Exterior rear view mirror

• US 8,602,575 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Negel, Raimund
• Primary Examiner(s): FONT, FRANK G
• Application Number:
  US13/242,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20120075735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 359873-878, 248/479, 248/481, 248/487
• US Class Current: 359/874
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0625 by hydraulically or pneumatically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators

Abstract

An exterior mirror for mounting on a vehicle with a mirror base and a mirror head attached to the mirror base is suggested, whereby the mirroring element is rigidly connected to the housing of the mirror head. The mirror head and mirror base are rotatably connected to one another by means of a ball joint. The adjustment of the mirroring element is done by two bars, of which the length can be adjusted by actuators, which bars are arranged between the mirror head and mirror base.

Claims

1. Exterior mirror for mounting on a vehicle, the exterior mirror comprising:

a mirror base being connected to the vehicle;

a mirror head mounted to the vehicle and the mirror base, with a mirroring element, whereby the mirror head is attached to the mirror base, and the mirror head and mirror base are rotatably connected together by a mirror base ball joint;

a link plate fixedly secured to the mirror head, the mirror head engaging two bar ball joints and the mirror base ball joint of the mirror base; and

two length-adjustable bars making independent connection between the link plate and the mirror base to allow adjustment of the mirroring element, whereby the two length-adjustable bars define two rotation axes for the mirror head, which run through the mirror base ball joint, and the length of the two length-adjustable bars can be adjusted by actuators, and the two bars engage on the mirror head via the two bar ball joints.

2. Exterior mirror according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axes are defined by the connection lines between the mirror base ball joint and the bar ball joints.

3. Exterior mirror according to claim 2, wherein the rotation axes lie perpendicularly to one another.

4. Exterior mirror according to claim 1 including a frame fixes the mirroring element in the mirror head.

5. Exterior mirror according to claim 1, wherein both rotation axes x and y meet in a central point of the mirror base ball joint.

6. Exterior mirror according to claim 1, wherein each of the mirror base and the two length-adjustable bars defines a fastening point such that all of the fastening points form a triangle in a plane of the vehicle.

7. Exterior mirror according to claim 6, wherein the fastening points are configured such that a perpendicular distance from the fastening point of the mirror base to a line extending between the fastening points of the two length-adjustable bars is at least 50 mm.

8. Exterior mirror according to claim 1, wherein the mirroring element contains a plastic substrate.