CA1081013A - Remote controlled rearview mirror - Google Patents
Remote controlled rearview mirrorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1081013A CA1081013A CA256,364A CA256364A CA1081013A CA 1081013 A CA1081013 A CA 1081013A CA 256364 A CA256364 A CA 256364A CA 1081013 A CA1081013 A CA 1081013A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- drive
- drive arm
- pivot
- arm
- pivot portion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
- B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
- B60R1/06—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior
- B60R1/062—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position
- B60R1/07—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators
- B60R1/072—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
An electrically powered remote control rearview mirror for a vehicle in which the mirror is pivotally supported for rotation about either or both of two mutually perpendicular axes, with the pivotal drive forces being exerted through the pivot mechanism and with the drive means for transmitting the pivotal forces automatically declutching in response to efforts to drive the mirror beyond preselected limit positions or in response to manual manipulation of the mirror itself. The pivot mechanism comprises a pair of mutually perpendicular drive arms rotatable about axes parallel to the rotation axes of the mirror and actuating arms engageable with the drive arms so that upon rotation of the drive arms the rotational forces generated thereby are transmitted by the actuating arms to the mirror to effect rotation thereof.
An electrically powered remote control rearview mirror for a vehicle in which the mirror is pivotally supported for rotation about either or both of two mutually perpendicular axes, with the pivotal drive forces being exerted through the pivot mechanism and with the drive means for transmitting the pivotal forces automatically declutching in response to efforts to drive the mirror beyond preselected limit positions or in response to manual manipulation of the mirror itself. The pivot mechanism comprises a pair of mutually perpendicular drive arms rotatable about axes parallel to the rotation axes of the mirror and actuating arms engageable with the drive arms so that upon rotation of the drive arms the rotational forces generated thereby are transmitted by the actuating arms to the mirror to effect rotation thereof.
Description
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.. The present invention derived rom an e~fort eo crea~e an electrically controlled remote con~rol mirror which was rugged, accurate,.sa~isactorily waterproo, essentially vibration-sensi-tivity free, and simple of manufacture. ~uring the co.urse of the de~elopment, i~ was d~sco~ered tha~ certain principles could be ~- ~- applied which had previously been employed by ~he assignee company in a diferent mannes and for a different purpose. Thus, the :~.
company had previously marketed, under the Harman-Kardon name, certain high fidelity four-channel stereo equipment utilizing a universally p~votal ~nob which varied the position of a pair of arcuate members rotatable abou~ mutually perpen~icular axes, with those arcuate members dr.i~ing suitable ~ariable resistance elements to selectively ~ary the ef~ec~i~e gai~ of each of the four-channel ..
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circuits to provide a desired balance of the sound energy from each of the four loudspeaker assemblies. During the course of the development, the appllcants conceived of an adaptation of that principle in which a pair of driven - rotatable arcuate elements were employed to convert rotational forces applied thereto into pivotal movement of a mirror.
A structure was developed to couple the pivotal mirror assembly to the crossed arcuate members in a manner to satisfactorily preclude vibrational movement of the mirror relative to the crossed arcuate members as an element of a design for providing a mirror satisfactorily immune to distortion of image due to vibration produced either mechanically or as a result of varying wind forces. The drive means for rotating the arcuate members was also developed to aid in the, dampening of undesired movement of the mirror while yet establishing a limit to the maximum restraint of relative movement between the mirror glass and the power source, so as to establish a selective clutching capability to permit selective decoupling in response to the application of forces, in either direction along ~he drive train, to which other elements :of the drive trainccould not properly respond.
In summary of the above, therefore, the present ' ~ invention may be defined as broadly providing vehicular remote t control outside rearview mirror assembly, first and second cooperating pivot assembly portions the first pivot portion --being rotatable through an angle about each of first and second mutually perpendicular axes relative to the second pivot portion, a reflective mirror member, means for support-ing the reflective mirror member on the first pivot portion for ..
rotation therewith, and means for selectively pivoting the jrr~
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first portion about one of the first and second axes, the means comprising generally arcuate drive arm means rotatable about an axis parallel with at least the one axis, actuating arm means secured to the first pivot portion and in driving engagement with the drive arm means, and means for select-ively rotating the drive arm means. . .
D~SCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an exploded elevational view, in partial section, of a completed mirror assembly embodying ~
certain of the principles of the present invention; ~ : -Figure 2 is a perspective view of the operational elements of the mirror;
Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, but : .
with the parts separated for clarity of understanding;
Figure 4 is an elevational view of the structure of Figure 2 . .
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Figure 5 is a.horizontal sectional view, looking down-.
wardly, taken o Flgure 2 with the top o~ the housing dele~ed;
.Figure 6 i5 a detailed fragmentary view, taken ~rom one end, of one of the driving and clutching elements;
i Figure 7 is a fragmen~ary front eLevational ~iew o~ ~he structure of Figure 6;
~ . Figure 8 is a sec~ional view ~aken substan~ially along the line 8-8 of Figure .7; . .
Figure 9 is a representa~ion, in p~an, of ~he rela-) tionships between one of the elements o Figure 7 and a pa~t with .
which it coopera~es, under central and extreme condi~ions;
Figure 10 is a reprasen~a~ion, in elevation, of the relation of the parts o~ Pigure 9;
Figure.ll is an elevational view of a mirror.and power S housing assembly embodying certain of the principles of the present . invention;
Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substan-~ially al~ng the line 12-12.o~ Figure ll;
. Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substan-.0 ~ially along the line 13-13 o Figure 11; . . .
Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view.taken substan-tially along the line.14-14 of Figure 12;
Pigure 15 is an enlarged fragment~ry ~iew o a portion of the internal structure of the mirror of Figure 11, shown in position in Figure 17;
Figure 16 i~ an exploded vie~ of the assem~ly of Figure 11; . ~ :
i` Figure 17 is an elevational view o~ the power housing of : .;
^~ Pigure 11, with the rear cover remov~d for clarity o~ illustra-;.
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Figure 18A is an end view o~ an element o~ the s~ructure o~ Figure 11 illus~rated in its ree state as manu~actured;
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. .. Figure 18B is an end YieW o a portion of ~he housing of ~igure 11 together with the element o~ Figure 18A disposed ~herewithi~;
5 . Figure 19 is a separated view of the structure of Figure 11 in association with a mirror shell; and Figure 20 is a schematic representation o electrical control -l equipment which can be associated with the assembly of Figure 11.
;t` ~ESCRIP~ION OF THE INVENTION
~ The principles o the present inventio~ are represen~a-....... tively embodied in an outside rearview vehicular mirror, ~or use ~`~, on.automobiles or.the like, in which the driver is provided with i.: an actuating knob which he can.manipulate ~o tilt a re1ective . . . .
mirror glass about substan~ially horiæontal and ~ertical axes.
The disclosed embodiment is an.elactrically powered mirror employing .. one electric motor, or equivalent, to power rotate the mirror about . ,; . . .
r; a vertical axis and a.second electric motor, or equivalent, to :~ power rotate the mirror about a horizontal axis, although it is . contemplated that a single motor may be emplo~ed, if desired, ~;:`0 using a solenoid, or equivalent, to shift the single mo~or be~ween ':~ vertical and horizontal drive trains.
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~ Referring to Fig. 1, the operating elements o the ....... power actuated mirror are housed within a case or housing 10, ~ade of plastic or the like, which is seatable within the cavity of an .
.. ;.'5 open faced mirror shell 12 and may be secured therewithin by means such as screws 14 passing through apertured tabs 16 in housing 10 :~ and engaging tspped bosses 18 in s~ell 12. Reflective mirror ',',!" member 20, which may be provided with a plastic or metallic backing , . .
.-. or case 21, as in customary practice, is pivotally supported on .~.; .: . , .
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housing 10 and, when th~ mirror is fully assembled, i& bounded ~by the ~nner~surface oF!thelopenlace o the shell 12 and i~ '' pivo~able therewi~hin~ An electrical cable 22, carryi~g a plurality of electric wires for supplying power to the electric motors witin . 5 the housing 10, extends through the housing 1~ and is provided with a seal 24 to pre~ent the entrance of ~a~er into the housing lO
around the cable 22. Cable 22 exte~ds to the battery of the vehicle _ under ~he control of a manual switch ~not show~) provided at a position readily accessible to the driver. The sw~tch may, for lO. example, be a bat handled double pole double throw switch with a neutral position, in each of ver~ical and horizontal senses of movement, movement o the handle from ~he neutral position in . a ver~ical tilting sense (re~erred ~o the mirror gl~ss) -producing i. energization of a vertical drive motor in one polarity to til~.
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.. 15 the mirror upwardly ~about a horizontal axis), movement o the handle from neutral position in a downward tilting sense energizing the same motor in rever~e polarity, movement o the handle to the le ~ energizing a horizontal drive moto~ in a poiari~y ~o produce ~ the requisite letward pivotal swinging o t~e mirror, and movement :l 20 o~ the handle i~ ~he opposi~e horizon~al sense energizing that !~'`" " horizontal drive motor in reverse polarity to produce the requisite rightward pivotal swinging o~ ~he ~irror glass in a horizon~al sense (abou~ a vertical axis). Concurrent movement o the handle ~ in bo~h vertical and horizontal senses produces concurrent energiza- -.~ 25 .tion (wi~h appropriate polarity) o~ both of the motors to produce ~,~ concurrent move~e~t o~ the mirror in both vertical and horizontal senssrs for rapid adjustment to the positio~ preferred by the dri~er.
The mirror 20 (Figs. 3 and 5) ~s secured in any sui~able.
`~ manner upon a ball s~ud assembly 28 which is integral with a ge~erally hemispherical ball 30 forming a irst po~tion-of a ball ., . ' . ' , ~; ' ' : .
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`` and 80cket joint. Stud assembly/representa~ively comp~ises thru'ls tuds'~at'l~O~'spacing)ithelends"'o~ which are s~aked wi~hin the mir~or case 21 (Fig. 3), Ball 30 pivotally engages a socket .. , .
portion 32 which is illustrated to be ~ormed integrally with the i 5 body o~ housing 10 Ball 30 is spring biased i~o frictional engagement with socke~ 32 by a spring assembly~ 34 having a cen~ral .. ,............................................................... . .
portion pressing on a spherical boss 33 on stud 30, and three ` a~ms projecting radially and termina~ing in pads which are secured ;~ ~ in any sui~able fashion to the ou~er ~ace o~ the case 10. The ~` 10 center of the spher~cal surace 33, identiied at 35, is also the cen~er of the spherical surface of ball 30 and hence is the point about which the mirror assembly 20 rotates. The biasing o-;ce of ~ the spring 34 is in~ended to be sufficient ~o establish frictional `; engagement between the ball and socket to aid in s~eadying the ~, . . . .
mirror against vibrational forces and to assist irl holding i~ in ... . .
~ selected position. That spring ~orce also establ~shes an e~fec~ive .~
in the sense of adequate, under commercial standards) water~igh~
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seal between the ball 30 and the socket 32. ~n ~he illus~ra~ed arrangemen~, the ball is provided wi~h a spherical sur~ace and the socket is provided ~ith a conical surac~; to provide line -;~ contact between the ~wo. ~t is contemplated that the socke~ can i,................................................. .
;~ also be made spherieal to increase the area o~ engagement, i desire~.
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It is further contempla~ed that a rubber boo~ ma~ be secured between the face o~ the ~ousing lO and the mirror 20, surrounding .~ . .
the ball stud assembly 28, to prov~de improved water seali~g, i that proves desirable in any given commercial installation.
Mirror 20 is pivoted about ~he effective center of the spherical surface o ball 30. Forces mNs~ be exerted to produce that tilting. In a number of prior arrangements, ~his is a com-plished by applyi~g forces to the mirror 2~ (or to th~ mirror case ,~ , " . . . .
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secur~d to the reflective ele~e~) eccentrically ~o the central ;........ poin~ o~ the`mirror. For example, wlres or strings may be secured ... to the mirror 20 and extend through a counterpart of the adjacen.
face o~ case io in a line generally parallel to the line inter- ¦
:~; S joining the cen~er of the mirror and ~he center of ball 30.
Screwjacks may be used, ~imilarly located. However, wi~h a~
electrically operated unit, i~ i6 par~icularly impoxtant that the op-. erating: mechanism be satisactorily sealed aga~nst ~ha ing.ess o wa,~er, and i~ ~he disclosed arrangement the forces to tilt Lhe mirror are.exerted directly through the ball 30 assembly itsel~.
.- Accordingly, no operating mechanism proiects from ~he case 10 . except solely for ~he assembly including ball 30, so that, with ~` .. sealing of the casa and of ~he stationary electrical cable 22, n; and with the creation of an efective water seal at the ba~l and . ; . .
socke~ fitting, as discussed, satisfactory wa~er sealing of all o~ the operating elements can be achieved.
A tail piece assembly, illustratively in the ~orm of j .~ our actuating pins or a~ms 36, 38, 40 and 42, is secured to the .,. ball 30. In ~he preferred arrangement, ba~l 30, the studs 28, ::.. - ,~ .................................................................... . .
`: 2~ and ~he arms 36-42 are i~tegrally mo ded o~ suitable plastic. ~:
A horizontally disposed ~ertical drive arm 44 (Fig. 3)'.
is provided ~i~h a pair of co-axial spaced apar~ circular cylind~ical ;, bearing surfaces 46 and 48 which are rotatab~ly supported w~thi~
cor~esponding appropriate bearing surfaces in the case 10 ~nd case cover 50.. For example, ~ylindrical sur~ace 48 seats in a 6emi-cylindrical bearing ca~i~y 49 in case 10 ~Fig. 3) and a corre~ponding semi-cylindrical bearing surface~ constituting the :-, other half of the surrounding bearing, is providad ~not shown) on .: ~he adiacant face o~ oover 50. Correspondingly, a vertically :
. 30 dispo~ed horizsntal d~i~ arm 52 i~ pro~ided ~ith co-~xial circular .. : . .. . . ......... . .
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~ . " ' ' ' ' ' ' " ' 3 ~' :~,; , : , cylindrical bearing surfaces 54 and 56 which are suitably supported in bearing sur~aces in case lO and co~er 50, .
.-,.. ; Drive- members 44 and.52 are pro~ided with central arcuate ,~',- , portions 58 and.6.0, respectively, As may be ~ee~ in Fig. 4, the . S arcuate portion 58 of drive arm 44 is trapped be~ween actuating 1"
:' arms or fingers 36 a~d 38, on one side of drive arm 44, 40 and 42, ,'.- on the other side o that drive a~m. Correspondingly, the arcuate ~"r,, ~ middle portion 60 o drive arm 52 is ~rapped between actuating ., .
~ ' arms or ingers 36 and 42 0 disposed to one side o~ drive arm 52, ., . ~ ~ .
, l~ and 38 and 4~ disposed to the other side of tha~ drive arm.
Accordingl~, as drive arm 44 is rotated about its axis of ro,atio~
62 (Fig. 3), forces are exerted,through the appropriate pair .'. . (depending upon ~he direction or rotation) of the actuating a,..~s ;.' 36-38 or 40-42 to rotate ball 30 about a hoxizontal axis through ~ s- . .
point 35 (Fig. 5~ to produce upward or downward ~ertical tiltir.g : of the mirror 20. Correspondingly, when drive arm 52 is ro~ated .. about its rotational axis 64, forces are exer~ed through the , .
~"~ , appropriate pair o~ actua~ing arms (in the direction of the.force~
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:,,., 36-42 or 38-40 to pivot ~all 30 about a vertical axis through .
`'~' 2~ point 35. I~. is ~o be understood that.the te ms ho~izontal and :~,' .. Yertical are employed herein with reference to the attitude o~ ~he, ~' assembly in the drawings, it being recognized that the pivoLing ~.; . . ............................ .
'".,' ~ay not necessarily be parallel and perpe~dicular to the horizon `~S; when ths mirror is mounted on a vehicle, ;, 25 . X~;the illustrated arrangement, pivot axis 64 (Fig. 5) :~. , ' is disposed proximate the rotational center 35 o ball 30, while ,' rotational axis 62 o~ drive member 44 is dis'~osed somewhat ~urther a~ay ~rom poin~ 33. Accordingly, arcua~e portion 58 of drive.arm ' 44 clears arcuate portion 60 of drive arm 52 even though, as is ,~- '.30 prgferred .or'eco~om~ o~ m~nufac~ur~, parts 4~ and 52 are identical, : ~ . . . . .
ile the arcuate portions S8 and 6~ o~ the drive axms need no~ be in the shown (Fi$,ll3), circular configura~ion, de~ia~ions rom the ` circular pattern will resul~ in changes in the rate o~ movement o the mirror, with a gi~en dri~e rate o the powering electric mo~or, d~ring the pivo~ing.
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~:;; Dri~e arm 52 i~ rotated abou~ îts axis o~ rotation 64 ... .
.. -~ by a power source in ~he form o an elec~ric motor 70, while drive .: ~. arm 44 is ro~ated about its axis 62 by a powex source in the ~OL~m of electric mo~or 72.. ~n usual practice, drive mo~ors will be twelve-~olt reversible d.c. mo~ors. The dri~e train from elec~ric . ~.
........ mo~or 70 includes pinion 74, secured to and drive~ b~ electric .. j" - , . .
.~ mo~or 70, a worm gear 76 driven by pinion 74, a worm 78, in~eg-.-al . . and rotated with, gear 76, worm gear 8C engaging and driven by worm 78 .~........ worm 82, integral and driven with, gear 80, and coupling means 84 !~."~, 15 engaging worm 82 and ccnverting rotation o~ worm 82 into ro~ation of ., drive axm 5~ about axis 64. Coupler 84 is in the nature o~ ~ ~odi- :
~,~ ied worm gear or worm follower, as will be described. Suitable ~.. . . . . .
`;' bearings are provided i~ case lO and cover 50 for beaxing'y s~ppor~ing .
;;`' the various elements of the drive train. For example, mo~o. 70 ~ ! 20 rests upon a we~ 86 (Fig. 3) with an un~hreaded por~ion o~ ~he , j .
-~. . pinion sha~ 74 adjacen~ the mo~or being bearingly supported in a ;
;' . ~earing, one portion o~ which ~s illustrated at 88 in ~ig. 3 a~d ~ :
. the other portion o which (not shown) is on cover 50, and with .. ::
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..l the lower unthreaded portion of pinion 74 being bearingly supported ,: .. ; , .
~, 25 ~ ~lot 90 ~ormed in web 92 in case 10. . ~:
Correspondingly, the dri~e train from motor 72 inc~udes pinion 94, which drives worm gear 96, which is integral with worm 98, which drives wo~m gear 100, which is integral with worm 102, which ~rivingly cooperates with coupling means 86, which is inte-grally ormed on driva a~m 44, so tha~ ro~at-io~ of motor 72, i~ :
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~ her direction, produ~es ro~a~ion o dri~a arm 44 in either of the ~wo ~en8QS,` asIselected.;~
may be noted that the illustrated arrangemen~ is . designed so that all elements o~ the dri~e train for pivoting the i S mirror horizon~ally are iden~ical o the correspo~ding par~s for ;. .
piYoting ~he mirror ver~ically.
~ Assembly 84, which is molded as an in~egral part of ,` dri~e arm 52, is bifurcated, comprising irst and s~cond parallel .~ . and ~acing cam follower arm portio~s 106 ~nd 108 (Fig. 7). `Arm 106,.:. 10 provided with a worm clearance step 110, termlnates at its free end in a cam follower ~12. Correspondingly, arm 108 terminates in cam follower 114. Cam or worm followers 112 and 114 constitute opposing teeth engageable wi~h the thread of worm 82 (Figs. 9 and 10). The .. ; aces of worm ~ollowers 112 and 114 w~ich engage ~he thread are .
confor.~/ed in a generally frusto-conical manner to provide appro-, .
-~ priate ~atching with the configuration of the abutting faces of .. ; tha thread of ~he worm 82. As may bes~ be see~ in ~igures 6 and ,, .
. . 8; ~he arms 106 and 108 are disposed at an angle to one ano~h2r ~o ~, ~osition the sur~aces 112 and 114 ~o concurrently engage the thread o~ the worm 82 on essentially opposite-sides thereof.
As motor 70 is energized to dri~e worm 82 via elements !' 74, 76, 78 and 80, cams 112 and 114 are adv~nced, to the left or to the right, along the thread o~ ~orm 82 so~as to rotate cam ~ollower assembly 84 about axis 64 to correspondingly rotate the :~ 25 arcuate portion 60 of dri~e member ~2. Therefore, ball 30 is `~ ~i~oted about a vertical axis through pi~o~ point 35 by the forces . exer~ed by arcua~e portion 60 on the actua~ing arms or pins 38-40 : . ~
~ or 36-42, depending upon the direction o r~ta~ion o~ the worm 82.
:~ The spacing be~ween the arms 1~6 and 1.08, considering . 3~ ` their a~gle of respective tilt, is selected so as ~o provide an -: .
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~ int~rerence fit between ~h~ cams 112-114 and ~he thread of the . .
worm 82. According~y, when the parts are assembled, one or both : . o the arms 106 and 108 is sligh~ly dis~or~ed rom its ~ree posi-` tion ~illustra~ed in Figs. 6-8) ~o exert a continuing resilient orce te~ding to maintain cams 112 and 114 irml~ in engagement with the thread o~ the worm 82 (see ~igs. 9 and 10). Thereore, .
by holding the longitudinal position of worm 82 esse~tially fixed .
by appropriate thrus~ beari~g mea~s, the position of arms 106-108, and hence the rotatio~al posi~ion of drive arm 52, is essenti~ll~ '' io fixed during all periods in which worm 82 is not being r'otated.
Similarly, drive arms 58 is held quite irm1y in position, when ~' mo~or 72 is not energi'zed, by virtue of its cor~esponding coope,a~
; ' ~ion with its respective drive train.
Those acts may be employed to aid in reducing the efLects ~l - 15 o vibration upon the mirror 20. Thus, mirror '20, when utilized '~ as an element of an outside rearview mirror for a vehicle, is , , . . . : .
subject to vibra~ional forces due both ~o the effects of wind a~d ' '~
to vibration of the ~ehicle from the ~oad. As a result, there is ~.J
a tendency for the mass o'the mirro~ 2~ to vibrate relative to the remainder o the vehicle, ~ending to produce a slightly bl.u,~ed image. ~ibration'of the mirror 20 relative ~o the housing lC is .
impeded in par~ by'the frietional engagemen~ between the ball 30 and the socket 32 under the action of spring 34. Further, a .
' rigidifying effec~ is achieved by establishing a clamping rela- -~ionship between ~he actua~ing arms or pins 36-42 and the drive . . . - .
' arms 44 and 52. Thus, the dis~ance between pins 36 and 38 (Fig. 4) i8 preferably selected such ~hat there is an in~er~erence fit "' between ~hose pi~s and the actuating arm 60, that is, the free distance be~ween the pins 36 and 38 is slightly ~0.005 inches or - 30 more) less~than the wid~h o~ th~ a~cuate por~io~ 60 o~-the drive .. . .. . . . . .
~ 3 arm 52, and the 6ame considerations apply to pins 40 and 42.
Corxqsponding~y, ~he distanc~ between pins 38 and 40, as weLl as ~` the distance between pins 36 and 42, is ~electe~ t,o provide an ', intererence engagement with the arcuate portion 58 of the d~ive arm 44. The magnitude o~ the interference fit should not be so -i great as to unduly increase the frictional orce impeding slidin~
- movement, between ~he pins 36~42 and the arcua~e portions 58 and 60 during the adjustmen~ of the mirror. That ~actor, and hence the extent of ~he interference ~i~, will vary in accordance with the type of plas~ic, or other material, of which the parts are made.
~. With reference ~o Figs, 6-9, as above noted, the coupl~ng -~ means 84 and 86 are designed to create a static force tendin~ to preven~ rotation of drive arms 5~ and 44, about their axes 64 and 6~, ` relat,ive to worms 82 and 102, respectively. However, ~he purpose ;"'. 15, of making arms 106 and 108 effectively in the form o projecting ` canti'lever beams is to permit tha coupling means t.o serve no~
'I only as a force transmitting means (to convert rotation of worm 82 or 102 into rotation o~ drive arm 52 or 44), but also to serve as an overload or slip c~utch under certain conditions. Those conditions are primariLy twofold. First, a driver may place his fingers directly on the glass 20 and manually t~lt that g~ass horizontally or vertically to a new posi~ion. That force would ~ produce pivotal mo~ement o ball 30 and hence rotational motion of ,, drive arm 44, or drive arm 52, or both. Yet worms 82 and 98 may well be station~ry. The clutch ~eans is provided to permit the development o excessive orces in the system under that co~dition and to permit the driver to manuall~ adJust the m~rror if he ; choo~es.
Further, when mo~or 70 or 72 is energized, the mirror 20 ~s pi~o~ed in a selected sense. The sys~m i6 designed for a :,. ;
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cer~ain permitted angle o~ o the glass. In a co~structed.
embod~ment, provi~ion was madlel for a!l5 degree til~ o~ the glass Il, rom its centered position in aach o~ the four ~enses, that is, i'; for a 30 degree total ~ngle of vertical and hori~on~al ~ilting.
c- 5 However, at the limit of that tilting, limi~ stop means is e~ec--~ tive to prevent further tilti~g of the mirror'20. In the illus-, trated embodime~t, ~he limit stop means takes the orm of engage-ment betwee~ the tilted glass and a surface of the housing 10.
` I the driver co~tinues to energize either o~ the drive motor 70 -~ 10 or 72 after that limit position is reached, worm 82 or 98 con-; tinues to rotateO Yet, drive arm 52 or 44 is effectively prevented ;
from rotating further in the selected directio~ by ~irtue of the assumed engagement o the mirror with the limit stop. Slip clu~ch ,.~-i , .: ... :
means are provided to prevent the devalopment o~ undue stresses under that condition and to prevent damage to the motor.
Both such siip clutch means take the form of the arms 106 and 108 (and ~ounterpart arms on the other drive arm) which . . . .
-` serve essentially as limitedly flexible or resilient cantilever ` beams. Thus, in response to the developme~ of exc~ssive ~orces ... . . . .
due ~o eithe~ of the above-no~ed conditions, the forces tendi~g to establish ~urther rotation between the worm and the drive arm result in the establishment of a force between the face of the worn thread and the cam surfaces 112 and 114 to tend to cam those .
surfacee outwardly from the thread, which is accommodated by -.
2S flexing of arms lQ6 and 108. That flexure is sufficien~ to permi~
- cams 112 and 114 to travel o~er the crest of ~he thread and to Jump to the next t~rn o the thread. This operation can repea~, ~` ~ under appropria~e co~t~ uing oonditio~s, with ehe coupler 84 co~inuing ~o simply step from one thread ~o ~he ~ex~, repe~itively~
~,. . . .
as lo~g as th~ conti~ui~g excessive f~rc~ continues to be exer~ed ~ 13 1 '' ~ ' ' il '. ' ' ' ' ,- ' .' . ' ~; ~ , " ' ' " ' ' ' ' ' '' ''`. " ' ' ' ' ' .. , . . . . .
~ . . .... . . .
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due either to continuing manual movement of the glass by ~: the driver towards the limit position or ~lue to continuing operation of the drive motor after the mirror glass is at its limit stop position.
The operating parts of the illustrated system are7 in commercial preference, constructed of suitable plastic .:`` such as nylon> polypropylene, polycarbonate, fluorocarbon, ~`~ polyethylene, etc. The coupling means 84 and 86 are there-fore designed, of whatever selected plastic or other material is employed, to develop an adequate forceful engagement - between the cams 112-114 and the thread of the worm 82 ~o tend to assist in the dampening or prevention of vibration .;" -` ~ .
` of the mirror glass, while yet providlng sufficient flexibility `~ to serve the above descrlbed slip clutching function in response to the abonormal application of excessive forces :~r:
to the drive train of the sys~em. -~ t will be observed that from an operational stand-: point, the tilting of the ball 30 in response to movement of arcuate portions 58 or of arcuate portions 60, in each f.~
~: 20 of four senses, can be accompllshed by the provision of but one pair of diagonally disposed actuating arms or pins, such . .;. . .
as pins 36-40 or pins 38-42. However, improved cla~ping against mirror vibration is achieved by the provision of the two pairs of pins.
... . .
The embodiment of Figures 11 through 20 is majorly similar to the embodiments of Figs. 1-10. The elements of ~ the second embodiment have been given reference characters !,"~ like those of the corresponding elements in the first embodiment but with the suffix l'a", and reference may be made to the description of the first embodiment for an applicable description of the corresponding elements in the second embodiment, ., .
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::~ with the e~ceptions and additions wh~ch will be apparent or speci~ically noted.
The power housing lOa (Fig. 11) is provided with a .
plurality (representat~vely three) of projecting slotted tabs ~5 16a through which screws 14a (Fig. 19) may bè inserted.to engage tapped holes in bosses 18a disposed within the mirror shell 12a A~ least one of the screws 14a, such as the upper one of those . .. ..
;. screws, is.so~disposed behind the glass case 21a that it is .. ~.
~' . inaccessible when ~he power housi~g and mirror are secured within :.) the shell 12a, so as to impede larceny of the mirror and power - housing assembly, since the removal of the unit would normally entail the breaking of the glass. The assembling of the mirror . and power housing.assembly to.the shell 12a is, in the illustrated .. arrangement, p~çrformed before.the mirror glass 20a is secured .. ~; within the case 21a, and to facilitate that assem~ly, an aperture.
200 (Fig. 12) is formed in the glass.case 21a in aIl appropriate ' . location so that the assembler may drivi~gly insert.a screw . .:
. j . :
therethrough to engage the upper tab 16a on the housing lOa (Fig. -and the corresponding boss 18a in the case-12a. The glass is ;? ~h~reafter secured to the glass case 21a by any suitable means,;~. such as ~hroug~ the use of a pressure-sensitive adhesive. .
Stabilizing means have been added to;the seaond embodimen~ .
; to insure rigidity o the glass, particularly against high speed vehicular vibration. The stabilizing means.is illustrated in the ,:.~ . .
~ form of a pair of generally rectangular-cross-section bars 202 .~ s . ., . and 204 (Fig. 16). Bar 204 terminates ~n a spherical end 206.
:1 ~Figs. 16.and 14) which is snap fit in a socket 208 formed inte~
. grally with the plastic glass case 21a. The walls of ~he socket . ;
~ 208 are provided with a diametrical slot 210 ~o create sufficient.
'I flexibility to permit the ball 206.to be snapped and retained ; -15- .
.; , , ,, . -' . - ' I . .
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' t~._rewithin. Ball 206 is provided with an orienting tang 212,, engageable in ~he slot 210, ~o insure proper orientation o~
" the rectangular (not square) cross-section bar 204.
:; .
,' Bar 204 cooperates with an elongated aperture 214 in ,i a boss formed integrally with the housing lOa (Fig'.'16), with tha~
aperture being rectangular in cross section and including a pair of parallel side walls 216 and 218 (Fig, 18B) spaced apart a preselected distance. Bar 204 is provided with an integrally formed flap 220 which extends the length thereof and depends f om ,~ an edge of the bar 204 and projects therefrom at an appropriate , ~ angle, such as'30. Bar 204 with its integral flap 220 is desirably ' ' formed of a suitable plastic ma~erial. The width of the bar 204 ;, ~Fig. 18A) is substantially less than the distance between the ~, adjacent faces of walls 216 and 218, but ~he total width o the ,i bar assembly 204 (Fig. 18A) including ~he flap 220 in its free ' and unconstrained position is subs~antially greater than t~e ,', distance between the adiacent faces of walls 216 and 218. Accordingly,'', as may be se,en in Fig. 18B, when the flap 220 is pressed inwardly " and ~he bar 204 inserted within the aperture 214, ~lap 220 is bent ~ from its ~ree position, resiliently opposing that bending. As .,. ~ . .a result, flap 220 forcibly engages the inner surface of wall 214, forcing the opposite wall,of bar 204 into frictional engagement with the adjacent surface o~ wall 216 so as to establish a controlled frictional engagement between the bar 204 and the walls of the aperture 214 to restrain relative movement therebet~een and hence , , to dampen any tendency of the mirror and glass to ~ibrate. The fric~ional force i~ ~ot 9 of course, sufficient to impede purposeful tilting o~ the glass either by manual'pres ure on the faee of ~he glass or through electrical actuation.
' A corresponding b~r 202 cooperates with an aperture 222 , : - ' . ': .
.
. ~ig. 16) mounted on the housing lOa and cooperates therewith in `' a corresponding manner. ~ .
.: ~n the embodiment o Figs, 11-20, ~he mirror case 21a ' .. (Fig, 13) is associated with the movable pivot member 30a through '~
`:'5 attachment means 28a in the form of a tubular projection from the body of the ball or movable pivot 30a, surrounding a eentral '~ drilled post 226. The face of the plastic glass case 21a adjacent.
:' ths ho~sing is provided with a shallow recess 228 accepting the , .
: end of the.. attachmen~ means 28a. As may best be seen in Fig 12, the end ofithe tubular attachment means 28a is recessed along an area defined by a cord 230 slightly spaced from the center of the ' cylinder and the back o~ the glass case is similarly conformed so ~ :
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.~. as'to orient the glass case with'reference to the movable pivo~ .:
., ~
~. . member 30a and to prevent relative rotation therebetween. A screw . `, . . .
. 5 232 passes through an aperture in the mirror case 21a and engages .!;; . .
.- the aperture in the central post 226 to secure the glass case ~o ~;j , .
the movable.pivot element. .It is .contemplated that .the glass 20a will be glued or otherwise secured in place on the mirror case . 21a after the screw 232 is seated.
~0 A spring 34a (Flg. 16) having a central portion and four '.~:
.. ~ .
splayed depending legs.234, is secured, such as by a screw 236 ~'' (Figs, 13 and 1'6) to.the movable pivot element 30a, screw 236 .~ passing through a central aperture in the base of spring 34a and ' threaded'ly engaging an aperture formed in the central inner portion ... 5 of the pivot 3Ga. The arms 234 ride against a surface 238 on .. . .
~I the inner face o~ the.:housing lOa (Figs. 13 and 17), and specifi-.' cally upon a portion o~ that surface serving to 'define the socket '. member 32a. Accordingly, the spring a~ms 234 ride against the '' generally spherical surface and exer~ a continuing ~orce tending ~o ' :'0 pull movable pivot element'30a in~o engagement.with the mating ' '' .I .. :
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` ~ surface of the ixed pivot por~io~ 32a, assisting to establish a ` barrier against ~he entry of wa~er and dir~ into the housing.
` Except ~or thac sliding frictional join~ between the ball and , socket elements 30a and 32a, the housing l~a is effectively sealed.
S Worms 82a and 102a (Figs. 15 and 17) have been modified -~ from their counterparts in ~he embodiments of ~igs. 1-10 primarily. in two ways. First, in the embodiment of Figs. 1-10, the limit positions to the tilting movement o the glass in each sense (up, down, left, right or approximately along each diagonal) was estab-.0- lished by engagement between the glass case 21a and the housing lOa.
~j~ In the embodimen~ of Figs. 11-20, ~hat limit stop is established r'"' by engagement within the drive train. Thus, a shoulder 242 i.s "., ; formed at ~he left end of the ~hread of worm 82a and a shoulder ; . .
244 is ormed at the right end thereof. The limit stop is estab-., ~`.5 lished by the engagement of the worm follower mechanism 84a with ` each of those two shoulders. Corresponding shoulders adjacent the ends of the thread on worm 102a constitute the limits in other senses of movement.
The clutching function has been previously described.
, ~, . .
0 ` In the embodimen~ of Figs. 1-10, the clu~ching means was designed to -~ effectively slip if the forces exceeded a preselected value. That preselected value was selec~ed to be high enough to insure proper operation of the mirror while yet protecting against excessive loads either due to shifting of tha glass by the application of the forces directly to the surface of the glass or due to continuing electrical energization after the mirror reached a limit position.
; An improvement has been effe~ted by selectively modifying the magni~ude of the preselected force at which the clu~ch will slip il .,~;
-as a ~unction of the angular position (in any sense) of the mirror.
, .
~0 Thus, the end l-lt2 turns of the thread of the worm 82a have been ',''" ' ' ' - ' . ' , .
, - - - , , .
, ~.................. . ..
., .--; .
. -:
~'' . , gradually tapered ~n diameter from ~h~ full diameter down ~o the roo~ diamet~r at a point adjacent the sh~lders 242 and 244. As a result, the preselected force at which the clutch will slip is kept at a constant reasonably high value over the major por~ion ~
the angles of tilting of the mirror up to a point proximate the limit positions of the mirror. In tha~ final angular movement . ~ . . .
: (reflecting about l-1/2 turns of the worm 82a) between that proximate point and the l~mit point, the applied force at which the clutch will slip is progressively diminished. This has the practical advan~age that i~ ~he mirror continues to be electrically actuated after it has reached its limit position, the continuing per-revolu~ion clutching will produce a smaller magnitude of signalling ~;
pulsation of the glass surface, will produce less audible noise, and will produce less wea~ on ~he clutch parts. Similar considera-. tions apply to the construction of the ~hread on worm gear 102a.
.~` Housing lOa (Figs. 16 and 17) has been provided with a hollow extension defining (in cooperation with the cover 50a) a socket 248 of generally rectangular cross section and opening downwardly. An electrical connection means,:in-the form of the i terminating end of a me~allic strip 250, projects into socket 248 and extends through slots formed therefor in the molded plastic . , .
housing lOa ~o ~erminal 252 of motor 72a. A corresponding strip 254 underlies 250 (in the vie~ of Fig. 17~ and follows a corres-ponding course but terminates at terminal 256 of motor 272a.
'5 Correspondingly a metallic strip 258 terminates within socket 248 and extends to terminal 260 of motor 70a, and a corresponding .. . . .
strip, ~nderlying strip 258 (in the view of F~. 17), extends to terminal 262 of motor 70a. Thus, there are fo~r terminating ... . . . .
metallic-strip ends projecting into the socke~ 248, serving the O function of a~ electrical iack. A four ~ermi~al eleetric plug 264 _ .. . . . .
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~F~g, 20) is designed to be insertable in socket 248 and to be, .
: i~ desired, selectively lockable ~herewi~hin. Plug 264 serves . .
.. the ~unction o~ establishin~ an electrical connection between .
.` the our terminati~g ends of the connection means in socket 248 .~/. with a four wire cable 266 extending ~o the switch 268, which may ~ be of the form previously described. A selec~ively detachable :.` connec~or, such as a plug and jack coupling 270 may be inserted.
., . ~
- in the cable 266 a~ a point closely proximate the switch 268, and, `-.`.-` if desiredl a.fur~her selectively detachable electrical connector .. ..
..`. assembly 272 may be disposed in the cable at any intermediate point ,.... .
', to facili~ate installation of the cabling in a vehicle. Conductors ~. .
274 and 276 may extend from any suitable point in the electrical system, such as from the switch, to battery and ground, respectively.
. It will be perceived that by vir~ue of the inclus.on of the .:; selectively detachable connection means, the switch 268, i.f it . becomes defective, may be replaced, by disconnecting it at connector ,:
.~. 270, without replacing the major portion of the cabling and without :
.. :........................................... . . .
~!; replacing any portion of the mirror assembly. Similarly, if the `. mirror and power housing assembly becomes defective, the plug 264 , ~ may be removed from the socket 248 after disassociating the housing ~. lOa from the shell 12a as previously described, and a replacement .... . . .
~ uni~ installed. .
, .. . . . . . . .
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, .. . . .. . .. .,_.. .... .,__"., . _,,,, , ,, _, " .. ', SUMMARY OF THE INVE~TION .
.. The present invention derived rom an e~fort eo crea~e an electrically controlled remote con~rol mirror which was rugged, accurate,.sa~isactorily waterproo, essentially vibration-sensi-tivity free, and simple of manufacture. ~uring the co.urse of the de~elopment, i~ was d~sco~ered tha~ certain principles could be ~- ~- applied which had previously been employed by ~he assignee company in a diferent mannes and for a different purpose. Thus, the :~.
company had previously marketed, under the Harman-Kardon name, certain high fidelity four-channel stereo equipment utilizing a universally p~votal ~nob which varied the position of a pair of arcuate members rotatable abou~ mutually perpen~icular axes, with those arcuate members dr.i~ing suitable ~ariable resistance elements to selectively ~ary the ef~ec~i~e gai~ of each of the four-channel ..
' ,. . ,~.
., .
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. .
circuits to provide a desired balance of the sound energy from each of the four loudspeaker assemblies. During the course of the development, the appllcants conceived of an adaptation of that principle in which a pair of driven - rotatable arcuate elements were employed to convert rotational forces applied thereto into pivotal movement of a mirror.
A structure was developed to couple the pivotal mirror assembly to the crossed arcuate members in a manner to satisfactorily preclude vibrational movement of the mirror relative to the crossed arcuate members as an element of a design for providing a mirror satisfactorily immune to distortion of image due to vibration produced either mechanically or as a result of varying wind forces. The drive means for rotating the arcuate members was also developed to aid in the, dampening of undesired movement of the mirror while yet establishing a limit to the maximum restraint of relative movement between the mirror glass and the power source, so as to establish a selective clutching capability to permit selective decoupling in response to the application of forces, in either direction along ~he drive train, to which other elements :of the drive trainccould not properly respond.
In summary of the above, therefore, the present ' ~ invention may be defined as broadly providing vehicular remote t control outside rearview mirror assembly, first and second cooperating pivot assembly portions the first pivot portion --being rotatable through an angle about each of first and second mutually perpendicular axes relative to the second pivot portion, a reflective mirror member, means for support-ing the reflective mirror member on the first pivot portion for ..
rotation therewith, and means for selectively pivoting the jrr~
` ~ - 2 -,, ~
., ''~ ~ , , .
first portion about one of the first and second axes, the means comprising generally arcuate drive arm means rotatable about an axis parallel with at least the one axis, actuating arm means secured to the first pivot portion and in driving engagement with the drive arm means, and means for select-ively rotating the drive arm means. . .
D~SCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an exploded elevational view, in partial section, of a completed mirror assembly embodying ~
certain of the principles of the present invention; ~ : -Figure 2 is a perspective view of the operational elements of the mirror;
Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, but : .
with the parts separated for clarity of understanding;
Figure 4 is an elevational view of the structure of Figure 2 . .
' '.
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- 2a -.. . . .
,, b c /J ~ ~
.. , ~ . ~. - . - . :
Figure 5 is a.horizontal sectional view, looking down-.
wardly, taken o Flgure 2 with the top o~ the housing dele~ed;
.Figure 6 i5 a detailed fragmentary view, taken ~rom one end, of one of the driving and clutching elements;
i Figure 7 is a fragmen~ary front eLevational ~iew o~ ~he structure of Figure 6;
~ . Figure 8 is a sec~ional view ~aken substan~ially along the line 8-8 of Figure .7; . .
Figure 9 is a representa~ion, in p~an, of ~he rela-) tionships between one of the elements o Figure 7 and a pa~t with .
which it coopera~es, under central and extreme condi~ions;
Figure 10 is a reprasen~a~ion, in elevation, of the relation of the parts o~ Pigure 9;
Figure.ll is an elevational view of a mirror.and power S housing assembly embodying certain of the principles of the present . invention;
Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substan-~ially al~ng the line 12-12.o~ Figure ll;
. Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substan-.0 ~ially along the line 13-13 o Figure 11; . . .
Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view.taken substan-tially along the line.14-14 of Figure 12;
Pigure 15 is an enlarged fragment~ry ~iew o a portion of the internal structure of the mirror of Figure 11, shown in position in Figure 17;
Figure 16 i~ an exploded vie~ of the assem~ly of Figure 11; . ~ :
i` Figure 17 is an elevational view o~ the power housing of : .;
^~ Pigure 11, with the rear cover remov~d for clarity o~ illustra-;.
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Figure 18A is an end view o~ an element o~ the s~ructure o~ Figure 11 illus~rated in its ree state as manu~actured;
.
. .. Figure 18B is an end YieW o a portion of ~he housing of ~igure 11 together with the element o~ Figure 18A disposed ~herewithi~;
5 . Figure 19 is a separated view of the structure of Figure 11 in association with a mirror shell; and Figure 20 is a schematic representation o electrical control -l equipment which can be associated with the assembly of Figure 11.
;t` ~ESCRIP~ION OF THE INVENTION
~ The principles o the present inventio~ are represen~a-....... tively embodied in an outside rearview vehicular mirror, ~or use ~`~, on.automobiles or.the like, in which the driver is provided with i.: an actuating knob which he can.manipulate ~o tilt a re1ective . . . .
mirror glass about substan~ially horiæontal and ~ertical axes.
The disclosed embodiment is an.elactrically powered mirror employing .. one electric motor, or equivalent, to power rotate the mirror about . ,; . . .
r; a vertical axis and a.second electric motor, or equivalent, to :~ power rotate the mirror about a horizontal axis, although it is . contemplated that a single motor may be emplo~ed, if desired, ~;:`0 using a solenoid, or equivalent, to shift the single mo~or be~ween ':~ vertical and horizontal drive trains.
,.. . ~.
~ Referring to Fig. 1, the operating elements o the ....... power actuated mirror are housed within a case or housing 10, ~ade of plastic or the like, which is seatable within the cavity of an .
.. ;.'5 open faced mirror shell 12 and may be secured therewithin by means such as screws 14 passing through apertured tabs 16 in housing 10 :~ and engaging tspped bosses 18 in s~ell 12. Reflective mirror ',',!" member 20, which may be provided with a plastic or metallic backing , . .
.-. or case 21, as in customary practice, is pivotally supported on .~.; .: . , .
, . . .
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housing 10 and, when th~ mirror is fully assembled, i& bounded ~by the ~nner~surface oF!thelopenlace o the shell 12 and i~ '' pivo~able therewi~hin~ An electrical cable 22, carryi~g a plurality of electric wires for supplying power to the electric motors witin . 5 the housing 10, extends through the housing 1~ and is provided with a seal 24 to pre~ent the entrance of ~a~er into the housing lO
around the cable 22. Cable 22 exte~ds to the battery of the vehicle _ under ~he control of a manual switch ~not show~) provided at a position readily accessible to the driver. The sw~tch may, for lO. example, be a bat handled double pole double throw switch with a neutral position, in each of ver~ical and horizontal senses of movement, movement o the handle from ~he neutral position in . a ver~ical tilting sense (re~erred ~o the mirror gl~ss) -producing i. energization of a vertical drive motor in one polarity to til~.
.... .. . .
.. 15 the mirror upwardly ~about a horizontal axis), movement o the handle from neutral position in a downward tilting sense energizing the same motor in rever~e polarity, movement o the handle to the le ~ energizing a horizontal drive moto~ in a poiari~y ~o produce ~ the requisite letward pivotal swinging o t~e mirror, and movement :l 20 o~ the handle i~ ~he opposi~e horizon~al sense energizing that !~'`" " horizontal drive motor in reverse polarity to produce the requisite rightward pivotal swinging o~ ~he ~irror glass in a horizon~al sense (abou~ a vertical axis). Concurrent movement o the handle ~ in bo~h vertical and horizontal senses produces concurrent energiza- -.~ 25 .tion (wi~h appropriate polarity) o~ both of the motors to produce ~,~ concurrent move~e~t o~ the mirror in both vertical and horizontal senssrs for rapid adjustment to the positio~ preferred by the dri~er.
The mirror 20 (Figs. 3 and 5) ~s secured in any sui~able.
`~ manner upon a ball s~ud assembly 28 which is integral with a ge~erally hemispherical ball 30 forming a irst po~tion-of a ball ., . ' . ' , ~; ' ' : .
,; . , . , ' , ' ' - ' ' . ~
:
.
`` and 80cket joint. Stud assembly/representa~ively comp~ises thru'ls tuds'~at'l~O~'spacing)ithelends"'o~ which are s~aked wi~hin the mir~or case 21 (Fig. 3), Ball 30 pivotally engages a socket .. , .
portion 32 which is illustrated to be ~ormed integrally with the i 5 body o~ housing 10 Ball 30 is spring biased i~o frictional engagement with socke~ 32 by a spring assembly~ 34 having a cen~ral .. ,............................................................... . .
portion pressing on a spherical boss 33 on stud 30, and three ` a~ms projecting radially and termina~ing in pads which are secured ;~ ~ in any sui~able fashion to the ou~er ~ace o~ the case 10. The ~` 10 center of the spher~cal surace 33, identiied at 35, is also the cen~er of the spherical surface of ball 30 and hence is the point about which the mirror assembly 20 rotates. The biasing o-;ce of ~ the spring 34 is in~ended to be sufficient ~o establish frictional `; engagement between the ball and socket to aid in s~eadying the ~, . . . .
mirror against vibrational forces and to assist irl holding i~ in ... . .
~ selected position. That spring ~orce also establ~shes an e~fec~ive .~
in the sense of adequate, under commercial standards) water~igh~
~' , .
seal between the ball 30 and the socket 32. ~n ~he illus~ra~ed arrangemen~, the ball is provided wi~h a spherical sur~ace and the socket is provided ~ith a conical surac~; to provide line -;~ contact between the ~wo. ~t is contemplated that the socke~ can i,................................................. .
;~ also be made spherieal to increase the area o~ engagement, i desire~.
., .
It is further contempla~ed that a rubber boo~ ma~ be secured between the face o~ the ~ousing lO and the mirror 20, surrounding .~ . .
the ball stud assembly 28, to prov~de improved water seali~g, i that proves desirable in any given commercial installation.
Mirror 20 is pivoted about ~he effective center of the spherical surface o ball 30. Forces mNs~ be exerted to produce that tilting. In a number of prior arrangements, ~his is a com-plished by applyi~g forces to the mirror 2~ (or to th~ mirror case ,~ , " . . . .
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secur~d to the reflective ele~e~) eccentrically ~o the central ;........ poin~ o~ the`mirror. For example, wlres or strings may be secured ... to the mirror 20 and extend through a counterpart of the adjacen.
face o~ case io in a line generally parallel to the line inter- ¦
:~; S joining the cen~er of the mirror and ~he center of ball 30.
Screwjacks may be used, ~imilarly located. However, wi~h a~
electrically operated unit, i~ i6 par~icularly impoxtant that the op-. erating: mechanism be satisactorily sealed aga~nst ~ha ing.ess o wa,~er, and i~ ~he disclosed arrangement the forces to tilt Lhe mirror are.exerted directly through the ball 30 assembly itsel~.
.- Accordingly, no operating mechanism proiects from ~he case 10 . except solely for ~he assembly including ball 30, so that, with ~` .. sealing of the casa and of ~he stationary electrical cable 22, n; and with the creation of an efective water seal at the ba~l and . ; . .
socke~ fitting, as discussed, satisfactory wa~er sealing of all o~ the operating elements can be achieved.
A tail piece assembly, illustratively in the ~orm of j .~ our actuating pins or a~ms 36, 38, 40 and 42, is secured to the .,. ball 30. In ~he preferred arrangement, ba~l 30, the studs 28, ::.. - ,~ .................................................................... . .
`: 2~ and ~he arms 36-42 are i~tegrally mo ded o~ suitable plastic. ~:
A horizontally disposed ~ertical drive arm 44 (Fig. 3)'.
is provided ~i~h a pair of co-axial spaced apar~ circular cylind~ical ;, bearing surfaces 46 and 48 which are rotatab~ly supported w~thi~
cor~esponding appropriate bearing surfaces in the case 10 ~nd case cover 50.. For example, ~ylindrical sur~ace 48 seats in a 6emi-cylindrical bearing ca~i~y 49 in case 10 ~Fig. 3) and a corre~ponding semi-cylindrical bearing surface~ constituting the :-, other half of the surrounding bearing, is providad ~not shown) on .: ~he adiacant face o~ oover 50. Correspondingly, a vertically :
. 30 dispo~ed horizsntal d~i~ arm 52 i~ pro~ided ~ith co-~xial circular .. : . .. . . ......... . .
, . . . . ~_ _ .. ..
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~ . " ' ' ' ' ' ' " ' 3 ~' :~,; , : , cylindrical bearing surfaces 54 and 56 which are suitably supported in bearing sur~aces in case lO and co~er 50, .
.-,.. ; Drive- members 44 and.52 are pro~ided with central arcuate ,~',- , portions 58 and.6.0, respectively, As may be ~ee~ in Fig. 4, the . S arcuate portion 58 of drive arm 44 is trapped be~ween actuating 1"
:' arms or fingers 36 a~d 38, on one side of drive arm 44, 40 and 42, ,'.- on the other side o that drive a~m. Correspondingly, the arcuate ~"r,, ~ middle portion 60 o drive arm 52 is ~rapped between actuating ., .
~ ' arms or ingers 36 and 42 0 disposed to one side o~ drive arm 52, ., . ~ ~ .
, l~ and 38 and 4~ disposed to the other side of tha~ drive arm.
Accordingl~, as drive arm 44 is rotated about its axis of ro,atio~
62 (Fig. 3), forces are exerted,through the appropriate pair .'. . (depending upon ~he direction or rotation) of the actuating a,..~s ;.' 36-38 or 40-42 to rotate ball 30 about a hoxizontal axis through ~ s- . .
point 35 (Fig. 5~ to produce upward or downward ~ertical tiltir.g : of the mirror 20. Correspondingly, when drive arm 52 is ro~ated .. about its rotational axis 64, forces are exer~ed through the , .
~"~ , appropriate pair o~ actua~ing arms (in the direction of the.force~
. ;, . . .
:,,., 36-42 or 38-40 to pivot ~all 30 about a vertical axis through .
`'~' 2~ point 35. I~. is ~o be understood that.the te ms ho~izontal and :~,' .. Yertical are employed herein with reference to the attitude o~ ~he, ~' assembly in the drawings, it being recognized that the pivoLing ~.; . . ............................ .
'".,' ~ay not necessarily be parallel and perpe~dicular to the horizon `~S; when ths mirror is mounted on a vehicle, ;, 25 . X~;the illustrated arrangement, pivot axis 64 (Fig. 5) :~. , ' is disposed proximate the rotational center 35 o ball 30, while ,' rotational axis 62 o~ drive member 44 is dis'~osed somewhat ~urther a~ay ~rom poin~ 33. Accordingly, arcua~e portion 58 of drive.arm ' 44 clears arcuate portion 60 of drive arm 52 even though, as is ,~- '.30 prgferred .or'eco~om~ o~ m~nufac~ur~, parts 4~ and 52 are identical, : ~ . . . . .
ile the arcuate portions S8 and 6~ o~ the drive axms need no~ be in the shown (Fi$,ll3), circular configura~ion, de~ia~ions rom the ` circular pattern will resul~ in changes in the rate o~ movement o the mirror, with a gi~en dri~e rate o the powering electric mo~or, d~ring the pivo~ing.
.. . .
~:;; Dri~e arm 52 i~ rotated abou~ îts axis o~ rotation 64 ... .
.. -~ by a power source in ~he form o an elec~ric motor 70, while drive .: ~. arm 44 is ro~ated about its axis 62 by a powex source in the ~OL~m of electric mo~or 72.. ~n usual practice, drive mo~ors will be twelve-~olt reversible d.c. mo~ors. The dri~e train from elec~ric . ~.
........ mo~or 70 includes pinion 74, secured to and drive~ b~ electric .. j" - , . .
.~ mo~or 70, a worm gear 76 driven by pinion 74, a worm 78, in~eg-.-al . . and rotated with, gear 76, worm gear 8C engaging and driven by worm 78 .~........ worm 82, integral and driven with, gear 80, and coupling means 84 !~."~, 15 engaging worm 82 and ccnverting rotation o~ worm 82 into ro~ation of ., drive axm 5~ about axis 64. Coupler 84 is in the nature o~ ~ ~odi- :
~,~ ied worm gear or worm follower, as will be described. Suitable ~.. . . . . .
`;' bearings are provided i~ case lO and cover 50 for beaxing'y s~ppor~ing .
;;`' the various elements of the drive train. For example, mo~o. 70 ~ ! 20 rests upon a we~ 86 (Fig. 3) with an un~hreaded por~ion o~ ~he , j .
-~. . pinion sha~ 74 adjacen~ the mo~or being bearingly supported in a ;
;' . ~earing, one portion o~ which ~s illustrated at 88 in ~ig. 3 a~d ~ :
. the other portion o which (not shown) is on cover 50, and with .. ::
1 ..... .
..l the lower unthreaded portion of pinion 74 being bearingly supported ,: .. ; , .
~, 25 ~ ~lot 90 ~ormed in web 92 in case 10. . ~:
Correspondingly, the dri~e train from motor 72 inc~udes pinion 94, which drives worm gear 96, which is integral with worm 98, which drives wo~m gear 100, which is integral with worm 102, which ~rivingly cooperates with coupling means 86, which is inte-grally ormed on driva a~m 44, so tha~ ro~at-io~ of motor 72, i~ :
.
- : Lr--9~
, ~ . .
.. . . , .. , ~
~ . . . . . . .. ..
: . . .. . . .
.. . .
: `
B~
~ her direction, produ~es ro~a~ion o dri~a arm 44 in either of the ~wo ~en8QS,` asIselected.;~
may be noted that the illustrated arrangemen~ is . designed so that all elements o~ the dri~e train for pivoting the i S mirror horizon~ally are iden~ical o the correspo~ding par~s for ;. .
piYoting ~he mirror ver~ically.
~ Assembly 84, which is molded as an in~egral part of ,` dri~e arm 52, is bifurcated, comprising irst and s~cond parallel .~ . and ~acing cam follower arm portio~s 106 ~nd 108 (Fig. 7). `Arm 106,.:. 10 provided with a worm clearance step 110, termlnates at its free end in a cam follower ~12. Correspondingly, arm 108 terminates in cam follower 114. Cam or worm followers 112 and 114 constitute opposing teeth engageable wi~h the thread of worm 82 (Figs. 9 and 10). The .. ; aces of worm ~ollowers 112 and 114 w~ich engage ~he thread are .
confor.~/ed in a generally frusto-conical manner to provide appro-, .
-~ priate ~atching with the configuration of the abutting faces of .. ; tha thread of ~he worm 82. As may bes~ be see~ in ~igures 6 and ,, .
. . 8; ~he arms 106 and 108 are disposed at an angle to one ano~h2r ~o ~, ~osition the sur~aces 112 and 114 ~o concurrently engage the thread o~ the worm 82 on essentially opposite-sides thereof.
As motor 70 is energized to dri~e worm 82 via elements !' 74, 76, 78 and 80, cams 112 and 114 are adv~nced, to the left or to the right, along the thread o~ ~orm 82 so~as to rotate cam ~ollower assembly 84 about axis 64 to correspondingly rotate the :~ 25 arcuate portion 60 of dri~e member ~2. Therefore, ball 30 is `~ ~i~oted about a vertical axis through pi~o~ point 35 by the forces . exer~ed by arcua~e portion 60 on the actua~ing arms or pins 38-40 : . ~
~ or 36-42, depending upon the direction o r~ta~ion o~ the worm 82.
:~ The spacing be~ween the arms 1~6 and 1.08, considering . 3~ ` their a~gle of respective tilt, is selected so as ~o provide an -: .
" , , i ................ .1 - -' . ' ' ''; ;:, ''.
-~ :
,q~
~ int~rerence fit between ~h~ cams 112-114 and ~he thread of the . .
worm 82. According~y, when the parts are assembled, one or both : . o the arms 106 and 108 is sligh~ly dis~or~ed rom its ~ree posi-` tion ~illustra~ed in Figs. 6-8) ~o exert a continuing resilient orce te~ding to maintain cams 112 and 114 irml~ in engagement with the thread o~ the worm 82 (see ~igs. 9 and 10). Thereore, .
by holding the longitudinal position of worm 82 esse~tially fixed .
by appropriate thrus~ beari~g mea~s, the position of arms 106-108, and hence the rotatio~al posi~ion of drive arm 52, is essenti~ll~ '' io fixed during all periods in which worm 82 is not being r'otated.
Similarly, drive arms 58 is held quite irm1y in position, when ~' mo~or 72 is not energi'zed, by virtue of its cor~esponding coope,a~
; ' ~ion with its respective drive train.
Those acts may be employed to aid in reducing the efLects ~l - 15 o vibration upon the mirror 20. Thus, mirror '20, when utilized '~ as an element of an outside rearview mirror for a vehicle, is , , . . . : .
subject to vibra~ional forces due both ~o the effects of wind a~d ' '~
to vibration of the ~ehicle from the ~oad. As a result, there is ~.J
a tendency for the mass o'the mirro~ 2~ to vibrate relative to the remainder o the vehicle, ~ending to produce a slightly bl.u,~ed image. ~ibration'of the mirror 20 relative ~o the housing lC is .
impeded in par~ by'the frietional engagemen~ between the ball 30 and the socket 32 under the action of spring 34. Further, a .
' rigidifying effec~ is achieved by establishing a clamping rela- -~ionship between ~he actua~ing arms or pins 36-42 and the drive . . . - .
' arms 44 and 52. Thus, the dis~ance between pins 36 and 38 (Fig. 4) i8 preferably selected such ~hat there is an in~er~erence fit "' between ~hose pi~s and the actuating arm 60, that is, the free distance be~ween the pins 36 and 38 is slightly ~0.005 inches or - 30 more) less~than the wid~h o~ th~ a~cuate por~io~ 60 o~-the drive .. . .. . . . . .
~ 3 arm 52, and the 6ame considerations apply to pins 40 and 42.
Corxqsponding~y, ~he distanc~ between pins 38 and 40, as weLl as ~` the distance between pins 36 and 42, is ~electe~ t,o provide an ', intererence engagement with the arcuate portion 58 of the d~ive arm 44. The magnitude o~ the interference fit should not be so -i great as to unduly increase the frictional orce impeding slidin~
- movement, between ~he pins 36~42 and the arcua~e portions 58 and 60 during the adjustmen~ of the mirror. That ~actor, and hence the extent of ~he interference ~i~, will vary in accordance with the type of plas~ic, or other material, of which the parts are made.
~. With reference ~o Figs, 6-9, as above noted, the coupl~ng -~ means 84 and 86 are designed to create a static force tendin~ to preven~ rotation of drive arms 5~ and 44, about their axes 64 and 6~, ` relat,ive to worms 82 and 102, respectively. However, ~he purpose ;"'. 15, of making arms 106 and 108 effectively in the form o projecting ` canti'lever beams is to permit tha coupling means t.o serve no~
'I only as a force transmitting means (to convert rotation of worm 82 or 102 into rotation o~ drive arm 52 or 44), but also to serve as an overload or slip c~utch under certain conditions. Those conditions are primariLy twofold. First, a driver may place his fingers directly on the glass 20 and manually t~lt that g~ass horizontally or vertically to a new posi~ion. That force would ~ produce pivotal mo~ement o ball 30 and hence rotational motion of ,, drive arm 44, or drive arm 52, or both. Yet worms 82 and 98 may well be station~ry. The clutch ~eans is provided to permit the development o excessive orces in the system under that co~dition and to permit the driver to manuall~ adJust the m~rror if he ; choo~es.
Further, when mo~or 70 or 72 is energized, the mirror 20 ~s pi~o~ed in a selected sense. The sys~m i6 designed for a :,. ;
. ' ~ ~, ; . , .
"" , '', ' :',.' ~j'. ' ' .. '' '', ' ' '' , .
cer~ain permitted angle o~ o the glass. In a co~structed.
embod~ment, provi~ion was madlel for a!l5 degree til~ o~ the glass Il, rom its centered position in aach o~ the four ~enses, that is, i'; for a 30 degree total ~ngle of vertical and hori~on~al ~ilting.
c- 5 However, at the limit of that tilting, limi~ stop means is e~ec--~ tive to prevent further tilti~g of the mirror'20. In the illus-, trated embodime~t, ~he limit stop means takes the orm of engage-ment betwee~ the tilted glass and a surface of the housing 10.
` I the driver co~tinues to energize either o~ the drive motor 70 -~ 10 or 72 after that limit position is reached, worm 82 or 98 con-; tinues to rotateO Yet, drive arm 52 or 44 is effectively prevented ;
from rotating further in the selected directio~ by ~irtue of the assumed engagement o the mirror with the limit stop. Slip clu~ch ,.~-i , .: ... :
means are provided to prevent the devalopment o~ undue stresses under that condition and to prevent damage to the motor.
Both such siip clutch means take the form of the arms 106 and 108 (and ~ounterpart arms on the other drive arm) which . . . .
-` serve essentially as limitedly flexible or resilient cantilever ` beams. Thus, in response to the developme~ of exc~ssive ~orces ... . . . .
due ~o eithe~ of the above-no~ed conditions, the forces tendi~g to establish ~urther rotation between the worm and the drive arm result in the establishment of a force between the face of the worn thread and the cam surfaces 112 and 114 to tend to cam those .
surfacee outwardly from the thread, which is accommodated by -.
2S flexing of arms lQ6 and 108. That flexure is sufficien~ to permi~
- cams 112 and 114 to travel o~er the crest of ~he thread and to Jump to the next t~rn o the thread. This operation can repea~, ~` ~ under appropria~e co~t~ uing oonditio~s, with ehe coupler 84 co~inuing ~o simply step from one thread ~o ~he ~ex~, repe~itively~
~,. . . .
as lo~g as th~ conti~ui~g excessive f~rc~ continues to be exer~ed ~ 13 1 '' ~ ' ' il '. ' ' ' ' ,- ' .' . ' ~; ~ , " ' ' " ' ' ' ' ' '' ''`. " ' ' ' ' ' .. , . . . . .
~ . . .... . . .
~,' ' ;'' , ' ' . ', ' ~ .
;~`
~' ~ ` ;;
due either to continuing manual movement of the glass by ~: the driver towards the limit position or ~lue to continuing operation of the drive motor after the mirror glass is at its limit stop position.
The operating parts of the illustrated system are7 in commercial preference, constructed of suitable plastic .:`` such as nylon> polypropylene, polycarbonate, fluorocarbon, ~`~ polyethylene, etc. The coupling means 84 and 86 are there-fore designed, of whatever selected plastic or other material is employed, to develop an adequate forceful engagement - between the cams 112-114 and the thread of the worm 82 ~o tend to assist in the dampening or prevention of vibration .;" -` ~ .
` of the mirror glass, while yet providlng sufficient flexibility `~ to serve the above descrlbed slip clutching function in response to the abonormal application of excessive forces :~r:
to the drive train of the sys~em. -~ t will be observed that from an operational stand-: point, the tilting of the ball 30 in response to movement of arcuate portions 58 or of arcuate portions 60, in each f.~
~: 20 of four senses, can be accompllshed by the provision of but one pair of diagonally disposed actuating arms or pins, such . .;. . .
as pins 36-40 or pins 38-42. However, improved cla~ping against mirror vibration is achieved by the provision of the two pairs of pins.
... . .
The embodiment of Figures 11 through 20 is majorly similar to the embodiments of Figs. 1-10. The elements of ~ the second embodiment have been given reference characters !,"~ like those of the corresponding elements in the first embodiment but with the suffix l'a", and reference may be made to the description of the first embodiment for an applicable description of the corresponding elements in the second embodiment, ., .
~ 14 ~
' ~;~ ' .
b r /~ ?
s ~ 3 . . .
::~ with the e~ceptions and additions wh~ch will be apparent or speci~ically noted.
The power housing lOa (Fig. 11) is provided with a .
plurality (representat~vely three) of projecting slotted tabs ~5 16a through which screws 14a (Fig. 19) may bè inserted.to engage tapped holes in bosses 18a disposed within the mirror shell 12a A~ least one of the screws 14a, such as the upper one of those . .. ..
;. screws, is.so~disposed behind the glass case 21a that it is .. ~.
~' . inaccessible when ~he power housi~g and mirror are secured within :.) the shell 12a, so as to impede larceny of the mirror and power - housing assembly, since the removal of the unit would normally entail the breaking of the glass. The assembling of the mirror . and power housing.assembly to.the shell 12a is, in the illustrated .. arrangement, p~çrformed before.the mirror glass 20a is secured .. ~; within the case 21a, and to facilitate that assem~ly, an aperture.
200 (Fig. 12) is formed in the glass.case 21a in aIl appropriate ' . location so that the assembler may drivi~gly insert.a screw . .:
. j . :
therethrough to engage the upper tab 16a on the housing lOa (Fig. -and the corresponding boss 18a in the case-12a. The glass is ;? ~h~reafter secured to the glass case 21a by any suitable means,;~. such as ~hroug~ the use of a pressure-sensitive adhesive. .
Stabilizing means have been added to;the seaond embodimen~ .
; to insure rigidity o the glass, particularly against high speed vehicular vibration. The stabilizing means.is illustrated in the ,:.~ . .
~ form of a pair of generally rectangular-cross-section bars 202 .~ s . ., . and 204 (Fig. 16). Bar 204 terminates ~n a spherical end 206.
:1 ~Figs. 16.and 14) which is snap fit in a socket 208 formed inte~
. grally with the plastic glass case 21a. The walls of ~he socket . ;
~ 208 are provided with a diametrical slot 210 ~o create sufficient.
'I flexibility to permit the ball 206.to be snapped and retained ; -15- .
.; , , ,, . -' . - ' I . .
"., ' , ' ' ' , ' ' ' ' ....
~OBl~
' t~._rewithin. Ball 206 is provided with an orienting tang 212,, engageable in ~he slot 210, ~o insure proper orientation o~
" the rectangular (not square) cross-section bar 204.
:; .
,' Bar 204 cooperates with an elongated aperture 214 in ,i a boss formed integrally with the housing lOa (Fig'.'16), with tha~
aperture being rectangular in cross section and including a pair of parallel side walls 216 and 218 (Fig, 18B) spaced apart a preselected distance. Bar 204 is provided with an integrally formed flap 220 which extends the length thereof and depends f om ,~ an edge of the bar 204 and projects therefrom at an appropriate , ~ angle, such as'30. Bar 204 with its integral flap 220 is desirably ' ' formed of a suitable plastic ma~erial. The width of the bar 204 ;, ~Fig. 18A) is substantially less than the distance between the ~, adjacent faces of walls 216 and 218, but ~he total width o the ,i bar assembly 204 (Fig. 18A) including ~he flap 220 in its free ' and unconstrained position is subs~antially greater than t~e ,', distance between the adiacent faces of walls 216 and 218. Accordingly,'', as may be se,en in Fig. 18B, when the flap 220 is pressed inwardly " and ~he bar 204 inserted within the aperture 214, ~lap 220 is bent ~ from its ~ree position, resiliently opposing that bending. As .,. ~ . .a result, flap 220 forcibly engages the inner surface of wall 214, forcing the opposite wall,of bar 204 into frictional engagement with the adjacent surface o~ wall 216 so as to establish a controlled frictional engagement between the bar 204 and the walls of the aperture 214 to restrain relative movement therebet~een and hence , , to dampen any tendency of the mirror and glass to ~ibrate. The fric~ional force i~ ~ot 9 of course, sufficient to impede purposeful tilting o~ the glass either by manual'pres ure on the faee of ~he glass or through electrical actuation.
' A corresponding b~r 202 cooperates with an aperture 222 , : - ' . ': .
.
. ~ig. 16) mounted on the housing lOa and cooperates therewith in `' a corresponding manner. ~ .
.: ~n the embodiment o Figs, 11-20, ~he mirror case 21a ' .. (Fig, 13) is associated with the movable pivot member 30a through '~
`:'5 attachment means 28a in the form of a tubular projection from the body of the ball or movable pivot 30a, surrounding a eentral '~ drilled post 226. The face of the plastic glass case 21a adjacent.
:' ths ho~sing is provided with a shallow recess 228 accepting the , .
: end of the.. attachmen~ means 28a. As may best be seen in Fig 12, the end ofithe tubular attachment means 28a is recessed along an area defined by a cord 230 slightly spaced from the center of the ' cylinder and the back o~ the glass case is similarly conformed so ~ :
î` .
.~. as'to orient the glass case with'reference to the movable pivo~ .:
., ~
~. . member 30a and to prevent relative rotation therebetween. A screw . `, . . .
. 5 232 passes through an aperture in the mirror case 21a and engages .!;; . .
.- the aperture in the central post 226 to secure the glass case ~o ~;j , .
the movable.pivot element. .It is .contemplated that .the glass 20a will be glued or otherwise secured in place on the mirror case . 21a after the screw 232 is seated.
~0 A spring 34a (Flg. 16) having a central portion and four '.~:
.. ~ .
splayed depending legs.234, is secured, such as by a screw 236 ~'' (Figs, 13 and 1'6) to.the movable pivot element 30a, screw 236 .~ passing through a central aperture in the base of spring 34a and ' threaded'ly engaging an aperture formed in the central inner portion ... 5 of the pivot 3Ga. The arms 234 ride against a surface 238 on .. . .
~I the inner face o~ the.:housing lOa (Figs. 13 and 17), and specifi-.' cally upon a portion o~ that surface serving to 'define the socket '. member 32a. Accordingly, the spring a~ms 234 ride against the '' generally spherical surface and exer~ a continuing ~orce tending ~o ' :'0 pull movable pivot element'30a in~o engagement.with the mating ' '' .I .. :
. -17-~, " , . ~ , .
,. ' .
. ' ' ; .' .. ,. . ~
, ~ .
`
` ~ surface of the ixed pivot por~io~ 32a, assisting to establish a ` barrier against ~he entry of wa~er and dir~ into the housing.
` Except ~or thac sliding frictional join~ between the ball and , socket elements 30a and 32a, the housing l~a is effectively sealed.
S Worms 82a and 102a (Figs. 15 and 17) have been modified -~ from their counterparts in ~he embodiments of ~igs. 1-10 primarily. in two ways. First, in the embodiment of Figs. 1-10, the limit positions to the tilting movement o the glass in each sense (up, down, left, right or approximately along each diagonal) was estab-.0- lished by engagement between the glass case 21a and the housing lOa.
~j~ In the embodimen~ of Figs. 11-20, ~hat limit stop is established r'"' by engagement within the drive train. Thus, a shoulder 242 i.s "., ; formed at ~he left end of the ~hread of worm 82a and a shoulder ; . .
244 is ormed at the right end thereof. The limit stop is estab-., ~`.5 lished by the engagement of the worm follower mechanism 84a with ` each of those two shoulders. Corresponding shoulders adjacent the ends of the thread on worm 102a constitute the limits in other senses of movement.
The clutching function has been previously described.
, ~, . .
0 ` In the embodimen~ of Figs. 1-10, the clu~ching means was designed to -~ effectively slip if the forces exceeded a preselected value. That preselected value was selec~ed to be high enough to insure proper operation of the mirror while yet protecting against excessive loads either due to shifting of tha glass by the application of the forces directly to the surface of the glass or due to continuing electrical energization after the mirror reached a limit position.
; An improvement has been effe~ted by selectively modifying the magni~ude of the preselected force at which the clu~ch will slip il .,~;
-as a ~unction of the angular position (in any sense) of the mirror.
, .
~0 Thus, the end l-lt2 turns of the thread of the worm 82a have been ',''" ' ' ' - ' . ' , .
, - - - , , .
, ~.................. . ..
., .--; .
. -:
~'' . , gradually tapered ~n diameter from ~h~ full diameter down ~o the roo~ diamet~r at a point adjacent the sh~lders 242 and 244. As a result, the preselected force at which the clutch will slip is kept at a constant reasonably high value over the major por~ion ~
the angles of tilting of the mirror up to a point proximate the limit positions of the mirror. In tha~ final angular movement . ~ . . .
: (reflecting about l-1/2 turns of the worm 82a) between that proximate point and the l~mit point, the applied force at which the clutch will slip is progressively diminished. This has the practical advan~age that i~ ~he mirror continues to be electrically actuated after it has reached its limit position, the continuing per-revolu~ion clutching will produce a smaller magnitude of signalling ~;
pulsation of the glass surface, will produce less audible noise, and will produce less wea~ on ~he clutch parts. Similar considera-. tions apply to the construction of the ~hread on worm gear 102a.
.~` Housing lOa (Figs. 16 and 17) has been provided with a hollow extension defining (in cooperation with the cover 50a) a socket 248 of generally rectangular cross section and opening downwardly. An electrical connection means,:in-the form of the i terminating end of a me~allic strip 250, projects into socket 248 and extends through slots formed therefor in the molded plastic . , .
housing lOa ~o ~erminal 252 of motor 72a. A corresponding strip 254 underlies 250 (in the vie~ of Fig. 17~ and follows a corres-ponding course but terminates at terminal 256 of motor 272a.
'5 Correspondingly a metallic strip 258 terminates within socket 248 and extends to terminal 260 of motor 70a, and a corresponding .. . . .
strip, ~nderlying strip 258 (in the view of F~. 17), extends to terminal 262 of motor 70a. Thus, there are fo~r terminating ... . . . .
metallic-strip ends projecting into the socke~ 248, serving the O function of a~ electrical iack. A four ~ermi~al eleetric plug 264 _ .. . . . .
; " . ~ , ' ' ' ' , ' ' ' ' ' `:
.
.,., . .. ' ~
. . . . . .
: , :
.. . . . . .
`'' ' ` .
`
... .
~F~g, 20) is designed to be insertable in socket 248 and to be, .
: i~ desired, selectively lockable ~herewi~hin. Plug 264 serves . .
.. the ~unction o~ establishin~ an electrical connection between .
.` the our terminati~g ends of the connection means in socket 248 .~/. with a four wire cable 266 extending ~o the switch 268, which may ~ be of the form previously described. A selec~ively detachable :.` connec~or, such as a plug and jack coupling 270 may be inserted.
., . ~
- in the cable 266 a~ a point closely proximate the switch 268, and, `-.`.-` if desiredl a.fur~her selectively detachable electrical connector .. ..
..`. assembly 272 may be disposed in the cable at any intermediate point ,.... .
', to facili~ate installation of the cabling in a vehicle. Conductors ~. .
274 and 276 may extend from any suitable point in the electrical system, such as from the switch, to battery and ground, respectively.
. It will be perceived that by vir~ue of the inclus.on of the .:; selectively detachable connection means, the switch 268, i.f it . becomes defective, may be replaced, by disconnecting it at connector ,:
.~. 270, without replacing the major portion of the cabling and without :
.. :........................................... . . .
~!; replacing any portion of the mirror assembly. Similarly, if the `. mirror and power housing assembly becomes defective, the plug 264 , ~ may be removed from the socket 248 after disassociating the housing ~. lOa from the shell 12a as previously described, and a replacement .... . . .
~ uni~ installed. .
, .. . . . . . . .
... . . . . .
.... .
, , - , . . .. .
. . . . . . .
..5 ... . . . ..
' ' . . : , ' '' .'", ' ` . . . .
.. , . , . ~ .
~ . . .
,. . .
~: , ~,. . . . .
,..iO
,i.; , .. . . . ..
.. .. . .
~ 20-';'''' ' ' '' ' '. ' ' ' ' , ....
.
Claims (19)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In a vehicular remote control outside rearview mirror assembly, first and second cooperating pivot assembly portions, said first pivot portion being rotatable through an angle about each of two mutually perpendicular axes relative to said second pivot portion, a reflective mirror member, means for supporting said reflective mirror member on said first pivot portion for rotation therewith, selectively operable drive means, first and second generally arcuate drive arm means each selectively rotatable through an angle about substantially perpendicular axes parallel to said mutually perpendicular axes by said selectively operable drive means, said drive means including a pair of worms, each rotatable about an individual worm axis, and a worm follower individual to each of said worms and rotatable by the respective worm about an axis spaced from the worm axis of the worm individual thereto, and actuating arm means secured to said first pivot portion and in driving engagement with said first and second drive arm means and effective when selectively driven by said drive arm means to rotate said first pivot portion.
2. The combination of claim 1 in which said first drive arm means when rotated through an angle by said selectively operable drive means drives said actuating arm means through an angle in one plane and in which said second drive arm means when rotated through an angle by said selectively operable drive means drives said actuating arm means through an angle in a plane substantially perpendicular.
to said one plane.
to said one plane.
3. The combination of claim 1 in which said selectively operable drive means includes a pair of electric motors and a drive train driven by each said motor, and in which each of said worm followers is integral with a respective one of said drive arm means.
4. The combination of claim 1 in which said selectively operable drive means includes a first selectively operable electric motor for powering rotational motion of said reflective mirror member about one axis, a second selectively operable electric motor for powering rotational motion of said reflective mirror member about an axis substantially perpendicular to said one axis, and individual drive train means driven by each of said motors.
5. The combination of claim 1 in which said actuating arm means comprises a pair of actuating arms secured to said first pivot portion and extending in sub-stantial parallelism therefrom and firmly clasping a portion of one of said drive arm means, said actuating arms having an interference fit with said one drive arm and being limitedly resilient and at least one thereof being resiliently deflected from the free position thereof by said one drive arm, rotation of said one drive arm through an angle in either of two directions applying rotational forces through at least one of said actuating arms to said first pivot portion.
6. In a vehicular remote control outside rearview mirror assembly, first and second cooperating pivot assembly portions, said first pivot portion being rotatable through an angle about each of first and second mutually perpend-icular axes relative to said second pivot portion, a reflective mirror member, means for supporting said reflective mirror member on said first pivot portion for rotation therewith, a generally arcuate drive arm rotat-able through an angle about an axis parallel with said first axis, a pair of actuating arms secured to said first pivot portion and extending in substantial parallel-ism therefrom and firmly clasping a portion of said arcuate drive arm therebetween for restraining relative rotation between said actuating arms and said drive arm about said axes, said actuating arms having an interference fit with said drive arm and being limitedly resilient and at least one thereof being resiliently deflected from the free position thereof by said drive arm, and means for selectively rotating said drive arms, rotation of said drive arm through an angle in either of two directions applying rotational forces through at least one of said actuating arms to said first pivot portion.
7. The combination of claim 6 further including further means for rotating said actuating arms relative to said drive arm through an angle about said second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis,
8. The combination of claim 7 in which said further means comprises a second generally arcuate drive arm rotatable through an angle about an axis parallel with said second axis.
9. The combination of claim 8 in which said pair of actuating arms firmly clasps a portion of said second arcuate drive arm therebetween, said actuating arms having an interference fit with said second drive arm and being limitedly resilient and at least one thereof being resiliently deflected from the free position thereof by said second drive arm, rotation of said second drive arm through an angle in either of two directions applying rotat-ional forces through at least one of said actuating arms to said first pivot portion.
10. The combination of claim 8 further including a second pair of actuating arms secured to said first portion and extending in substantial parallelism therefrom and firmly clasping a portion of said second arcuate drive arm therebetween for restraining relative rotation between said actuating arm and said second drive arm, said second pair of actuating arms having an interference fit with said second drive arm and being limitedly resilient and at least one thereof being resiliently deflected from the free position thereof by said second drive arm, rotation of said second drive arm through an angle in either of two directions applying rotational forces through at least one of said second pair of actuating arms to said first pivot portion.
11. In a vehicular remote control outside rearview mirror assembly, first and second cooperating pivot assembly portions, said first pivot portion being rotatable through an angle about each of first and second mutually perpendicular axes relative to said second pivot portion, a reflective mirror member, means for supporting said reflective mirror member on said first pivot portion for rotation therewith, and means for selectively pivoting said first pivot portion about one of said first and second axes comprising a first generally arcuate drive arm rotatable about an axis parallel with said one axis, a pair of actuating arms secured to said first pivot portion and extending in substantial parallel-ism therefrom and of said arcuate drive arm therebetween, and means for selectively rotating said drive arm.
12. The combination of claim 11 further includ-ing means including a second generally arcuate drive arm rotatable about an axis parallel with the other of said axes for rotating said first pivot portion about said other axis.
13. In a vehicular remote control outside rearview mirror assembly, a housing, first and second cooperating pivot assembly portions, said first pivot portion being rotatable through an angle about each of two mutually perpendicular axes relative to said second pivot portion, said second pivot portion being integral with said housing, a reflective mirror member, means for supporting said reflective mirror member on said first pivot portion for rotation therewith, selectively operable drive means including electric motor means, and means coupling said drive means to said first pivot portion for exerting all rotational forces from said electric motor means to said reflective mirror member through said first pivot portion, said coupling means comprising first and second arcuate drive arms rotatable about first and second axes respectively parallel with said first and second mutually perpendicular axes, and actuating arm means secured to said first pivot portion in driving engagement with said first and second drive arms, said mirror member being also subject to movement by forces applied directly thereto, limit means for limiting the movement of said mirror member in each of a plurality of directions, said coupling means including clutch means for transmitting forces from said drive means to said first pivot portion but effective when forces continue to be exerted by said drive means after said limit means has limited the movement of said mirror member in any direction and also effective when force is applied directly to said mirror member when said drive means is de-energized, for slipping to prevent damage, said clutch means comprising a drive worm and a worm follower.
14. The combination of claim 13 in which said first and second cooperating pivot assembly portions are a ball and socket joint,
15. In a vehicular remote control outside rearview mirror assembly, a housing, a fixed pivot assembly portion on said housing and having a central aperture therethrough extending through a wall of said housing, a movable pivot assembly portion seatably engaging said fixed pivot assembly portion and rotatable with respect thereto about first and second mutually perpendicular axes, attachment means on a portion of said movable pivot assembly portion exterior of said housing, a reflective mirror member, means for securing said reflective mirror member to said attachment means, actuating arm means on said movable assembly portion and projecting within said housing through said central aperture in said fixed pivot assembly portion, drive means including generally arcuate drive arm means within said housing engageable with said actuating arm means. for exerting forces thereon to rotate said movable pivot assembly portion relative to said fixed pivot assembly portion, force transmitting means for selectively rotating said drive arm.
means, and spring means continuously exerting a force on said movable pivot portion in a direction to seat said movable pivot portion on said fixed pivot portion, said spring means having a plurality of arm portions engaging said housing and a central portion engaging said movable pivot assembly portion.
means, and spring means continuously exerting a force on said movable pivot portion in a direction to seat said movable pivot portion on said fixed pivot portion, said spring means having a plurality of arm portions engaging said housing and a central portion engaging said movable pivot assembly portion.
16. The combination of claim 15 further including means for securing said arm portions to said housing, said central portion being slidably engageable with said movable pivot assembly portion.
17. The combination of claim 15, further including means for securing said central portion to said movable pivot assembly portion, said arm portions being slidably engageable with portions of said housing,
18. The combination of claim 17 in which said spring means is disposed within said housing in which said arm portions are slidably engageable with portions of said housing constituting portions of said fixed pivot assembly portion.
19. In a vehicular remote control outside rearview mirror assembly, first and second cooperating pivot assembly portions, said first pivot portion being rotatable through an angle about each of first and second mutually perpendic-ular axes relative to said second pivot portion, a reflect-ive mirror member, means for supporting said reflective mirror member on said first pivot portion for rotation therewith, and means for selectively pivoting said first portion about one of said first and second axes, said means comprising generally arcuate drive arm means rotatable about an axis parallel with at least said one axis, actuating arm means secured to said first pivot portion and in driving engagement with said drive arm means, and means for select-ively rotating said drive arm means.
-
-
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US59424575A | 1975-07-09 | 1975-07-09 | |
| US05/655,135 US4158483A (en) | 1975-07-09 | 1976-02-03 | Remote controlled rearview mirror |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1081013A true CA1081013A (en) | 1980-07-08 |
Family
ID=27081908
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA256,364A Expired CA1081013A (en) | 1975-07-09 | 1976-07-06 | Remote controlled rearview mirror |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5218642A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1081013A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2630520C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2317131A1 (en) |
| GB (3) | GB1559708A (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5651369Y2 (en) * | 1976-04-14 | 1981-12-01 | ||
| NL189807C (en) * | 1979-07-26 | 1993-08-02 | Iku Holding Montfoort Bv | MIRROR ADJUSTMENT FOR A VEHICLE OUTSIDE MIRROR. |
| US4341444A (en) * | 1980-08-01 | 1982-07-27 | Keeler Corporation | Electrically operated remote control rearview mirror |
| JPS58136536A (en) * | 1982-02-08 | 1983-08-13 | Ichikoh Ind Ltd | Electric motor driven remotely controlled mirror |
| DE3407523C1 (en) * | 1984-03-01 | 1985-08-22 | Gebr. Bühler Nachfolger GmbH, 8500 Nürnberg | Vehicle rear view mirror |
| JP2506070Y2 (en) * | 1989-03-23 | 1996-08-07 | 株式会社東海理化電機製作所 | Connector holding device for automobile electric remote control mirror |
| US5467230A (en) * | 1993-08-16 | 1995-11-14 | Lowell Engineering Corp. | Dual pivoted member mount for mirror |
| US9071094B2 (en) | 2012-06-29 | 2015-06-30 | Regal Beloit America, Inc. | Securing device for use in an electric machine |
| DE102019109827B4 (en) * | 2019-04-12 | 2021-08-05 | Motherson Innovations Company Limited | Actuator system for a rearview device of a vehicle |
| DE102019109818B4 (en) * | 2019-04-12 | 2021-07-08 | Motherson Innovations Company Limited | Actuator system for a rearview device, rearview device and vehicle |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1398813A (en) * | 1963-04-06 | 1965-05-14 | Adjustable exterior mirror for vehicles, cranes | |
| US3628862A (en) * | 1969-08-25 | 1971-12-21 | Allied Chem | Power actuated rearview mirror |
| US3609014A (en) * | 1970-06-10 | 1971-09-28 | Kurz Arthur W Jun | Electric remote control rear view mirror |
| NL7502815A (en) * | 1974-05-16 | 1975-11-18 | Tenna Corp | FURNISHINGS WITH AN ADJUSTABLE MIRROR. |
| FR2348834A2 (en) * | 1976-04-23 | 1977-11-18 | Manzoni Bouchot Sa | Remote adjustment for wing mirror - with two cams on common mounting to swivel sprung mirror about two axes |
-
1976
- 1976-07-06 CA CA256,364A patent/CA1081013A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-07-07 DE DE19762630520 patent/DE2630520C2/en not_active Expired
- 1976-07-08 GB GB241079A patent/GB1559708A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-07-08 GB GB2847576A patent/GB1559705A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-07-08 JP JP51081439A patent/JPS5218642A/en active Pending
- 1976-07-08 GB GB240979A patent/GB1559707A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-07-08 FR FR7622439A patent/FR2317131A1/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2317131B1 (en) | 1982-07-09 |
| GB1559708A (en) | 1980-01-23 |
| DE2630520C2 (en) | 1982-10-14 |
| DE2630520A1 (en) | 1977-01-20 |
| JPS5218642A (en) | 1977-02-12 |
| FR2317131A1 (en) | 1977-02-04 |
| GB1559705A (en) | 1980-01-23 |
| GB1559707A (en) | 1980-01-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |