Side break-away rear view mirror assembly with telescopic support brace

• US 6,398,376 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Inventors: Englander, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/760,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20010012164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 359/864, 359/865, 359/871, 359/872, 359/873, 359/876, 359/877
• US Class Current: 359/864
• 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

Abstract

One or more side-view mirror assemblies located in shell housings which are supported at a distance relative to a vehicle in a manner which allows the shell housings to swing relative to the support structure thereof, further includes a telescopic support brace whose principle function is to reduce and substantially eliminate vibration. The telescopic support brace has inner and outer tubes which slide relative to one another and which are releasably locked at a normal position, but which allow the mirror holding shell to swing outwardly or inwardly in the event of a collision with an object, thereby preventing permanent damage thereto.

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 hinge plate member having a portion which is rigidly affixed to a vehicle and another portion which has first and second ends with the first end being hingedly mounted at the hinge plate member and the second portion being pivotally attached to the shell housing in a manner which is capable of holding the shell housing at a distance from the vehicle, and such that the shell housing is swingably mounted relative to the fixed portion of the hinge plate member; and

a telescopic support having one end which is attached to the vehicle and another end which is attached to the second portion of the hinge plate member and which is operative to substantially reduce vibrational movements of the shell housing and the at least one mirror unit mounted thereto.

2. The vehicular mirror of claim 1, in which the moveable second portion of the hinge plate member comprises a horizontal portion and a vertical portion and wherein the telescopic arm is connected to the horizontal portion.

3. The vehicular mirror of claim 1, in which the telescopic arm comprises an inner tube, slidable within an outer tube.

4. The vehicular mirror of claim 3, in which the telescopic arm has a pre-determined position of the inner tube and outer tube at which position they are releasably locked to one another by a locking mechanism and the telescopic arm has extended positions and retracted positions.

5. The vehicular mirror of claim 4, in which the locking mechanism comprises through openings in both the inner and outer tubes which are alignable with one another and a resiliently biased pin which is slidable into and out of the openings to lock the inner and outer tubes to one another.

6. The vehicular mirror of claim 5, in which the pin is dome-shaped.

7. The vehicular mirror of claim 2, in which the telescopic support has a first end which is connected to a mounting plate which is attachable to the vehicle and the first end is pivotally connected to the mounting plate, and a second end which is pivotally connected to the horizontal portion of the hinge plate member.

8. The vehicular mirror of claim 6, in which the dome pin is biased by means of a spring wire which is mounted in the inner tube.

9. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 1, including a housing member engageable with the shell housing.

10. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 9, wherein the housing member and the hinge plate member comprise a detent for fixing the hinge plate member relative to the housing member in a position of use, the detent exerting a force on the hinge plate member and housing member that resists swingable movement and reduces vibrations in the hinge member when the side-view mirror is in a position of use, the detent 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.

11. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 10, wherein the detent comprises:

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

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

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

12. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 9, 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.

13. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 9, wherein the hinge plate is fin-shaped to follow the body contour of the vehicle.

14. The vehicular side-view mirror of claim 9, 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.