Mirror parking mechanism

Abstract

A mirror parking mechanism for a vehicle exterior rear view mirror that rotates a mirror head to a parked position. It comprises a mirror mounting bracket (14), a mirror head (11) that is pivotally connected to the mirror mounting bracket ( 14 ) so that the mirror head (11) can rotate from a deployed position where the outermost portion of the mirror head (11) is positioned closer to the vehicle. A detent ( 22, 23 ) acts between the mirror mounting bracket ( 14 ) and the mirror head ( 11 ) that changes from a locked position where the mirror head ( 11 ) is held with respect to the mirror mounting bracket ( 14 ) to a disengaged position where the mirror head ( 11 ) is able to rotate with respect to the mirror mounting bracket ( 14 ). A spring ( 25 ) acts against the detent ( 22, 23 ) to hold it in a locket position a gear wheel ( 35 ) is secured with respect to the mirror head ( 11 ), and a worm drive ( 30 ) having a shaft ( 29 ) is journaled in bearings in the mirror mounting bracket ( 14 ). This allows the worm drive ( 30 ) to move longitudinally along the shaft ( 29 ) as well as rotating about its axis. The worm drive ( 30 ) engages the gear wheel ( 35 ) and end of the shaft ( 29 ) acts against the spring ( 25 ). A motor ( 27 ) drives the worm drive ( 30 ) wherein during initial rotation of the worm drive ( 30 ) the detent ( 22, 23 ) prevents rotation of the gear wheel ( 35 ) which causes the worm drive ( 30 ) to move longitudinally and push against the spring ( 25 ) to in turn reduce the spring force applied to the detent ( 22, 23 ) to enable it to disengage whereupon continued rotation of the worm drive ( 30 ) causes the gear wheel ( 35 ) and mirror head ( 11 ) to rotate. The invention provides a means of relieving high spring loads which are applied to the detents ( 22, 23 ) prior to rotation of the mirror head ( 11 ). This enables high detent loads to be reasonably overcome.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A mirror parking mechanism for a vehicle exterior rear view mirror that rotates a mirror head to a parked position comprising: 
 a mirror mounting bracket,    a mirror head pivotally connected to said mounting bracket so that said mirror head can rotate from a deployed position to a parked position where the outermost portion of said mirror head is positioned closer to said vehicle,    a detent acting between said mirror mounting bracket and said mirror head that changes from a locked position, where said mounting head is held with respect to said mirror mounting bracket, to a disengaged position where said mirror head is able to be rotated with respect to said mirror mounting bracket,    a spring acting against said detent to hold it in said locked position,    a gear wheel secured with respect to said mirror mounting bracket,    a worm drive having a shaft that is journalled in bearings in said mirror mounting bracket, that allows movement of said worm drive in a longitudinal direction as well as rotation about its longitudinal axis, said worm drive engaging said gear wheel and one end of said shaft acting against said spring, and    a motor to drive said worm drive wherein during the initial rotation of said worm drive said detent prevents rotation of said gear wheel which causes said worm drive to move longitudinally and push against said spring to in turn reduce the spring force applied to said detent to enable it to disengage whereupon continued rotation of said worm drive causes said gear wheel and mirror head to rotate.    
   
   
       25 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 24  further comprising a spigot secured to said mirror mounting bracket, wherein said mirror head is pivotally connected to said spigot.  
   
   
       26 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 24  further comprising a pin, wherein said mirror head is pivotally connected to said pin.  
   
   
       27 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 24  wherein said detent comprises a recess on said mirror head and a projection that locates in said recess and that is held in place by said spring.  
   
   
       28 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 27  wherein said spring comprises a plate hinged at one end and positioned so that the other end bears against and applies a force to said detent.  
   
   
       29 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 28  wherein said projection comprises a roller journalled for rotation in said spring plate.  
   
   
       30 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 29  wherein said gear wheel is journalled with respect to the axis of said pivot between said mirror head and mirror mounting bracket and further comprises a clutch between said gear wheel and said mirror head that prevents rotation of said gear wheel with respect to said mirror head during said rotation of said mirror head, but that allows break-away of said mirror head with respect to said gear wheel.  
   
   
       31 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 30  wherein said clutch comprises a plurality of projections on said gear wheel and a plurality of recesses within said mirror head within which said projections locate and a gear wheel spring that holds said gear wheel against said mirror head.  
   
   
       32 . A mirror parking mechanism for a vehicle exterior rear view mirror that rotates a mirror head to a parked position comprising: 
 a mirror mounting bracket,    a mirror head pivotally connected so said mounting bracket so that said mirror head can rotate from a deployed position to a parked position where the outermost portion of said mirror head is positioned closer to said vehicle, said pivot connection comprising a pin and an elongate aperture in said mirror head that allows said mirror head to move transverse to the longitudinal axis of said pin,    a detent acting between said mirror mounting bracket and said mirror head that changes from a locked position, where said mirror head is held with respect to said mirror mounting bracket, to being disengaged so that said mirror head is able to rotate with respect to said mirror mounting bracket,    a spring acting against said mirror head to force it against said detent to thereby hold said mirror head in said locked position,    a roller within said mirror mounting bracket,    a ramped surface fixed to said mirror mounting bracket and engaged by said roller, and    a motor in a motor housing, wherein said housing is secured with respect to said mirror head, said roller rotated by said motor so that it moves along said ramped surface, said ramped surface positioned so that said motor housing and mirror head are first pushed away from said mirror mounting bracket to disengage said detent and secondly to rotate said mirror head when said detent is disengaged.    
   
   
       33 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 32  wherein said spring comprises a coil spring attached at one end to said mirror head and a the other end to said pin.  
   
   
       34 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 33  further comprising a pair of arms extending between said mirror head and said mirror mounting bracket, and end of each arm pivotally attached to said mirror mounting bracket.  
   
   
       35 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 34  further comprising a detent, spring, a roller and ramped surface at each of the said pivotally attached ends of said arms.  
   
   
       36 . A mirror parking mechanism for a vehicle exterior rear view mirror that rotates a mirror head to a parked position comprising: 
 a mirror mounting bracket,    a mirror head pivotally connected to said mounting bracket so that said mirror head can rotate from a deployed position to a parked position where the outermost portion of said mirror head is positioned closer to said vehicle,    a detent acting between said mirror mounting bracket and said mirror head that changes from a locked position, where said mirror head is held with respect to said mirror mounting bracket, to a disengaged position where said mirror head is able to be rotated with respect to said mirror mounting bracket,    a spring acting against said detent to hold it in said locked position,    a gear wheel secured with respect to said mirror mounting bracket,    a worm drive having a shaft that is journalled in bearings in said mirror mounting bracket, that allows movement of said worm drive in a longitudinal direction as well as rotation about its longitudinal axis, said worm drive engaging said gear wheel and one end of said shaft acting against said detent, and    a motor to drive said worm drive wherein during the initial rotation of said worm drive said detent prevents rotation of said gear wheel which causes said worm drive to move longitudinally and push against said spring to in turn reduce the spring force applied to said detent to enable it to disengage whereupon continued rotation of said worm drive causes said gear wheel and mirror head to rotate.    
   
   
       37 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 36  further comprising a spigot secured to said mirror mounting bracket, wherein said mirror head is pivotally connected to said spigot.  
   
   
       38 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 36  further comprising a pin, wherein said mirror head is pivotally connected to said pin.  
   
   
       39 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 36  wherein said detent comprises a recess on said mirror head and a projection that locates in said recess and that is held in place by said spring.  
   
   
       40 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 39  wherein said spring comprises a plate hinged at one end and positioned so that the other end bears against and applies a force to said detent.  
   
   
       41 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 40  wherein said projection comprises a roller journalled for rotation in said spring plate.  
   
   
       42 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 41  wherein said gear wheel is journalled with respect to the axis of said pivot between said mirror head and mirror mounting bracket an further comprises a clutch between said gear wheel and said mirror head that prevents rotation of said gear wheel with respect to said mirror head during said rotation of said mirror head, but that allows break-away of said mirror head with respect to said gear wheel.  
   
   
       43 . A mirror parking mechanism according to  claim 42  wherein said clutch comprises a plurality of projections on said gear wheel and a plurality of recesses within said mirror head within which said projections locate and a gear wheel spring that holds said gear wheel against said mirror head.