Vehicle mirror with electrical accessories

• US 5,455,716 A
• Filed: 12/10/1992
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Suman, Michael J., Watjer, Sheldon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US07/989,895
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 359/838, 359/871, 359/872, 248/548, 248/549, 248/550, 248/477, 248/479, 248/481, 248/900
• US Class Current: 359/838
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/123 with thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

A mounting assembly for a vehicle rearview mirror has breakaway capability and includes a base for attachment to an interior portion of a vehicle and a support for releasable attachment to the base. A rearview mirror assembly is mounted on an end of said support. The support and base include removable electrical connectors for removably, electrically connecting any one of a variety of selectable electrical circuits in the rearview mirror assembly to wiring in the vehicle roof structure. A spring clip is provided to releasably connect the support member to the base such that a predetermined level of force is required to cause the support to release from the base and thereby permit the rearview mirror to break away.

Claims

1. An overhead breakaway mirror mount for a vehicle including a roof structure comprising:

a base carried on the vehicle roof structure;

a mirror assembly including a mirror housing and an electrical accessory carried therein;

a support member for said mirror housing, said support member including first and second ends, means at said first end of said support member for mounting said mirror housing to said support member; and

said support member including means for mechanically releasably coupling said second end of said support member to said base and means coupled to said electrical accessory for releasably electrically coupling said electrical accessory to conductors in the vehicle'"'"'s roof structure, said electrical coupling means carried on said second end of said support member, whereby an impact force will cause said support member to disengage said base and said electrical coupling means to disconnect from said conductors in the roof structure, wherein said support member includes a first pair of slots formed on a rearward edge of said support for receiving a mechanical connecting means on said base.

2. An overhead breakaway accessory mount for a vehicle comprising:

a base carried on the vehicle roof, said base including a mechanical connector and an electrical connector coupled to wiring in the vehicle roof;

an accessory for mounting to a vehicle;

a support member for said accessory, said support member having first and second ends and means at said first end of said support member for mounting said accessory to said support member, said support member including a first pair of slots formed on said second end of said support member for receiving said mechanical connector on said base, and said support member including a resilient clip aligned with said slots, wherein said clip receives said mechanical connector on said base and said support member including mechanically releasably coupling an opposite end of said means electrically coupled to said accessory for releasably coupling to said electrical connector, said electrical coupling means on said second end of said support member whereby an impact force will cause said support member to disengage said base and said electrical connector.

3. The breakaway mirror mount as defined in claim 2 wherein said clip is coupled to said support by a pair of fasteners.

4. A rearview mirror mounting assembly for a vehicle including a roof structure, comprising:

a base carried on the vehicle roof structure, said base including first mechanical coupling means, having a first end and a second end, and first electrical coupling means connected to wiring in the vehicle roof;

a rearview mirror assembly having an electrical option therein; and

a support means attached to said mirror assembly and including second mechanical coupling means having first and second ends for removably mounting said support means to said first mechanical coupling means, said support means including second electrical coupling means for removably electrically coupling said rearview mirror assembly to said first electrical coupling means, said first and second mechanical coupling means each including connectors on said first and second ends which are interconnected whereby said rearview mirror assembly is securely, releasably attached to the vehicle roof structure and said electrical option is releasably electrically coupled to the vehicle electrical system, and wherein said support-means includes a first pair of slots formed on a rearward edge for receiving a mechanical connecting means on said base.

5. The rearview mirror mounting member as defined in claim 4 wherein said support means include a second pair of slots spaced from said first pair of slots which receive a at least a portion of said base.

6. A rearview mirror mounting assembly for a vehicle including an electrical system comprising:

a base adapted to be attached to the vehicle, said base including a first mechanical coupling means and an electrical coupling means carried by said base;

a rearview mirror assembly having at least one of a plurality of different electrical options therein; and

a support means attached to said mirror assembly and including means for removably mounting said support means to said first mechanical coupling means on said base, said support means including electrical coupling means for removably electrically coupling said rearview mirror assembly to said electrical coupling means carried by said base, said support means adapted to be removably attached to said base whereby said rearview mirror assembly having said at least one of said plurality of different electrical options may be attached to and removed from said base, said removable mounting means on said support means including a second mechanical coupling means wherein one of said first and second mechanical coupling means includes a first pair of slots for receiving the other one of said mechanical coupling means and a clip for receiving said other one of said first and second mechanical coupling means when said slots receive said other one of said first and second mechanical coupling means carried by said base.

7. The rearview mirror mounting assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said clip is coupled to said support by a pair of fasteners.

8. An overhead breakaway mirror mount for a vehicle including a roof structure comprising:

a base carried on the vehicle roof structure;

a mirror assembly including a mirror housing and an electrical accessory carried therein;

a support member for said mirror housing, said support member including first and second ends, means at said first end of said support member for mounting said mirror housing to said support member said second end having a forward and rearward portion; and

said support member including means for mechanically releasably coupling said second end of said support member to said base and means coupled to said electrical accessory for releasably electrically coupling said electrical accessory to conductors in the vehicle'"'"'s roof structure, said electrical coupling means carried on said second end of said support member, whereby a forward impact force to said mirror assembly will cause said support member to disengage said base and said electrical coupling means to disconnect from said conductors in the roof structure, wherein said support member includes at least one substantially "C"-shaped slot formed on the rearward portion of said support and having an opening at a rearmost end of said slot for receiving a mechanical connecting means on said base.