Donnelly Corporation

Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.

Other

David Kevin Willmore

Robert E Schnell

Robert L Bingle

Todd W Pastrick

Rick Mousseau

Mark R Litke

Desmond J O'Farrell

Donald S Rawlings

Vernon R Nise

David J Huizenga

Richard J Weber

A method of replacing an interior assembly includes removing a first interior assembly from a vehicle by detaching a first mounting base of the first interior assembly from a first mounting element adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of the windshield of the vehicle. A second mounting element is provided and is attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield at or near or at least partially around the first mounting element. A second mounting base of a second interior assembly is mounted at the first and second mounting elements, whereby the first and second mounting elements cooperate to support the second interior assembly at the vehicle windshield.

Method of mounting an interior assembly with an adapter

An interior mounting system for a vehicle includes an interior assembly, a mounting assembly for mounting the interior assembly at a vehicle windshield, a first windshield mounting element adhered to an in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield, and a second windshield mounting element attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and at or at least partially around the first mounting element. A mounting base of the mounting assembly is configured to engage at least the second mounting element when the mounting base is mounted at the first and second mounting elements at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield. The first and second mounting elements cooperate to support the mounting base and the interior assembly when the first and second mounting elements are adhered to the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield and when the mounting base is mounted at the first and second mounting elements.

Mirror mounting assembly with adapter

A mirror assembly security system suitable for use in a vehicle comprises an exterior mirror assembly including a reflective element and a positioning device for adjustably positioning said reflective element. A light module is positioned substantially within the assembly and includes an enclosure having a light-transmitting opening generally facing downward when the exterior mirror assembly is mounted to a side of the vehicle. The light module includes a light source and a light-directing surface at least partially surrounding the light source. The light module projects a pattern of light from a bottom portion of the assembly to illuminate a ground area adjacent the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone when said light source is electrically powered.

Mirror assembly security system

A vehicle exterior mirror actuator includes an actuator case, at least two electric motors, and a wire harness. The wire harness includes a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at the connector. The connector includes at least three electrical terminals electrically interconnected with the wires. When the connector is joined with the actuator case, one of the terminals of the connector makes direct contact with one of the terminals of one of the motors and a second of the connector terminals makes direct contact with the corresponding terminal of the other motor. The third connector terminal makes electrical contact with the other two corresponding terminals of the motors to provide a common electrical path for the other two corresponding terminals.

Mirror actuator electrical connector

An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly, which includes a fixed portion and a movable portion that is movable about the fixed portion for breakaway motion, and a turn signal indicator module. The turn signal indicator module includes a plurality of light emitting diodes. At least a portion of the light pattern projected from the module projects rearwardly of the vehicle, but does not directly intercept the driver of the vehicle. The turn signal indicator module is fixedly included in the exterior mirror assembly separate from the mirror assembly's reflective element, which is adjustable within the movable portion.

Lighted exterior mirror system

A housing member for an actuator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a mirror element in a mirror assembly provides integral weather seals and noise dampeners. The weather seals and noise dampeners are injection molded with or onto a base wall of the housing member to thereby form seals and dampeners that have superior adhesion or mechanical retention to the housing member and, therefore, are not subject to degradation from noise. In addition, the integral seals and dampeners reduce the time and cost of assembling and servicing the actuator assembly. The housing member includes a base wall, and a sidewall which connects to the base wall and extends around the perimeter of the base wall. The side wall includes connectors for securing the first housing to the second housing. A gasket material is injection molded around the passage to thereby seal the passage, which forms an annular lip on the inner surface of the base wall and extends through the base wall to form a flexible diaphragm on the outer surface of the base wall. The flexible diaphragm includes a first opening molded around the passage and a second opening for receiving and sealingly engaging a positioning member, wherein the second opening moves in and out of the passage with the positioning member when the positioning member extends out or withdraws into the actuator.

Method of making a housing with integral gasket components for a rearview mirror actuator assembly

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror blind spot viewing system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly which enables moving the reflective mirror element to an alternate position for viewing of areas adjacent the vehicle which otherwise would be hidden in the driver's blind spot. The blind spot system includes a reflective mirror element mounted on a pivot member such as an electric actuator for adjusting the field of view of the mirror element for different drivers about an axis which is preferably centered on the mirror element. A support member has a joint spaced laterally of the axis and pivotally connected to the pivot member for moving the mirror element between a first rearward viewing position and a blind spot viewing position. A power source such as an electric motor is preferably mounted on the pivot member and is spaced from the support member joint, and includes a threaded member pivotally connected to the support member and driven by a gear. The electric motor is preferably connected via a control circuit to a remote switch such as in the passenger compartment to allow the driver to pivot the support member and mirror element for blind spot viewing when desired.

Vehicular rearview mirror with blind spot viewing system

An exterior rearview mirror assembly security system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly with a security light assembly which projects a pattern of light from the exterior mirror assembly on a ground area adjacent a door of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in the area. The security system further includes a control, which is responsive to approach by a person to the vehicle and actuates the security light assembly to generate the pattern of light from the exterior mirror assembly in order to provide the lighted security zone adjacent the side of the vehicle equipped with the exterior rearview mirror assembly.

Exterior rearview mirror assembly security system for a vehicle

A vehicle exterior mirror assembly includes an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors supported by a case and connected with the reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes. A wiring harness is provided having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at the connector. The connector includes at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with the wires. When the connector joins with the actuator case, the connector terminals make direct contact with corresponding receiving terminals of the electric motors. The connector preferably includes a body that is made up of two body portions that are integrally molded defining a living hinge and then folded into facing relationship thereby capturing a portion of each terminal. Complimentary retention members on the connector and actuator case retain the connector with the actuator case external of the case. The connector has a cross-section width sufficiently small to pass through the internal passage of a pivot post.

Housing with integral gasket components for a rearview mirror actuator assembly

An exterior rearview mirror assembly security system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly. The exterior mirror assembly includes a security light assembly, which projects a pattern of light from the assembly on an area adjacent a door of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in the area. The security light assembly includes an enclosure, with a light-transmitting opening in the enclosure, and a light source for radiating light through the light-transmitting opening. The security light assembly also includes a cover for the light-transmitting opening, which comprises an optical lens having at least one non-planar optical surface.

A vehicle exterior mirror assembly includes an actuator having a case and at least two electric motors'supported by a case and connected with the reflective element to provide adjustment to the reflective element with respect to at least two axes. A wiring harness is provided having a connector and a plurality of wires terminated at the connector. The connector includes at least three electrical connector terminals electrically interconnected with the wires. When the connector joins with the actuator case, the connector terminals make direct contact with corresponding receiving terminals of the electric motors. The connector preferably includes a body that is made up of two body portions that are integrally molded defining a living hinge and then folded into facing relationship thereby capturing a portion of each terminal. Complimentary retention members on the connector and actuator case retain the connector with the actuator case external of the case. The connector has a cross-section width sufficiently small to pass through the internal passage of a pivot post.

A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly and a light module removably positioned within the exterior mirror housing. The light module is moisture impervious and includes an enclosure, a light-emitting opening in the enclosure, a light source in the enclosure radiating light through the light-emitting opening, and a cover for the light-emitting opening adapted to direct the light from the light source to an area adjacent the vehicle to create a security area. The light source may be supported by a pair of electrical contacts provided on the inner surface of the enclosure. The enclosure wall supporting the electrical contacts is preferably flexible, in order to allow the light source to be captured by the contacts. Attachment of the cover adds rigidity to the enclosure to prevent further flexure of the enclosure wall in order to firmly retain the light source. The enclosure is preferably configured so that the same unit can be installed in both left and right handed exterior mirror assemblies even though the light module generates a non-symmetrical light pattern. A reflective surface is provided in the enclosure which cooperates with the cover to produce a generally collimated light pattern.

Universal exterior vehicle security light

A housing for an actuator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a mirror element in a mirror assembly provides an improved electrical distribution system that eliminates loose wires, most connections, and the need for a seal between the housing and its external connections to a vehicle power supply. The housing includes a housing member supporting at least one actuator motor for driving at least one mirror element positioning member. The positioning member extends from the housing member to engage the mirror element's backing plate. The motor is powered from the vehicle power supply through the electrical distribution system which is molded with the housing member. Preferably, the electrical distribution system includes a plurality of leads that are electrically coupled at their distal ends to a plurality of external connectors, which extend out of the housing member for external connection to the vehicle power supply. Portions of the external connectors are molded with the leads and the housing member so that no seal is required between the housing and the extending connectors of the electrical distribution system.

Housing with integral electrical connectors for a rearview mirror

A memory actuator is provided for a rearview mirror system having a reflective element and a controller. The memory actuator includes a housing and at least one positioning member extending from the housing to move the reflective element about at least one degree of freedom. At least one motor is provided for driving the positional member. A linear position transducer having a body is provided for coupling to the reflective element and a circuit board is positioned in the housing. The body of the linear position transducer is guided at the circuit board in at least one direction and moves alone the circuit board between a plurality of positions in response to movement of the reflective element about the at least one degree of freedom. The circuit board is configured to generate a signal to the controller as a function of the position of the body of the linear position transducer along the circuit board.

Growing community of inventors

Holland, MI, United States of America

David Kevin Willmore