Holding device for a tiltable mirror for vehicles

• US 5,098,058 A
• Filed: 03/15/1991
• Issued: 03/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HOHE KG
• Original Assignee: HOHE KG
• Inventors: Seubert, Richard, Fuchs, Hai J., Polzer, Herwig
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin-Shue, Alvin C.
• Application Number:
  US07/669,936
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 248/900, 248/549, 248/475.1, 248/479, 350/631, 350/632, 350/604, 350/606
• US Class Current: 248/549
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/076 yieldable to excessive external force and provided with an indexed use position B60R1/0617, B60R1/074 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

To reliably reduce the risk of injury in the return tilting of a mirror housing from a tilted end position into a position for normal use, the mirror housing initially swings against an overcomable stop, which ensures a safety distance between the lifted mirror housing edge and the mirror base. This safety distance is dimensioned such that a trapping of fingers between the mirror housing edge and the mirror base does not occur. The stop can only be overcome by the mirror housing by renewed application of force to the mirror housing, after which the mirror housing then tilts into the position for normal use.

Claims

1. An outside mirror for a vehicle, said outside mirror comprising:

a mirror base,

a mirror housing tiltably mounted on said mirror base for movement relative to said mirror base and out of a position of normal use,

means for holding said mirror housing in the position of normal use at the mirror base,

an edge of said mirror housing bearing against an edge of said mirror base,

a swivel lever for holding said mirror housing in a defined tilted end position, said swivel lever having two ends,

a holding plate projecting from said mirror base in a direction of said mirror housing, one end of said swivel lever being pivotally mounted on said holding plate and including a trap portion for engagement with said mirror housing in said tilted end position

a slot defined in said mirror base, the other end of said swivel lever including a lug for engagement against an edge portion of said slot when said mirror housing is in said tilted end position,

a spring accommodated within said mirror base with one end of said spring engaging said mirror base and an opposite end of said spring engaging said swivel lever, said lug of said swivel lever being held in engagement against said edge portion of said slot by said spring while said mirror housing engages said trap portion to maintain said mirror housing in said tilted end position until a manual force overcomes the bias of said spring against said swivel lever to move said mirror housing out of said trap portion and said lug from engagement with said edge portion of said slot to enable return of said mirror housing to said position of normal use while overcoming a frictional force of said mirror housing contacting said swivel lever.

2. An outside mirror for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding plate includes a forked portion between which said one end of said swivel lever is pivotally mounted.