Optical: systems and elements – Mirror – With support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-07-24
Sikder, Mohammad (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Mirror
With support
C359S872000, C359S850000, C359S838000, C359S841000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264338
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to rearview mirrors and more particularly to rearview mirrors for motor vehicles having a mirror glass mounted for selective movement relative to the mirror housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Motor vehicle rearview mirrors typically employ an arrangement whereby the mirror glass may be selectively adjusted relative to the mirror housing whereby to selectively adjust the mirror image perceived by the vehicle operator. The movability of the mirror glass relative to the mirror housing, however, creates a problem in that the movable mounting of the mirror glass relative to the housing has a tendency to introduce vibration of the mirror glass relative to the mirror housing with resultant blurring of the image perceived by the operator in the mirror glass.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to the provision of an improved rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle.
More specifically, this invention is directed to the provision of a rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle wherein the mirror glass is readily adjustable relative to the mirror housing to selectively vary the image perceived by the operator but wherein mirror glass vibration is effectively eliminated.
The invention relates to an outside rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle including a housing adapted to be rigidly attached to the motor vehicle and including an annular rim circumscribing a cavity defined by the housing; and a mirror glass assembly positioned in the cavity within the housing rim and mounted for selective movement relative to the housing to selectively vary the position of the mirror glass assembly relative to the housing and thereby selectively vary the image perceived in the mirror glass assembly by a motor vehicle operator.
According to the invention, the mirror assembly further includes a damper device positioned within the housing cavity, extending between the housing and the mirror glass assembly, and operative to damp vibrational movement of the mirror glass assembly relative to the housing. With this arrangement, the mirror presents a steady mirror image to the operator while not interfering with the selective movement of the mirror relative to the mirror housing for mirror adjustment.
According to a further feature of the invention, the damper device comprises a first member defining a chamber, a second member defining a slide structure mounted for reciprocal movement in the chamber, and a viscous material trapped in the chamber and dampening the reciprocal movement of the slide structure in the chamber. This arrangement provides a simple and effective means of readily dampening any tendency of the mirror glass to vibrate relative to the mirror housing.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the second member comprises a piston defining the slide structure it one end thereof and secured at another end thereof to one of the housing and the mirror glass assembly, and the first member comprises a cylinder positioned in the cavity, containing the viscous material, slidably receiving the one end of the piston, and secured at another end thereof to the other of said housing and said mirror glass assembly. This simple piston/cylinder arrangement provides a ready and effective structure for dampening the mirror vibrations.
According to an alternate embodiment of the invention, the first member comprises a first arm secured at a first end thereof to one of the housing and the mirror glass assembly and defining the chamber at a second end thereof, and the second member comprises a second arm secured at a first end thereof to the other of the housing and the mirror glass assembly, pivotally connected at a second end thereof to the second end of the first arm, and carrying a vane structure at the second end thereof constituting the slide structure and rotatably received in the chamber. This knee action arrangement provides a further simple and effective means of dampening the mirror vibration.
According to a further alternate embodiment of the invention, the damper device includes a cylinder containing a viscous fluid, a vane mounted for rotary movement in the cylinder, and means operative to rotate the vane relative to the cylinder in response to vibrational movement of the mirror glass assembly relative to the housing. The operative means may comprise, for example, a pinion secured to the vane, a rack driving the pinion, and link means secured to spaced points on the mirror glass assembly and operative to move the rack in response to vibrational movement of the mirror glass assembly.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4257452 (1981-03-01), Hill et al.
patent: 4318590 (1982-03-01), Hanley
patent: 4892400 (1990-01-01), Brookes et al.
patent: 5412514 (1995-05-01), Zebold et al.
patent: 5604644 (1997-02-01), Lang et al.
patent: 5918862 (1999-07-01), Nelson
MacFarland Robert W.
Young Richard T.
Adac Plastics Inc.
Sikder Mohammad
Young & Basile P.C.
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