Adjustable support for vehicle side view mirror

• US 5,292,100 A
• Filed: 04/16/1993
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: G&T Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gary L. Byers, Timothy W. Byers
• Inventors: Byers, Gary L., Byers, Timothy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Application Number:
  US08/047,946
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 248/900, 248/549, 248/279, 248/282, 248/285, 248/480, 248/486, 248/479, 359/874, 359/876
• US Class Current: 248/480
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

According to this invention a side mounted rear view mirror assembly, for vehicles having a mirror and mirror neck support member and further having generally horizontally disposed support bar means, comprises: a) a mirror support block means slidably mounted on the support bar means and having a first section through which the support bar means extends, and having a second section positioned rearwardly of the first section and depending downwardly, the second section having a neck support cavity therein within which the mirror neck support member may be inserted; and b) adjustment lock means in the block first section for releasably securing the block means to the support bar means at a desired position thereon; and lock means in the block second section adapted to hold and secure the neck support member in the neck support cavity.

Claims

1. In a side mounted rear view mirror assembly for vehicles including a mirror and mirror support neck member wherein the mirror support neck member has a vertical mounting leg, and further including generally horizontally disposed support bar means, the improvement comprising:

a) a mirror support block means slidably mounted on said support bar means and having a first section through which said support bar means extends, and having a second section positioned rearwardly of said first section and depending downwardly, said first section having an enclosed horizontal first cavity extending completely therethrough for receiving and sliding upon said support bar means, and said second section having an elongated vertically-oriented neck support second cavity extending downwardly and terminating therein for receiving and supporting the vertical mounting leg of said mirror support neck member, said neck support cavity being aligned generally perpendicularly to said first cavity and spaced rearwardly of said first cavity whereby insertion of the vertical mounting leg of the support neck member will locate said vertical mounting leg rearwardly of said support bar means whereby said mirror will be positioned at a desired elevation;

whereby an original equipment mirror and mirror support neck member might be utilized without modification and so mounted for movement as to be capable of in and out movement relative to a vehicle side mounting assembly; and

b) adjustment lock means in said block first section for releasably securing said block means to said support bar means at a desired position thereon; and

second lock means in said block second section adapted to hold and secure said support neck member in said neck support cavity.

2. The side mounted rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said adjustment lock means is a threaded screw member with finger gripping means thereon for quickly tightening and releasing said screw member with respect to said support bar means;

said adjustment lock means being located underneath said block first section and in line with and forwardly of said neck support cavity in said block second section.

3. The side mounted rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein said block means is made of a casting and said first and second sections are integral with said second section positioned rearwardly of said first section and depending therefrom, said first section being thicker and wider at its rearward edge that at its forward edge, and said second section being wider at its upper end than at its lower end, whereby the casting is reinforced at the juncture of said first section with said second section.

4. The side mounted rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein a vehicle is provided with a mirror support means having a mirror neck retainer cradle assembly and a releasable clamp means coacting with the cradle assembly to hold a mirror neck therein, and including a replacement stem means fitted within said mirror neck retainer cradle assembly and held therein by said releasible clamp means in place of said mirror support neck member to provide a vertical pivot axis;

said support bar means being secured to the top of said stem means and extending outward from the vehicle whereby said support bar means may be pivoted about the vertical pivot axis to swing the mirror and mirror support neck member.

5. The side mounted rear view mirror assembly according to claim 4 wherein the top of said replacement stem is provided with an inwardly offset ledge and said support bar means is provided with an opening fitted around the top of said stem whereby said support bar means set on said inwardly offset ledge;

and wherein the top of said stem is provided with a threaded passage; and

including a lock screw means screwed into said threaded passage to bear against the top of said support bar means to secure said bar means onto said inwardly offset ledge whereby said support bar means will cantilever outward from said stem in a secure manner without vibrating relative to said stem.

6. In a side mounted rear view mirror assembly for vehicles including a mirror and mirror support neck member wherein the mirror support neck member has a vertical mounting leg, and further including generally horizontally disposed support bar means, the improvement comprising:

a) a mirror support block means slidably mounted on said support bar means and having a first section through which said support bar means extends, and having a second section positioned rearwardly of said first section and depending downwardly, said first section having an enclosed horizontal first cavity extending completely therethrough for receiving and sliding upon said support bar means, and said second section having an elongated vertically-oriented neck support second cavity extending downwardly and terminating therein for receiving and supporting the vertical mounting leg of said mirror support neck member, said neck support cavity being aligned generally perpendicularly to said first cavity and spaced rearwardly of said first cavity whereby insertion of the vertical mounting leg of the mirror support neck member will locate said vertical mounting leg rearwardly of said support bar means whereby said mirror will be positioned at a desired elevation;

whereby an original equipment mirror and mirror support neck member might be utilized without modification and so mounted for movement as to be capable of in and out movement relative to a vehicle side mounting assembly;

b) adjustment lock means in said block first section for releasably securing said block means to said support bar means at a desired position thereon; and

second lock means in said block second section adapted to hold and secure said support neck member in said neck support cavity;

said adjustment lock means comprising a threaded screw member with finger gripping means thereon for quickly tightening and releasing said screw member with respect to said support bar means;

said adjustment lock means being located underneath said block first section and in line with and forwardly of said neck support cavity in said block second section; and

said block means being made of a casting with said first and second sections being integral, and with said second section positioned rearwardly of said first section and depending therefrom, said first section being thicker and wider at its rearward edge that at its forward edge, and said second section being wider at its upper end than at its lower end, whereby the casting is reinforced at the juncture of said first section with said second section.

7. The side mounted rear view mirror assembly according to claim 6 wherein a vehicle is provided with a mirror support means having a mirror neck retainer cradle assembly and a releasable clamp means coacting with the cradle assembly to hold a mirror neck therein, and including a replacement stem means fitted within said mirror neck retainer cradle assembly and held therein by said releasible clamp means in place of said mirror support neck member;

said support bar means being secured to the top of said stem means and extending outward from the vehicle.

8. The side mounted rear view mirror assembly according to claim 7 wherein the top of said replacement stem is provided with an inwardly offset ledge and said support bar means is provided with an opening fitted around the top of said stem whereby said support bar means set on said inwardly offset ledge;

and wherein the top of said stem is provided with a threaded passage; and

including a lock screw means screwed into said threaded passage to bear against the top of said support bar means to secure said bar means onto said inwardly offset ledge whereby said support bar means will cantilever outward from said stem in a secure manner without vibrating relative to said stem.