A method for assembling a mirror reflective element sub-assembly for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes providing a support fixture having locator pins disposed at apertures thereof and protruding therefrom. The locator pins are received through corresponding apertures of a heater pad and through corresponding apertures of a back plate to align the back plate at the heater pad at the support fixture. A mirror reflective element is attached at the back plate and heater pad construction, and that construction is disposed at a laser ablation fixture, whereby the locator pins of the laser ablation fixture are received through the apertures of the back plate to align the construction at the laser ablation fixture. After an indicator icon is laser ablated through the mirror reflector, the construction is removed from the laser ablation fixture, and an indicator module is snap attached at a receiving portion of the back plate.

A method for assembling a mirror reflective element sub-assembly for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes providing a support fixture having locator pins disposed at apertures thereof and protruding therefrom. The locator pins are received through corresponding apertures of a heater pad and through corresponding apertures of a back plate to align the back plate at the heater pad at the support fixture. A mirror reflective element is attached at the back plate and heater pad construction, and that construction is disposed at a laser ablation fixture, whereby the locator pins of the laser ablation fixture are received through the apertures of the back plate to align the construction at the laser ablation fixture. After an indicator icon is laser ablated through the mirror reflector, the construction is removed from the laser ablation fixture, and an indicator module is snap attached at a receiving portion of the back plate.

A sealing means of a pivot joint system between a base assembly and a head assembly of a rear view device, including a two-component pivot seal including a hard component including at least one of one or more attachment and holding means for at least one of attachment of the sealing means to the base assembly and holding at least one cable, and a soft component. A base assembly and a rearview device are also described.

A sealing means of a pivot joint system between a base assembly and a head assembly of a rear view device, including a two-component pivot seal including a hard component including at least one of one or more attachment and holding means for at least one of attachment of the sealing means to the base assembly and holding at least one cable, and a soft component. A base assembly and a rearview device are also described.

A tool for applying a protective film to a lens of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor is disclosed. The tool includes at least one cover, a film spindle, a film roller, and a pivot bar. The at least one cover has an elongated shape with a first end and a second end opposite of the first end. The film spindle is mounted to the at least one cover adjacent to the second end thereof. The film spindle is configured to hold a roll of the protective film. The film roller is mounted to the at least one cover adjacent to the first end thereof. The film roller is configured to apply the protective film onto the lens. The pivot bar has a first end configured to be pivotally attached to the LIDAR sensor and a second end pivotally attached to the at least one cover.

A visibility enhancement system for a vehicle with heating conduit and a method of making a windshield wiper system where a wiper blade is configured to wipe windshield of the vehicle, a wiper blade assembly holds at least one end of the wiper blade, a motor is configured to move the wiper blade upon activation of the visibility enhancement system, and a heating conduit warms the surface of the windshield of the vehicle. The visibility enhancement system may include a wiper blade to wipe a side window of the vehicle, a pair of wiper blades to wipe a side rearview mirror. The heating conduit may comprise of any of the following: heating filaments that warms the wiper blade; heating filaments running within the windshield; an air vent that runs inside the wiper blade; and an air vent that runs parallel to the wiper blade.

A vehicular exterior breakaway rearview mirror assembly includes a skull-cap mirror shell and a reflective element. With the mirror assembly mounted at an exterior side of a vehicle, the skull-cap mirror shell has an inboard wall that faces toward the exterior side of the vehicle. A blind spot indicator is disposed at an aperture established at the inboard wall of the skull-cap mirror shell. An illumination source of the blind spot indicator is activated to illuminate the blind spot indicator responsive to an electronic blind spot monitoring system of the vehicle detecting another vehicle that is approaching or overtaking the equipped vehicle. Illumination of the blind spot indicator by activation of the illumination source is readily viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle and is not readily viewable by a driver of the detected other vehicle.

A vehicular exterior breakaway rearview mirror assembly includes a skull-cap mirror shell and a reflective element. With the mirror assembly mounted at an exterior side of a vehicle, the skull-cap mirror shell has an inboard wall that faces toward the exterior side of the vehicle. A blind spot indicator is disposed at an aperture established at the inboard wall of the skull-cap mirror shell. An illumination source of the blind spot indicator is activated to illuminate the blind spot indicator responsive to an electronic blind spot monitoring system of the vehicle detecting another vehicle that is approaching or overtaking the equipped vehicle. Illumination of the blind spot indicator by activation of the illumination source is readily viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle and is not readily viewable by a driver of the detected other vehicle.

An article of manufacture for providing vehicle automatic wipers for side mirrors is disclosed. The automatic wipers includes a larger support structure coupled to an outside structure of the vehicle side mirrors on each side of the vehicle, a wiper arm coupled to the larger support structure being configured to orient the wiper arm in front of the vehicle side mirror, a wiper device coupled to the wiper arm being positioned to remain in contact with the side mirror of the vehicle when the wiper arm is in motion, a motor coupled within the larger support structure and being coupled to the wiper arm while being configured to move the wiper arm across the side mirror of the vehicle, and a control device communicatively coupled to the motor having a plurality of settings that activate and control the speed of the motor.

The rear-view mirror assembly comprises: a housing (110); a mirror plate (120, 220, 320, 420) having a front rear-view mirrored surface (122) and a back surface (124, 224, 324, 424); a support arrangement positioned in a recess (112) of the housing (110) and provided with attachment means having a first part and a complementary second part, the first part of attachment means configured to releasably engage the second part of attachment means provided on the mirror plate rear view surface (122) for attaching the mirror plate to the housing, a release mechanism (140, 240, 340, 440) having a gripping element attached to the mirror plate back surface (124) extending to or beyond one side edge of the mirror plate (120) configured such that, in use, a force applied to the gripping means disengages the first part of attachment means from the second part of attachment means releasing the mirror (120) plate from the support arrangement.