Memory positioning system for remote control rear-view mirror

In a vehicle mirror of the type including a base, a mirror casing, and means for mounting said mirror casing relative to said base for pivotal movement about first and second mutually perpendicular intersecting axes between limiting positions and against substantial movement about a third intersecting axis which is mutually perpendicular to said first and second axes, the improvement which comprises said mounting means comprising:

• a spherical socket formed on one of said mirror casing and said base and a spherical mounting element formed on the other of said mirror casing and said base, said spherical socket having an uninterrupted edge defining an opening on one side and being shaped and dimensioned so that said socket opening may resiliently expand for insertion of said spherical mounting element in a direction parallel to said third axis so that said spherical socket may snugly grip and surround said spherical mounting element while permitting relative pivotal movement therebetween about said first and second axes,
• said socket having a pair of diametrically opposed ribs extending parallel to the direction of insertion of said spherical mounting element into said socket and projecting inwardly into the socket cavity,
• said spherical mounting element having a pair of diametrically opposed slots extending parallel to said direction of insertion, the width of each of said slots being a minimum at substantially the mid-point along the length of each slot and the slot width flaring outwardly from said midpoint toward the opposite ends of each slot, said minimum width being dimensioned to freely but snugly receive said socket ribs to thereby essentially prevent any substantial degree of rotation of said mirror casing about said third axis, and said flared ends of said slots permitting pivotal adjustments of said mirror casing about said first and second axes.

In a vehicle mirror of the type including a base, a mirror casing, means for mounting said mirror casing relative to said base for pivotal movement about first and second mutually perpendicular intersecting axes between limiting positions and against substantial movement about a third intersecting axis which is mutually perpendicular to said first and second axes, sensing means for sensing the position of pivotal movement of said mirror casing with respect to said base about said first and second axes, and automatic return means including electric motor means operable in response to said sensing means for moving said mirror casing with respect to said base about said first and second axes from any position thereof into a selected position previously sensed by said sensing means, the improvement which comprises

• said sensing means including first and second elongated mirror position sensing members each having first and second ends,
• means for pivotally connecting the first end of said first sensing member to said mirror casing at a first effective point of connection lying on the second of said intersecting axes,
• means for mounting the second end of said first sensing member on said base for reciprocation therein along a first parallel axis spaced a first fixed distance in substantially parallel relation with said third axis in such a way as to accomodate the movement of the first effective point of connection of the first end thereof along an arcuate path of variable perpendicular distance from said third axis as the mirror casing is pivoted between said limiting positions about the first of said intersecting axes,
• means for pivotally connecting the first end of said second sensing member to said mirror casing at a second effective point of connection lying on the first of said intersecting axes,
• means for mounting the second end of said second sensing member on said base for reciprocation therein along a second parallel axis spaced a second fixed distance in substantially parallel relation with said third axis in such a way as to accomodate the movement of the second effective point of connection of the first end thereof along an arcuate path of variable perpendicular distance from said third axis as said mirror casing is pivoted between said limiting positions about the second of said intersecting axes,
• said mounting means for the second end of each of said first and second sensing members comprising a bore in said base concentric with the associated parallel axis, the second end of the associated sensing member having an enlarged exterior partial ball-shaped surface slidably and turnably engaged within said bore.