Outside mirror assembly for motor vehicles

• US 5,031,871 A
• Filed: 12/06/1989
• Issued: 07/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Ohta, Michio, Naganuma, Hideharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSON, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/446,551
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 248/544, 248/479, 248/480, 248/481, 248/485, 248/486, 248/487, 350/632, 350/636, 350/639
• US Class Current: 248/544
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

In an outside mirror assembly for motor vehicles, having a mirror installed pivotably inside an enclosure fixed to a stay, the retaining force of a structure pivotably holding the mirror can be adjusted and the mirror can be detached and reinstalled. The holding structure can be removably installed by means of a fixture inside the enclosure fixed to the stay. A back plate holding the mirror is pivotably supported to the holding structure, and the force of the holding structure for retaining the back plate can be adjusted. The enclosure has formed therein an opening through which a tool for adjusting the retaining force of the holding structure and for removing or reinstalling the fixture can be introduced, and a cover is removably attached to the enclosure to close said opening.

Claims

1. An outside mirror assembly for motor vehicles comprising:

a round bar stay having a first end and a second end, said second end being fixably attached to a vehicle;

a front-open enclosure having fixture means for pivotably connecting said enclosure to said first end of said stay;

a back plate housed in said enclosure, a mirror affixed to said back plate;

a holding structure for holding said back plate pivotably inside said enclosure, said holding structure comprising a shaft member positioned perpendicular to said stay, a clamping plate having first and second ends and a screw hole disposed in said second end, a screw disposed in said screw hole for pivotably clamping said clamping plate to said shaft member such that by tightening or loosening said screw, a clamping force becomes adjustable and said mirror is pivotable about a vertical axis of said shaft member;

a fixture for removably attaching said holding structure inside said enclosure, said fixture comprising a fixing plate having a through hole formed in a central portion thereof, a screw disposed in said through hole for affixing said fixing plate to said holding structure such that said holding structure pivotably supports said mirror and back plate within said enclosure, thereby creating an adjustable retaining force;

said enclosure having an opening formed therein for receiving a tool for adjusting said retaining force of said holding structure and installing or detaching said fixture; and

a cover removably attached to said enclosure, including means for covering said opening in said enclosure and a housing portion affixed to said stay.

2. An outside mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said fixture means for pivotably attaching said enclosure to said stay and said fixing plate of said fixture form an integral structure.

3. An outside mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cover has a hole in a lower portion thereof for receiving said stay.

4. An outside mirror assembly for motor vehicles comprising:

a stay having a first end and a second end, said second end being fixably attached to a vehicle;

a front-open enclosure having fixture means for pivotably connecting said enclosure to said first end of said stay;

a back plate housed in said enclosure, a mirror affixed to said back plate;

a holding structure for holding said back plate pivotably inside said enclosure, said holding structure comprising a shaft member positioned perpendicular to said stay, a clamping plate having screw holes disposed in opposite ends thereof, screws disposed in said screw holes for pivotably clamping said clamping plate to said shaft member such that by tightening or loosing said screws a clamping force becomes adjustable and said mirror is pivotable about a vertical axis of said shaft member;

a fixture for removably attaching said holding structure inside said enclosure, said fixture comprising a fixing plate having a first through hole formed in a central portion thereof and a second through hole formed in a first end thereof, a tightening screw disposed in said second through hole for affixing said fixing plate to said enclosure, a screw disposed in said first through hole for affixing said fixing plate to said holding structure such that said holding structure pivotably supports said mirror and back plate within said enclosure, thereby creating an adjustable retaining force;

said enclosure having an opening formed therein for receiving a tool for adjusting said retaining force of said holding structure and installing or detaching said fixture; and

a cover removably attached to said enclosure, including means for covering said opening in said enclosure and a housing portion affixed to said stay.