Rearview mirror mounting assembly
First Claim
1. A support assembly for pivotally securing an accessory to a vehicle comprising:
- a mounting base adapted for mounting to the vehicle;
a mounting arm pivotally securable to at least one of said mounting base and the accessory, said mounting arm comprising at least one ball receiving socket, a biasing member, an alignment element for aligning said biasing member, said alignment element engaging at least a portion of an outer surface of said biasing member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rearview mirror mounting assembly comprises a mounting arm which is pivotally secured to a mounting base and may be further pivotally attached to an accessory or an interior rearview mirror. The mounting arm comprises a ball receiving portion for receiving and pivotally engaging a ball member on the mounting base. The ball receiving portion tightly engages the ball member in response to a biasing force exerted on the ball receiving socket by a biasing member within the mounting arm. The biasing member is aligned and guided within the mounting arm via at least one confinement member, such as an annular guide portion, extending longitudinally within the arm and surrounding at least one substantially flat or planar surface, which the biasing member engages. Preferably, one of the surfaces is rigidly secured to the arm, thereby reducing potential vibration between the arm and the interior rearview mirror. Preferably, the arm comprises a ball-in and ball-out mounting arrangement which provides a double ball joint mount for the interior rearview mirror.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A support assembly for pivotally securing an accessory to a vehicle comprising:
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a mounting base adapted for mounting to the vehicle;
a mounting arm pivotally securable to at least one of said mounting base and the accessory, said mounting arm comprising at least one ball receiving socket, a biasing member, an alignment element for aligning said biasing member, said alignment element engaging at least a portion of an outer surface of said biasing member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A support assembly for pivotally securing an accessory to a vehicle comprising:
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a mounting base adapted for mounting to the vehicle, said mounting base comprising a first ball member extending therefrom;
a mounting arm pivotally securable to said first ball member and the accessory, said mounting arm comprising a first ball receiver at a first end for pivotally securing to said first ball member, a second ball member at a second end for pivotally securing to the accessory, and a biasing member positioned between said first ball receiver and said second ball member, said first end being generally opposite said second end, at least one of said first ball receiver and said second ball member comprising a confinement member extending at least partially between said first ball receiver and said second ball member, said biasing member being aligned between said first ball receiver and said second ball member by said confinement member engaging at least a portion of an outer surface of said biasing member. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A support assembly for pivotally securing an accessory to a vehicle, the accessory having at least one electronic component which is electrically connected to a vehicle wiring via an accessory wiring, said support bracket comprising:
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a mounting base adapted for mounting to the vehicle, said mounting base comprising a first ball receiving socket;
a mounting arm pivotally secured to said mounting base and the accessory, said mounting arm comprising a first ball member for pivotally engaging said first ball receiving socket and a second ball member for pivotally engaging a second ball receiving socket on the accessory, said first ball member being positioned at an opposite end of said mounting arm from said second ball member, said mounting arm further comprising an outer sleeve which at least partially encases said mounting arm and the accessory wiring, said outer sleeve comprising a channel therealong for receiving the accessory wiring. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification