Escape device for an inner mirror

• US 5,966,255 A
• Filed: 07/13/1998
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: Iwama, Satoshi, Teramoto, Hiroshi, Nakazawa, Yoshitake, Mochizuki, Toshihiro, Hanai, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US09/114,601
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/872, 248/477, 248/478, 248/479, 248/549, 248/900
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

An escape device for an inner mirror includes a stay base mounted on a ceiling of a cabin of a vehicle a stay suspended from and supported by the stay base and connected to the stay base pivotably about an axis extending horizontally in the direction of width of the vehicle, the stay having a mirror body attached to a lower portion thereof, and a stop mechanism provided between the stay base and the stay for stopping the pivotal movement of the stay about the axis relative to the stay base and thereby holding the stay in a suspended state in a normal mode of use and, when an external force exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the stay in the forward direction of the vehicle, disengaging the stay by the external force to allow the pivotal movement of the stay about the axis.

Claims

1. An escape device for an inner mirror comprising:

a stay base mounted on a ceiling of a cabin of a vehicle;

a stay suspended from and supported by the stay base and connected to the stay base pivotably about an axis extending horizontally in the direction of width of the vehicle, said stay having a mirror body attached to a lower end portion thereof;

a stop mechanism provided between the stay base and the stay for stopping pivotal movement of the stay about the axis relative to the stay base and thereby holding said stay in a suspended state in a normal mode of use and, when an external force exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the stay in the forward direction of the vehicle, said stay is disengaged by said external force to allow the pivotal movement of the stay about said axis;

a fitting structure including projections and corresponding depressions provided in opposite portions of said stay base and said stay which move relative to each other by the pivotal movement of stay about said axis; and

a spring provided between said stay base and said stay for energizing said stay base and said stay to hold said fitting structure in a fitting state;

the pivotal movement of said stay about said axis being stopped and said stay being held in said suspended state in a normal mode of use by holding said fitting structure in a fitting state and, when an external force exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the stay in the forward direction of the vehicle, the projections being disengaged from the depressions by the external force against the force of the spring to allow the pivotal movement of stay about said axis and thereby allow the external force to escape.

2. An escape device for an inner mirror as defined in claim 1 wherein

one of the stay base or the stay has a shaft of a circular cross section and the other has an opening of a circular cross section and the shaft is inserted in the opening relatively rotatably and relatively slidably in the axial direction;

the fitting structure of the stop mechanism has the projections formed on an abutting surface of the stay base and the stay which are formed about an opening end portion of the opening and has the depressions formed on the other of the abutting surfaces; and

the spring is a coil spring in which the shaft is inserted and which applies the energizing force between the stay base and the stay in the direction of the axis to press the abutting surfaces to each other and thereby hold the fitting state of the fitting structure.

3. An escape device for an inner mirror as defined in claim 1 wherein said stop mechanism can be restored, by applying an external force in the rearward direction of the vehicle, from the position in which said stop mechanism has disengaged from said stay to allow the pivotal movement to the position in which said stop mechanism stops pivotal movement of said stay.

4. An escape device for an inner mirror comprising:

a stay base mounted on a ceiling of a cabin of a vehicle;

a stay suspended from and supported by said stay base and connected to said stay base pivotably about an axis extending horizontally in the direction of width of the vehicle, said stay having a mirror body attached to a lower end portion thereof;

a stop mechanism provided between said stay base and said stay for stopping pivotal movement of said stay about said axis relative to said stay base and thereby holding said stay in a suspended state in a normal mode of use and, when an external force exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the stay in the forward direction of the vehicle, said stay is disengaged by the external force to allow the pivotal movement of the stay about said axis further comprising a cover which is mounted on said stay base in a manner to cover said stay base from below, said cover having an opening in an end portion in the forward direction of the vehicle to allow said stay to project out of the opening of the cover and said opening of said cover having a shape which does not prevent escape of said inner mirror by the pivoting movement of said stay.