Assembly for adjustably mounting vehicle external mirror

• US 6,349,916 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Popp, Albrecht, Lang, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORRISON, NASCHICA SANDERS
• Application Number:
  US09/625,262
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 248/478, 248/476, 248/408, 248/183.3, 248/183.4, 248/292.12, 163/22, 163/31, 163/32, 163/34, 163/21, 403/92, 403/93, 403/96, 403/97, 403/95, 745/513, 745/57.R, 745/57.M
• US Class Current: 248/476
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0617 foldable along the vehicle, e.g. in case of external force applied thereon
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/10 Arrangements for locking
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/01 Parts of vehicles in general engines F16C2360/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32336 Engaging notch or recess in outer periphery of component

Abstract

An assembly is disclosed for adjustably mounting a vehicle external mirror, the assembly including a first arm segment for securing to the vehicle a second arm segment for securing to the external mirror, and an axle member secured to one of the first and second arm segments and extending through an opening defined through the other of the first and second arm segments, the axle member defining a swivel axis therethrough and the first and second arm segments being pivotable and adjustably securable relative to each other about the swivel axis. A securing member is attached to the axle member for securing the first and second arm segments together about the axle member, and a bearing brace has a fixed end secured to the one of the first and second arm segments and a free end extending from the fixed end, the bearing brace configured and secured so as to extend in the direction of a plane substantially parallel to the swivel axis and to extend spaced from the swivel axis, the bearing brace forming a leaf spring acting substantially perpendicular to the swivel axis. A plurality of teeth extend from a first surface disposed on the free end of the bearing brace toward the other of the first and second arm segments, or extend from a first surface disposed on either the free end of the bearing brace toward the other of the first and second arm segments. A plurality of grooves are defined in a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface being disposed on the other of the first and second arm segments to which the bearing brace fixed end is not secured. The grooves receive the teeth in any of at least two different adjustable orientations to thereby adjustably secure the first arm segment to the second arm segment.

Claims

1. An assembly for adjustably mounting an external mirror to a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a first arm segment for securing to the vehicle;

a second arm segment for securing to the external mirror;

an axle member secured to one of the first and second arm segments and extending through at opening defined through the other of the first and second arm segments, the axle member defining a swivel axis therethrough and the first and second arm segments being pivotable and adjustably securable relative to each other about the swivel axis;

a securing member attached to the axle member for securing the first and second arm segments together about the axle member;

a bearing brace having a fixed end secured to the one of the first and second arm segments and a free end extending from the fixed end, the bearing brace configured and secured so as to extend in the direction of a plane substantially parallel to the swivel axis and to extend spaced from the swivel axis, the bearing brace forming a leaf spring acting substantially perpendicular to the swivel axis;

a plurality of teeth non-pivotably fixed to and extending from a first surface disposed on the free end of the bearing brace toward the other of the first and second arm segments; and

a plurality of grooves defined in a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface being disposed on the other of the first and second arm segments to which the bearing brace fixed end is not secured, the grooves for receiving the teeth in any of at least two different adjustable orientations to thereby adjustably secure the first arm segment to the second arm segment.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further including at least one spring for axially urging the first and second arm segments together.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further including at least one spring further urging the leaf spring to act substantially perpendicular to the swivel axis.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second surface in which the grooves are defined is a circumferential that extends radially about the swivel axis.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the securing member includes a snap ring.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further including at least one ring disposed around the axle member and between the first and second arm segments to reduce friction due to relative rotation between the first and second arm segments.

7. An assembly for adjustably mounting an external mirror to a vehicle, the assembly comprising;

a first arm segment for securing to the vehicle;

a second arm segment for securing to the external mirror;

an axle member secured to one of the first and second arm segments and extending through an opening defined through the other of the first and second arm segments, the axle member defining a swivel axis therethrough and the first and second arm segments being pivotable and adjustably securable relative to each other about the swivel axis;

a securing member attached to the axle member for securing the first and second arm segments together about the axle member;

a bearing brace having a fixed end secured to the one of the first and second arm segments and a free end extending from the fixed end, the bearing brace configured and secured so as to extend in the direction of a plane substantially parallel to the swivel axis and to form a leaf spring acting substantially perpendicular to the swivel axis;

a plurality of teeth non-pivotably fixed to and extending from a first surface disposed on either the free end of the bearing brace or the other of the first and second arm segments; and

a plurality of grooves non-pivotably defined in a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface being disposed on either the free end of the bearing brace or the other of the first and second arm segments, the grooves for receiving the teeth in any of at least two different adjustable orientations to thereby adjustably secure the first arm segment to the second arm segment.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the second surface in which the grooves are defined is a circumferential surface that extends radially around the swivel axis.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the circumferential surface is disposed about a substantially disk-shaped bearing element mounted about the axle member so as to be rotatable relative to the swivel axis and nonrotatable relative to the other of the first and second arm segments.

10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the bearing brace is secured to the one of the first and second arm segments by screws.

11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the teeth define a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

12. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the grooves define a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

13. An assembly for adjustably mounting an external mirror to a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a first arm segment for securing to the vehicle;

a second arm segment for securing to the external mirror;

at least one spring for axially urging the first and second arm segments together;

at axle member secured to one of the first and second arm segments and extending through an opening defined through the other of the first and second arm segments, the axle member defining a swivel axis therethrough and the first and second arm segments being pivotable and adjustably securable relative to each other about the swivel axis;

a securing member attached to the axle member for securing the first and second arm segments together about the axle member;

a bearing brace having a fixed end secured to the one of the first and second arm segments and a free end extending from the fixed end, the bearing brace configured and secured so as to extend in the direction of a plane substantially parallel to the swivel axis and to extend spaced from the swivel axis, the bearing brace forming a leaf spring acting substantially perpendicular to the swivel axis;

a plurality of teeth extending from a first surface disposed on the free end of the bearing brace toward the other of the first and second arm segments; and

a plurality of grooves defined in a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface being disposed on the other of the first and second arm segments to which the bearing brace fixed end is not secured, the grooves for receiving the teeth in any of at least two different adjustable orientations to thereby adjustably secure the first arm segment to the second arm segment.

14. The assembly of claim 13, further including at least one spring further urging the leaf spring to act substantially perpendicular to the swivel axis.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the second surface in which the grooves are defined is a circumferential surface that extends radially about the swivel axis.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the securing member includes a snap ring.

17. The assembly of claim 13, further including at least one ring disposed around the axle member and between the first and second arm segments to reduce friction due to relative rotation between the first and second arm segments.

18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the circumferential surface is disposed about a substantially disk-shaped by element mounted about the axle member so as to be rotatable relative to the swivel axis and nonrotatable relative to the other of the first and second arm segments.

19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the bearing brace is secure to the one of the first and second arm segments by screws.

20. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the teeth define a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

21. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the grooves define a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

22. An assembly for adjustably mounting an external mirror to a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a first arm segment for securing to the vehicle;

a second arm segment for securing to the external mirror;

an axle member secured to one of the first and second arm segments and extending through an opening defined through the other of the first and second arm segments, the axle member defining a swivel axis therethrough and the first and second arm segments being pivotable and adjustably securable relative to each other about the swivel axis;

a snap ring attached to the axle member for securing the first and second arm segments together about the axle member;

a bearing brace having a fixed end secured to the one of the first and second arm segments and a free end extending from the fixed end, the bearing brace configured and secured so as to extend in the direction of a plane substantially parallel to the swivel axis and to extend spaced from the swivel axis, the bearing brace forming a leaf spring acting substantially perpendicular to the swivel axis;

a plurality of teeth and extending from a first surface disposed on the free end of the beating brace toward the other of the first and second arm segments; and

a plurality of grooves defined in a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface being disposed on the other of the first and second arm segments to which the bearing brace fixed end is not secured, the grooves for receiving the teeth in any of at least two different adjustable orientations to thereby adjustably secure the first arm segment to the second arm segment.

23. The assembly of claim 22, further including at least one spring further urging the leaf spring to act substantially perpendicular to the swivel axis.

24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the second surface in which the grooves are defined is a circumferential surface that extends radially about the swivel axis.

25. The assembly of claim 22, further including at least one ring disposed around the axle member and between the first and second arm segments to reduce friction due to relative rotation between the first and second arm segments.

26. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the circumferential surface is disposed about a substantially disk-shaped bearing element mounted about the axle member so as to be rotatable relative to the swivel axis and nonrotatable relative to the other of the first and second arm segments.

27. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the bearing brace is secured to the one of the first and second arm segments by screws.

28. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the teeth define a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

29. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the grooves define a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.