Mirror assembly with frangible angular projections
First Claim
1. A mirror assembly comprising a housing having a peripheral rim, a shoulder extending inwardly of the housing from said rim below the top thereof, a plurality of thin angular projections disposed in the angle between said rim and said shoulder and formed integrally with both, a plurality of inwardly extending mirror lens engaging tabs formed integrally with said housing rim, and a mirror lens mounted within said housing rim and normally engaged between said angular projections and said tab, said angular projections being frangible upon contraction of said housing relative to said mirror lens by reason of exposure to a predetermined cold ambient temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rear view mirror assembly for mounting on the exterior of a vehicle is disclosed. The mirror assembly is subject to extremes of ambient temperature and comprises a housing of a rigid foam plastic with provision for compensating for contraction of the housing.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A mirror assembly comprising a housing having a peripheral rim, a shoulder extending inwardly of the housing from said rim below the top thereof, a plurality of thin angular projections disposed in the angle between said rim and said shoulder and formed integrally with both, a plurality of inwardly extending mirror lens engaging tabs formed integrally with said housing rim, and a mirror lens mounted within said housing rim and normally engaged between said angular projections and said tab, said angular projections being frangible upon contraction of said housing relative to said mirror lens by reason of exposure to a predetermined cold ambient temperature.
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10. A mirror assembly comprising a housing molded from polypropylene having a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range of 2.9 to 10.2 ×
- 10-5 inch/inch/°
C., said housing having a peripheral rim, a shoulder extending inwardly of the housing from said rim below the top thereof, at least two thin angular projections disposed in the angle between said rim and said shoulder and formed integrally with both on each of four sides of said housing, a tripod support for a mirror consisting of two inwardly extending tabs on one side of said housing and a single inwardly extending tab on the opposite side thereof, each of said tabs being formed integrally with said housing rim, a mirror lens mounted within said housing rim and normally engaged between said angular projections and said tabs and being cammed against said tabs by said thin angular projections, said projections being frangible upon contraction of said housing relative to said mirror by reason of exposure to an ambient temperature between -20° and
-40°
F.
- 10-5 inch/inch/°
Specification