Single shell, double view vehicular mirror having manual adjustability and precision hinge plate

• US 6,371,618 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Inventors: Englander, Sol, Englander, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US09/216,124
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/855, 359/864, 359/865, 359/872, 359/877, 359/881, 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/477, 248/478, 248/479, 248/480, 248/485, 248/486, 248/549, 248/900
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0612 by electrically actuated means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0617 foldable along the vehicle, e.g. in case of external force applied thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

A single shell side-view mirror assembly is disclosed which provides improved aerodynamic features and improved vibrational resistance characterized by an aerodynamically domed shell structure, interchangeable mirror elements, an electrically activated vibration dampening element and a static vibration dampening elements. A mirror unit of the mirror assembly is disposed within a shell housing but is coupled directly to and supported by a support member mounting plate such that the mirror unit is substantially rigidly coupled to a support member without being supported by the shell housing.

Claims

1. A vehicular side-view mirror, comprising:

a shell housing;

at least one mirror unit having a first side-view mirror mounted to the shell housing;

a housing member engageable with the shell housing;

a hinge plate member operatively engageable with the housing member and having attachment elements disposed thereon for rigidly fixing the hinge plate member to a vehicle, the hinge plate being contoured to follow the body contour of the vehicle, one of the hinge plate member and the housing member having a bore for accepting a mounting bolt therethrough which operatively engages the other of the hinge plate member and housing member such that the hinge plate is fixed to the housing member in swingable relation about a swiveling axis, the dimensions of the bore and the bolt being effective to reduce vibrational movement between the hinge plate member and the housing member; and

the housing member and the hinge plate member comprise an elongated, resiliently biased detent member extending parallel to the swiveling axis for fixing a position of use of the hinge plate member relative to the housing member, the detent member exerting a force on the hinge plate member and housing member, substantially perpendicularly to the swiveling axis, that resists swingable movement and reduces vibrations in the hinge member when the side-view mirror is in a position of use, the detent member permitting swingable movement of the housing member relative to the hinge plate when sufficient torsional force is exerted on the housing member relative to the hinge plate member.

2. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 1, further includes:

a piston disposed in the housing member and having a channel therein for the detent member;

a spring disposed in the housing member for outwardly pushing the piston and the detent member towards the hinge plate member; and

an inward detent channel disposed in the hinge plate member for engaging the outwardly pushed detent member.

3. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 1, wherein the hinge plate is shaped to correspond to a stock plate of the vehicle such that the stock plate may be removed and the hinge plate substituted therefor.

4. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 1, wherein the hinge plate is fin-shaped to follow the body contour of the vehicle.

5. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 1, wherein said at least one mirror unit further includes an adjusting unit for permitting manual adjustment of the mirror unit with respect to the shell housing.

6. A vehicular side-view mirror, comprising:

a shell housing;

at least one mirror unit having a first side-view mirror mounted to the shell housing;

a housing member engageable with the shell housing; and

a hinge plate member operatively engageable with the housing member and having attachment elements disposed thereon for rigidly fixing the hinge plate member to a vehicle, one of the hinge plate member and the housing member having a bore for accepting a mounting bolt therethrough which operatively engages the other of the hinge plate member and housing member such that the hinge plate member is fixed to the housing member in swingable relation about a swiveling axis, the dimensions of the bore and the bolt being effective to reduce vibrational movement between the hinge plate member and the housing member,

the mounting bolt having a tightness with respect to the bore that resists swingable movement and reduces vibrations in the hinge member when the side-view mirror is in a position of use, the mounting bolt permitting swingable movement of the hinge plate member relative to the housing member when sufficient torsional force is exerted on the hinge plate member relative to the housing member; and

the housing member and the hinge plate member comprise an elongated, resiliently biased detent member extending parallel to the swiveling axis for fixing a position of use of the hinge plate member relative to the housing member, the detent member exerting a force on the hinge plate member and housing member, substantially perpendicularly to the swiveling axis, that resists swingable movement and reduces vibrations in the hinge member when the side-view mirror is in a position of use, the detent member permitting swingable movement of the housing member relative to the hinge plate when sufficient torsional force is exerted on the housing member relative to the hinge plate member.

7. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 6, wherein the resistance to swingable movement of the hinge plate member varies as a function of an amount of torque exerted on the mounting bolt with respect to the bore.