Discrete mirror drive assembly

A discrete drive assembly for a rear view mirror having a projecting jacking screw which is pivotally coupled to the rear surface of a mirror to effect angular movement of the mirror and an electric motor for effecting variation in the extent of protrusion of the jacking screw so as to adjust the orientation of the mirror, the discrete drive assembly comprising:

• a housing base comprising a substantially planar element having a plurality of clips depending therefrom;
• a housing cover comprising a bottom wall with a side wall around the periphery of the bottom wall, and a plurality of engagement means on the side wall which are engaged by the clips, the clips and the engagement means being arranged to prevent the housing base separating from the housing cover but allowing relative movement between the base and the cover;
• a first bearing surface formed on the inner surface of the base;
• a second bearing surface formed on the inner surface of the cover which aligns with the first bearing surface when the base and cover are assembled together;
• a jacking nut positioned between the first and second bearing surfaces which is rotated by the electric motor for operating the jacking screw, the relative dimensions of the base, cover and jacking nut being such that there is clearance between the base and cover to permit the first and second bearing surfaces to abut against the jacking nut;
• and
• resilient coupling means holding the housing base and housing cover together with a force allowing the jacking nut to rotate relative to the first and second bearing surfaces.

A discrete drive assembly for a rear view mirror having a projecting jacking screw which is pivotally coupled to the rear surface of a mirror to effect angular movement of the mirror and an electric motor for effecting variation in the extent of protrusion of the jacking screw so as to adjust the orientation of the mirror, the discrete drive assembly comprising:

• a housing base comprising a substantially planar element having a plurality of clips depending therefrom, each clip comprising a tab having an aperture therein;
• a housing cover comprising a bottom wall with a side wall around the periphery of the bottom wall, and a plurality of projections on the peripheral side wall of the cover, which are engaged by the clips, the clips and the projections being arranged to prevent the housing base separating from the housing cover, and the tabs being resilient so as to allow outward deflection and engagement of the projections as the cover and base are being assembled, the projections being smaller than the apertures, so as to allow relative movement between the base and cover along the axis of the jacking screw;
• a first bearing surface formed on the inner surface of the base;
• a second bearing surface formed on the inner surface of the cover which aligns with the first bearing surface when the base and cover are assembled together;
• a jacking nut positioned between the first and second bearing surfaces which is rotated by the electric motor for operating the jacking screw, the relative dimensions of the base, cover and jacking nut being such that there is clearance between the base and cover to permit the first and second bearing surfaces to abut against the jacking nut;
• and
• resilient coupling means holding the base and cover together with a force allowing the jacking nut to rotate relative to the first and second bearing surfaces.

A discrete drive assembly for a rear view mirror having a projecting jacking screw which is pivotally coupled to the rear surface of a mirror to effect angular movement of the mirror and an electric motor for effecting variation in the extent of protrusion of the jacking screw so as to adjust the orientation of the mirror, the discrete drive assembly comprising:

• a housing formed in two parts comprising a base and a cover;
• a first bearing surface formed on the inner surface of the base;
• a second bearing surface formed on the inner surface of the cover which aligns with the first bearing surface when the base and cover are assembled together;
• a jacking nut positioned between the first and second bearing surfaces which is rotated by the electric motor for operating the jacking screw, the relative dimensions of the base, cover and jacking nut being such that there is clearance between the base and cover to permit the first and second bearing surfaces to abut against the jacking nut;
• resilient coupling means holding the base and cover together with a force allowing the jacking nut to rotate relative to the first and second bearing surfaces;
• and
• securing means including a plurality of tabs with apertures therein, and a plurality of tapered projections on the mounting plate which engage within the apertures so as to hold the base with respect to the mounting plate of a rear view mirror assembly.