Optical: systems and elements – Mirror – With support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-25
2001-08-21
Sikder, Mohammad (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Mirror
With support
C359S872000, C359S873000, C248S476000, C248S477000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276807
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for mounting first and second adjusting means for pivoting a mirror element about two substantially mutually perpendicular axes in a housing of a mirror to be secured in or to a motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
For adjusting a mirror element in a rear-view mirror or wing mirror of a motor vehicle, in particular automobiles and trucks, electric adjusting means have long since been used. These adjusting means act, for pivoting the mirror element about each of the axes, on this mirror element at two relevant points situated at a specific distance from the pivoting point of the mirror element about the two axes. This distance will often be the same for both points of application. The two points of application then determine, together with the pivoting point, an isosceles triangle with an apex angle of 90°, the magnitude of which will depend on the mirror. In particular the magnitude of the legs determines the strength and stability of the attachment of the mirror element in the housing of the mirror. For passenger cars, which often have relatively small mirrors, a shorter leg length is therefore sufficient than for trucks in which another and substantially larger type of mirrors is used and in which the leg length, in order to meet the requirements with respect to strength and stability of the attachment of the mirror element in the housing of the mirror, will therefore be greater. However, this involves additional cost, both regarding the manufacture of the various parts of the mirror and for the assembly of the whole.
The object of the invention is to remove this drawback and to provide a method enabling more standardization in the production of mirrors of different sizes.
According to the invention the method as described in the opening paragraph is characterized in that, using a mounting plate consisting of two parts connected for movement relative to each other in the plane of the mounting plate, each of the adjusting means is arranged on a relevant mounting plate member, whereafter, depending on the desired distance between the intersection of the two mutually perpendicular axes and the points of application of the adjusting means on the mirror element, the two mounting plate members are positioned relative to each other and, in the relative position they have thus assumed, are mounted in the housing of the mirror.
The invention not only relates to a method as described before, but also relates to a mounting plate used for carrying out this method. The mounting plate is then characterized in that it consists of two parts connected for movement relative to each other in the plane of the mounting plate, on which parts respectively first and second adjusting means are arranged for pivoting a mirror element about two substantially mutually perpendicular axes in a housing of a mirror to be secured in or to a vehicle.
Although the adjusting means may be composed in many ways for pivoting the mirror element about the above-mentioned axes through either a movement of rotation or a movement of translation, the mounting plate is preferably of such construction that a motor with associated transmission means is arranged on each mounting plate member, by means of which transmission means a control element can be moved linearly in a direction towards or away from the mounting plate member, the end of which control element, when the mounting plate and the mirror element are arranged in the housing of the mirror, acts on the mirror element. Preference is therefore given to the use of a movement of translation to pivot the mirror element about the axes.
The control element may be a gear rack, while the transmission means may be formed by a suitable combination of gear wheels or by a planetary gearing; however, preference is given to a control element formed by a screw spindle, while each of the transmission means is formed by a worm to be driven by a relevant motor and a worm wheel gearing therewith and moving the screw spindle linearly. The desired transmission ratio is thus simply realized.
The mounting plate according to the invention consists of two parts connected for movement relative to each other in the plane of the mounting plate. This movable connection can be realized in different ways. Thus it is possible that the two mounting plate members are connected together by a deformable connecting piece. However, it is also possible to connect the two mounting plate members together by a loose joint.
The invention further relates to a mirror for a vehicle, comprising a housing to be secured in or to the vehicle, a mirror element arranged therein for pivoting about two substantially mutually perpendicular axes and adjusting means arranged in the housing on a mounting plate, which adjusting means comprise a motor with associated transmission means for pivoting the mirror element about each of the axes. The mirror is then characterized in that the mounting plate consists of two parts connected for movement relative to each other in the plane of the mounting plate, on each part of which is arranged a motor with associated transmission means, the position of the mounting plates relative to each other being determined by the size of the housing of the mirror and the size of the mirror element. More in detail, the mirror is further characterized in that the mirror element comprises a supporting plate arranged in the housing for pivoting about two substantially mutually perpendicular axes, and each of the transmission means comprises a worm to be driven by a relevant motor, as well as a worm wheel gearing with this worm, by which a screw spindle can be moved linearly in a direction towards or away from the mounting plate member, the end of which screw spindle is connected with the supporting plate by means of a ball joint.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4158483 (1979-06-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 4824232 (1989-04-01), Thompson
patent: 5005797 (1991-04-01), Maekawa et al.
patent: 5042932 (1991-08-01), Pent
patent: 5097362 (1992-03-01), Lynas
patent: 5453915 (1995-09-01), Bradley, III
Eaton Corporation
Johnston Roger A.
Sikder Mohammad
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