Breakaway mirror reset

• US 4,904,074 A
• Filed: 06/05/1989
• Issued: 02/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Britax Rainsfords Pty Limited Sherriffs Road Lonsdale South Australia Australia
• Original Assignee: Britax Rainsfords Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Gilbert, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ryan, Jay Patrick
• Application Number:
  US07/361,420
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 350/604, 350/605, 350/631, 350/632, 350/635, 248/548, 248/549, 248/900
• US Class Current: 359/875
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/066 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

A break-away mirror is provided with an extensible resilient tension member (26) coupled to the pivoted assembly (11) of the mirror (10) and also coupled to a head (21) on the outer end of a tilt control lever (19), the tension member extending into the pivoted assembly from the head, and being arranged to guide the head (21) back into its track (22) after it has been displaced therefrom by break-away or other forces.

Claims

1. Reset means in a "break-away" mirror assembly of the type having a mounting base, a pivoted assembly pivoted thereto to allow displacement of the pivoted assembly both forwardly and rearwardly, a mirror backing plate, swivel mounting means mounting the mirror backing plate within the pivoted assembly, a mirror carried by the mirror backing plate, a tilt control lever pivoted with respect to the mounting base and having an outer end so engaging track surfaces fixed with respect to the mirror backing plate that manipulation of the lever can tilt the backing plate,

the reset means comprising a head on the outer end of the tilt control lever which disengages from the track surfaces upon said displacement, an extensible resilient tension member, first coupling means connecting an inner end of the tension member to the head, further coupling means connecting an outer end of the tension member to the pivoted assembly, and guide surfaces of the pivoted assembly so located as to guide the head back into engagement with the track surfaces upon reset of the pivoted assembly from a displacement position.

2. Reset means according to claim 1 wherein the head on the outer end of the tilt control lever is a "T" head, said first coupling means comprising surfaces on the inner end of the tension member which engage with "T" head.

3. Reset means according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said further coupling means comprises an apertured head on the outer end of the tension member engaging an anchor surface on the pivoted assembly.

4. Reset means according to claim 1 wherein said pivoted assembly comprises a swivel mounting plate, a mirror backing plate, a swivel joint between those said plates, walls on said mirror mounting plate providing said guide surfaces and said track surfaces,

said first coupling means comprising a pair of loops on the tension member which surround the tilt control lever head,

said further coupling means comprising an apertured lug on the outer end of the tension member which engages an anchor spigot in the swivel mounting plate.

5. Reset means according to claim 4 wherein said guide surfaces diverge from ends of said track surfaces.

6. Reset means according to claim 4 further comprising walls on the swivel mounting plate defining a channel which opens to said recess, said extensible resilient tension member extending through said channel.