Vehicular extendable and retractable exterior mirror

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, wherein the mounting structure comprises an arcuate rail;
• 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 the mirror head is in the retracted position as compared to when the mirror head is in the extended position;
• wherein, with the mirror head at the retracted position, a primary viewing axis of the mirror reflective element extending normal to a plane of the mirror reflective element is disposed at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein, with the mirror head at the extended position, the primary viewing axis of the mirror reflective element is disposed at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle;
• wherein an arcuate guide element is attached at the mirror head and engages the arcuate rail of the mounting structure, and wherein engagement between the arcuate guide element and the arcuate rail guides movement of the mirror head along an arcuate path between the retracted position and the extended position;
• an adjustment mechanism that, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, is operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting structure between the retracted position and the extended position;
• wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises (i) a drive gear disposed at the mounting structure and (ii) a drive rack attached at the mirror head and engaging the drive gear;
• wherein the arcuate rail, the arcuate guide element and the drive rack comprise a common radius of curvature;
• wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an actuator that is electrically operable to rotatably drive the drive gear;
• and
• wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, and when the actuator electrically operates to rotatably drive the drive gear, rotation of the drive gear imparts translational movement of the drive rack to move the mirror head along the arcuate path between the retracted position and the extended position.

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, wherein the mounting structure comprises an arcuate rail;
• 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 the mirror head is in the retracted position as compared to when the mirror head is in the extended position;
• wherein an arcuate guide element is attached at the mirror head and engages the arcuate rail of the mounting structure, and wherein engagement between the arcuate guide element and the arcuate rail guides movement of the mirror head along an arcuate path between the retracted position and the extended position;
• wherein the arcuate rail comprises (i) an upper arcuate rail of an upper portion of the mounting structure and (ii) a lower arcuate rail of a lower portion of the mounting structure;
• wherein the arcuate guide element comprises (i) an upper arcuate guide element attached at the mirror head and engaging the upper arcuate rail and (ii) a lower arcuate guide attached at the mirror head and engaging the lower arcuate rail;
• an adjustment mechanism that, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, is operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting structure between the retracted position and the extended position;
• wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises (i) a drive gear disposed at the mounting structure and (ii) a drive rack attached at the mirror head and engaging the drive gear;
• wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an actuator that is electrically operable to rotatably drive the drive gear;
• wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the side of the vehicle, and when the actuator electrically operates to rotatably drive the drive gear, rotation of the drive gear imparts translational movement of the drive rack to move the mirror head along the arcuate path between the retracted position and the extended position;
• and
• wherein the adjustment mechanism is operable to adjust the mirror head relative to the mounting structure in response to a user input disposed in the vehicle, and wherein the user input is actuatable by the driver of the vehicle.