Key system for a mirror assembly

• US 20040036000A1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Courbon, Emmanuel
• Granted Patent: US 6,814,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/478
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/57 Distinct end coupler
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5761 Interrupted periphery, e.g., split or segmental, etc.

Abstract

A locking device is provided for mounting a support arm for a mirror assembly to a motor vehicle. The locking device including an extension, a complementary extension, and a key to lock the locking device together. A complementary brace cooperates with the locking device to mount another portion of the support arm to the motor vehicle. A method for using the locking device and the brace is also provided.

Claims

1. A key system for a motor vehicle for adjustably mounting a mirror attached to a support arm, the assembly comprising:

a locking device configured to receive a portion of the support arm to mount the support arm to the motor vehicle, the locking device including an extension for attachment to the motor vehicle, a complementary extension for attachment to the support arm, a key, and means for urging the extension and the complementary extension together, the extension and complementary extension respectively defining a spherical surface and a complementary spherical surface configured to movably mate together, the key configured for insertion through the extension and complementary extension to lock the extension and complementary extension together; and

a brace configured to receive another portion of the support arm to mount the support arm to the motor vehicle, the brace including an anchor and a support arm holder, the another portion of the support arm securable in the support arm holder such that the support arm is fixed relative to the brace.

2. The key system as in claim 1, wherein the extension, complementary extension, anchor and support arm holder are formed of a lightweight material.

3. The key system as in claim 2, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of an elastomeric material, a plastic, a polyoxymethylene (acetal plastic) material, a high density polyethelene, a polymer, a structural plastic, an engineered plastic, a glass-filled plastic, a glass-filled nylon, a fiberglass, a KEVLAR®

brand fiber and combinations thereof.

4. The key system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the spherical surface and complementary spherical surface slopes from between 0 degrees to about 35 degrees from a vertical axis such that the support arm is adjustable.

5. The key system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the spherical surface and complementary spherical surface slopes from between 10 degrees to about 25 degrees from a vertical axis such that the support arm is adjustable.

6. A locking device configured to receive a portion of a mirror assembly support arm to mount the support arm to a motor vehicle, the locking device comprising:

an extension for attachment to the motor vehicle, a complementary extension for attachment to the support arm, a key, and a spring, the extension and complementary extension respectively defining a spherical surface and a complementary spherical surface configured to movably mate together, the key configured for insertion through the extension and complementary extensions to movably lock the extension and complementary extension together, the inserted key further configured for rotation and release such that the inserted key and compressed spring cooperate to movably hold the extension and complementary extension together.

7. A locking device configured to receive a portion of a mirror assembly support arm to mount the support arm to a motor vehicle, the locking device comprising:

an extension for attachment to the motor vehicle, a complementary extension for attachment to the support arm, a key, and a spring, the extension and complementary extension configured to movably mate together, the key configured for insertion through the extension and complementary extensions to movably lock the extension and complementary extension together, the inserted key further configured for rotation and release such that the inserted key and compressed spring cooperate to movably hold the extension and complementary extension together.

8. A brace configured to receive a portion of a mirror assembly support arm to mount the support arm to a motor vehicle, the brace comprising:

an anchor for attachment to the motor vehicle, a support arm holder for attachment to the support arm, and a spring, the anchor defining a plurality of teeth extending from a surface of the anchor, the support arm holder defining a plurality of complementary teeth extending from a surface of the support arm holder and configured to matingly receive the plurality of teeth in a plurality of orientations, the spring disposed around the support arm holder and compressed between an inner surface of the anchor and the support arm holder to thereby urge the teeth together, the support arm relative to the anchor.

9. The brace as in claim 8, wherein the portion of the support arm is securable in the support arm holder with an adhesive substance selected from the group consisting of a glue, a heat-activated glue substance, a paste, an adhesive, an epoxy, an epoxy resin, and combinations thereof.

10. The brace as in claim 8, wherein the portion of the support arm is securable in the support arm holder with a device selected from the group consisting of a cotter key, a pin, a rivet, a screw, a bolt, and combinations thereof.

11. A brace configured to receive a portion of a mirror assembly support arm to mount the support arm to a motor vehicle, the brace comprising:

an anchor for attachment to the motor vehicle and a support arm holder for attachment to the support arm, at least one of the anchor and support arm holder formed from a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomeric material, a plastic, a high density polyethelene, a polymer, a polyoxymethylene (acetal plastic) material, a structural plastic, an engineered plastic, a glass-filled plastic, a glass-filled nylon, a fiberglass, a KEVLAR®

brand fiber and combinations thereof, the anchor defining a cavity therein, the support arm holder being larger than the cavity and configured to pressingly fit into the cavity such that at least one of the anchor and support arm deformably yields to fix the support arm holder in the cavity, the portion of the support arm securable in the support arm holder such that the support arm is fixed relative to the brace.

12. The brace as in claim 11, wherein the anchor defines an anchor area proximate the cavity, the anchor and anchor area formed of the material such that the anchor area deformably yields to hold the support arm holder in the cavity.

13. The brace as in claim 11, wherein the anchor defines an anchor area proximate the cavity, the support arm holder formed of the material such that the anchor area deformably compresses the support arm holder in the cavity.

14. A method for assembling a mirror mounting assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a locking device configured to receive a portion of a support arm to mount the support arm to a motor vehicle, the locking device including an extension, a complementary extension, a key, and a spring, the extension and complementary extension configured to movably mate together, the spring disposed about the key, the key defining a mating shoulder;

b) inserting the key through an aperture in the extension and a complementary aperture in the complementary extension thereby compressing the spring;

c) rotating the inserted key; and

d) releasing the inserted key such that the mating shoulder cooperates with the complementary extension to maintain compression on the spring to movably hold the extension and complementary extension together.

15. The method as in claim 14, further comprising the steps of reversing the rotation of the inserted key to release the mating shoulder and removing the key to take apart the extension and complementary extension.

16. The method as in claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a brace, the brace configured to cooperate with the locking device to receive another portion of the support arm to mount the support arm to the motor vehicle.

17. The method as in claim 16, wherein the brace includes an anchor and a support arm holder, and further comprising the substeps of matingly attaching the support arm holder with the anchor and securing the another portion of the support arm in the support arm holder through a conduit in the brace such that the support arm is fixed relative to the brace.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein the another portion of the support arm is secured in the support arm holder with an adhesive substance selected from the group consisting of a glue, a heat-activated glue substance, a paste, an adhesive, an epoxy, an epoxy resin, and combinations thereof.

19. The method as in claim 17, wherein the another portion of the support arm is secured in the support arm holder with an adhesive substance selected from the group consisting of a cotter key, a pin, a rivet, a screw, a bolt, and combinations thereof.