Mirror mounting assembly

• US 9,840,200 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2014
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mekra Lang North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Mekra Lang North America LLC
• Inventors: de Swardt, Rolf Reitz, Enz, Andreas, Petroff, Alexandre
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tallman, Robert E
• Application Number:
  US14/295,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20150353016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 359838, 359846, 359865, 359871-876
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/07 by means of multiple interengaging protrusions on the surfaces, e.g. hooks, coils,
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49877 of flexible wall, expansible chamber devices [e.g., bellows]

Abstract

A mirror assembly includes attachments for connecting a mirror retaining plate and a connector assembly, and methods for connecting a mirror retaining plate and a connector assembly, are provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle mirror assembly, comprising:

a mirror retaining plate having a plurality of pockets and a plurality of receivers, the receivers being elastically deformable in at least one plane, and at least one of the receivers being disposed in a first plane and the other receivers being disposed in a second plane elevated from the first plane;

a connection assembly operatively connected to the mirror retaining plate, the connection assembly having a set of tabs, at least one of the tabs being connectable with a respective receiver in the first plane and the remaining tabs being connectable with respective receivers in the second plane, each of the tabs alternating in size and being configured for insertion into respective pockets by deflecting respective receivers to a second state from a first state, each receiver having a spring constant to cause the receiver to return to the first state to connect the connection assembly with the mirror retaining plate, the connection assembly being movable to change the mirror retaining plate; and

a mirror glass attachable to the mirror retaining plate.

2. The vehicle mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein each receiver has a proximal end and a distal end and further comprising a detent disposed at the distal end for connection with at least one of the tabs.

3. A vehicle mirror assembly, comprising:

a mirror retaining plate having a plurality of pockets alternating in size and a plurality of receivers alternating in size, and at least one of the receivers being disposed in a first plane and the other receivers being disposed in a second plane elevated from the first plane;

a connection assembly operatively connected to the mirror retaining plate, the connection assembly having a set of tabs, the tabs being configured for insertion into respective pockets and at least one of the tabs being connectable with a respective receiver in the first plane and the remaining tabs being connectable with respective receivers in the second plane, the connection assembly being movable to change the mirror retaining plate and the connection assembly from a first receiving state to a second locking state; and

a mirror glass attachable to the mirror retaining plate.

4. A vehicle mirror assembly, comprising:

a mirror retaining plate having a plurality of pockets and a plurality of receivers, at least one of the receivers being different in size, shape, or orientation from the other receivers, and at least one of the receivers being disposed in a first plane and the other receivers being disposed in a second plane elevated from the first plane;

a connection assembly operatively connected to the mirror retaining plate, the connection assembly having a plurality of tabs, at least one of the tabs being different in size, shape, or orientation from the other tabs, the tabs being configured for insertion into the pockets and at least one of the tabs being connectable with a respective receiver in the first plane and the remaining tabs being connectable with respective receivers in the second plane, the connection assembly being adjustable to lock the mirror retaining plate and the connection assembly into a locking state; and

a mirror glass attachable to the mirror retaining plate.

5. A vehicle mirror assembly, comprising:

a mirror retaining plate in a first plane having a plurality of pockets and a plurality of receivers, at least one of the receivers being oriented differently from the other receivers and at least one of the receivers being disposed in the first plane substantially level with the mirror retaining plate and the other receivers being disposed in a second plane elevated from the first plane;

a connection assembly operatively connected to the mirror retaining plate, the connection assembly having a plurality of projections, at least one of the projections being connectable with a respective receiver in the first plane, the remaining projections being insertable into respective pockets and connectable with respective receivers in the second plane, the connection assembly being adjustable to change the mirror retaining plate and the connection assembly from a first receiving state to a second locking state; and

a mirror glass attachable to the mirror retaining plate.

6. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror retaining plate having a plurality of pockets and a plurality of latches, at least one of the latches being oriented differently from the other latches and at least one of the latches being disposed in a first plane and the other latches being disposed in a second plane elevated from the first plane, at least one of the latches having a catch with a spring constant urging that latch into a locking position; and

a connection assembly operatively connected to the mirror retaining plate, the connection assembly having a plurality of projections, at least one of the projections being connectable with a respective receiver in the first plane, the remaining projections being connectable with respective receivers in the second plane, the connection assembly being releasable from a locking state by moving the catch to overcome the spring constant and release the latch from the locking position.

7. The vehicle mirror assembly as in claim 6, further comprising a mirror glass attachable to the mirror retaining plate.

8. A vehicle mirror assembly, comprising:

a mirror retaining plate having a plurality of pockets and a plurality of latches, at least one of the latches being lockable in a first plane substantially level with the mirror retaining plate and the other latches being lockable in a second plane elevated from the first plane, each of the latches having a catch with a spring constant urging the latch into a locking position; and

a connection assembly operatively connected to the mirror retaining plate, the connection assembly having a plurality of projections, at least one of the projections being connectable with a respective receiver in the first plane, the remaining projections being connectable with respective receivers in the second plane, the connection assembly being releasable from a locking state by pressing the catches to overcome the spring constant and release the latch from the locking position.

9. The vehicle mirror assembly as in claim 8, wherein the latches have a spring constant and deflect outward as the projections are pressed against the latches.

10. The vehicle mirror assembly as in claim 8, wherein the latches have a spring constant and deflect in two planes as the projections are pressed against the latches.

11. The vehicle mirror assembly as in claim 8, further comprising a mirror glass attachable to the mirror retaining plate.

12. A method of securing a mirror retaining plate to a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a mirror housing having a plurality of receivers;

providing a motor assembly having a plurality of tabs depending therefrom;

positioning the mirror housing adjacent the motor assembly;

depressing the tabs of the motor assembly against respective receivers of the mirror housing; and

deflecting the receivers to engage at least a portion of at least one tab;

wherein at least one of the receivers is disposed in a first plane and the other receivers are disposed in a second plane elevated from the first plane, and at least one of the tabs is connectable with a respective receiver in the first plane and the remaining tabs are connectable with respective receivers in the second plane.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein at least one receiver includes a detent configured to engage at least one tab.

14. The method as in claim 12, wherein at least one receiver includes a knuckle configured to engage at least one tab.