Mirror actuator

• US 4,229,992 A
• Filed: 06/28/1978
• Issued: 10/28/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clyde M. Mckee, Ward Scott
• Original Assignee: Clyde M. Mckee, Ward Scott
• Inventors: McKee, Clyde M., Scott, Ward
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, G.
• Application Number:
  US05/920,113
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 74/501 M, 350/304, 248/70, 248/229, 248/274, 248/286, 248/279
• US Class Current: 74/502.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/061 by manually actuated mechanical means, e.g. push-pull cables
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/16 in which the end-piece is guided rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/20 Construction of flexible members moved to and fro in the sheathing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20432 for moving a mirror

Abstract

An assembly for converting mirrors commonly provided on trucks so that the mirror can be adjusted from a position adjacent the seat of the driver to provide maximum visibility from the right hand mirror. A clamp mounts to the mirror and connects to an actuator positioned in the truck adjacent the seat of the driver so that the mirror may be adjusted by the driver while the driver remains in the driving position.

Claims

1. A mirror actuator assembly adapted for use in conjunction with an exteriorly mounted conventional right hand mirror already mounted on a vehicle by at least one strut, said mirror being pivotally mounted around a generally vertical axis of rotation, said assembly comprising:

a cable assembly having an outer sleeve portion and an inner wire member;

one end of said inner wire member extending into said vehicle and including means attached thereto for selectively moving said inner wire member axially within said outer member;

means removably attaching the opposite end of said inner wire member to said mirror to produce rotation of said mirror around said vertical axis upon axial movement of said inner wire member along an axis of movement; and

a bracket assembly having a first elongated bracket member and a second elongated bracket member, means for securing one end of said first bracket member to the strut, means for securing one end of the second bracket member to the outer sleeve portion of the cable assembly at a predetermined longitudinal position along the outer sleeve portion and means for longitudinally adjustably securing said second bracket member to the other end of said first bracket member, said longitudinal adjustable securing means further comprising an elongated slot formed through said second bracket member, an aperture formed through said other end of the first bracket member and fastener means which extends through said slot and said aperture for locking said bracket members together at an adjusted position, whereby with the inner wire member stationary with respect to the outer sleeve portion the angular position of the mirror can be varied by adjusting the longitudinal position of the second bracket member and wherein said longitudinal adjustable securing means further includes means for securing said bracket members together in a selected pivotal position with respect to each other whereby said one end of the first bracket member can be selectively secured to either a vertical or horizontal strut and wherein said elongated slot in said second bracket member extends substantially parallel to said axis of movement when said first bracket member is connected to either a vertical or a horizontal strut.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said fastening means further comprises a bolt and a nut which threadably engages the bolt.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said mirror includes a thread pin which is normally secured to a strut bracket by a nut, said mirror actuator assembly further comprising an elongated bracket extension secured at one end to the strut bracket, said extension having an aperture at its other end through which the mirror pin is pivotally received, and a lock nut secured to the mirror pin sufficiently tight to prevent vibration of the mirror and yet permit rotation of the mirror.