Pivotable external rearview mirror assembly for utility vehicles

• US 6,361,178 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1998
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Kolb, Alfred, Popp, Albrecht, Lang, Heinrich, Seiboth, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINSTEDT, JENNIFER E
• Application Number:
  US09/115,198
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 359/876, 359/843, 359/850, 359/865, 359/875, 359/841, 248/485, 248/487
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0617 foldable along the vehicle, e.g. in case of external force applied thereon

Abstract

A pivotable external rearview mirror assembly for vehicles is disclosed. The assembly includes a bearing arm including a bearing arm segment having a proximal end securable to the vehicle and a distal end extending from the proximal end. The bearing arm also includes a holding rod for supporting a rearview mirror housing. An articulation is secured to the distal end of the bearing arm segment and to a pivot end of the holding rod, the articulation pivotally joining the bearing arm segment and the holding rod. The articulation defines a swivel axis extending substantially horizontally in a direction substantially at a right angle to a direction of travel of the vehicle when the bearing arm is in a use position. The articulation is disposable adjacent a side of the vehicle when the bearing arm is in a use position so that the holding rod may pivot about the swivel axis in a plane extending in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle. The holding rod is pivotable upward to a position higher than a top boundary of a safety zone adjacent the vehicle.

Claims

1. A pivotable external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a bearing arm including a bearing arm segment having a proximal end securable to the vehicle and a distal end extending from the proximal end, the bearing arm also including a holding rod; and

an articulation secured to the distal end of the bearing arm segment and to a pivot end of the holding rod, the articulation pivotally joining the bearing arm segment and the holding rod, the articulation defining a swivel axis extending substantially horizontally in a direction substantially at a right angle to a direction of travel of the vehicle when the bearing arm is in a use position, and the articulation being disposed adjacent a side of the vehicle such that when the bearing arm is in the use position the holding rod may pivot about the swivel axis in a plane extending in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle and such that the holding rod is yieldably pivotable upward about the swivel axis to a position higher than a top boundary of a safety zone adjacent the vehicle and substantially as high as the articulation after an impact with an object and configured to remain releasably pivoted upward.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further including a mirror housing disposed on the holding rod.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the bearing arm segment is substantially horizontally pivotable relative to a holder along a substantially vertical axis, the holder disposed between a roof and a front of the vehicle.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the top boundary of the safety zone is disposed about 2 meters above a ground on which the vehicle is disposed.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the holding rod may pivot both in the direction of travel and opposite the direction of travel relative to the bearing arm segment.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further including a front mirror disposed on the bearing arm segment for providing a driver of the vehicle a view of an area in front of the vehicle.

7. A vehicle assembly, comprising:

a vehicle defining a side and an external side area disposed adjacent to and in front of the side;

a bearing arm including a bearing arm segment having proximal end securable to the vehicle and a distal end extending from the proximal end, the bearing arm also including a holding rod;

a rearview mirror housing disposed on the holding rod; and

an articulation secured to the distal end of the bearing arm segment and to a pivot end of the holding rod, the articulation pivotally joining the bearing arm segment and the holding rod, the articulation defining a swivel axis extending substantially horizontally in a direction substantially at a right angle to a direction of travel of the vehicle when the bearing arm is in a use position, and the articulation being disposed in the external side area such that when the bearing arm is in the use position the holding rod may pivot about the swivel axis in a plane extending in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle and such that the holding rod is yieldably pivotable upward about the swivel axis to an impact position higher than a top boundary of a safety zone adjacent the vehicle and configured to remain yieldably pivoted upward.

8. The assembly of claim 7, further including a holder secured to the vehicle between a roof and a front of the vehicle and pivotably secured to the bearing arm segment.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the bearing arm segment is substantially horizontally pivotable relative to the holder along a substantially vertical axis.

10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the top boundary of the safety zone is disposed about 2 meters above a ground on which the vehicle is disposed.

11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the holding rod may pivot both in the direction of travel and opposite the direction of travel relative to the bearing arm segment.

12. The assembly of claim 7, further including a front mirror disposed on the bearing arm segment for providing a driver of the vehicle a view of an area in front of the vehicle.