Mirror support bracket
First Claim
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1. A support bracket for a vehicle rearview mirror assembly, the mirror assembly having a ball member extending therefrom, comprising:
- a mirror stay having a first end terminating in a generally spherical socket;
a cup adapted to substantially enclose the ball member extending from the mirror assembly when the ball member is received therein, and disposed within said generally spherical socket; and
a biasing member disposed substantially behind said cup and configured to force said cup toward one end of said socket and compress about the ball to sustain a substantially constant clamping force on the ball over a range of temperatures; and
a mechanism disposed at one end of said biasing member for adjusting a force exerted by said biasing member on said cup.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror assembly for use in vehicles having a support bracket which provides an adjustment mechanism to position the mirror under a substantially constant clamping pressure over a wide range of ambient temperature conditions. The support bracket includes a generally spherical socket which receives a polymeric ball cup substantially enclosing a ball member extending from the mirror. A spring forces the cup and ball member into the socket and causes the polymeric cup to compress about the ball member. The bracket may be used on both header- and windshield-mounted mirror assemblies.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A support bracket for a vehicle rearview mirror assembly, the mirror assembly having a ball member extending therefrom, comprising:
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a mirror stay having a first end terminating in a generally spherical socket; a cup adapted to substantially enclose the ball member extending from the mirror assembly when the ball member is received therein, and disposed within said generally spherical socket; and a biasing member disposed substantially behind said cup and configured to force said cup toward one end of said socket and compress about the ball to sustain a substantially constant clamping force on the ball over a range of temperatures; and a mechanism disposed at one end of said biasing member for adjusting a force exerted by said biasing member on said cup. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A breakaway rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
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a securing member adapted to be attached to the vehicle; a support arm having a first and second ends; a breakaway coupler extending through said securing member for releasably coupling said first end of said support arm to said securing member and allowing said coupler to release and separate from said securing member upon impact by a force of predetermined magnitude acting on said support arm; a ball mount retention assembly defined at said second end of said support arm and defining a generally spherical cavity having an opening therein; a compressible liner cup disposed within said spherical cavity; a spring disposed on one side of said compressible liner cup opposite said opening to force said compressible liner cup into said spherical cavity; a ball mount extending from a rearview mirror assembly, said ball mount being received in said liner cup through said opening and clamped in place in said spherical cavity by said compressible liner cup and said spring; and a member engaging one end of said spring to adjust a force exerted by said spring on said compressible liner cup. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A rearview mirror and support assembly, comprising in combination:
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a mirror stay having a first end adapted for connection with a portion of a vehicle, and a second end defining a ball-mount retention assembly having a hole defined therein; and a rearview mirror assembly having a ball member extending therefrom;
said second end of said mirror stay including a first side facing said rearview assembly and a second side opposite to said first side;
said ball member received through said hole from said first side of said second end of said mirror stay and retained by said ball-mount retention assembly to provide an adjustment for said rearview mirror assembly;said ball mount retention assembly also including a ball cup extending around and receiving said ball member;
said hole having a periphery with an interior surface and a diameter slightly larger than said ball member but smaller than said ball cup whereby the combination of said ball member in said ball cup is retained within said ball-mount retention assembly by said hole periphery such that said ball cup engages said interior surface after said ball member is received through said hole and assembled with said ball cup, said second side of said second end of said mirror stay including an opening through which said ball cup is received for assembly with said ball member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification