Optical: systems and elements – Glare or unwanted light reduction – With mirror
Utility Patent
2000-04-11
2001-01-02
Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Glare or unwanted light reduction
With mirror
C359S603000, C359S604000, C359S875000
Utility Patent
active
06168277
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an interior mirror for a vehicle having a dimming function performed by a prism mirror.
In a prior art dimming rearview mirror mounted on the inside of a vehicle, as shown in
FIGS. 3A and 3B
, a mirror housing
22
to which a prism mirror
21
is fixedly fitted is pivotably connected to a stay
24
which is mounted on a front window
23
through fitting of a pivot
24
a
provided on the stay
24
to a pivot bearing
22
a
provided on the mirror housing
22
. By sliding movement of the pivot
24
a
relative to the pivot bearing
22
a
, the driver can adjust the mirror surface of the prism mirror
21
to a position in which the driver can easily watch the mirror surface. The prism mirror
21
can be switched between a full reflection position and a partial reflection position to dim head light of a vehicle running in the rear by operating a tilting unit
26
with a reflectivity switching lever
25
located in the lower portion of the mirror housing
22
and thereby pivoting the mirror housing
22
by a predetermined angle.
FIG. 3A
shows a full reflection state during the day and
FIG. 3B
shows a partial reflection state during the night.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a prism mirror type rearview mirror which realizes switching between full reflection and partial reflection and adjustment of the mirror surface angle with a novel structure which is different from the structure of the prior art rearview mirror.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising a prism mirror, a mirror surface adjusting unit, a prism angle switching unit and a mirror housing enclosing them, the prism angle switching unit being mounted in the mirror housing and the mirror surface adjusting unit being connected, on one hand, to the prism angle switching unit and holding the prism mirror on the other hand, the prism angle switching unit being capable of pivoting the prism mirror with the mirror surface adjusting unit and thereby switching incident light to the prism mirror between a position in which the incident light is fully reflected and a position in which the incident light is partially reflected, the mirror surface adjusting unit being capable of pivoting the mirror surface vertically and laterally, separately from the prism angle switching unit, and thereby adjusting the angle of the mirror surface, and the mirror housing being supported on the vehicle.
More specifically, in one aspect of the invention, the prism mirror angle switching unit is formed with a convex or concave surface and the mirror surface adjusting unit is formed with a concave or convex surface which fits the convex or concave surface of the mirror angle switching unit. The angle of the mirror surface of the prism mirror held by the mirror surface adjusting unit can be adjusted with a simple structure by fitting of the convex or concave surface of the prism mirror angle switching unit to the concave or convex surface of the mirror surface adjusting unit.
In another aspect of the invention, a part of the mirror surface adjusting unit extends to form a mirror surface adjusting operator means and the mirror housing has an opening formed therein through which the mirror surface adjusting operator means projects outwardly. By operating the mirror surface adjusting operator means, the mirror surface angle can be adjusted without directly touching the mirror surface with the driver's hand and, therefore, a clear view can be provided without soiling the mirror surface with the driver's hand.
In another aspect of the invention, the prism angle switching unit has a horizontal shaft and is mounted pivotably to the mirror housing by means of the horizontal shaft. By this arrangement, s simple structure can be realized.
In another aspect of the invention, a part of the prism angle switching unit extends to form a prism angle switching operator means and the mirror housing is formed with an opening through which the prism angle switching operating means projects outwardly. By operating the prism angle switching operator means, the prism mirror can be pivoted by a predetermined angle without directly touching the mirror surface with the driver's hand and, therefore, a clear view can be provided without soiling the mirror surface with the driver's hand.
In another aspect of the invention, a mirror surface adjusting operator means which is formed by extending a part of the mirror surface adjusting unit and projects outwardly through an opening formed in the mirror housing is disposed in a position which is different from a position of a prism angle switching operating means which is formed by extending a part of the prism angle switching unit and projects outwardly through an opening formed in the mirror housing. By this arrangement, interference between the two operator means can be prevented and the adjusting operations thereby can be facilitated.
In another aspect of the invention, the rearview mirror further comprises a ring which covers a peripheral portion of an opening portion of the mirror housing. By this arrangement, visuality can be improved by concealing a portion along the entire periphery of the prism mirror in which distortion tends to be produced. Besides, since gap between the mirror housing and the prism mirror is concealed, appearance of the rearview mirror as a whole is improved.
In another aspect of the invention, the rearview mirror further comprises a support member for mounting the mirror housing to a main body of the vehicle, said support member being formed integrally with the mirror housing. By this arrangement, the adjustment of the mirror surface is made without employing the pivotal sliding movement between the stay and the mirror housing as in the prior art rearview mirror and, therefore, the stay and the mirror housing can be made integral whereby the number of the component parts can be reduced and the weight of the rearview mirror can be also reduced.
If, in the above described prior art rearview mirror in which the prism mirror is fitted to the opening portion of the mirror housing, the prism mirror was made of synthetic resin, distortion of an image would be produced due to deformation of the prism mirror made of synthetic resin which would be compressed by the mirror housing. In the rearview mirror of the invention, the prism mirror is not fixedly fitted to the mirror housing and, therefore, the prism mirror is not subject to the compressive force exerted by the mirror housing. Accordingly, no distortion in an image takes place though the prism mirror even if the prism mirror is made of synthetic resin. By employing synthetic resin, the weight and manufacturing cost of the rearview mirror can be reduced as compared with a rearview mirror made of glass.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2691919 (1954-10-01), Springer
patent: 3870404 (1975-03-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 4826289 (1989-05-01), Vandenbrink et al.
patent: 4836648 (1989-06-01), Niwayama
patent: 5521760 (1996-05-01), De Young et al.
Hedman, Gibson & Costigan, P.C.
Murakami Corporation
Nguyen Thong
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