Vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly with extension/retraction mechanism

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

• a mounting structure configured to mount the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly at a side of a vehicle;
• a mirror head accommodating a mirror reflective element;
• wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, the mirror head is movable relative to the mounting structure between (i) a retracted position where the mirror head is positioned at the side of the vehicle so that the mirror reflective element provides a rearward view to a driver of the vehicle that is at least rearward and along the side of the vehicle and (ii) an extended position, where the mirror head is extended from the retracted position outward from the side of the vehicle to provide the rearward view to the driver of the vehicle;
• wherein the mirror head is closer to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting structure is attached when in the retracted position as compared to the extended position;
• wherein the mounting structure comprises a channel and the mirror head comprises a guide member, and wherein, with the mirror head positioned at one selected from the group consisting of the retracted position and the extended position, the guide member is received at least partially within the channel to retain the mirror head relative to the mounting structure;
• an adjustment mechanism operable to guide movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure between the retracted position and the extended position;
• wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a pivot link, and wherein the pivot link comprises (i) a first end pivotally attached at the mirror head and (ii) a second end pivotally attached at the mounting structure;
• wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, and when the mirror head moves from the retracted position toward the extended position, (a) the second end of the pivot link pivots relative to the mounting structure, (b) the first end of the pivot link pivots relative to the mirror head and (c) the first end of the pivot link moves with the mirror head (i) at least partially in a direction away from the side of the vehicle and (ii) at least partially vertically relative to the mounting structure;
• and
• wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, and when the mirror head moves from the extended position toward the retracted position, (a) the second end of the pivot link pivots relative to the mounting structure, (b) the first end of the pivot link pivots relative to the mirror head and (c) the first end of the pivot link moves with the mirror head (i) at least partially in a direction toward the side of the vehicle and (ii) at least partially vertically relative to the mounting structure.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

• a mounting structure configured to mount the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly at a side of a vehicle;
• a mirror head accommodating a mirror reflective element;
• wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, the mirror head is movable relative to the mounting structure between (i) a retracted position where the mirror head is positioned at the side of the vehicle so that the mirror reflective element provides a rearward view to a driver of the vehicle that is at least rearward and along the side of the vehicle and (ii) an extended position, where the mirror head is extended from the retracted position outward from the side of the vehicle to provide the rearward view to the driver of the vehicle;
• wherein the mirror head is closer to the side of the vehicle at which the mounting structure is attached when in the retracted position as compared to the extended position;
• an adjustment mechanism operable to guide movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure between the retracted position and the extended position;
• wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a pair of pivot links, and wherein the pair of pivot links comprises an inboard pivot link and an outboard pivot link, and wherein the inboard pivot link and the outboard pivot link pivot together and in tandem with one another when the mirror head moves between the retracted position and the extended position, and wherein each of the inboard pivot link and the outboard pivot link comprises (i) a first end pivotally attached at the mirror head and (ii) a second end pivotally attached at the mounting structure;
• wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an actuator, and wherein the actuator is electrically operable to drive at least one selected from the group consisting of the inboard pivot link and the outboard pivot link to move the mirror head between the retracted position and the extended position;
• and
• wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, and when the mirror head moves from the retracted position toward the extended position, (a) the second ends of the pivot links pivot relative to the mounting structure, (b) the first ends of the pivot links pivot relative to the mirror head and (c) the first ends of the pivot links move with the mirror head (i) at least partially in a direction away from the side of the vehicle and (ii) at least partially vertically relative to the mounting structure.