Rearview assembly with interchangeable rearward viewing device

• US 9,316,347 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Roth, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARSH, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US13/749,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20130187017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 248/205.1, 248/205.2, 359/871, 359/872
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A rearview assembly kit for a vehicle having a housing. A connecting interface is disposed on a forward edge of the housing that is configured to removably connect the housing to any one of a rearview device having a peripheral edge with a bezel, or a rearview device having a peripheral edge that is at least partially ground away. A rearview device includes an outer ring proximate a peripheral edge thereof.

Claims

1. A rearview assembly kit for a vehicle comprising:

a housing;

a connecting interface disposed on a forward edge of the housing;

a first rearview device having a peripheral edge with a bezel, the bezel defining an outside stepped wall;

a second rearview device having a forward peripheral edge that is at least partially ground away, the second rearview device defining an outside stepped construction on a rearward peripheral edge thereof;

a third rearview device having an outer ring proximate a peripheral edge thereof, the third rearview device defining an outside stepped construction on a rear side thereof; and

wherein the connecting interface of the housing includes an inside stepped construction configured to interchangeably engage with one of the first rearview device, the second rearview device, and the third rearview device.

2. The rearview assembly kit of claim 1, further comprising:

removable

a stepped construction defined at a front edge of the housing and configured to matingly engage a complementary construction on one of a bezel and a carrier plate.

3. The rearview assembly kit of claim 2, wherein the stepped construction extends at least partially into the peripheral edge of the bezel.

4. The rearview assembly kit of claim 1, further comprising:

mating hooks on the housing configured to removably engage aperture connectors on one of a bezel and a carrier plate.

5. The rearview assembly kit of claim 1, further comprising:

a rounded engagement configuration defined at a front edge of the housing.

6. The rearview assembly kit of claim 1, wherein a front edge of the housing and the rearview device removably connected therewith includes an interference fit configuration.

7. The rearview assembly kit of claim 1, wherein a front edge of the housing and the rearview device removably connected therewith includes a friction fit configuration.

8. The rearview assembly kit of claim 1, wherein the housing includes supporting componentry for each of the rearview device having a peripheral edge with a bezel, the rearview device having a peripheral edge that is at least partially ground away, and the rearview device having an outer ring proximate a peripheral edge thereof.

9. A method of constructing a rearview assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

forming a housing;

forming a connecting interface on the housing;

providing a plurality of rearview devices, each of the rearview devices having one of the following constructions;

a peripheral edge with a bezel;

a peripheral edge that is at least partially ground away;

an outer ring proximate a peripheral edge thereof;

providing a complementary interface on each of the rearview devices;

selecting one of the rearview devices for engagement with the housing; and

removably connecting the housing with the rearview device by securing the connecting interface with the complementary interface.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing supporting componentry for each of the rearview device having a peripheral edge with a bezel, the rearview device having a peripheral edge that is at least partially ground away, and the rearview device having an outer ring proximate a peripheral edge thereof.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing mating hooks on the housing configured to removably engage aperture connectors on one of a bezel and a carrier plate.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

forming a stepped engagement configuration defined at a front edge of the housing.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

forming a rounded engagement configuration defined at a front edge of the housing.