Fixing device for inside rearview mirror

• US 5,439,305 A
• Filed: 05/03/1994
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Metagal Indãºstria E Comã©Rcio LTDA
• Original Assignee: Metagal Industria E Comercio Ltds.
• Inventors: Santo, Antonio F. d E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOP, ANDREA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/237,179
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 248/223.4, 248/475.1, 248/481, 248/549, 248/900, 359/872, 296/97.7, 296/97.9, 296/214, 403/76, 403/289, 403/290, 403/294, 403/320, 403/331, 403/335, 403/336, 403/363, 403/376, 403/380, 403/409.1
• US Class Current: 403/76
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/50 Flanged connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/73 Cam locks or thread locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32196 Articulate joint is ball and socket

Abstract

A fixing device for an inside rearview mirror of a vehicle comprises an arm having a lower end articulately connectable with a mirror supporting frame of a rearview mirror and an upper end mountable on a vehicle ceiling, and means for mounting the upper end of the arm on the vehicle ceiling and formed as a coupling, the coupling including a first coupling part having a substantially horizontal plate, two side wings extending substantially vertically from the plate, a front wing and a rear end which is open, the first coupling part being also provided with two fitting guides extending on and along the horizontal plate and each including a T-shaped wing section and a rib located between the wing section and a respective one of the side wings, the first coupling part being also provided with a U-shaped spring having a transverse branch and two parallel side branches, the coupling further including a second coupling part having a base plate fixable to the ceiling of the vehicle, an inverted U-shaped central rib and L-shaped side ribs, so that the T-shaped wing sections of the first coupling part are fitted and retained between the U-shaped central rib and L-shaped side wings, while the L-shaped side wings of the second coupling part are inserted between the T-shaped wing sections, the rib and the side wings of the first coupling part.

Claims

1. A fixing device for an inside rearview mirror of a vehicle comprising an arm having a lower end articulately connectable with a mirror supporting frame of a rearview mirror and an upper end mountable on a vehicle ceiling, and means for mounting said upper end of said arm on the vehicle ceiling and formed as a coupling, said coupling including a first coupling part having a substantially horizontal plate, two side wings extending substantially vertically from said plate, a front wing and a rear end which is open, said first coupling part being also provided with two fitting guides extending on and along said horizontal plate and each including a T-shaped wing section and a rib located between said T-shaped wing section and a respective one of said side wings, said first coupling part being also provided with a U-shaped spring having a transverse branch and two parallel side branches, said coupling further including a second coupling part having a base plate fixable to the ceiling of the vehicle, an inverted U-shaped central rib and L-shaped side wings, so that said T-shaped wing sections of said first coupling part are fitted and retained between said U-shaped central rib and L-shaped side wings, while said L-shaped side wings of said second coupling part are inserted between said T-shaped wing sections, said rib and said side wings of said first coupling part.

2. A fixing device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said side branches of said spring is provided with a longitudinal free edge having two indentures, said spring being fitted between said T-shaped wing sections and fixed by end segments of said side branches limited by said indentures and segments of said side branches intermediate to said indentures, and also are slightly bent inwards, so that said side branches of said spring and said inverted U-shaped central rib fit into one another to improve fixation of said first and second coupling parts.

3. A fixing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said arm is formed so that said lower end of said arm is articulately connectable with a back face of said mirror supporting frame while said upper end of said arm is offset relative to a remaining portion of said arm so that in an assembled condition said upper end extends in direction toward a back region of the vehicle.