Abstract: A multiple electrical switch comprising a casing, a control knob supported on the top edge of the casing for tiltable movement in four directions, a retainer horizontally mounted within the casing and a conversion knob tiltably supported by the retainer and having an upper portion projecting through the central aperture of the control knob. Upper and lower base plates are disposed on respective opposite sides of the retainer, with each of the upper and lower base plates defining a printed circuit board and having a plurality of fixed connecting contacts. The switch further comprise an insulating elastic sheet having a central portion for covering the upper portion of the conversion knob and opposite side peripheral portions for covering respective top surfaces of the upper base plate and each portion including a swell including a movable connecting contact corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of fixed connecting contacts of the upper base plate.

Abstract: A holding device of a mirror element for rearview mirror includes an actuator unit for tiltably inclining a mirror, and a mirror element mounted through a pivot plate on the actuator unit. The mirror element has a mirror plate and a mirror holder, and an aperture of the size capable of engaging at least the central portion of the pivot plate at the center of the mirror holder. Hook type latch means is provided at the mirror holder and the upper portion of the pivot plate, and pawl engaging means utilizing undercuts are formed at the lower portion. The pivot plate is mounted by the supporting means of the actuator unit to form a subassembly. After the subassembly is fixed to the mirror body, the hook of the mirror element is engaged with the pivot plate, and the pawl is engaged while rotating the mirror element downward at the latch as a center to associate the mirror assembly.

Abstract: A device for holding a removable mirror plate of a rearview mirror for a motor vehicle and comprising a mirror holder for supporting the mirror plate, a holder plate for supporting the mirror holder, an assembly for tiltably supporting the holder plate and including a pivot provided on a surface of said holder plate and having upper and lower portions, a latch assembly located between the mirror holder and the holder plate at the upper portion of the pivot for latching the mirror holder to the holder plate, and a fixing assembly for fixing the mirror holder to the holder plate.

Abstract: The actuator unit housing for a rearview mirror includes two electric motors for tilting a mirror element in an actuator unit, and a drive transmission, and means for foldably supporting a mirror element on the upper surface of the actuator housing. A guide inlet for inserting an electric supply and control harness line of the motors is formed in the actuator unit housing. Since the guide inlet is composed of a plurality of lateral slits with labyrinths, the movement of the harness line occurred when the actuator is assembled or repaired can be suppressed. When a connector socket is buried in the slit, the socket is positioned by the labyrinth, and even if an external force by engaging a plug piece is applied, the socket can be stably held.

Abstract: A control system for a foldable outside rearview mirror comprises an electric motor having an electric motor circuit, an operation switch, trigger element connected with the operation switch for outputting a trigger pulse in response to actuation of the operation switch, timer element connected with the trigger element for outputting a pulse of a predetermined pulse width to drive the electric motor only for a set time upon receipt of the trigger pulse from the trigger element, polarity changing element having a pair of outputs of high and low level and formed for reversely switching the electric motor by inverting the pair of the outputs upon receipt of the trigger pulse from the trigger element, and switching element for switching a voltage applied to the electric motor to react or fold a rearview mirror upon receipt of the output of the polarity changing element.

Abstract: An electrically foldable door mirror comprising a base, a shaft erected on said base, a mirror body rotatably attached to said shaft, electric driving means supported by a frame within said mirror body, a pinion secured to the output shaft of said electric driving means, said pinion being engaged with a clutch gear attached to the upper portion of said shaft, an upper clutch disposed between the upper surface of said clutch gear and the upper end of said shaft, a lower clutch disposed between the lower surface of said frame at the position of insertion of said shaft and the opposing surface of said base, a coiled spring provided around said shaft so as to give a force of engagement to both of said clutches, said upper clutch being more strongly engaged than said lower clutch so that said lower clutch is disengaged earlier when said mirror body is turned. The door mirror of the invention can be folded forward or backward both by remote control from inside the motor vehicle and by manual operation.

Abstract: An electrically foldable door mirror comprising a base, a shaft erected on said base, a mirror body rotatably attached to said shaft, electric driving means for turning said mirror body, a pinion secured to the output shaft of said electric driving means, said pinion being engaged with a clutch gear attached to the upper portion of said shaft, means for automatically stopping said electric driving means, said stopping means being disposed between one surface of a fixed clutch fixed to the upper end of said shaft and a surface of said mirror body opposing said one surface of the fixed clutch, said stopping means comprising a printed circuit and contact pieces slidable thereon. The mirror body in the erected neutral position can be turned backward by actuating the electric driving means. When the mirror body has come to the position of the rear turning limit, the electric driving means is automatically stopped by the stopping means.

Abstract: A rear-view mirror mounted on an upper portion of a door panel or a door window of a vehicle. When the rear-view mirror receives a shock from forward or backward, a mirror body thereof is folded backward or forward to weaken the shock. Furthermore, when the vehicle is parked or transported, the mirror body can be easily kept in a folded state so that it occupies less space.

Abstract: An electric device for adjusting the angle of reflection of a mirror mounted on a motor vehicle. The mirror is pivotally connected to an actuator unit housing containing two actuators. Two adjusting nuts each having a movable pivot are respectively moved forward or backward by their actuators so as to adjust the angle of the mirror. The device of the invention is characterized by having a first guide means and/or a second guide means for controlling the direction of inclination, horizontal or vertical, of the mirror so as to prevent the mirror from being obliquely displaced during the operation of the motor vehicle. The first guide means comprises a cross-shaped member provided in front of the actuator unit housing and a cross-shaped groove, engaging therewith, provided on a mirror holder. Alternatively, the first guide means may comprise a cross pin, one of the two axes thereof being supported on the actuator unit housing, the other axis thereof being supported on the mirror holder.

Abstract: A switch suitable for use in the remote control of electrically driven rearview mirrors of a motor vehicle. The switch is adapted to close and open a plurality of switch elements by means of a single or divided operation member. The switch occupies only a small space in an instrument panel, etc. of a motor vehicle because the switch is thin and small. Fixed contact pairs (3a, 4a) to (3f', 4f') forming fixed contact components are printed approximately point symmetrically around a specific center on an insulating base plate. Movable contact means is disposed on top of the fixed contact components, said movable contact means being adapted to electrically connect each of the fixed contact pairs (3a, 4a) to (3f', 4') when said means is pushed.

Abstract: A multi-position switch suitable for use as a remote control switch for electrically operated rearview mirrors of a motor vehicle. The switch of the invention comprises fixed contact components in the form of printed circuits disposed on an insulating base plate, a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet (which becomes conductive only when and where it is pressed) being laid over the fixed contact components, whereby the fixed contact components and the rubber sheet forming switch elements, and an operating button adapted to be tilted with respect to the rubber sheet and having a tendency to return to its original position. Therefore, the switch of the invention can have a flat, thin shape. Also, the switch is easy to assemble and has satisfactory reliability because it consists of a small number of component parts. Furthermore, the operating button is adapted to have a tilting stroke and make clicks, so that the switch of the invention is easy to use and gives a reassuring feeling of use.

Abstract: A remote control device is disclosed for use particularly in controlling the operation of a rear-view mirror mounted exteriorly of an automotive vehicle. The device includes a compression spring to pre-tension a plurality of flexible operating wires contained in sheaths and interconnecting the control device with the rear-view mirror, the spring is interposed between a cylindrical casing having a control element and a supporting joint member supporting the wires, the joint member being movable axially along a guide pin under the influence of the spring, while the control element is universally pivotable but is held stationary in the axial direction. The supporting joint member has three equidistantly spaced guide surfaces having portions for clamping the wire sheaths, said portions corresponding in position to respective apexes of an equilateral triangle defined about the axis of the guide pin.

Abstract: An electric device for adjusting the angle of reflection of a mirror mounted on a motor vehicle. The mirror is pivotally connected to a housing containing a reversible motor and driving mechanism. One end each of a pair of adjusting members is attached to the back side of the mirror pivotally and unrotatably. The adjusting members may be adapted to swing conically on their roots. Each adjusting member is provided with a worm wheel which, in turn, is in meshing contact with a worm gear. The worm gears are mounted on an axially slidable slide shaft or slide cylinder which is connected with the output shaft of the reversible motor. The slide shaft or slide cylinder is adapted to transmit the driving force of the reversible motor selectively to either of the worm gears. Thus, the driving force of the reversible motor is transmitted selectively through either of the worm gears and its respective worm wheel to either of the adjusting members which is now axially moved thereby and pushes or pulls the mirror.

Abstract: A mirror assembly capable of providing an image of high or low brightness is pivotally supported by a housing or other stationary support, for movement between two operating positions to provide the high and low brightness images. For automatic actuation of the mirror assembly, a light sensitive element is provided which on sensing a change in the intensity of incident light, energizes an electromagnet or electromagnets affixed to either of the mirror assembly and the stationary support. The energized electromagnet or electromagnets attract and/or repel a permanent magnet or magnets affixed to the other of the mirror assembly and the stationary support. Normally, the core of the electromagnet or of one of the electromagnets is held attracted by the permanent magnet or by one of the permanent magnets to retain the mirror assembly in a selected one of the operating positions.

Abstract: A remote controlled rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror bracket controllable by a pivotal control lever through a mechanism including a pair of first arms mounted on the control lever and a pair of second arms supporting the mirror bracket and pivotally mounted on a supporting stud spaced from the control lever and fixed to a base plate on which the control lever is pivotable. The first and second arms are connected pivotally by a pair of links at their distal ends. The mirror bracket is pivotally movable in response to pivotal movement of the control lever in a plane and to turning movement thereof about its longitudinal axis. Each of the first and second arms has a spherical surface at its end, over which there is slidably fitted a semispherical socket on one end of one of the links.

Abstract: A remote control rear-view mirror assembly has a bracket mountable on an automotive vehicle and a housing supported on the bracket, in which housing a mirror holder is mounted for universal swiveling movement. The bracket has a shaft extending through a housing bottom plate into the housing and having a plurality of radial cam projections angularly spaced from each other. A fastening means in the housing, having a ring disposed around the shaft has a plurality of cam projections angularly spaced from each other and extending radially inwardly from the annular ring. The cam projections engage each other with the housing bottom plate fastened tightly between the fastening means and the bracket. A cable attachment adapter mounted on the mirror holder has three radial grooves angularly spaced 120 degrees apart from each other. Three control wire elements have ferrules on one end each retained in one of the grooves, the ferrules being prevented from moving out of position by an annular flange on the mirror holder.

Abstract: A driving power source and one or more load circuits are arranged in prescribed terminal contact with a revolving ball comprised of a pair of electro-conductive hemispheres and an intervening electro-insulating portion in such an arrangement that activation of each of the load circuits is switched on and off, polarity of the activation being controlled as desired by manual turning of the ball in selected directions and each hemisphere being always charged differently from the other through the terminal contact with the driving power source circuit.