US Patent 10077001 Fold rear-view mirror assembly for motor vehicles

A foldable rear-view mirror assembly comprises a base member to be mounted on a motor vehicle, a mirror housing, a motor component, drive means comprising a ring gear assembly engaging the motor component with the base member for rotation of the mirror housing thereto between mirror operative and folded conditions, and a spring element positioned substantially tangential to the ring gear assembly to cooperate therewith such that in a first direction of rotation the mirror housing is allowed to rotate to the base member and in a second reverse direction of rotation the mirror housing is prevented from being rotated relative to the base member, where the spring element resiliently abuts a stop surface formed in the ring gear assembly.