Vehicle rearview mirror

• US 5,363,245 A
• Filed: 10/30/1992
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilardini SpA
• Original Assignee: Gilardini SpA
• Inventors: Borello, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US07/969,421
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 248/466, 248/469, 248/475.1, 248/476
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle rearview mirror comprising a cup-shaped body, the front edge of which defines a square frame housing a reflecting plate; and a cylindrical arm extending from the body and one end of which is fitted to the vehicle door. At one corner of the frame, the body presents a flat beveled portion inclined 45° in relation to the adjacent sides of the frame, and mating with a flat end wall of the arm. The body is adjustable in relation to the arm between a first stable connecting position and a second stable connecting position wherein the body is turned over and rotated 180° in relation to the arm, so that the mirror functions as a right- or left-hand rearview mirror, depending on whether the body is set to the first or second position.

Claims

1. A vehicle rearview mirror comprising:

a cup-shaped body (4) having a front edge (6) defining a frame (8) housing a reflective plate (10);

an arm (14) extending from a portion (20) of said body (4), and the free end (16) of which is fitted to an outer panel on the vehicle, said arm (14) presenting an end wall (30) mating with said portion (20);

connecting means (33) being provided between said portion (20) and said end wall (30), and defining at least two stable connecting positions of said body (4) and said arm (14);

said body (4) being adjustable in relation to said arm (14) between a first stable connecting position and a second stable connecting position wherein said body (4) is turned over and rotated 180°

in relation to said arm (14);

wherein said frame (8) being substantially square, and presenting, at one corner, a bevel (20);

said arm (14) extending from said body (4) at said bevel (20).

2. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arm (14) comprises a first bellows portion (26) having a free end (16) designed for fitment to said outer panel of said vehicle;

said arm (14) also comprising a cylindrical portion (28) integral and coaxial with said bellows portion (26) and terminating in said end wall (30) mating with said portion (20).

3. A mirror as claimed in claim 2, wherein said end wall (30) is inclined 45°

in relation to the axis (31) of said arm (14).

4. A mirror as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said connecting means (33) comprise:

a first (40) and second (44) threaded hole formed in said body (4) and the respective axes of which are substantially perpendicular to each other;

a third through hole (38) formed in said arm (14) and extending from a lateral wall of said arm (14) towards said body (4);

a screw (36) engaging said third hole (38) and the end portion of which engages said first (40) or said second (44) hole, depending on whether said body (4) is set to said first or said second position.

5. A mirror as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said frame is symmetrical in relation to an axis (47) perpendicular to said portion (20);

said axis (47) being coplanar with said frame (8).

6. A vehicle rearview mirror comprising:

a cup-shaped body (4) having a front edge (6) defining a frame (8) housing a reflective plate (10);

an arm (14) extending from a portion (20) of said body (4), and the free end (16) of which is fitted to an outer panel on the vehicle, said arm (14) presenting an end wall (30) mating with said portion (20);

connecting means (33) being provided between said portion (20) and said end wall (30), and defining at least two stable connecting positions of said body (4) and said arm (14);

said body (4) being adjustable in relation to said arm (14) between a first stable connecting position and a second stable connecting position wherein said body (4) is turned over and rotated 180°

in relation to said arm (14);

said connecting means comprising an elongated body (50) extending from said arm (14) towards and into said cup-shaped body (4), said elongated body comprising a screw (50) fitted by its base (52) to said arm (14) and extending inside said cup-shaped body (4) through a hole (55) formed in said body (4);

elastic means (60) between said elongated body (50) and said cup-shaped body (4), said elastic means comprising a spiral spring (60), stop means (72,74) located between said arm (14) and said cup-shaped body (4), for defining two stable angular connecting positions of said body in relation to said arm (14);

wherein said stop means comprises a pair of semispherical projections (72) extending from a wall of said arm (14) and on either side of said screw (50);

said projections (72) being designed to engage respective semispherical cavities (74) formed in said cup-shaped body (4).