Vehicular exterior break-away mirror assembly
First Claim
1. A break-away vehicle exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use on a vehicle, said system comprising:
- an exterior rearview mirror assembly including a movable portion having a reflective element housed in said movable portion, said exterior rearview mirror assembly further including a fixed portion adapted for mounting said movable portion to a vehicle;
said movable portion being pivotally mounted to said fixed portion about a pivot axis for pivoting from a normal operating position to a break-away position closer to the side of the vehicle, said fixed portion including a first engagement element, said movable portion including a second engagement element, at least one of said movable portion and said fixed portion generating a resilient force, said first and second engagement elements being urged into releasable engagement with each other by said resilient force to thereby engage said movable portion with said fixed portion, said second engagement element of said movable portion releasing from said first engagement element of said fixed portion to permit said movable portion to pivot about said pivot axis when an external force having a sufficient magnitude is applied to said movable portion to overcome said resilient force, and at least one of said first and second engagement elements flexing when said external force is applied to said movable portion; and
a resilient member, said resilient force being provided by said resilient member, said resilient member comprising a plate spring including at least two radially extending arms, each of said arms including one of said first and second engagement elements.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A break-away vehicle exterior rearview mirror system which is suitable for use in a vehicle, includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly including a movable portion and a fixed portion, which is adapted for mounting the movable portion to a vehicle. The movable portion includes a reflective element housed in a movable portion. An exterior rearview mirror assembly further includes a pivot member with the movable portion being pivotally mounted to the fixed portion by the pivot member for pivoting about a pivot axis from a normal operating position to a break-away position closer to the side of the vehicle. The fixed portion includes a first engagement element, with the movable portion including a second engagement element. Either the movable portion or the fixed portion generates resilient force, with the engagement elements being urged into releasable engagement with each other by the resilient force to thereby engage the movable portion with the fixed portion about the pivot axis. The second engagement element releases from the first engagement element to permit the movable portion to pivot about the pivot axis when an external force having sufficient magnitude is applied to the movable portion to overcome the resilient force, which is generated by the movable portion or the fixed portion. In addition, one of the engagement elements flexes when external force is applied to the movable portion.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A break-away vehicle exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use on a vehicle, said system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly including a movable portion having a reflective element housed in said movable portion, said exterior rearview mirror assembly further including a fixed portion adapted for mounting said movable portion to a vehicle;
said movable portion being pivotally mounted to said fixed portion about a pivot axis for pivoting from a normal operating position to a break-away position closer to the side of the vehicle, said fixed portion including a first engagement element, said movable portion including a second engagement element, at least one of said movable portion and said fixed portion generating a resilient force, said first and second engagement elements being urged into releasable engagement with each other by said resilient force to thereby engage said movable portion with said fixed portion, said second engagement element of said movable portion releasing from said first engagement element of said fixed portion to permit said movable portion to pivot about said pivot axis when an external force having a sufficient magnitude is applied to said movable portion to overcome said resilient force, and at least one of said first and second engagement elements flexing when said external force is applied to said movable portion; and
a resilient member, said resilient force being provided by said resilient member, said resilient member comprising a plate spring including at least two radially extending arms, each of said arms including one of said first and second engagement elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A break-away vehicle exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use on a vehicle, said system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly including a movable portion, said movable portion including a reflective element, an actuator, and an actuator bracket;
said actuator providing adjustment of an orientation of said reflective element in said movable portion, and said actuator bracket supporting said actuator;
said exterior rearview mirror assembly further including a fixed portion adapted to mount to a vehicle;
said movable portion being pivotally mounted to said fixed portion for pivoting about a pivot axis; and
a resilient member having a resilient force and releasably engaging one of said actuator bracket and said fixed portion to releasably fix the position of said movable portion about said fixed portion, said engagement being released when an external force having a sufficient magnitude to overcome said resilient force is applied to said movable portion whereby said movable portion pivots about said pivot axis to move between a normal operating position and a break-away position closer to the side of the vehicle, said resilient member comprising a plate spring, wherein said plate spring includes a central portion having an opening and a plurality of radially portions extending outwardly from said central portion, each of said portions including a first engagement element, said first engagement elements of said resilient member releasably engaging said one of said fixed portion and said actuator bracket. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A break-away vehicle exterior rearview mirror system suitable for use on a vehicle, said system comprising:
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an exterior rearview mirror assembly including a movable portion having a reflective element housed in said movable portion, said exterior rearview mirror assembly further including a fixed portion adapted for mounting to a vehicle, said movable portion being pivotally mounted to said fixed portion about a pivot axis; and
a resilient member generating a resilient force, said resilient force urging one of said movable portion and said fixed portion into releasable engagement with said resilient member and releasing said engagement when an external force having sufficient magnitude to overcome said resilient force is applied to said movable portion whereby said movable portion pivots about said pivot axis between a normal operation position and a break-away position closer to the side of the vehicle, said resilient member including a first engagement element, said fixed portion including a second engagement element, said first engagement element for reasonably engaging said second engagement element on said fixed portion, said resilient member comprising a plate spring, wherein said plate spring includes at least two radially extending arms, each of said arms including a first engagement element. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification