Constant torque pivot assembly
First Claim
1. A pre-assembled constant torque pivot assembly for connecting an apertured pivot arm supporting a mirror or the like to an apertured support bracket, said support bracket being adapted for coupling without modification, to either the left-hand or the right-hand side of a vehicle comprising:
- a pivot axle extending through said pivot arm and support bracket apertures and retaining said pivot arm and support bracket in lap joint relationship to one another;
a first frictional washer fabricated of a noncorrosive material and mounted on said pivot axle between said pivot arm and said support bracket;
a second frictional washer mounted on said pivot axle on the other side of one of said pivot arm or support bracket, said second frictional washer being fabricated of a noncorrosive material;
a spring washer mounted on said pivot axle on the outside of said second washer from said pivot arm and support bracket and bearing directly against said second washer; and
said pivot axle having two longitudinally and rotationally fixed, nonadjustable heads;
one head being at each end of a shank between said heads;
said pivot arm, said support bracket, said first washer, said second washer and said spring washer being mounted on said shank;
said heads being spaced sufficiently close together to retain said spring washer in compression to provide a compressive force between said two heads which is applied to said first and second washers whereby relative rotation between said pivot arm and said support bracket is resisted by a constant torque.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The specification discloses a constant torque pivot assembly for connecting a pivot arm supporting a mirror or the like to a support bracket coupled to the side of a vehicle. A pivot axle extends through apertures in the pivot arm and the support bracket and has heads at the extremities to compress therebetween noncorrosive washers and a spring so that relative rotational movement between the pivot arm and the support bracket is resisted by a constant torque.
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Citations
3 Claims
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1. A pre-assembled constant torque pivot assembly for connecting an apertured pivot arm supporting a mirror or the like to an apertured support bracket, said support bracket being adapted for coupling without modification, to either the left-hand or the right-hand side of a vehicle comprising:
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a pivot axle extending through said pivot arm and support bracket apertures and retaining said pivot arm and support bracket in lap joint relationship to one another; a first frictional washer fabricated of a noncorrosive material and mounted on said pivot axle between said pivot arm and said support bracket; a second frictional washer mounted on said pivot axle on the other side of one of said pivot arm or support bracket, said second frictional washer being fabricated of a noncorrosive material; a spring washer mounted on said pivot axle on the outside of said second washer from said pivot arm and support bracket and bearing directly against said second washer; and said pivot axle having two longitudinally and rotationally fixed, nonadjustable heads;
one head being at each end of a shank between said heads;
said pivot arm, said support bracket, said first washer, said second washer and said spring washer being mounted on said shank;
said heads being spaced sufficiently close together to retain said spring washer in compression to provide a compressive force between said two heads which is applied to said first and second washers whereby relative rotation between said pivot arm and said support bracket is resisted by a constant torque. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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Specification