US 8,049,640 B2 · Mirror assembly for vehicle · patentgrep

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Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element having a glass substrate with first and second surfaces and a circumferential edge along the periphery of the glass substrate. The mirror reflective element includes a mirror reflector established at a surface of the mirror reflective element other than the first surface of the glass substrate. The mirror assembly includes a plastic molding circumferentially disposed about the circumferential edge of the glass substrate without overlapping onto the first surface of the glass substrate. The plastic molding includes a portion that (a) abuts the circumferential edge of the glass substrate and (b) has an outer curved surface that extends from generally adjacent to the first surface of the glass substrate and that lacks a sharp edge. The plane of the first surface of the glass substrate may be generally flush with the outermost part of the plastic molding.

Claims94

Dependent claims

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element comprising a glass substrate having a planar first surface and a second surface with a circumferential edge along the periphery of said glass substrate, said circumferential edge spanning a thickness of said glass substrate between said first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface of said glass substrate comprises the outermost surface of said mirror reflective element that is closest to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle;
wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at a surface of said mirror reflective element other than said first surface of said glass substrate;
a plastic molding;
wherein said plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about said circumferential edge of said glass substrate without overlapping onto said first surface of said glass substrate;
wherein said plastic molding comprises a portion that (a) abuts said circumferential edge of said glass substrate and (b) has an outer curved surface that extends from generally adjacent to said first surface of said glass substrate and that lacks a sharp edge;
and
wherein the plane of said first surface of said glass substrate is generally flush with the outermost part of said plastic molding.

4 more elements

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a prismatic mirror reflective element comprising a glass substrate having a planar first surface and a second surface with a circumferential edge along the periphery of said glass substrate, said circumferential edge spanning a thickness of said glass substrate between said first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface of said glass substrate comprises the outermost surface of said prismatic mirror reflective element that is closest to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle;
wherein said prismatic mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at said second surface of said prismatic mirror reflective element;
a plastic molding;
wherein said plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about said circumferential edge of said glass substrate without overlapping onto said first surface of said glass substrate;
wherein said plastic molding comprises a portion that (a) abuts said circumferential edge of said glass substrate and (b) has an outer curved surface that extends from generally adjacent to said first surface of said glass substrate and that lacks a sharp edge;
wherein the plane of said first surface of said glass substrate is generally flush with the outermost part of said plastic molding;
and
wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a toggle assembly having a toggle member and a mounting portion, and wherein said mounting portion of said toggle assembly is configured to mount said interior rearview mirror assembly in the equipped vehicle, and wherein said toggle member of said toggle assembly is actuatable by the driver of the equipped vehicle to adjust said prismatic mirror reflective element.

5 more elements

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a planar front glass substrate and a planar rear glass substrate, wherein said front glass substrate has a planar first surface and a second surface with a circumferential edge along the periphery of said front glass substrate, said circumferential edge spanning a thickness of said front glass substrate between said first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate comprises the outermost surface of said mirror reflective element that is closest to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle;
wherein said rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, and wherein said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at one of said third and fourth surfaces of said rear glass substrate;
wherein said electrochromic reflective element comprises an electrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of said front glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate and bounded by a perimeter seal;
a plastic molding;
wherein said plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about said circumferential edge of said front glass substrate without overlapping onto said first surface of said front glass substrate;
wherein said plastic molding comprises a portion that (a) abuts said circumferential edge of said front glass substrate and (b) has an outer curved surface that extends from generally adjacent to said first surface of said front glass substrate and that lacks a sharp edge;
wherein the plane of said first surface of said front glass substrate is generally flush with the outermost part of said plastic molding;
and
wherein a back plate is disposed at the rear of said electrochromic mirror reflective element and wherein said back plate includes a pivot element of a pivot joint of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

6 more elements

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

an electro-optic mirror reflective element comprising a planar front glass substrate and a planar rear glass substrate, wherein said front glass substrate has a planar first surface and a second surface with a circumferential edge along the periphery of said front glass substrate, said circumferential edge spanning a thickness of said front glass substrate between said first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface of said front glass substrate comprises the outermost surface of said mirror reflective element that is closest to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle;
wherein said rear glass substrate has a third surface and a fourth surface with a circumferential edge along the periphery of said rear glass substrate, said circumferential edge of said rear glass substrate spanning a thickness of said rear glass substrate between said third and fourth surfaces, and wherein said electro-optic mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at one of said third and fourth surfaces of said rear glass substrate;
wherein said electro-optic mirror reflective element comprises an electro-optic medium disposed between said second surface of said front glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate;
a plastic molding;
wherein said plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about and extends at least partially across said circumferential edge of said front glass substrate without overlapping onto said first surface of said front glass substrate;
wherein said plastic molding comprises a portion that (a) abuts said circumferential edge of said front glass substrate and (b) has an outer curved surface that extends from generally adjacent to said first surface of said front glass substrate and that lacks a sharp edge;
wherein the plane of said first surface of said front glass substrate is generally flush with the outermost part of said plastic molding;
and
wherein a part of said plastic molding extends at least partially across said circumferential edge of said rear glass substrate.

6 more elements

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a prismatic mirror reflective element comprising a glass substrate having a planar first surface and a second surface with a circumferential edge along the periphery of said glass substrate, said circumferential edge spanning a thickness of said glass substrate between said first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface of said glass substrate comprises the outermost surface of said prismatic mirror reflective element that is closest to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle;
wherein said prismatic mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at said second surface of said prismatic mirror reflective element;
a plastic molding;
wherein said plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about said circumferential edge of said glass substrate without overlapping onto said first surface of said glass substrate;
wherein said plastic molding comprises a portion that (a) abuts said circumferential edge of said glass substrate and (b) has an outer curved surface that extends from generally adjacent to said first surface of said glass substrate and that lacks a sharp edge;
wherein the plane of said first surface of said glass substrate is generally flush with the outermost part of said plastic molding;
and
wherein said plastic molding comprises at least a portion of a mirror housing of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

5 more elements

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror reflective element comprising a glass substrate having a planar first surface and a second surface with a circumferential edge along the periphery of said glass substrate, said circumferential edge spanning a thickness of said glass substrate between said first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface of said glass substrate comprises the outermost surface of said mirror reflective element that is closest to a driver of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle;
wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a mirror reflector established at a surface of said mirror reflective element other than said first surface of said glass substrate;
a plastic molding;
wherein said plastic molding is circumferentially disposed about said circumferential edge of said glass substrate without overlapping onto said first surface of said glass substrate;
wherein said plastic molding comprises a portion that (a) abuts said circumferential edge of said glass substrate and (b) has an outer curved surface that extends from generally adjacent to said first surface of said glass substrate and that lacks a sharp edge;
wherein the plane of said first surface of said glass substrate is generally flush with the outermost part of said plastic molding;
wherein said outer curved surface of said plastic molding provides a curved transition between said plane of said first surface of said glass substrate and a plane of a generally less-curved portion of said plastic molding, and wherein said generally less-curved portion is rearward of, adjacent to and contiguous with said outer curved surface of said plastic molding;
and
wherein said plastic molding comprises at least a portion of a mirror housing of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/035,297Filed 25 Feb 2011 · continuation
Priority: 19 May 2003
Published: US 2011/0141543 A116 Jun 2011
Granted: 1 Nov 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

B60R 1/12
Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or…:…
B60K 35/10
Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles: input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle,…
B60K 35/21
Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor: using visual output, e.g.…
B60K 35/53
Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle: movable instruments, e.g. slidable

Family

Application60/471,546Us provisional application · filed 19 May 2003
Application60/525,537Us provisional application · filed 26 Nov 2003
Application60/556,259Us provisional application · filed 25 Mar 2004
PCT/US2004/015424Parent of this continuation · filed 18 May 2004
Application11/926,882Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Oct 2007
US 2011/0141543 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 Jun 2011
US 7,978,094 B2Parent of this continuation
Application10/556,754Parent of this continuation
US 7,289,037 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2006/0255960 A1Published application
US 2008/0055757 A1Published application
US 8,049,640 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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