Patent Application
20190106057
This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a rearview mirror assembly that incorporates a clamping element which functions as an electronic device holder.
Current motor vehicles may be equipped with an electronic device holder located on the vehicle's center console or along the windshield at the top of the instrument panel. Such an electronic device holder holds an electronic device such as a smart phone which may be used, for example, to display a map for navigation purposes.
Fixed electronic device holders of this type occupy space when not in use and are often unsightly. Further, the electronic device holders are usually positioned and require the driver of the motor vehicle to divert his sight line from the road in order to view the display screen of the electronic device. In addition, the motor vehicle USB port is commonly provided at a location remote from the electronic device holder thereby requiring the use of a relatively long cable in order to charge the electronic device during use. Such a long cable can interfere with other objects in the cabin causing driver distraction.
This document relates to a new and improved rearview mirror assembly that incorporates an integral electronic device holder that addresses and resolves the disadvantages noted above characteristic of prior art electronic device holders.
In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a new and improved rearview mirror assembly is provided. That new and improved rearview mirror assembly includes an integral electronic device holder adapted to hold an electronic device adjacent the sight line used by the driver when operating the motor vehicle so as to minimize distraction when viewing the display screen of the electronic device. The rearview mirror assembly includes a housing, a mirror carried on the housing and a clamping element carried on the housing. The clamping element is displaceable between a stowed position, wherein the clamping device is at least partially concealed within the housing behind the mirror, and a deployed position at least partially projecting from the housing.
The rearview mirror assembly may further include a guideway carried on the housing. That guideway may include a first guide track and a second guide track. The clamping element may include a cradle, a first support and a second support. The first support may slide along the first guide track while the second support may slide along the second guide track.
The rearview mirror assembly may further include a biasing feature adapted to bias the clamping element toward the stowed position. That biasing feature may comprise a first tension spring and a second tension spring. The first tension spring may be received over the first guide track while the second tension spring may be received over the second guide track. Further, the first tension spring may have a first end secured to the first guide track and a second end secured to the first support. The second tension spring may have a third end secured to the second guide track and fourth end secured to the second support.
The rearview mirror assembly may also include a USB port. That USB port may be carried on the housing. Such a USB port is located adjacent the electronic device when held in the cradle of the rearview mirror assembly. This allows a very short cable to be utilized to connect the electronic device to the USB port and thereby allow charging. Such a short cable is not distracting and does not interfere with operation of the motor vehicle in any manner.
In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the rearview mirror assembly. As it should be realized, the rearview mirror assembly is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the rearview mirror assembly as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the rearview mirror assembly and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the rearview mirror assembly, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.
Reference is now made to the drawing
The rearview mirror assembly 10 also includes a clamping element, generally designated by reference numeral 16. The clamping element 16 is carried on the housing 12 and is displaceable between a stowed position at least partially concealed within the housing 12 as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As should be further appreciated from reviewing
A biasing feature, generally designated by reference numeral 30 biases the clamping element 16 toward the stowed position illustrated in
The second tension spring 34 is received over the second guide track 22. The second tension spring 34 has a third end 40 secured to the second guide track 22 and a fourth end 42 secured to the second support 28.
As illustrated in
As further illustrated in
When one wishes to remove the smart phone P from the cradle 24, one unplugs the cable 52 from the USB port 50, displaces the clamping element 16 downward in the direction of action arrow A so as to release the squeezing pressure on the smart phone P and then lifts the smart phone P from the channel 44 of the cradle 24. Upon release, the biasing feature 30/first and second tension springs 32, 34 return the clamping element 16 to the stowed position illustrated in
When closed, the bottom of the cradle 24 may fit flush with the housing 12 to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
