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Break-away pivot system for rearview mirrors

  • US 4,789,232 A
  • Filed: 08/14/1987
  • Issued: 12/06/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A break-away mounting for vehicle-mounted mirrors, comprising:

  • a mounting member adapted to be secured to the side exterior of a vehicle,a portion of said mounting member projecting outwardly from the vehicle when the mounting member is secured thereto,a mirror support adapted to receive and support a mirror,a pivot boss forming part of said mirror support,pivot means pivotally mounting said pivot boss to said portion such that the mirror support can pivot with respect to the portion about an axis which is oriented substantially vertically when the mounting member is secured to the vehicle,a guide ring affixed to one of said portion and said pivot boss, the guide ring having a generally planar upper sirface including two integral raised portions at diametrically opposed positions - has been inserted. defining two diametrically opposed recesses, a roller bearing in each of the recesses,and cam means on the other of said portion and said pivot boss, the cam means operatively interacting with said roller bearings,,resilient means urging said roller bearings against the cam means,the cam means defining detent means for receiving the roller bearings when the mirror support is in that position with respect to the mounting member which corresponds to normal vehicle operation,the cam means further defining sloping cam surfaces to either side of each detent means which are such that when the mirror support is deflected either forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the vehicle, it automatically returns to the position which corresponds to normal vehicle operation,the said cam surfaces including, for each detent means;

    (a) a first cam surface contacted by the corresponding roller bearing when the mirror support is deflected forwardly,(b) and a second cam surface contacted by the corresponding roller bearing when the mirror support is deflected rearwardly,the said cam surfaces extending within a common annulus around the said axis,all cam surfaces defining with a plane normal to said axis an angle large enough to ensure that friction will not retain the roller bearings at any position along them, whereby when the mirror support is moved to a forward or a rearward position with respect to its normal operating position, it will tend to be returned to its normal operating position by camming action in cooperation with said resilient means.

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