Importance

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Abstract

This invention describes a mirror operating mechanism for rotating a mirror head from a deployed position to a parked position. The mirror head (12) is mounted to a mirror mounting bracket (10) via a spigot (11) on the mounting bracket. The mirror head (12) is supported on a mounting bracket (10) for rotation with respect to the spigot (11). At least one detent (17) is placed between the mirror mounting bracket (10) and the mirror head (12) to hold the mirror head (12) in the required position. Resilient means (23) acts between the mirror mounting bracket (10) and the mirror head (12) with respect to the detent (17) so that the detents (17) are held in engaged positions. Drive means is operatively coupled to the spigot (11) to cause the mirror head (12) to rotate with respect to the spigot (11). The drive means includes an actuator (56, 50 or 92) that is moved upon initial operation of the drive means while the detents (17) resist rotation of the mirror head (12). The actuator (56, 50 or 92) movement applies a force to the resilient means (23) to in turn compress it and to allow movement of the mirror head (12) so that the detents (17) may disengage to thereby allow rotation of the mirror head (12) by the drive means. The advantage of the invention is that the drive means does not require excessive force to disengage the detents (17). This results from the operating mechanism first disengaging the detent (17) before requiring the drive means to rotate the mirror head (12).

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First Claim