Mounting structure for a mirror assembly

• US 7,853,414 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electric Mirror LLC
• Original Assignee: Electric Mirror LLC
• Inventors: Mischel, James V. Jr., Erickson, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US12/425,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20090257140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 702/44, 359/839, 359/871, 359/460, 362/492, 362/611, 362/2, 362/141, 362/308, 362/245, 362/135, 362/129, 362/83.1, 362/140, 348/795, 348/744, 348/791, 348/E9.027, 348/E5.128, 348/E5.132, 361/679.05, 402/19, 407/14
• US Class Current: 702/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/14 displaying different signs depending upon the view-point of the observer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/00 Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the variable information is permanently attached to a movable support G09F11/00; abacus G06C1/00; slide-rules G06G1/00

Abstract

A mirror assembly mountable to a wall includes a mirror platform having a front surface and a rear surface, a chassis engageable with the mirror platform to define a mirror assembly interior, at least one electrical component disposed within the mirror assembly interior, and a mounting structure. The mounting structure includes a support member mounted to one of the rear surface of the mirror platform and the chassis and a hanger member mounted to the other of the rear surface of the mirror platform and the chassis. The hanger member is removably securable on the support member to mount the mirror platform to the chassis.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly mountable to a wall, the mirror assembly comprising:

(a) a mirror platform having a front surface and a rear surface;

(b) a chassis engageable with the mirror platform to define a mirror assembly interior, the chassis is mountable to the wall;

(c) at least one electrical component disposed within the mirror assembly interior;

(d) a mounting structure disposed within the mirror assembly interior, comprising;

(i) a support member mounted to one of the rear surface of the mirror platform and the chassis; and

(ii) a hanger member mounted to the other of the rear surface of the mirror platform and the chassis, wherein the hanger member is removably securable on the support member to mount the mirror platform to the chassis in alignment when the mirror platform is secured to the chassis.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1, the mounting structure further comprising a protrusion formed on the support member and an opening formed on the hanger member, the opening shaped and sized to receive the protrusion.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein the protrusion is defined by a post extending upwardly from the support member.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein the protrusion is defined by a tab extending upwardly from the support member.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein the protrusion is adapted to secure the hanger member on the support member.

6. The mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein the protrusion is positioned on the support member such that the mirror platform is aligned on the chassis when the protrusion is received within the opening in the hanger member.

7. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is defined by at least one hook.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the hanger member is defined by a first L-shaped bracket, and the support member is defined by a second L-shaped bracket.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the hanger member is defined by a bracket having a lip portion, and the support member is defined by a outwardly extending member of the chassis having a flange section.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the flange section of the outwardly extending member is receivable within the lip portion of the bracket.

11. A mounting structure for a mirror assembly having a mirror platform with a mirror front surface and a mirror rear surface, a chassis, a mirror assembly interior defined between the mirror platform and the chassis, and at least one electrical component disposed within the mirror assembly interior, the mounting structure comprising:

(a) a support member mountable to one of the rear surface of the mirror platform and the chassis;

(b) a hanger member mountable to the other of the rear surface of the mirror platform and the chassis, wherein the hanger member is removably securable on the support member to mount the mirror plkform to the chassis;

(c) a protrusion extending upwardly from the support member, and

(d) an opening formed on the hanger member, the opening shaped and sized to receive the protrusion.

12. The mounting structure of claim 11, wherein the support member and the hanger member are disposed within the mirror assembly interior when the mirror platform is mounted to the chassis.

13. The mounting structure of claim 11, wherein the protrusion is defined by a post extending upwardly from the support member.

14. The mounting structure of claim 11, wherein the protrusion is defined by a tab extending upwardly from the support member.

15. The mounting structure of claim 11, wherein the protrusion is adapted to secure the first hanger member on the support member.

16. The mounting structure of claim 11, wherein the protrusion is positioned on the support member such that the mirror platform is aligned on the chassis when the protrusion is received within the opening in the hanger member.

17. The mounting structure of claim 11, wherein the hanger member is defined by a first L-shaped bracket, and the support member is defined by a second L-shaped bracket.

18. The internal mounting structure of claim 11, wherein the hanger member is defined by a bracket having a lip portion, and the support member is defined by a outwardly extending member of the chassis having a flange section.

19. The internal mounting structure of claim 11, wherein the flange section of the outwardly extending member is receivable within the lip portion of the bracket.

20. The internal mounting structure of claim 11, wherein the support member is defined by at least one hook.