Rear view mirror mounting arrangement for boats

• US 5,100,093 A
• Filed: 02/19/1991
• Issued: 03/31/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven E. Rawlinson
• Original Assignee: Steven E. Rawlinson
• Inventors: Rawlinson, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US07/656,844
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/477, 248/479, 248/480, 248/481, 248/482, 248/484, 248/485, 248/486, 248/279, 248/283, 248/288.3, 248/295, 403/90, 403/131, 403/122, 350/631
• US Class Current: 248/480
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10

Abstract

A U-shaped clamp fastens to a boat windshield frame with set screws and incorporates a protruding member having a recess with a hemispherical radius at the inner end and a straight bore tapped with internal threads at the outer end. A ball having a matching radius is held captive in the recess by a nut that engages the internal threads. The nut has a partial radius that matches the radius of the ball. A slotted elongated arm fastens to a mirror at the slotted end, and has an elbow at the other end that passes through a large opening in the nut and fastens to the ball. Another embodiment has a ball mounted on the protruding member that mates with a cylindrical ball socket member having a ledge at one end adapted to engage the ball. The ball socket member has a split that is squeezed together to hold the ball. Another embodiment has a cylindrical pivot member rather than a ball-socket pivot. In one embodiment the protruding member is formed as an integral part of the boat windshield frame. The multi-axis pivoting arrangement adapts to a wide variety of windshield shapes and permits pivoting the mirror down and out of the way when not in use to permit covering and trailering of the boat.

Claims

1. Apparatus adapted for mounting a mirror above a boat windshield in a manner such that the mirror may be pivoted down when not in use, said apparatus comprising:

first and second mirror mounts, said first mirror mount adapted to be fastened at one end of an elongated mirror, said second mirror mount adapted to be fastened at the other end of said elongated mirror;

said mirror mounts each having a clamp member for attachment to a boat windshield;

said mirror mounts each having a slotted elongated arm for varying the distance of said mirror from said clamp members;

said mirror mounts each having a pivoting arrangement adapted for raising and lowering said mirror;

said pivoting arrangement comprising a protruding member on said clamp member having a recess with a full hemispherical radius at the bottom;

said protruding member having as an outer part of said recess an inset straight bore tapped with internal screw threads;

a ball for mating with said recess having a radius matching the radius at the bottom of said recess;

a nut having external threads adapted to engage the internal threads in said recess and having a partial radius that matches the radius of said ball, said nut having a large diameter opening; and

an elbow attached at one end to said ball and adapted to pass through said large diameter opening in said nut and adapted to attach at the other end to one end of said slotted elongated arm.

2. Apparatus adapted for mounting a mirror above a boat windshield in a manner such that the mirror may be pivoted down when not in use, said apparatus comprising:

first and second mirror mounts, said first mirror mount adapted to be fastened at one end of an elongated mirror, said second mirror mount adapted to be fastened at the other end of said elongated mirror;

said mirror mounts each having a clamp member for attachment to a boat windshield;

said mirror mounts each having a slotted elongated arm for varying the distance of said mirror from said clamp members;

said mirror mounts each having a pivoting arrangement adapted for raising and lowering said mirror;

said pivoting arrangement comprising a protruding member on said clamp member having a ball mounted thereto;

a ball socket member having a cylindrical ball socket adapted to mate with said ball, said cylindrical ball socket having a ledge at one end thereof adapted to engage said ball, said ball socket member having a split dividing it into a first finger and a second finger, said ball socket member having a screw hole passing through said first and second fingers, said hole having screw threads in said first finger and having a clearance diameter in said second finger;

a first screw for fastening said slotted elongated arm to said first finger; and

a second screw for drawing said first and second fingers together.

3. Apparatus adapted for mounting a mirror above a boat windshield in a manner such that the mirror may be pivoted down when not in use, said apparatus comprising:

first and second mirror mounts, said first mirror mount adapted to be fastened to one end of an elongated mirror, said second mirror mount adapted to be fastened at the other end of said elongated mirror;

said mirror mounts each having a clamp member for attachment to a boat windshield;

said mirror mounts each having a slotted elongated arm for varying the distance of said mirror from said clamp members;

said mirror mounts each having a pivoting arrangement adapted for raising and lowering said mirror;

said pivoting arrangement comprising a protruding member on said clamp member having a ball mounted thereto;

a ball socket member having a cylindrical ball socket adapted to mate with said ball, said ball socket member having a split dividing it into a first finger and a second finger, said ball socket member having a screw hole passing through said first and second fingers, said hole having screw threads in said first finger and having a clearance diameter in said second finger; and

a screw for fastening said slotted elongated arm to said second finger and for drawing said first and second fingers together.

4. Apparatus adapted for mounting a mirror above a boat windshield in a manner such that the mirror may be pivoted down when not in use, said apparatus comprising:

first and second mirror mounts, said first mirror mount adapted to be fastened at one end of an elongated mirror, said second mirror mount adapted to be fastened at the other end of said elongated mirror;

said mirror mounts each having a clamp member for attachment to a boat windshield;

said mirror mounts each having a slotted elongated arm for varying the distance of said mirror from said clamp members;

said mirror mounts each having a pivoting arrangement adapted for raising and lowering said mirror;

said pivoting arrangement comprising a protruding member on said clamp member having a counterbored screw clearance hole therein;

a cylindrical member having a truncating flat on one side and having a first threaded screw hole in said flat, and having a second threaded screw hole in one end thereof;

a first screw disposed in the counterbored screw clearance hole in said protruding member and having its threads engaged in said second threaded screw hole in said cylindrical member; and

a second screw fastening said slotted elongated arm to the flat on said cylindrical member by having its threads engaged in said first threaded screw hole in said cylindrical member.

5. Integral mirror mounts incorporated into the frame of a boat windshield, said mirror mounts comprising:

a frame for a boat windshield having an upper frame member;

first and second integrated mirror mounting tabs protruding from the upper frame member of said boat windshield;

a pivoting arrangement disposed on and fastened to said integral mirror mounting tabs; and

a slotted elongated arm pivotably attached at one end to said pivoting arrangement, the other end of said slotted elongated arm adapted to be attached to one end of an elongated mirror;

whereby a mirror may be mounted above the windshield in a manner such that the mirror may be pivoted down when not in use, and whereby the distance between the mirror and said pivoting arrangement may be varied.