Mirror adjustment mechanism

• US 8,702,254 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Inventors: Englander, Benjamin, Serer, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrington, Alicia M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pichler, Marin
• Application Number:
  US13/053,533
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 359/872, 359/876, 359/877, 248/479, 248/481, 248/482
• US Class Current: 359/876
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens

Abstract

An adjustable mirror mechanism includes a first connection section, a mirror lens carrier or support having a second connection section receiving and/or engaging the first connection section, and a mirror housing having a third connection section receiving and/or engaging the second connection section of the mirror lens carrier. The first connection section and/or the mirror lens carrier are fastened and/or secured to the mirror housing, and the mirror lens carrier is configured to receive a mirror lens. In some embodiments, the mirror lens carrier engages the rim of the mirror housing for added stability on one or more sides.

Claims

1. An adjustable mirror assembly comprising:

a hemispherical cup including a first aperture;

a mirror support having a first hemispherical cavity formed therein and having a second aperture, and at least one rib protruding a predetermined distance therefrom, the first hemispherical cavity receiving said hemispherical cup;

a support plate having a second hemispherical cavity, a connection post having an attachment receiving aperture and protruding from the second hemispherical cavity, at least one receiving section to receive the at least one rib, and a peripheral rim, the second hemispherical cavity receiving the first hemispherical cavity of said mirror support;

at least one attachment device frictionally securing at least one washer to said hemispherical cup and frictionally and rotationally securing said mirror support to said support plate by connecting to the connection post; and

a mirror lens configured to be mounted on said mirror support over said at least one attachment device.

2. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the second hemispherical cavity is configured to engage parts of the first hemispherical cavity.

3. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gasket wherein the gasket is placed between the mirror carrier support and the support plate.

4. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein the gasket includes one of a foam gasket and rubber gasket.

5. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein the mirror support includes a set of radial grooves and the support plate includes a set of guiding fingers and wherein the guiding fingers are configured to slide inside the radial grooves and to secure the gasket between the mirror support and the support plate.

6. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the support plate is fastened to a mirror housing.

7. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein the support plate is fastened to the mirror housing at least one screw.

8. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein the housing comprises an inner housing rim, and wherein the inner housing rim engages the peripheral rim of the support plate to stabilize the support plate.

9. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein the mirror housing is configured to receive more than one mirror unit.

10. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein at least one additional mirror is mounted in the mirror housing and wherein the at least one additional mirror comprises a motorized mirror adjustment mechanism.

11. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein at least one mirror further comprises an in-line mounted camera mounted therewith, and wherein adjustment of the viewing angle of the mirror also adjusts the viewing angle of the camera.

12. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein the housing comprises an internal pressure mount, an external bar clamp for fastening the mirror housing to a bar, at least one screw, and at least one screw aperture, and wherein the internal pressure mount is fastened to the external bar clamp threw the screw aperture by use of the screw.

13. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the pressure mount further comprises at least one spring to provide frictional pressure for the pressure mount, and wherein the spring provides for manual adjustment of the mirror housing through the use of force.

14. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the hemispherical cup and the mirror support are fastened to the support plate using at least one star spring washer and a screw.

15. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein the support plate includes a post and the star spring washer is fastened to the post against the hemispherical cup using the screw.

16. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the support plate includes a peripheral rib configured to keep adjustment of the mirror lens from interferences.

17. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the mirror support includes a set of ribs;

wherein the support plate includes a set of receiving sections configured to receive the set of ribs; and

wherein the ribs are configured to prevent free mirror rotation beyond the support plate'"'"'s inner boundary.

18. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the mirror further comprises an in-line mounted camera mounted therewith, and wherein adjustment of the viewing angle of the mirror also adjusts the viewing angle of the camera.

19. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lubricating agent deposited between at least one of the hemispherical cup and the first hemispherical cavity, and between the first hemispherical cavity and the second hemispherical cavity.

20. An adjustable mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror support having a first hemispherical cavity formed therein and at least one rib protruding a predetermined distance therefrom;

a support plate having a second hemispherical cavity, a connection post having an attachment receiving aperture and protruding from the second hemispherical cavity, at least one receiving section to receive the at least one rib, the second hemispherical cavity receiving the first hemispherical cavity of said mirror support;

at least one attachment device frictionally and rotationally securing said mirror support and said support plate; and

a mirror lens configured to be mounted on said mirror support over said at least one attachment device.

21. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein the second hemispherical cavity is configured to engage parts of the first hemispherical cavity.

22. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein the support plate is fastened to a mirror housing.

23. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 22, wherein the mirror housing is configured to receive more than one mirror unit.

24. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 23, further comprising at least one additional mirror mounted in the mirror housing and wherein the at least one additional mirror comprises a motorized mirror adjustment mechanism.

25. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 24, wherein at least one mirror further comprises an in-line mounted camera mounted therewith, and wherein adjustment of the viewing angle of the mirror also adjusts the viewing angle of the camera.

26. The adjustable mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein the mirror support includes a set of grooves and the support plate includes a set of guides and wherein the guides are configured to engage the grooves.