Vehicle mirror assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An assembly for releasably securing a mirror support arm and a tie-bar together on a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a mirror support arm for supporting a mirror;
a tie-bar for connection between said support arm and the vehicle;
a connection head having a connection element carried by one of said support arm and tie-bar;
a holder carried by the other of said support arm and tie-bar for attaching with said connection element;
a positive lock assembly disposed proximate the connection element, the positive lock assembly having a locking element and a biasing element urging said locking element to a locking position with respect to said holder and yielding to allow the locking element to be moved in response to an external force so that said holder and connection element may be detached; and
said holder slidably receiving said connection element, said holder having a swivel face with a depression, said locking element positionable in said depression in said locking position, and said biasing element urging the positive lock assembly to said locking position in said depression so that the holder is detachably secured to said connection head.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle mirror assembly for mounting a mirror to a vehicle body includes a connection head, a positive lock assembly, and a holder. The holder and the connection head are attached to one or the other of a tie bar and a mirror support arm and rotatably secured together. Methods of assembling and using the vehicle mirror assembly are also provided.
49 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An assembly for releasably securing a mirror support arm and a tie-bar together on a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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a mirror support arm for supporting a mirror;
a tie-bar for connection between said support arm and the vehicle;
a connection head having a connection element carried by one of said support arm and tie-bar;
a holder carried by the other of said support arm and tie-bar for attaching with said connection element;
a positive lock assembly disposed proximate the connection element, the positive lock assembly having a locking element and a biasing element urging said locking element to a locking position with respect to said holder and yielding to allow the locking element to be moved in response to an external force so that said holder and connection element may be detached; and
said holder slidably receiving said connection element, said holder having a swivel face with a depression, said locking element positionable in said depression in said locking position, and said biasing element urging the positive lock assembly to said locking position in said depression so that the holder is detachably secured to said connection head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 5. (Cancelled)
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16. A vehicle mirror assembly mounting a mirror to a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror support arm for supporting a mirror;
a tie-bar carried between said vehicle and said support arm;
a connection head having a connection element carried by one of said tie-bar and support arm;
a holder carried by the other of said tie-bar and support arm for connection to said connection element;
a positive lock assembly carried by said connection element, said positive lock assembly having a biasing element urging a locking element into a locking position with said holder; and
said holder having a swivel face with a depression formed therein, said locking element yieldable by application of an external force to movement and disengagement from said depression;
said biasing element urging said locking element into said locking position in said depression so that said holder is rotatably secured to said connection head. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 20, 21, 22)
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19. (Cancelled)
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23. A method for attaching a vehicle mirror assembly to a vehicle said assembly including a tie-bar for connection to the vehicle, a support arm for connection to said tie-bar, and a mirror carried by said support arm, the method comprising the steps of:
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pivotally attaching a first end of a tie bar to a vehicle;
mounting a connection head to one of a second end of said tie bar and said mirror support arm for supporting a mirror wherein said connection head includes a connection element;
mounting a holder to the other end of said mirror support arm;
providing a positive locking element and a biasing element having a spring constant for urging said positive locking element into a locking position between said connection element and said holder; and
sliding the holder and the connection element together, so that said locking element engages with a depression formed in a swivel face of said holder so that said holder and said connection head are rotatably secured together. - View Dependent Claims (24, 26, 27)
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25. (Cancelled)
Specification