Electrically operated remote control rearview mirror

Claim 2

An electrically actuated rearview mirror comprising: an X axis; a Y axis, said X axis and said Y axis being mutually orthogonal; a mirror; a support for said mirror; means for pivotally mounting said mirror on said support, said mirror being pivotable about said X and Y axes; a spherical gear disposed on the back of said mirror, said spherical gear including an X gear section and a Y gear section, said X and Y gear sections having spherical pitch lines; an X drive means meshing with said X gear section for pivoting said mirror about said X axis when electrical power is applied to said X drive means; and a Y drive means meshing with said Y gear section for pivoting said mirror about said Y axis when electrical power is applied to said Y drive means.

Claim 3

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said support comprises: a housing for enclosing the back of said mirror; and a motor case adapted for mounting in said housing, said motor case including said means for pivotally mounting said mirror and said X and Y drive means.

Claim 4

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said X and Y gear sections overlap.

Claim 5

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said mirror comprises a universal joint.

Claim 6

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 4 wherein said universal joint comprises: a cross comprised of first and second mutually orthogonal arms; bearing means disposed on each end of said first and second arms; a plurality of pivot posts disposed on said support and on the back of said mirror; and each of said pivot posts including a socket for pivotally receiving one of said bearing means, at least one of said pivot posts having a bifurcated end for receiving one of said bearing means in a snap-lock fashion.

Claim 7

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said mirror comprises a ball and socket connection between said support and the back of said mirror.

Claim 8

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said X and Y gear sections and said X and Y drive means are provided with gear teeth having a roughly triangular cross section, said X and Y drive means being spring biased into engagement with said X and Y gear sections, respectively, to provide for ratchet-like adjustment of said mirror relative to said support in the event of a power failure.

Claim 9

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 7 wherein said X and Y gear sections overlap providing an array of roughly pyramid-shaped gear teeth, said pyramid-shaped gear teeth being disposed in a spherical array.

Claim 10

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 7 wherein said X and Y drive means each comprise: an electric drive motor; a speed step-down transmission comprising a plurality of gear elements mounted on a pivotable boom, said boom being pivotal about the axial centerline of said drive motor; an output gear for meshing with said spherical gear; and spring biasing means for urging said output gear into engagement with said spherical gear.

Claim 11

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 9 wherein said output gear comprises a worm gear.

Claim 12

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 9 wherein said drive motor is secured to said boom and is pivotable therewith about its axial centerline.

Claim 13

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 11 wherein said drive motor comprises a can-type motor having: a drawn motor housing; a closure covering one end of said motor housing, said closure including a first cylindrical post coaxial with the centerline of said motor; and a second cylindrical post extending from said boom and coaxial with the centerline of said motor, said second cylindrical post being disposed adjacent the opposite end of said motor; said support including a motor case in which opposing ends of said motor are journaled, said first cylindrical post being received in a first motor bearing and said second cylindrical post being journaled in a second motor bearing.

Claim 14

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said spherical gear is disposed on a yoke, said yoke including a plurality of legs extending to and secured on the back of said mirror.

Claim 15

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 13 wherein one of said X and Y gear sections is disposed on said yoke facing the back of said mirror and the other of said gear sections is disposed on said yoke therebehind facing away from the back of said mirror.

Claim 16

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 13 wherein said X and Y gear sections overlap and are disposed on said yoke facing the back of said mirror.

Claim 17

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 13 wherein said mirror is received in a thermoplastic backing member including a plurality of attachment posts, the ends of said legs including apertured feet staked to said posts.

Claim 18

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 2 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said mirror comprises a universal joint including: a cross comprised of first and second mutually orthogonal arms, whereby said motor case may be snap-locked to said mirror with said cross therebetween.

Claim 19

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 17 wherein said spherical gear is disposed on a yoke, said yoke including a plurality of legs extending to and secured to the back of said mirror, said yoke extending over said motor case.

Claim 20

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 18 wherein said X and Y gear sections overlap and are disposed on said yoke facing the back of said mirror.

Claim 21

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 19 wherein said mirror is received in a thermoplastic backing member including a plurality of attachment posts, the ends of said legs including apertured feet staked to said posts.

Claim 22

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 20 wherein said thermoplastic backing member includes a plurality of apertures through which tools may be inserted for mounting said motor case, said yoke and said backing member, as a unit, to said housing, said backing member acting as a closure covering an open end of said housing said mirror thereafter being mounted in said backing member in a manner that covers said apertures.

Claim 23

In an electrically actuated rearview mirror of the type which is mounted for multidirectional pivotal movement about independent X and Y axes, a mirror, a support for said mirror, means for pivotally mounting said mirror for multidirectional pivotal movement on said support, said mirror being at least pivotable about said X and Y axes, an X drive means and a Y drive means, the improvement comprising: a spherical gear operatively connected to said mirror such that displacement of said spherical gear provides a corresponding displacement of said mirror, said spherical gear including an X gear section and a Y gear section, said X and Y gear sections having a spherical pitch line, said X and Y drive means meshing with said X and Y gear sections, respectively, for driving said mirror about said X and Y axes, respectively, when electrical power is applied to said drive means.

Claim 24

In an electrically actuated rearview mirror of the type which is mounted for multidirectional pivotal movement about independent X and Y axes, a mirror, a support for said mirror, means for pivotally mounting said mirror for multidirectional pivotal movement on said support, said mirror being at least pivotable about said X and Y axes, an X drive means and a Y drive means, the improvement comprising: a spherical gear operatively connected to said mirror such that displacement of said spherical gear provides a corresponding displacement of said mirror, said spherical gear including an X gear section and a Y gear section, said X and Y gear sections having a spherical pitch line, said X and Y drive means meshing with said X and Y gear sections, respectively, for driving said mirror about said X and Y axes, respectively, when electrical power is applied to said drive means.

Claim 25

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 22 wherein said support comprises: a housing for enclosing the back of said mirror; and a motor case adapted for mounting in said housing, said motor case including said means for pivotally mounting said mirror and said X and Y drive means.

Claim 26

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 22 wherein said X and Y gear sections overlap.

Claim 27

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 22 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said mirror comprises a universal joint.

Claim 28

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 25 wherein said universal joint comprises: a cross comprised of first and second mutually orthogonal arms; bearing means disposed on each end of said first and second arms; a plurality of pivot posts disposed on said support and on the back of said mirror; and each of said pivot posts including a socket for pivotally receiving one of said bearing means, at least one of said pivot posts having a bifurcated end for receiving one of said bearing means in a snap-lock fashion.

Claim 29

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 22 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said mirror comprises a ball and socket connection between said support and the back of said mirror.

Claim 30

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 22 wherein said X and Y gear sections and said X and Y drive means are provided with gear teeth having a roughly triangular cross section, said X and Y drive means being spring biased into engagement with said X and Y gear sections, respectively, to provide for ratchet-like adjustment of said mirror relative to said support in the event of a power failure.

Claim 31

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 28 wherein said X and Y gear sections overlap providing an array of roughly pyramid-shaped gear teeth, said pyramid-shaped gear teeth being disposed in a spherical array.

Claim 32

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 28 wherein said X and Y drive means each comprise: an electric drive motor; a speed step-down transmission comprising a plurality of gear elements mounted on a pivotable boom, said boom being pivotal about the axial centerline of said drive motor; an output gear for meshing with said spherical gear; and spring biasing means for urging said output gear into engagement with said spherical gear.

Claim 33

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 30 wherein said output gear comprises a worm gear.

Claim 34

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 30 wherein said drive motor is secured to said boom and is pivotable therewith about its axial centerline.

Claim 35

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 32 wherein said drive motor comprises a can-type motor having: a drawn motor housing: a closure covering one end of said motor housing, said closure including a cylindrical post coaxial with the centerline of said motor; and a second cylindrical post extending from said boom and coaxial with the centerline of said motor, said second cylindrical post being disposed adjacent the opposite end of said motor; said support including a motor case in which opposing ends of said motor are journaled, said first cylindrical post being received in a first motor bearing and said second cylindrical post being journaled in a second motor bearing.

Claim 36

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 22 wherein said spherical gear is disposed on a yoke, said yoke including a plurality of legs extending to and secured on the back of said mirror.

Claim 37

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 34 wherein one of said X and Y gear sections is disposed on said yoke facing the back of said mirror and the other gear section is disposed on said yoke therebehind facing away from the back of said mirror.

Claim 38

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 34 wherein said X and Y gear sections overlap and are disposed on said yoke facing the back of said mirror.

Claim 39

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 34 wherein said mirror is received in a thermoplastic backing member including a plurality of attachment posts the ends of said legs including apertured feet staked to said posts.

Claim 40

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 23 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said mirror comprises a universal joint including: a cross comprised of first and second mutually orthogonal arms, bearing means disposed on each end of said first and second arms; a plurality of pivot posts disposed on said support and on the back of said mirror; and each of said pivot posts including a socket for pivotally receiving one of said bearing means, at least one of said pivot posts having a bifurcated end for receiving one of said bearing means in a snap-lock fashion whereby said motor case may be snap-locked to said mirror with said cross therebetween.

Claim 41

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 38 wherein said spherical gear is disposed on a yoke, said yoke including a plurality of legs extending to and secured to the back of said mirror.

Claim 42

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 39 wherein said X and Y gear sections overlap and are disposed on said yoke facing the back of said mirror.

Claim 43

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 40 wherein said mirror is received in a thermoplastic backing member including a plurality of attachment posts, the ends of said legs including apertured feet staked to said posts.

Claim 44

The electrically actuated rearview mirror of claim 41 wherein said thermoplastic backing member includes a plurality of apertures through which tools may be inserted for mounting said motor case, said yoke and said backing member, as a unit, to said housing, said backing member acting as a closure covering an open end of said housing, said mirror thereafter being mounted in said backing member in a manner that covers said apertures.

Claim 45

An electrically actuated rearview mirror comprising: an X axis; a Y axis, said X axis and said Y axis being mutually orthogonal; a mirror; a support for said mirror; a universal joint for pivotally mounting said mirror on said support, said mirror being pivotable about said X and Y axes; a spherical gear disposed on the back of said mirror, said spherical gear including an X gear and a Y gear section, said X and Y gear sections having overlapping spherical pitch lines; a yoke including a plurality of legs extending to and secured on the back of said mirror said spherical gear being disposed on said yoke facing the back of said mirror; an X drive means meshing with said X gear section for pivoting said mirror about said X axis when electrical power is applied to say X drive means; a Y drive means meshing with said Y gear section for pivoting said mirror about said Y axis when electrical power is applied to said Y drive means; means for spring biasing said X and Y drive means into engagement with said X and Y gear sections, respectively; and said X and Y gear sections and said X and Y drive means having gear teeth of roughly triangular cross section to provide for ratchet-like adjustment of said mirror relative to said support in the event of a power failure.

Claim 46

An electrically actuated rearview mirror comprising: an X axis; a Y axis, said X axis and said Y axis being mutually orthogonal; a mirror; a support for said mirror; a universal joint for pivotally mounting said mirror on said support, said mirror being pivotable about said X and Y axes; a spherical gear disposed on the back of said mirror, said spherical gear including an X gear and a Y gear section, said X and Y gear sections having overlapping spherical pitch lines; a yoke including a plurality of legs extending to and secured on the back of said mirror said spherical gear being disposed on said yoke facing the back of said mirror; an X drive means meshing with said X gear section for pivoting said mirror about said X axis when electrical power is applied to say X drive means; a Y drive means meshing with said Y gear section for pivoting said mirror about said Y axis when electrical power is applied to said Y drive means; means for spring biasing said X and Y drive means into engagement with said X and Y gear sections, respectively; and said X and Y gear sections and said X and Y drive means having gear teeth of roughly triangular cross section to provide for ratchet-like adjustment of said mirror relative to said support in the event of a power failure.