US3874773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mirror case with expansion-absorbing means
Assignee: Magna Donnelly Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-24
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A rearview mirror assembly for vehicles having a case formed from thermoplastic material and including peripheral sides outlining a mirror element received therein and a wall spaced from the edge of said mirror providing expansion from between said mirror edge and case in extreme temperatures. The wall includes flexible, resilient fins extending into contact with the mirror edge at spaced intervals to absorb dimensional changes in the assembly and to prevent vibration of the mirror in the case. Flexible fins are also provided on support ribs extending between the case back and mirror back surface to bias the mirror against a heat-staked retaining edge.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Arthur W Kurz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/04; H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1401; H05K7/1411; H05K7/1412
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A mirror assembly for vehicles comprising a mirror case having a back, a front opening, and peripheral sides, and a mirror element received in said case in said front opening, said mirror element including generally planar front and back surfaces, a peripheral edge and a reflective coating on one surface thereof; retaining means for holding said mirror element in said case; said case including means for supporting at least a portion of said back of said mirror element and holding said element against said retaining means and a wall outlining said peripheral edge of said mirror element; said wall being spaced outwardly from said mirror element edge along the entire length of said peripheral edge and including spaced, flexible fin means independent of said retaining and supporting means extending inwardly from said wall and generally normal thereto toward said peripheral edge from generally opposing portions of said wall for preventing movement of said mirror element in said case and for accommodating change in said spacing between said wall and mirror element peripheral edge due to temperature changes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A mirror assembly for vehicles comprising a mirror case having a back, a front opening, and peripheral sides, and a mirror element received in said case in said front opening, said mirror element including generally planar front and back surfaces, a peripheral edge and a reflective coating on one surface thereof; retaining means for holding said mirror element in said case; said case including means for supporting at least a portion of said back of said mirror element and holding said element against said retaining means and a wall outlining said peripheral edge of said mirror element; said wall being spaced outwardly from said mirror element edge along the entire length of said peripheral edge and including spaced, flexible fin means independent of said retaining and supporting means extending inwardly from said wall and generally normal thereto toward said peripheral edge from generally opposing portions of said wall for preventing movement of said mirror element in said case and for accommodating change in said spacing between said wall and mirror element peripheral edge due to temperature changes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said spaced, flexible fin means comprise a plurality of flexible, resilient fins extending between said wall and said peripheral edge of said mirror element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein said case is molded from a thermoplastic material and said fins are molded integrally with said case wall from said thermoplastic material; said fins extending generally normally to said wall at spaced intervals therealong and contacting said mirror element peripheral edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein said case back is spaced from said back surface of said mirror element and includes at least one rib extending between said case back and said back surface of said mirror element; said rib including resilient, flexible means for biasing said mirror element toward said retaining means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The mirror assembly of claim 4 wherein said rib extends generally normally to said back surface of said mirror element; said flexible means comprising a flexible extensiOn on a shoulder means included on the end of said rib, said extension having a thickness less than that of said rib and flexibly contacting said mirror element back surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mirror assembly of claim 5 wherein said mirror element back surface includes a layer of resilient, impressionable material intermediate said flexible extension, said shoulder means and said mirror back.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mirror assembly of claim 6 wherein said impressionable layer comprises a coating of resinous, thermoplastic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said case back is spaced from said back surface of said mirror element and includes at least one rib extending between said case back and said back surface of said mirror element; said rib including resilient, flexible means for biasing said mirror element toward said retaining means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mirror assembly of claim 8 wherein said rib extends generally normally to said back surface of said mirror element; said flexible means comprising a flexible extension on said rib having a thickness less than that of said rib and flexibly contacting said mirror element back surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said mirror element comprise a peripheral shoulder forming a portion of said peripheral sides; said shoulder lying substantially in one plane and supporting at least a portion of said mirror element about its periphery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said mirror element includes a beveled surface between its front surface and peripheral edge; said means for supporting said mirror element comprising peripheral shoulder means; said retaining means comprising a portion of said peripheral side of said case formed into contact with said beveled surface and holding said mirror element against said shoulder means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
A mirror assembly for vehicles comprising a mirror case having a back, a front opening, and peripheral sides, and a mirror element received in said case in said front opening and including generally planar front and back surfaces, a peripheral edge, and a reflective coating on one surface thereof; said case including peripheral shoulder means supporting at least a portion of said back of said mirror along its periphery, a wall outlining said peripheral edge of said mirror element, and retaining means for holding said mirror element in said case; said back of said case being spaced from said back surface of said mirror element and including a plurality of spaced, resilient, flexible means extending against said back surface of said mirror element for biasing said mirror element toward and holding said mirror element against said retaining means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
A mirror assembly for vehicles comprising a mirror case having a back, a front opening, and peripheral sides, and a mirror element received in said case in said front opening and including generally planar front and back surfaces, a peripheral edge, and a reflective coating on one surface thereof; said case including peripheral shoulder means supporting at least a portion of said back of said mirror along its periphery, a wall outlining said peripheral edge of said mirror element, and retaining means for holding said mirror element in said case; said back of said case being spaced from said back surface of said mirror element and including a plurality of spaced, resilient, flexible means extending against said back surface of said mirror element for biasing said mirror element toward and holding said mirror element against said retaining means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The mirror assembly of claim 12 including spaced rib means for strengthening said case and supporting said back of said mirror element; said rib means including resilient, flexible means extending from the ends of said rib means into contact with said mirror element for biasing said mirror element against said retaining means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The mirror assembly of claim 13 wherein said rib means comprise at least one rib extending generally normally to said back surface of said mirror element; said resilient, flexible means comprising a flexible extension on said rib having a thickness less than that of said rib and flexibly contacting said mirror element back surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
169 words
A mirror case for vehicles comprising a back and peripheral sides defining a front opening adapted to receive a mirror element therein; said sides including means for retaining a mirror element in said case, shoulder means for supporting at least a portion of the periphery of a mirror element when received therein and a peripheral, upstanding wall means for outlining the periphery of a mirror element when received therein; said wall including spaced, flexible fin means independent of said shoulder means and retaining means for contacting the peripheral edge of a mirror element when received therein, for spacing the edge of such a mirror element from Said wall and for accommodating changes in said spacing due to changes in temperature, said spaced, flexible means extending inwardly toward the interior of said case from portions of said wall generally opposing one another whereby a mirror element, when received in said case, is prevented from vibrating and rattling in said case regardless of the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding said case.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
169 words
A mirror case for vehicles comprising a back and peripheral sides defining a front opening adapted to receive a mirror element therein; said sides including means for retaining a mirror element in said case, shoulder means for supporting at least a portion of the periphery of a mirror element when received therein and a peripheral, upstanding wall means for outlining the periphery of a mirror element when received therein; said wall including spaced, flexible fin means independent of said shoulder means and retaining means for contacting the peripheral edge of a mirror element when received therein, for spacing the edge of such a mirror element from Said wall and for accommodating changes in said spacing due to changes in temperature, said spaced, flexible means extending inwardly toward the interior of said case from portions of said wall generally opposing one another whereby a mirror element, when received in said case, is prevented from vibrating and rattling in said case regardless of the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding said case.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mirror case of claim 15 wherein said wall completely outlines said opening and spaced, flexible fin means comprise a plurality of flexible, resilient fins spaced at intervals along and extending from the entirety of said wall.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The mirror case of claim 16 wherein said shoulder means comprise a ledge lying substantially in one plane and adjoining said peripheral wall, said case back spaced from said plane and including at least one rib extending toward said plane and having a resilient, flexible extension thereon extending through said plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mirror case of claim 15 wherein said entire case, including said spaced fins and flexible extension, is molded integrally from a plastic material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The mirror case of claim 15 wherein said shoulder means comprise a ledge lying substantially in one plane, said case back spaced from said plane and including at least one rib extending toward said plane and having a resilient, flexible extension thereon extending through said plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |