Mirror assembly and adjustment mechanism thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9862322-B2
Application number	US-201313875625-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2013
Priority date	May 2, 2012
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A mirror assembly includes an adjustable support system for supporting a mirror. The adjustable support system includes a first peripheral support element and a second peripheral support element, each having an adjustable height, and optionally a third, central support element having a fixed height. Each of the first and second peripheral support elements is coupled with a respective linear actuator for adjusting their respective heights, thereby adjusting and/or rotating the mirror. In some embodiments, additional peripheral elements are included at opposite sides of each of the first and second peripheral support elements to provide additional balance and/or dampening when the mirror is adjusted.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustable support system for a substrate, comprising:
a first support element having a first fixed end mounted on a first mounting plate and a first movable end, the first movable end supporting the substrate at a first location;
a second support element having a second fixed end mounted on a second mounting plate and a second movable end, the second movable end supporting the substrate at a second location;
a third support element supporting the substrate at a third location;
a first linear actuator coupled with the first support element and configured to adjust a distance between the first fixed end and the first movable end of the first support element;
a second linear actuator pivotally installed on the first mounting plate and coupled with the second support element and configured to adjust a distance between the second fixed end and the second movable end of the second support element;
wherein the first linear actuator adjusts the distance between the first fixed end and the first movable end of the first support element to cause the substrate to rotate about a first axis; and
wherein the second linear actuator adjusts the distance between the second fixed end and the second movable end of the second support element to cause the substrate to rotate about a second axis.

2. An adjustable support system for a substrate, comprising:
a first support element having a first fixed end and a first movable end, the first movable end supporting the substrate at a first location;
a second support element having a second fixed end and a second movable end, the second movable end supporting the substrate at a second location;
a third support element supporting the substrate at a third location;
a first linear actuator coupled with the first support element and configured to adjust a distance between the first fixed end and the first movable end of the first support element;
a second linear actuator coupled with the second support element and configured to adjust a distance between the second fixed end and the second movable end of the second support element;
wherein the first linear actuator adjusts the distance between the first fixed end and the first movable end of the first support element to cause the substrate to rotate about a first axis;
wherein the second linear actuator adjusts the distance between the second fixed end and the second movable end of the second support element to cause the substrate to rotate about a second axis; and
wherein the first support element includes at least a first leg and a second leg pivotally joined at a first joint, and wherein the first linear actuator is coupled to the first joint.

3. The adjustable support system of claim 2 , wherein the first support element further includes a third leg and a fourth leg pivotally joined at a second joint.

4. The adjustable support system of claim 3 , wherein the third leg further pivotally joined with the first leg.

5. The adjustable support system of claim 1 , wherein the first axis is substantially parallel with a length direction of the substrate.

6. The adjustable support system of claim 5 , wherein the second axis is substantially orthogonal to the first axis.

7. The adjustable support system of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth support element supporting the substrate at a fourth position, the fourth position being opposite the first location with respect to the third location.

8. An adjustable support system for a substrate, comprising:
a first support element having a first fixed end and a first movable end, the first movable end supporting the substrate at a first location;
a second support element having a second fixed end and a second movable end, the second movable end supporting the substrate at a second location;
a third support element supporting the substrate at a third location;
a fourth support element supporting the substrate at a fourth position, the fourth position being opposite the first location with respect to the third location;
further comprising a fifth support element supporting the substrate at a fifth position, the fifth position being opposite the second location with respect to the third location;
a first linear actuator coupled with the first support element and configured to adjust a distance between the first fixed end and the first movable end of the first support element;
a second linear actuator coupled with the second support element and configured to adjust a distance between the second fixed end and the second movable end of the second support element;
wherein the first linear actuator adjusts the distance between the first fixed end and the first movable end of the first support element to cause the substrate to rotate about a first axis; and
wherein the second linear actuator adjusts the distance between the second fixed end and the second movable end of the second support element to cause the substrate to rotate about a second axis.

9. The adjustable support system of claim 1 , wherein the first movable end of the first support element is coupled with the substrate by a ball-and-socket swivel type joint.

10. The adjustable support system of claim 1 , wherein the third support element is coupled with the substrate by a universal joint.

11. The adjustable support system of claim 1 , wherein the third support element includes a base stand shaped to create a space for accommodating at least a part of the first or the second linear actuator.

12. The adjustable support system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a mirror including a reflective element and a carrier portion.

13. A mirror assembly comprising:
a mirror including a front side having reflective surface and a mirror carrier portion coupled with an adjustable support system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the substrate is the mirror.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a housing, the housing including:
a base to which the adjustable support system is mounted, and
a side wall substantially enclosing the periphery of the mirror and exposing reflective surface of the mirror.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a flexible skirt coupled with the mirror and at least partially enclosing the adjustable support system, the flexible skirt substantially enclosed by the housing.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 14 , further including reinforcing ridges adjoining the base and the side wall of the housing.

17. The mirror assembly of claim 14 , further including a mounting structure coupled to the housing of the mirror assembly, the mounting structure configured to be mounted on a body of a motor vehicle.

18. The mirror assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of boots, each enclosing one of the first support element, the second support element, the first linear actuator, and the second linear actuator.

19. The mirror assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of boots, at least one of the boots enclosing the first support element and the first actuator, and at least another of the boots enclosing the second support element and the second linear actuator.

20. The mirror assembly of claim 14 , further comprising at least one boot to cover at least one of: the first support element, the first linear actuator, the second support element, and the second linear actuator.

Assignees

• Rosco Inc

Inventors

• Englander Benjamin
• Serer Julian

Classifications

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B60R1/0605 Primary

  specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means · CPC title

• B60R1/0612 Primary

  by electrically actuated means · CPC title