# US 2014/0192430 A1 · Sliding conversation mirror assembly with friction tabs for vehicle overhead console > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192430 A1 - Document ID: US20140192430A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/735,546 - Filed: 2013-01-07 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Bhavani Thota; Ricardo Juarez Favila; Salvador Soriano; Mark Haradean - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192430A1 ## CPC - B60R 1/008: {allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses (combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08)} - B60R 1/04: mounted inside vehicle {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicle overhead console is provided which includes a conversation mirror assembly having a housing capable of storing a conversation mirror. The conversation mirror may travel between a stored and a use position. The conversation mirror is releasably secured to the stored and use positions by way of magnetic, tab, and spring arrangements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle conversation mirror assembly comprising: a housing defining a storage space; a conversation mirror; a slider mechanism operatively coupled to the conversation mirror to move the conversation mirror between a stored position within the storage space and a use position extending from the housing; and a tab arrangement in communication with the slider mechanism to releasably secure the conversation mirror to one of the stored and use positions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conversation mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the tab arrangement comprises a first tab operatively coupled to the housing and a second tab operatively coupled to the conversation mirror, wherein the first tab frictionally engages the second tab to secure the conversation mirror in one of the stored and use positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The conversation mirror assembly as defined in claim 2 further comprising a third tab operatively coupled to the housing and a fourth tab operatively coupled to the conversation mirror, wherein the third tab frictionally engages the fourth tab to secure the conversation mirror in the other of the stored and use positions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The conversation mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the tab arrangement comprises a first plurality of snap tabs operatively coupled to the housing and a second plurality of snap tabs operatively coupled to the conversation mirror, wherein the first plurality of snap tabs frictionally engage the second plurality of snap tabs to secure the conversation mirror in the use position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The conversation mirror assembly as defined in claim 4 further comprising a third snap tab operatively coupled to the housing and a fourth snap tab operatively coupled to the conversation mirror, wherein the third snap tab frictionally engages the fourth snap tab to secure the conversation mirror in the stored position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The conversation mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the slider mechanism moves vertically within the storage space to extend the conversation mirror downward within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The conversation mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein the housing is provided in an overhead console of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The conversation mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the slider mechanism comprises a bracket coupled to the conversation mirror and one or more sliding rails operatively coupled to the bracket to allow the bracket to slide to position the conversation mirror in use and stored positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The conversation mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the slider mechanism comprises a first plurality of slidable engagement members and the housing comprises a second plurality of slidable engagement members in communication with the first plurality of slidable engagement members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The conversation mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of slidable engagement members comprises first and second distal ends of the slider mechanism and the second plurality of slidable engagement members comprises first and second distal guides within the storage space, wherein the first and second distal guides are disposed to slidably receive the first and second distal ends of the slider mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The conversation mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a release mechanism disposed to release the slider mechanism from the stored position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The conversation mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a return mechanism disposed to return the slider mechanism to the stored position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The conversation mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the slider mechanism comprises a first plurality of tabs and second plurality tabs and the conversation mirror comprises a third plurality of tabs and a fourth plurality of tabs, wherein the first plurality of tabs releasably connects to the third plurality of tabs in the stored position and the second plurality of tabs releasably connects to the fourth plurality of tabs in the use position. ### Claim 14 A vehicle overhead console comprising: a housing defining a storage space in the overhead console; a slider mechanism; a conversation mirror operatively coupled to the slider mechanism to move between a stored position within the storage space and a use position extending from the housing; and a tab arrangement in communication with the conversation mirror to releasably secure the conversation mirror to one of the stored and use positions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle overhead console as defined in claim 14, wherein the tab arrangement comprises a first tab operatively coupled to the housing and a second tab operatively coupled to the conversation mirror, wherein the first tab frictionally engages the second tab to secure the conversation mirror in one of a stored and use positions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle overhead console as defined in claim 15 further comprising a third tab operatively coupled to the housing and a fourth tab operatively coupled to the conversation mirror, wherein the third tab frictionally engages the fourth tab to secure the conversation mirror in the other of the stored and use positions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The vehicle overhead console as defined in claim 14, wherein the tab arrangement comprises a first plurality of snap tabs operatively coupled to the housing and a second plurality of snap tabs operatively coupled to the conversation mirror, wherein the first plurality of snap tabs frictionally engage the second plurality of snap tabs to secure the conversation mirror in the use position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle overhead console as defined in claim 17 further comprising a third snap tab operatively coupled to the housing and a fourth snap tab operatively coupled to the conversation mirror, wherein the third snap tab frictionally engages the fourth snap tab to secure the conversation mirror in the stored position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The vehicle overhead console of claim 14, wherein the slider mechanism moves vertically within the storage space to extend the conversation mirror downward within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The vehicle overhead console of claim 14, wherein the slider mechanism comprises a bracket coupled to the conversation mirror and one or more sliding rails operatively coupled to the bracket to allow the bracket to slide to position the conversation mirror in the use and stored positions.