Electro-optic rearview mirror assembly for vehicle

A reflective element assembly for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly, said reflective element assembly comprising:

• a front substrate having first and second surfaces;
• a transparent conductive coating established at said second surface;
• a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces;
• a third surface reflector established at said third surface;
• an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates;
• wherein said front substrate is offset from said rear substrate such that an offset region is established at a perimeter region of said rear substrate where said perimeter region of said rear substrate extends beyond a corresponding perimeter region of said front substrate;
• an electrical connector disposed at said offset region of said reflective element assembly;
• wherein said electrical connector comprises an attachment portion and a wire receiving portion for receiving an electrical wire therein;
• wherein said attachment portion comprises a clip element for clipping onto the perimeter edge of said rear substrate at said offset region, and wherein, when said clip element is clipped onto the perimeter edge of said rear substrate, said clip element makes electrical connection with said third surface reflector at said third surface of said rear substrate;
• wherein said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector is electrically conductively connected to said clip element of said electrical connector via at least one connecting element of said electrical connector, and wherein, when said clip element is clipped onto the perimeter edge of said rear substrate, said wire receiving portion is spaced from said fourth surface of said rear substrate via said at least one connecting element;
• and
• wherein said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector is configured to receive said electrical wire therein and includes a plurality of radially extending flexible tangs that, when said electrical wire is inserted into said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector, engage and electrically conductively connect with said electrical wire and secure said electrical wire in said wire receiving portion.

A reflective element assembly for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly, said reflective element assembly comprising:

• a front substrate having first and second surfaces;
• a transparent conductive coating established at said second surface;
• a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces;
• a third surface reflector established at said third surface;
• an electro-optic medium disposed between said front and rear substrates;
• wherein said front substrate is offset from said rear substrate such that an offset region is established at a perimeter region of said reflective element assembly;
• an electrical connector disposed at said offset region of said reflective element assembly;
• wherein said electrical connector comprises an attachment portion, a wire receiving portion and a connecting portion connecting between said attachment portion and said wire receiving portion;
• wherein said electrical connector comprises a stamped metallic connector and wherein said wire receiving portion, said connecting portion and said attachment portion are unitarily formed via stamping of the stamped metallic connector;
• wherein, when said electrical connector is disposed at said offset region, said attachment portion makes electrical connection with one of (i) said third surface reflector at said third surface of said rear substrate and (ii) said transparent conductive coating at said second surface of said front substrate;
• wherein said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector is electrically conductively connected to said attachment portion of said electrical connector via said connecting portion of said electrical connector;
• wherein said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector is configured to receive a stripped end of an electrical wire of a wire harness of the vehicle;
• wherein said wire receiving portion includes a first wire connecting element comprising a plurality of radially extending flexible tangs having inner edges that, when said stripped end of said electrical wire is inserted into said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector, engage and electrically conductively connect with said electrical wire and secure said electrical wire in said wire receiving portion;
• and
• wherein said wire receiving portion includes a second wire connecting element comprising a flexible tab having a contact surface and that is biased towards engagement with said stripped end of said electrical wire to further electrically conductively connect with said electrical wire when said stripped end of said electrical wire is inserted into said wire receiving portion of said electrical connector.