Mirror mount having an integral spherical bearing

• US 6,068,380 A
• Filed: 02/17/1999
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: DeHaan, James A., VandenBosch, Dirk A., Lynn, James D., Carter, John W., Rumsey, Wayne J., Bostwick, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/251,971
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 359/875, 359/876, 359/877, 248/476, 248/479, 248/481, 248/484, 72/347, 72/379.2, 72/285, 72/286
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A mounting assembly for a vehicle interior rearview mirror of the automatic dimming type includes a vehicle mount having a rearwardly projecting first ball portion, a tube having a first end that receives the first ball portion and a second end including a rearwardly projecting second ball portion fixed with respect to the tube and having a wire hole therethrough, a ball clamp within the tube for engaging the first ball portion, a helical spring for biasing the ball clamp to a clamping relationship with the first ball portion, and a mirror socket for receiving and clamping the second ball portion. The tube of the mounting assembly and the first ball portion are unitary in one embodiment, while another embodiment has the tube and second ball portion provided with flanges that are biased into engagement with each other by the helical spring. The ball clamp has circumferentially spaced seat portions that seat the helical spring, clamping portions respectively aligned with the seat portions, and a wire conduit extending substantially to the hole in the second ball portion. In one embodiment, the tube is made from drawable quality material by a process using low-cost forming technology. The method of forming the tube is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A vehicle mirror construction comprising:

a one-piece elongated tubular member having a sleeve portion at one end, an integrally formed first ball portion at an opposite end, and a hole extending longitudinally through the tubular member from the one end to the opposite end, the tubular member being made of contiguous flowable material, wherein the contiguous, flowable material comprises one of die-cast material and draw-quality material;

a mirror housing including a socket portion operably engaging the first ball portion to define a first ball-and-socket connection; and

a vehicle mount including a second ball portion, the one end receiving the second ball portion and the sleeve portion including an inwardly deformed end flange operably retaining the second ball portion therein to define a second ball-and-socket connection.

2. The mirror construction defined in claim 1, wherein the flowable material comprises kiln draw-quality material.

3. The mirror construction defined in claim 2, wherein the flowable material is work hardened in that part forming the first ball portion and the sleeve portion.

4. The mirror construction defined in claim 3, wherein the tubular member has a substantially constant wall thickness that extends from the sleeve portion to and including the ball portion.

5. The mirror construction defined in claim 4, wherein the sleeve portion includes first and second diameter sleeve sections.

6. The mirror construction defined in claim 5, wherein the tubular member includes a ledge formed between the first and second diameter sleeve sections, and including a spring engaging the ledge.

7. The mirror construction defined in claim 6, wherein an outer surface of first ball portion is within 0.003 inches of true spherical shape.

8. The mirror construction defined in claim 1, wherein the tubular member has a substantially constant wall thickness that extends from the sleeve portion to and including the first ball portion.

9. The mirror construction defined in claim 8, wherein the wall thickness is within a range of about 0.7 to 1.0 mm.

10. The mirror construction defined in claim 1, including a ball clamp inside of the tubular member and substantially surrounding the second ball portion, and a resilient member which urges the ball clamp into contact with the second ball portion to generate friction thereon.

11. The mirror construction defined in claim 10, wherein the resilient member comprises a helical spring.

12. A vehicle mirror construction comprising:

a one-piece elongated tubular member having a sleeve portion at one end, an integrally formed first ball portion at an opposite end, and a hole extending longitudinally through the tubular member from the one end to the opposite end;

a mirror housing including a socket portion operably engaging the first ball portion to define a first ball-and-socket connection; and

a vehicle mount including a second ball portion, the one end receiving the second ball portion and the sleeve portion including an inwardly deformed end flange operably retaining the second ball portion therein to define a second ball-and-socket connection;

a ball clamp inside of the tubular member and substantially surrounding the second ball portion, and a resilient member comprising a helical spring which urges the ball clamp into contact with the second ball portion to generate friction thereon;

a second tubular member within the helical spring, and including wiring extended through the second tubular member from the vehicle mount to the mirror housing.