Mounting bracket system for a rearview mirror

• US 5,964,443 A
• Filed: 08/13/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CIPA USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CIPA USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Leveille, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US08/910,792
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 248/231.71, 248/468, 248/478, 248/479, 248/481, 248/231.81, 248/292.12, 248/316.4, 352/875, 352/872
• US Class Current: 248/478
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A mounting bracket system for a rearview mirror intended to be temporarily and readily affixed to a protruding surface of a watercraft or a vehicle. The instant invention finds particular advantage when a load is being towed or trailed and the normal rear line of sight is obscured. The mounting bracket of the instant invention is adapted to receive a conventional mirror assembly on one end, the other end terminates in a generally orthogonal, cylindrical appendage. The appendage is selectively oriented and contacted between two opposing clamping members. The first clamping member is affixed to a frame adapted to engage the protruding surface. The second clamping member is slidably displaceable relative to the first clamping member.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket system for mounting a rearview mirror comprising:

a C-shaped mounting frame having first and second side sections having opposed planar surfaces and a connecting section extending generally normally to said planar surfaces and connecting said side sections so as to form an interior space bounded by said planar surfaces, wherein said first section has an outer surface and an inner surface, and said opposing second section has a threaded hole adapted to receive a screw;

a screw extendable through said threaded hole into the interior space;

a first clamping member affixed to the outer surface of said first section, said first clamping member having a first circular clamping face and a hole through the approximate center of said circular clamping face;

a second clamping member having a second clamping face and a hole through the approximate center of said second clamping face, said second clamping face slidably engaging the outer surface of said first section, such that the lateral displacement between said first and said second circular clamping faces is adjustable and said first and said second clamping faces are in opposition and generally concentric wherein the holes through the approximate centers of said first and second clamping faces defines a swivel axis;

an elongated mounting bracket having two ends, a first end adapted to selectively seat between said first clamping face and said second slidable clamping face, and means at the second end for mounting said rearview mirror, said means for mounting said rearview mirror including a generally spherical ball supported within a complementary socket provided in said rearview mirror, and retaining means for substantially preventing disengagement of said spherical ball from the socket; and

a securing means for fixing the position of said mounting bracket about the swivel axis between said first and said second circular clamping faces.

2. The mounting bracket system of claim 1 wherein said first clamping member is integral with said top section of said C-shaped mounting frame, thereby defining a single component.

3. The mounting bracket system of claim 1 wherein said component is composed of an injection moldable thermoplastic resin.

4. The mounting bracket system of claim 1 wherein said first clamping member having said first circular clamping face further comprises radially extending gripping teeth formed in said first circular clamping face.

5. A mounting bracket system suited for attachment of a rearview mirror by a ball joint means attached to the first end of a bracket, said bracket being selectively hingeably rotatable and fixable about the second end of said bracket wherein the improvement is:

a first clamping member having a first clamping face and a second clamping member having a second clamping face with said first and said second clanping faces being slidably disposed in opposition to one another and said second clamping face is selectively displaceable relative to said first clamping face along track, so as to secure the second end of said bracket therebetween.

6. The mounting bracket system of claim 5 further comprising the improvement of gripping teeth being integrated into said first and said second clamping faces.

7. The mounting bracket system of claim 5 further comprising the improvement of:

an attachment means for affixing said first clamping member and said second clamping member to a substrate.

8. The mounting bracket system of claim 7 wherein the attachment means for affixing said first and said second clamping members to a substrate comprises:

a C-shaped mounting frame having first and second side sections having opposed planar surfaces and a connecting section extending generally normally to said planar surfaces and connecting said side sections so as to form an interior space bounded by said planar surfaces, the interior space adapted to encompass said substrate, wherein said first section has an upper surface adapted to attach said first and second clamping members and a lower surface, and said opposing second section has a threaded hole adapted to receive a screw; and

a screw extendable through said threaded hole into the interior space.

9. The mounting bracket system of claim 7 wherein the attachment means for affixing said first and said second clamping members to a substrate comprises:

a first clip member having a first inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface adapted to attach said first and said second clamping members;

a second clip member having a second inner surface hingeably attached to said first clip member such that the first inner contact surface and second inner surface are in opposition; and

a spring urging the first and second inner surfaces together such that upon compression of said spring said first and second clip members are displaced relative to one another thereby defining an interior space between the first and second inner surfaces, said interior space adapted to encompass the substrate.