Adjustable rearview mirror

• US 9,315,154 B1
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard C. Gibbs
• Original Assignee: Richard C. Gibbs
• Inventors: Gibbs, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Thomas K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Betancourt, Alberto
• Application Number:
  US14/105,777
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 359838-850, 359/872, 248/476, 248/477, 248/479
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

An adjustable rearview mirror which allows the rear view mirror to be adjusted out of the viewing field of the windshield area to improve the driver and passenger experience in the motor vehicle. The adjustable rearview mirror generally includes a central slot in which a mirror arm is pivotally secured. A pair of retainer rods may be selectively extended across and retracted from the central slot with a trigger. When the retainer rods are retracted from the central slot, the mirror arm may be freely adjusted into various positions. When the retainer rods are extended across the central slot, the mirror arm may be locked into a particular position. Thus, the rearview mirror may be withdrawn from view when it is not necessary so as to allow an unobstructed view of the area surrounding the vehicle.

Claims

1. An adjustable rearview mirror, comprising:

a housing configured to be secured within a vehicle, wherein said housing includes an inner channel;

a central slot formed within said housing;

a mirror arm adjustably secured within said central slot;

a mirror positioned at a distal end of said mirror arm; and

at least one retainer rod configured to selectively extend across and retract from said central slot, wherein said at least one retainer rod is configured to be pulled back into said inner channel when said at least one retainer rod is retracted from said central slot, wherein said mirror arm is freely adjustable between a plurality of positions when said at least one retainer rod is retracted from said central slot, wherein said mirror arm is locked into one of said plurality of positions when said at least one retainer rod is extended across said central slot.

2. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 1, further comprising a trigger for adjusting said at least one retainer rod.

3. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein said central slot extends across a lower end of said housing.

4. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein said central slot includes an axle, wherein a proximal end of said mirror arm is pivotally secured to said axle.

5. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 4, further comprising a first centering member positioned around said axle adjacent to a first side of said mirror arm and a second centering member positioned around said axle adjacent to a second side of said mirror arm.

6. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 5, wherein said first centering member and said second centering member are each comprised of O-rings.

7. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein said at least one retainer rod is comprised of a first retainer rod and a second retainer rod.

8. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 7, further comprising a first bias member connected to said first retainer rod and a second bias member connected to said second retainer rod.

9. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 8, further comprising a linkage member extending between said first retainer rod and said second retainer rod, wherein said first bias member is connected at a first end to said linkage member and at a second end to said housing.

10. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 1, further comprising a first stopper positioned at a first end of said central slot and a second stopper positioned at a second end of said central slot.

11. An adjustable rearview mirror, comprising:

a housing configured to be secured within a vehicle, wherein said housing includes an inner channel;

a central slot formed within said housing, wherein said central slot divides said housing into a first portion and a second portion;

an axle extending across said central slot between said first portion and said second portion;

a first retainer rod, wherein said first retainer rod is configured to be pulled back into said inner channel when said first retainer rod is retracted from said central slot;

a second retainer rod, wherein said first retainer rod and said second retainer rod are configured to selectively extend across and retract from said central slot, wherein said second retainer rod is configured to be pulled back into said inner channel when said second retainer rod is retracted from said central slot a mirror arm pivotally secured to said axle, wherein said mirror arm is freely adjustable between a plurality of positions when said at least one retainer rod is retracted from said central slot, wherein said mirror arm is locked into one of said plurality of positions when said at least one retainer rod is extended across said central slot; and

a mirror secured to a distal end of said mirror arm.

12. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 11, wherein said first portion of said housing includes an inner channel.

13. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 12, further comprising a first bias member and a second bias member positioned within said inner channel.

14. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 13, further comprising a linkage member extending between a distal end of said first bias member and a distal end of said second bias member.

15. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 14, wherein said first retainer rod is secured to a first end of said linkage member and said second retainer rod is secured to as second end of said linkage member.

16. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 15, further comprising a trigger connected to said linkage member, wherein said trigger extends out of said housing such that adjustment of said trigger moves said linkage member.

17. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 15, wherein said first bias member and said second bias member are each comprised of springs.

18. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 11, further comprising a first stopper positioned at a first end of said central slot and a second stopper positioned at a second end of said central slot.

19. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 18, further comprising a first centering member positioned around said axle adjacent to a first side of said mirror arm and a second centering member positioned around said axle adjacent to a second side of said mirror arm.

20. The adjustable rearview mirror of claim 19, wherein said first centering member and said second centering member are each comprised of O-rings.