Rearview mirror actuating device

Details

Inventors: McKee, Clyde M.; Scott, Ward; Warren, Henry A.; Scott, Dennis G.;
Assignee:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm:

An actuating device for automatically controlling the position of a movably mounted vehicle mirror comprises a motor controlled by switches for selectively actuating the motor in response to angular displacement of a trailer with respect to the vehicle. The switches are actuated in response to movement of the trailer and responsively close a circuit connecting a power source to the motor. Preferably, the switching means can include means for disconnecting the power source after a predetermined rotation of the motor in order to avoid excess energy use. Preferably, the disconnecting means comprises a plurality of switches arranged to contact lobes of a rotating cam at predetermined rotational positions of the cam. The cam can be concentrically secured to the rotor shaft or can be connected to the rotor shaft by a lever mechanism in order to form a crank which translates the rotor movement to linear displacement on a mirror positioning member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Referring first to FIG.
1, a mirror actuating means 10 is thereshown for positioning the mirror 12 on a truck or tractor 14.
The trailer 16 is pivotally secured in a well known manner, to the tractor 14 by a fifth wheel arrangement generally designated at 18.
The trailer pivots about an axis 20 with respect to the tractor 14.
The mirror actuating means 10 permits the mirror 12 to reposition at a particular angle A with respect to its normal straight ahead driving position so that the mirror reflects an image of the rear end 22 of the trailer 16 to a driver located in the tractor 14.
Although as shown in the drawing, actuating means 10 is particularly adapted for positioning the right hand rearview mirror 12, it will be understood that a simultaneous or complementary actuating of the left hand rearview mirror is also considered to be within the scope of the invention.
Nevertheless, for the sake of clarity and brevity, a single description as to movement of a single mirror is sufficient to permit skilled artisans to employ the device with mirrors mounted on either side of the vehicle.
Referring now to FIG.
2, an enlarged more detailed view of the mirror 12 and actuating means 10 is provided.
A frame 24 pivotally supports a mirror support bracket 26 so that the mirror is pivotal about an axis generally indicated at 28.
A lever bracket 30 extends radially outwardly from pivot axis 28 and includes means for pivotally securing the end of a rigid positioning arm 32 thereto.
The positioning arm 32 is in turn pivotally secured at its other end to an end of a lever arm 34.
As best shown in FIG.
5, a ball and socket joint 36 forms an appropriate pivot joint for connecting the positioning arm 32 to the lever arm 34.
The lever arm 34 is rotated about its other end by a motor as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
However, the operation of the motor is governed by switching means generally designated at 38 in FIG.
2

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