GB1581008A - Rear-view mirrors for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN REAR-.VIEW MIRRORS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES (71) I, DENNIS MACMILLAN of Flat 2, Benchill Court, No. 2 Benchill Court Road, Manchester, County of Lancaster, a British Subject, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to improvements in rear-view mirrors for motor vehicles.

According to the invention a retractable rear-view mirror for motor vehicles comprises a mirror mounted in a frame under an aperture in a wing of the vehicle to lie flush with the surface of the wing when not in use and being raised in use into a position to give a rear view from the drivers seat.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings: - Fig. 1 is a side view showing the mirror frame in the closed and open position; Fig. 2 is a plan view of same; Fig. 3 is a front end view partly in section.

A rear mirror unit for mounting in a frame under an aperture in the wing B of a motor vehicle comprises a panel forming a portion of the surface of the wing of a motor vehicle below which a rear mirror A is mounted on a frame 1 affixed to the underside of the wing.

The mirror A is mounted on a frame 2 the free ends of which carry an axle 4 for wheels or runners 3. The axle 4 passes through a block 5 through which passes a screwed rod 6 engaging a bearing 7 mounted in a bracket 8 affixed to the frame 1. The bracket 8 supports one end of runways 9 for the wheels 3 the other end of the runway being also mounted on the frame 1 on a pivot 9a.

The end of the screwed rod 6 extending rearwardly from the block 5 is connected to a universal joint 10 rotated by gearing 11 driven by an electric motor 15 to traverse the block 5 along the screwed rod 6 to raise the mirror A into the position shown in chain dotted lines in Fig. 1 and to lower it into the full line position in Fig. 1 below the level of the wing gearing 11. The gearing 11 comprises a compound load carrying gear wheel 12 the larger pinion for driving a shaft 12a connected to the universal coupling 10 and the smaller pinion being in constant mesh with an idler gear wheel 13. A gear wheel 14 is slidably keyed on a shaft of a motor 15 shown in mesh with the idler gear wheel 13 and driving the shaft 12a. The gear wheel 14 being kept in mesh with the gear wheel 12 by a spring 15a controlled by a pivoted lever 16 actuated by an electro magnetic impulse from a solenoid 17 or other device.

In order to reverse the drive the gear wheel 14 is moved into mesh with the larger pinion of the gear wheel 12 and directly drives the shaft 12a in the reverse direction.

In case of failure of the motor drive a knob 18 is mounted on the end of the shaft 12a to bring the mirror A into the operative position.

The mirror frame 2 is supported by the wheels 3 engaging the runways 9. The end of the runways is raised or lowered to adjust the mirror frame by a screw 19 on the underside of the front end of the frame 1 to give a final vertical adjustment of the mirror.

The mirror may be horizontally adjusted by adjusting spring mounted grub screws 20 (preferably four) on the frame 2 which may also be used to give increased vertical angle or tilt.

The top of the mirror frame 2 is supported by rods 12a pivoted to the upper end of the mirror frame 2 and to the frame 1.

An inspection plate 16 and shield 21 are mounted on the frame 1 and any moisture entering the frame 1 is drained off through an aperture 22.

The mirror is mounted in a bezel retaining ring 23, and the screw 6 is prevented from moving in the frame 1 by an adjust able screw 24.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: - 1. A retractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles comprising a mirror mounted in a frame under an aperture in a wing of the vehicle to lie flush with the surface of the wing when not in use and being raised in use into a position to give a rear view from the drivers seat.

2. A retractable rear view mirror as in Claim 1 comprising a mirror mounted on a frame pivoted on a block movable on a screw to raise or lower the mirror, and a motor to rotate the screw in both direc tiofls through gearing.

3. A retractable rear mirror as in Claim 2 having means for adjusting the angle of the mirror vertically and horizontally.

4. A retractable rear mirror as in Claim 2 and 3 in which the screw is rotated through a universal gear.

5. A retractable rear mirror for motor vehicles substantially as described with reference to the ac'companying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. An inspection plate 16 and shield 21 are mounted on the frame 1 and any moisture entering the frame 1 is drained off through an aperture 22. The mirror is mounted in a bezel retaining ring 23, and the screw 6 is prevented from moving in the frame 1 by an adjust able screw 24. WHAT I CLAIM IS: -

1. A retractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles comprising a mirror mounted in a frame under an aperture in a wing of the vehicle to lie flush with the surface of the wing when not in use and being raised in use into a position to give a rear view from the drivers seat.

2. A retractable rear view mirror as in Claim 1 comprising a mirror mounted on a frame pivoted on a block movable on a screw to raise or lower the mirror, and a motor to rotate the screw in both direc tiofls through gearing.

3. A retractable rear mirror as in Claim 2 having means for adjusting the angle of the mirror vertically and horizontally.

4. A retractable rear mirror as in Claim 2 and 3 in which the screw is rotated through a universal gear.

5. A retractable rear mirror for motor vehicles substantially as described with reference to the ac'companying drawings.