Mirror reflective element

• US 7,420,756 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMARI, ALESSANDRO V
• Application Number:
  US10/709,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20040264011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 359/866, 359/868, 359/883, 359/514, 359/884
• US Class Current: 359/884
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/161 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

A reflective element for a mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a substrate and a functional or anti-abrasion film applied to an exterior surface of the substrate. The substrate comprises a polymeric resin material, such as a transparent optical polymeric resin material. The functional or anti-abrasion film may comprise a glass material and may have a thickness of less than approximately 0.8 mm. The anti-abrasion film is flexible to conform to the exterior surface of the substrate. The flexible film may be unrolled from a reel or roll and applied to the exterior surface of an elongated strip or sheet of substrate material. The substrate, including the glass film or layer, may then be cut or otherwise formed from the elongated strip or sheet of molded or extruded or cast substrate material.

Claims

1. A wide angle reflective element for a mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a polymeric mirror substrate having an exterior surface comprising a less curved inboard surface and a more curved outboard surface, said polymeric mirror substrate comprising a polymeric resin material, said polymeric mirror substrate having a reflector disposed on a surface thereof to provide a reflective element for a vehicle mirror assembly; and

a thin at least partially flexible glass sheet, said thin at least partially flexible glass sheet existing as a pre-formed glass sheet that is separate from said polymeric mirror substrate, said thin at least partially flexible glass sheet having an attaching surface, said attaching surface being opposed to and adhered to said exterior surface of said polymeric mirror substrate when said thin at least partially flexible sheet is adhered to said exterior surface of said polymeric mirror substrate, said thin at least partially flexible sheet providing an anti-abrasion sheet at said outboard and inboard surfaces of said exterior surface of said polymeric mirror substrate when adhered thereto, said thin at least partially flexible glass sheet substantially conforming to said exterior surface of said polymeric mirror substrate when adhered thereto, said thin at least partially flexible glass sheet having a thickness of less than approximately 0.8 mm and greater than approximately 0.3 mm.

2. The wide angle reflective element of claim 1, wherein said reflector is disposed at an inner surface of said substrate opposite said exterior surface.

3. The wide angle reflective element of claim 1, wherein said substrate is cut from a molded or extruded or cast strip or sheet, said glass sheet being laminated to said strip or sheet, at least two substrates being cut from said strip or sheet.

4. The wide angle reflective element of claim 3, wherein said reflector comprises a reflective film applied to said strip or sheet on an inner surface of said substrates opposite said exterior surface.

5. The wide angle reflective element of claim 1, wherein said reflector comprises a reflective film applied to an inner surface of said substrate opposite said exterior surface.

6. The wide angle reflective element of claim 5, wherein said reflective film comprises a polymeric reflective film at least one of laminated, adhered and applied to said inner surface of said substrate.

7. The wide angle reflective element of claim 6, wherein said reflective film comprises an all polymer-thin-film multilayer, high reflective mirror film comprising multiple coextrusion of many plastic layers to form a highly reflective mirror film.

8. The wide angle reflective element of claim 1, wherein said reflector comprises a reflective film applied to said exterior surface of said substrate, said glass film being applied to an exterior surface of said reflective film.

9. The wide angle reflective element of claim 8, wherein said reflective film comprises a polymeric reflective film at least one of laminated, adhered and applied to said exterior surface of said substrate.

10. The wide angle reflective element of claim 9, wherein said reflective film comprises an all polymer-thin-film multilayer, high reflective mirror film comprising multiple coextrusion of many plastic layers to form a highly reflective mirror film.

11. The wide angle reflective element of claim 1, wherein said reflective element is adapted for one of an interior rearview mirror assembly and an exterior rearview mirror assembly.