REAR VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY

• US 3,575,375 A
• Filed: 09/08/1969
• Issued: 04/20/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ervin H. Strem Jr
• Original Assignee: Ervin H. Strem Jr
• Inventors: Strem, Ervin H. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US04/855,929
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• US Class Current: 248/481
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32631 Universal ball and socket

Abstract

A breakaway rear view mirror assembly wherein a support arm having a mirror adjustably mounted at a lower end has a spherical ball formed at the other end which includes a transverse V-shaped notch. The ball is normally frictionally held between a clamping plate and a mounting bracket attached interior the vehicle adjacent the windshield. After a predetermined rotation of the support arm, the clamping plate loses contact with the ball in the vicinity of the notch whereby the mirror separates from the mounting bracket.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a support member having a mirror element connected at one end and a ball member formed at the other end;

a mounting member adapted to be attached interior of the motor vehicle having a socket portion in which said ball member is received and about which the latter is relatively movable;

clamping means movably connected to the mounting member normally engaging said ball member for retaining the latter against said socket portion;

surface means formed in said ball member acting in association with said socket portion in response to a predetermined movement of the support member to cause said clamping means to be released to thereby permit separation of the support member from the mounting member.

2. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a support arm;

a mirror unit connected to one end of the support arm;

a ball formed at the other end of said support arm;

a notch formed in said ball and establishing on opposite sides thereof a seatiNg surface and a clamping surface;

a mounting member adapted to be attached interior of the motor vehicle;

a socket portion formed in said mounting member adapted to receive and universally support said seating surface;

a clamping member adjustably connected to the mounting member having a portion normally engaging said clamping surface to frictionally hold said seating surface against said socket portion, said notch and said clamping member cooperating to release said ball from said mounting member after predetermined movement of the support arm, thereby permitting separation of the mirror unit from the mounting member.

3. A breakaway interior rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted to be attached interior of said motor vehicle;

a spherical socket formed in said mounting bracket;

a clamping plate having spaced legs hingedly connected to the mounting bracket that define a ball stud receiving opening;

a spherical seat formed in said clamping plate between said legs adjacent said opening;

adjusting means between the mounting bracket and the clamping plate for relatively pivoting the seat with respect to the socket;

an elongated support arm;

a spherical ball formed at one end of the support arm and extending through said opening;

a mirror attached to the other end of the support arm;

a generally V-shaped transverse notch formed in said ball, the spherical surfaces on either side of said notch respectively being releasably seated between said seat and said socket, the arrangement being such that said ball is normally frictionally held against movement but upon predetermined movement of said support arm said socket loses contact with said ball at said notch, thereby permitting physical separation of said mirror from said mounting bracket.

4. In combination with a motor vehicle having a front windshield, an interior mirror assembly located adjacent said windshield and providing a view rearwardly of the vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

a support member having a mirror element connected at one end and a ball member formed at the other end;

a mounting member attached to the vehicle above said windshield and having a spherical socket portion formed therein in which said ball member is received and about which the latter is relatively movable;

clamping means movably connected to the mounting member and normally engaging a portion of the outer surface of said ball member for retaining the latter against said spherical socket portion;

a notch formed in said ball member adjacent said portion of the outer surface thereof that causes said ball member to lose contact with said clamping means and thereby drop from the mounting member in response to a predetermined amount of movement of the support member towards said windshield.