Donnelly Corporation

Harold W De Young

Roger L Veldman

Raj K Agrawal

A safety-enhanced, inside rearview mirror assembly for vehicles of the type adapted for movement between day and night positions to reduce reflected glare is disclosed. The assembly includes an energy/impact absorbing plate selected to have predetermined thickness, stiffness, cracking/permanent deformation resistance, and galvanic action passivity positioned between the glass mirror element and the day/night actuator within the mirror case. The plate absorbs the actuator impact energy should the day/night actuator be caused to impact the rear of the glass mirror element when the front of the inside rearview mirror assembly is contacted by an air bag during deployment in an accident and substantially reduces damaging protrusion of glass shards which otherwise could puncture and impair proper operation of the air bag. The plate may be spaced from the rear of the mirror element, or adhered to the mirror element preferably with a flexible, resilient adhesive laminate which doubles as an anti-scatter layer. The plate avoids significant affects on the weight, vibration, and mirror case construction without degrading the light reflective layer.

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Holland, MI, United States of America

Harold W De Young