Day-night rear view mirror

A motorcycle comprising a frame, at least two wheels, a motor, a seat for an operator and a mirror assembly positioned to allow the operator to view to the rear while facing in a direction of travel,

• said mirror assembly comprising:
• a first sheet of transparent material;
• a second sheet disposed adjacent and generally parallel to said first sheet, said second sheet having a first light reflective surface facing said first sheet;
• said first sheet and said second sheet joined along a predetermined peripheral region by a first wall of resilient material;
• a second wall of flexible material joining said first sheet and said second sheet along opposed edge regions of said first sheet and said second sheet;
• said first sheet, said second sheet, said first wall and said second wall defining a chamber;
• a predetermined volume of translucent liquid disposed within said chamber to occupy, during use, at least a region between said first sheet and said second sheet;
• a third sheet positioned within said chamber and disposed for movement between an active position, in which said third sheet is located generally between said first sheet and said second sheet, and an inactive position, in which said third sheet is removed from between said first sheet and said second sheet, said third sheet having a second light reflective surface facing said first sheet when said third sheet is in said active position, said second light reflective surface differing in light reflectivity from said first light reflective surface;
• and
• an actuator for selective movement of said third sheet between said active position and said inactive position.

A method for assembling a day-night mirror assembly for a vehicle comprises the steps of:

• providing a first sheet of transparent material, a second sheet of material having a first light reflective surface, and a sheet of flexible material;
• joining a first edge region of said first sheet of transparent material to a first edge region of said sheet of flexible material;
• joining a first edge region of said second sheet of material to a second edge region of said sheet of flexible material opposite said first edge region of said sheet of flexible material;
• positioning said first sheet adjacent and generally parallel to said second sheet, with said first light reflective surface of said second sheet facing said first sheet, said sheet of flexible material forming a flexible end wall;
• providing a third sheet having a second light reflective surface differing in light reflectivity from said first light reflective surface;
• positioning said third sheet within a chamber defined in part by said first sheet, said second sheet, and said end wall, for movement between an active position, in which said third sheet is located generally between said first sheet and said second sheet, with the second light reflective surface facing said first sheet, and an inactive position, in which said third sheet is removed from between said first sheet and said second sheet;
• joining said first sheet and said second sheet together along a predetermined peripheral region with a side wall of resilient material, said side wall further defining said chamber;
• placing said chamber under vacuum;
• introducing a predetermined volume of translucent liquid into said chamber, said predetermined volume selected to occupy at least a region between said first sheet and said second sheet;
• sealing the chamber;
• and
• allowing the flexible end wall to flex inwardly relative to the chamber to compensate for contraction and expansion of the translucent liquid with temperature.