Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-13
2001-07-10
Green, Mary Ann (Department: 3632)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
C074S501600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257087
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a rear angle of an outside mirror for an automobile. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus for controlling a rear angle of an outside mirror for an automobile, in which a controller for supporting a cable coupled with a glass holder plate by a three point linkage method, is inserted into a control knob integrally formed with a knob cover, before being welded with ultrasonic waves for a given period of time, in order to secure a driver's rear view at the time of driving or reversing a car, thereby enhancing the operation efficiency of the control knob, and decreasing the cost of manufacture as well as simplifying assembly process due to parts number reduction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, when drivers take turns at driving, each driver controls a rear angle of an outside mirror
13
provided at the side of a car as shown in
FIG. 1
, in accordance with his body shape, in order to secure his rear view, for safety in driving.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, therefore, a conventional apparatus for controlling the rear angle of the outside mirror includes: a cable
30
having an inside cable
31
whose one end is fixed at a glass holder plate (not shown), and an outside cable
32
which lets the inside cable
31
slide inside; a controller
20
having a fixing groove
21
for fixing the other end of the inside cable
31
, a controller cap
70
located at its upper portion, for fixing the inside cable
31
inserted into the fixing groove
21
, and a guide groove
22
located at its lower portion; a control case
40
having a guide projection
41
opposite to the guide groove
22
, a spring
60
mounted inside, which enables the cable
30
to maintain a specified tension, and a control holder
50
inserted into its outside, where the outside cable
32
is fixed; a control knob
10
which is connected with an arm
11
formed in a mold, where the controller
20
slides along the guide projection
41
of the control case
40
, so that the cable
30
becomes tight and loose, thereby controlling a rear angle of an outside mirror; and a knob cover
80
installed at the end of the control knob
10
, for preventing an inflow of contaminants.
The following description relates to the operation of the conventional apparatus for controlling the rear angle of the outside mirror for the automobile constructed above.
When the driver moves the control knob
10
to his desired position, for the purpose controlling the rear angle of the outside mirror
13
(as shown in
FIG. 1
) according to his body shape, at the time of driving or reversing a car, the arm
11
makes the controller
20
move, and simultaneously the inside cable
31
is stretched and loosened by the controller
20
, thereby controlling rear angle of the outside mirror.
Here, as the guide groove
22
slides along the guide projection
41
of the control case
40
, the inside cable
31
is made to move, not separating from the controller
20
, for its end is inserted into the fixing groove
21
and supported by the controller cap
70
. Consequently, the rear angle of the outside mirror is controlled to a position where the driver desires.
The inside cable
31
is always able to maintain a specified tension by elasticity of the spring
60
mounted in the control holder
50
. In case of operating the control knob
10
, therefore, the cable
30
is made to move as much as the controller
20
slides, so that the rear angle of the outside mirror is controlled.
In this conventional apparatus, however, there are the problems that many of the parts are required for the interaction to control the rear angle of the outside mirror, and their structure is so complicated that parts assembly process becomes complicated, too, and the control function is deteriorated due to defect of the respective parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for controlling a rear angle of an outside mirror for an automobile that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for controlling a rear angle of an outside mirror for an automobile, in which a control cap for fixing a cable and a knob cover for protecting inside parts are not provided, causing parts to decrease in number, thereby simplifying assembly process and reducing the cost of manufacture.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, ultrasonic waves are, for a given period of time, applied onto: a controller having coupling grooves opposite to fixing grooves for fixing the other end of inside cable whose one end is fixed at a glass holder plate, and a supporting rod with a predetermined length; and a control knob having a coupling portion with coupling projections on its inside circumference, which correspond to the coupling grooves, for fixing the controller inserted, a supporting hole with a predetermined length, where the supporting rod is inserted into the inside of the coupling portion, and a hemispheric flange having a guide hole with a predetermined width, where a control case is inserted into the outside of the coupling portion, so that the coupling grooves of the controller are welded and mate with the coupling projections of the control knob, and that the supporting rod of the controller and the supporting hole of the control knob are welded and mate with each other.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3444754 (1969-05-01), Liedel
patent: 3468186 (1969-09-01), McIntyre et al.
patent: 3473823 (1969-10-01), Liedel
patent: 3625597 (1971-12-01), Jones
patent: 3655273 (1972-04-01), Pringle
Green Mary Ann
Poong Jeong Industrial Co., Ltd.
Poskauer Rose LLP
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