BREAKAWAY SUPPORT FOR REAR VISION MIRROR
First Claim
1. A support for a rear vision mirror comprising a base for attachment to a vehicle part, stem means, first means for mounting a mirror at one location on said stem means, and second means spaced from said first means for mounting said stem means on said base, said second means including connector means which fractures when subjected to a predetermined impact to permit said stem means to break away from said base and which comprises a bolt having a shank connected to said stem means and provided with a frangible portion proximate and juncture of said base and stem means and an elongated head portion connected to said base and extending transversely of said shank, a slot in said base receiving and of slightly larger dimension than said head portion, and a chamber in said base in communication with said slot, said chamber being of a dimension to permit rotation of said head portion therein after said head portion has passed through said slot but having stop means for holding said head portion against rotation when said head portion is turned transversely of said slot.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rear vision mirror support including a stem mounting a rear vision mirror at one end and having a connector at its other end securing it to a base mounted on a vehicle, the connector including a bolt having an annular groove thereon which weakens it sufficiently so that it will fracture when the mirrorsupporting stem is subjected to an impact force of a predetermined value.
-
Citations
5 Claims
-
1. A support for a rear vision mirror comprising a base for attachment to a vehicle part, stem means, first means for mounting a mirror at one location on said stem means, and second means spaced from said first means for mounting said stem means on said base, said second means including connector means which fractures when subjected to a predetermined impact to permit said stem means to break away from said base and which comprises a bolt having a shank connected to said stem means and provided with a frangible portion proximate and juncture of said base and stem means and an elongated head portion connected to said base and extending transversely of said shank, a slot in said base receiving and of slightly larger dimension than said head portion, and a chamber in said base in communication with said slot, said chamber being of a dimension to permit rotation of said head portion therein after said head portion has passed through said slot but having stop means for holding said head portion against rotation when said head portion is turned transversely of said slot.
-
2. The support of claim 1 wherein said stop means comprise a pair of opposed shoulders within said chamber for engaging opposite sides of said head portion.
-
3. The support of claim 1 wherein said second means include nut means on said stem means for threaded engagement with said shank for cooperating with said head portion to clamp therebetween portions of said base forming said slot when said nut means is tightened.
-
4. The support of claim 3 wherein said stop means comprise a pair of opposed shoulders within said chamber for engaging opposite sides of said head portion.
-
5. The support of claim 4 wherein said head portion is of a depth which is less than the depth of said chamber so as not to engage said vehicle part when said nut means is in a tightened condition, and said shoulders are of a depth which is less than the depth of said chamber but greater than the depth of saiD head portion so as to prevent spinning of said head portion during insertion thereof.
Specification