Adjustable automobile mirror system

• US 4,640,142 A
• Filed: 05/12/1983
• Issued: 02/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NI Industries, Inc. (TriMas Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NI Industries, Inc. (TriMas Corporation)
• Inventors: Cummins, Michael, Cummins, James M., Theys, Raymond A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US06/493,934
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 74/501 M, 74/502.1, 248/476, 248/479, 350/632, 403/135, 403/143, 403/71
• US Class Current: 74/502.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/068 using cables
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/10 Means for transmitting linear movement in a flexible sheathing, e.g. "Bowden-mechanisms" guiding-sheathings F16C1/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32155 Bearing component clamped to plate or side, e.g., bolted, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32737 including liner, shim, or discrete seat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32803 Separable socket sections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20432 for moving a mirror

Abstract

In an adjustable automobile mirror system of either the manual type or a three-cable operated type including a mirror anchored to a mirror retainer whose position is adjustable relative to a mirror housing, the improved mounting of the mirror retainer upon the mirror housing which comprises a part-spherical head upon the housing and a pivot block having a socket movably mounted upon the head. Resilient detents on the mirror retainer receive and retainingly engage the pivot block for movements therewith. One detent is manually yieldable to facilitate selective assembly of the mirror retainer on and disassembly from the pivot block.

Claims

1. In a remotely controlled mirror system of the type including a mirror anchored to a mirror retainer whose position is universally adjustable relative to a mirror housing by means of a cable linkage interconnecting the mirror retainer with a control unit, the improvement comprising:

a pivot boss on a longitudinal pivot axis mounted upon the housing and having a mounting head;

a pivot block having a socket element receiving and movably mounted upon said head;

said block being held in abutting and pivotal contact by the tension of the cable linkage exerting a force pulling the block towards and against said head;

pin and slot means between said block and head, constraining said block from movement in a plane through said block; and

resilient detent means on said mirror retainer receiving and retainingly engaging said pivot block for universal movements therewith;

said detent means being yieldable to facilitate selective assembly of said mirror retainer on and disassembly from said pivot block;

said mirror retainer defining a polygonal recess adjacent said detent means;

said pivot block being of a size and shape to substantially fill said recess; and

said pivot block being retained in said recess by said detent means.

2. The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said detent means includes a pair of spaced catches projecting from said mirror retainer, having opposed detents retainingly engaging said pivot block, one of said catches being manually yieldable to disengage said pivot block for said selective assembly and disassembly of said mirror retainer.

3. The mirror system of claim 2 wherein said mirror retainer is of plastic material and said catches extend from and form a part of said retainer.

4. The mirror system of claim 1 wherein a pair of opposed slotted mount bosses extend from opposite sides and rearwardly of said pivot block;

said detent means retainingly engaging said mount bosses.

5. The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said detent means is manually yieldable

and has at least one finger piece for flexing said detent means out of retaining engagement with said pivot block.

6. The mirror system of claim 1 wherein a pivot bracket is mounted within said housing transverse of said pivot axis, said pivot boss being mounted on and projecting said pivot bracket.

7. The mirror system of claim 6 wherein the mounting of said pivot bracket includes a plurality of parallel spaced mount bosses extending from said housing, said pivot bracket spanning and overlying said mount bosses and secured thereto.

8. The mirror system of claim 1 wherein said mounting head and the socket element of said pivot block are at least part-spherical.

9. The mirror system of claim 6 wherein said cable linkage includes a plurality of flexible cable extending into said housing, each cable enclosed within a protective sleeve;

a corresponding plurality of spaced apertured bosses upon said pivot bracket, each retainingly receiving the end of a cable sleeve, said cables extending through said bracket;

and means removably mounting and securing the ends of said cables upon spaced portions of said pivot block.

10. The mirror system of claim 6 wherein said cable linkage includes a plurality of flexible cables extending into said housing and through said bracket;

and means removably mounting and securing the ends of said cables upon spaced portions of said pivot block under tension.

11. The mirror system of claim 10 wherein said pivot block has a plurality of constricted slots therethrough adjacent top and bottom edges thereof;

said cables extending into said pivot block slots;

and a ferrule secured upon the end of each cable nested and retained within said pivot block slots.

12. The mirror system of claim 11 wherein spaced bosses are mounted upon and extend from said mirror retainer arranged outwardly of said pivot block slots retaining said ferrules therein against radial outward disengaging movement therefrom.

13. In a mirror assembly of the type including a mirror secured to a mirror retainer which is adjustable on a mounting head located in a mirror housing, the improvement comprising:

a pivot block having a socket element receiving and movably mounted upon said head; and

resilient detent means on said mirror retainer receiving and retainingly engaging said pivot block for movements therewith;

said detent means being yieldable to facilitate selective assembly of said mirror retainer on and disassembly from said pivot block;

said mirror retainer defining a polygonal recess adjacent said detent means;

said pivot block being of a size and shape to substantially fill said recess; and

said pivot block being retained in said recess by said detent means.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 13 wherein said head is of at least part-spherical configuration, said detent means being yieldable manually either by hand or by a hand held tool.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 14 wherein said detent means includes a pair of spaced catches projecting from said mirror retainer, having opposed detents retainingly engaging said pivot block, one of said catches being manually yieldable to disengage said pivot block for said selective assembly and disassembly of said mirror retainer.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 15 wherein said mirror retainer is of plastic material and said catches extend from and form a part of said retainer.

17. The mirror assembly of claim 13 wherein a pair of opposed slotted mount bosses extend from opposite sides and rearwardly of said pivot block;

said detent means retainingly engaging said mount bosses.

18. The mirror assembly of claim 14 wherein said detent means

has at least one finger piece for flexing said detent means out of retaining engagement with said pivot block.

19. The mirror assembly of claim 13 wherein said mounting head and the socket element of said pivot block are at least part-spherical.

20. In a remotely controlled mirror system of the type including a mirror anchored to a mirror retainer whose position is universally adjustable relative to a mirror housing by means of a cable linkage interconnecting the mirror retainer with a control unit, the improvement comprising:

a pivot boss on a longitudinal pivot axis mounted upon the housing and having a mounting head;

a pivot block having a socket element receiving and movably mounted upon said head;

said block being held in abutting and pivotal contact by the tension of the cable linkage exerting a force pulling the block towards and against said head;

pin and slot means between said block and said head constraining said block from movement in a plane through said block;

a pair of opposed slotted mount bosses extending from opposite sides and rearwardly of said pivot block; and

resilient detent means on said mirror retainer receiving and retainingly engaging said pivot block for universal movements therewith, said detent means retainingly engaging said mount bosses;

said detent means being yieldable to facilitate selective assembly of said mirror retainer on and disassembly from said pivot block;

wherein said pin and slot means includes a transverse slot extending through said head and axis and a stabilizer pin nested within said slot and extending across said pivot block and at its ends anchored within said mount bosses.

21. The mirror system of claim 20 wherein said mirror retainer has a recessed portion therein of a size and shape to snugly receive said pivot block;

said retainer being slotted upon the sides of said recessed portion to cooperatively receive said mount bosses, said bosses extending rearwardly of said retainer.

25. The mirror system of claim 20 wherein said slot of said pin and slot means opens towards said pivot block;

said pin and slot being so oriented that rotation of the mirror about a first axis substantially parallel to the cable linkage at its attachment to the pivot block is restricted by the result of and interference between said pin and the side surfaces of said slot, while leaving the mirror free to rotate about a second axis mutually perpendicular to said first axis.

26. The mirror system of claim 20 wherein said transverse slot includes a pair of parallel sidewalls, said slot having a bottom which includes a pair of inclined bottom surface portions intersecting centrally between said pair of sidewalls, such that the point of intersection thereof is the point of contact between said stabilizer pin and said slot bottom upon which the rotation of said mirror about said second axis is accomplished.

28. The mirror assembly of claim 26 wherein said mirror retainer has a recessed portion therein of a size and shape to snugly receive said pivot block;

said retainer being slotted upon the sides of said recessed portion to cooperatively receive said mount bosses, said bosses extending rearwardly of said retainer.

22. In a remotely controlled mirror system of the type including a mirror anchored to a mirror retainer whose position is universally adjustable relative to a mirror housing by means of a cable linkage interconnecting the mirror retainer with a control unit, the improvement comprising:

a pivot boss on a longitudinal pivot axis mounted upon the housing and having a mounting head;

a pivot block having a socket element receiving and movably mounted upon said head;

said block being held in abutting and pivotal contact by the tension of the cable linkage exerting a force pulling the block towards and against said head;

pin and slot means between said block and said head constraining said block from movement in a plane through said block;

resilient detent means on said mirror retainer receiving and retainingly engaging said pivot block for universal movements therewith;

said detent means being yieldable to facilitate selective assembly of said mirror retainer on and disassembly from said pivot block;

said detent means including at least one manually yieldable detent means having a finger piece thereon for flexing said manually yieldable detent means out of retaining engagement with said pivot block;

a pivot bracket mounted within said housing transverse of said pivot axis, said pivot boss being mounted on and projecting from said pivot bracket;

said cable linkage including a plurality of flexible cables extending into said housing and through said bracket;

means removably mounting and securing the ends of said cables upon spaced portions of said pivot block under tension;

said pivot block having a plurality of constricted slots therethrough adjacent top and bottom edges thereof, said cables extending into said pivot block slots; and

a ferrule secured upon the end of each cable nested and retained within said pivot block slots;

said recessed portion of said mirror retainer having side wall surfaces which are flat and effective to retain said ferrules in said pivot block slots against radial outward disengaging movement therefrom.

23. In a remotely controlled mirror system of the type including a mirror anchored to a mirror retainer whose position is universally adjustable relative to a mirror housing by means of a cable linkage interconnecting the mirror retainer with a control unit, the improvement comprising:

a pivot boss on a longitudinal pivot axis mounted upon the housing and having a mounting head;

a pivot block having a socket element receiving and movably mounted upon said head;

said block being held in abutting and pivotal contact by the tension of the cable linkage exerting a force pulling the block towards and against said head;

pin and slot means between said block and said head constraining said block from movement in a plane through said block;

resilient detent means on said mirror retainer receiving and retainingly engaging said pivot block for universal movement therewith;

said detent means being yieldable to facilitate selective assembly of said mirror retainer on and disassembly from said pivot block;

said detent means including at least one manually yieldable detent means having a finger piece thereon fro flexing said manually yieldable detent means out of retaining engagement with said pivot block;

a pivot bracket mounted within said housing transverse of said pivot axis, said pivot boss being mounted on and projecting from said pivot bracket;

said cable linkage including a plurality of flexible cables extending into said housing and through said bracket;

24. means removably mounting and securing the ends of said cables upon spaced portions of said pivot block under tension;

said pivot block having a plurality of constricted slots therethrough adjacent top and bottom edges thereof, said cables extending into said pivot block slots; and

a ferrule secured upon the end of each cable nested and retained within said pivot block slots;

said recessed portion of said mirror retainer including means for retaining said ferrules in said pivot block slots against radial outward disengaging movement therefrom.

27. In a mirror assembly of the type including a mirror secured to a mirror retainer which is adjustable on a mounting head located in a mirror housing, the improvement comprising:

a pivot block having a socket element receiving and movably mounted upon said head; and

resilient detent means on said mirror retainer receiving and retainingly engaging said pivot block for movements therewith;

said detent means being yieldable to facilitate selective assembly of said mirror retainer on and disassembly from said pivot block;

wherein a pair of opposed slotted mount bosses extend from opposite sides and rearwardly of said pivot block, said detent means retainingly engaging said mount bosses;

said head including a transverse slot extending through said head and having a stabilizer pin nested within said slot and extending across said pivot block and at its ends anchored within said mount bosses.