;

a movable portion pivotally mounted to said base portion and pivotable about a pivot axis, said movable portion including a receiving portion;

a powerfold unit being mounted to said base portion and having a pivotable portion, said pivotable portion having an outer surface;

said receiving portion at least partially receiving said pivotable portion to mount said movable portion to said powerfold unit and said base portion;

a resilient element positioned at least partially between and at least partially in engagement with an outer surface of said pivotable portion and an inner surface of said receiving portion, said resilient element being resilient to at least partially compress as said pivotable portion is received in said receiving portion;

said powerfold unit being operable to pivot said pivotable portion relative to said base portion to pivot said movable portion relative to said base portion; and

said resilient element engaging said powerfold unit and said receiving portion to provide a substantially tight engagement of said movable portion to said powerfold unit to enhance vibrational performance of said mirror assembly.

11. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said resilient element is positioned partially within a channel in at least one of said pivotable portion and said receiving portion.

12. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said resilient element comprises a polymeric material.

13. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said resilient element comprises a metallic material.

14. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said resilient element comprises an elastomeric material.

15. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said resilient element comprises an elastomeric coating over at least a portion of one of said powerfold unit and said receiving portion.

16. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said resilient element comprises a flexible clip that flexes from an expanded position to a compressed position as said pivotable portion is received at least partially within said receiving portion.

17. The powerfold exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein said resilient element is biased toward said expanded position.