Adjustable mirror bracket

• US 10,247,908 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Protomet Corporation
• Original Assignee: Protomet Corporation
• Inventors: Bohanan, Jeff S., Disney, Kevin R., Lambert, Dale L., Reid, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Darryl J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sumlar, Journey F
• Application Number:
  US15/281,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20180001822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 17/00 Vessels parts, details, or accessories, not otherwise provided for vehicle fittings for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles in general B60R25/00; propeller guards, line cutters or other means for protecting propellers or rudders B63H5/165; protection of power legs of outboard propulsion units B63H20/36; locking devices for boats, surfboards or parts or accessories thereof E05B73/007
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/00 Vessels specially adapted for water sports or leisure; Body-supporting devices specially adapted for water sports or leisure water sports boards B63B32/00; swimming frameworks A63B35/00; propulsion arrangements actuated by muscle power B63H16/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 49/00 Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1824 Manual alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/198 with means for adjusting the mirror relative to its support G02B7/1822 takes precedence

Abstract

An adjustable mirror bracket is provided for supporting a mirror in a rearward facing position on a watercraft. The mirror bracket includes a base member having a body having a socket formed therein and a spherical bearing within the socket and including a stud projecting therefrom. The mirror bracket also includes a pivot member having a cupped lower end shaped to conform to the hemispherical top end of the base member, a bore formed through the cupped lower end for receiving the stud of the spherical bearing, and an attachment surface formed in an upper end of the pivot member. An elongate support arm is provided and is pivotally attached with a fastener to the attachment surface of the pivot member at the first end of the support arm.

Claims

1. An adjustable mirror bracket for supporting a mirror, the adjustable mirror bracket comprising:

a base member including

a body having bottom end, a hemispherical top end, a socket formed in the body of the base member, and an aperture formed through the hemispherical top end into the socket formed in the body of the base member;

a spherical bearing including a stud projecting therefrom, the spherical bearing located within the socket of the lower base member and oriented such that the stud extends through the aperture formed through the hemispherical top end of the base member and upwardly from the hemispherical top end of the body;

a pivot member including

a cupped lower surface shaped to conform to and contact the hemispherical top end of the base member, the cupped lower surface forming a ball and socket fit between the pivot member and the base member;

a bore formed through the cupped lower end for receiving the stud of the spherical bearing, the bore aligned with the aperture formed through the hemispherical top end ; and

an attachment surface area formed in an upper end of the pivot member;

an elongate support arm pivotally attached to the pivot member, the elongate support arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate support arm is pivotally attached with a fastener to the attachment surface of the pivot member at the first end of the support arm;

wherein the pivot member is located between the hemispherical top end of the base member and the elongate support arm; and

wherein the pivot member is movably associated such that the pivot member and pivotally attached elongate support arm are movable along multiple planes relative to the base member.

2. The adjustable mirror bracket of claim 1, further comprising a cavity formed through the attachment surface area of the pivot member in communication with the bore formed through the cupped lower end of the pivot member, wherein the spherical bearing stud extends into the cavity.

3. The adjustable mirror bracket of claim 2, wherein the stud of the spherical bearing includes a keyed portion formed thereon, and wherein the pivot member includes a keyed recess formed on the cupped lower end for engaging the keyed portion of the stud.

4. The adjustable mirror bracket of claim 2, wherein the spherical bearing stud is threaded, and further comprising a nut inserted into the cavity for securing the pivot member to the base member in a desired orientation.

5. The adjustable mirror bracket of claim 2, wherein when the support arm is attached to the attachment surface of the pivot member, the first end of the support arm substantially conceals the cavity formed in the attachment surface of the pivot member.

6. The adjustable mirror bracket of claim 1, wherein the attachment surface and a surface of the first end of the support arm are serrated to substantially prevent the support arm from pivoting with respect to the pivot member.

7. The adjustable mirror bracket of claim 1, further comprising a mirror attached to the second end of the elongate support arm.

8. The adjustable mirror of claim 7, wherein the mirror is attached to the second end of the elongate support arm with a ball joint.

9. The adjustable mirror of claim 1, further comprising one or more mounting holes formed through the base member for securing the base member to a support surface.

10. The adjustable mirror of claim 1, wherein corresponding surfaces of the attachment surface of the pivot member and elongate support arm are serrated for substantially preventing rotation of the support arm relative to the pivot member when fastener of the support arm is substantially tightened.

11. The adjustable mirror bracket of claim 1, wherein the pivot member has a hemispherical cross-sectional area, and wherein the attachment surface is formed along a flat back portion of the hemispherical pivot member.

12. An adjustable mirror bracket for supporting a mirror, the adjustable mirror bracket comprising:

a base member including

a body having bottom end, a hemispherical top end, a socket formed in the body of the base member, and an aperture formed through the hemispherical top end into the socket formed in the body of the base member;

a spherical bearing including a stud projecting therefrom, the spherical bearing located within the socket of the lower base member and oriented such that the stud extends through the aperture formed through the hemispherical top end of the base member and upwardly from the hemispherical top end of the body;

a pivot member including

a cupped lower surface shaped to conform to and contact the hemispherical top end of the base member, the cupped lower surface forming a ball and socket fit between the pivot member and the base member;

a bore formed through the cupped lower end for receiving the stud of the spherical bearing, the bore aligned with the aperture formed through the hemispherical top end; and

an attachment surface area formed in an upper end of the pivot member; and

a cavity formed through the attachment surface area of the pivot member in communication with the bore formed through the cupped lower end of the pivot member, wherein the spherical bearing stud extends into the cavity;

an elongate support arm pivotally attached to the pivot member, the elongate support arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate support arm is pivotally attached with a fastener to the attachment surface of the pivot member at the first end of the support arm;

wherein the pivot member is located between the hemispherical top end of the base member and the elongate support arm; and

wherein the pivot member is movably associated such that the pivot member and pivotally attached elongate support arm are movable along multiple planes relative to the base member.

13. An adjustable mirror bracket for supporting a mirror, the adjustable mirror bracket comprising:

a base member including

a body having bottom end, a hemispherical top end, a socket formed in the body of the base member, and an aperture formed through the hemispherical top end into the socket formed in the body of the base member;

a spherical bearing including a stud projecting therefrom, the spherical bearing located within the socket of the lower base member and oriented such that the stud extends through the aperture formed through the hemispherical top end of the base member and upwardly from the hemispherical top end of the body;

a pivot member including

a cupped lower surface shaped to conform to and contact the hemispherical top end of the base member, the cupped lower surface forming a ball and socket fit between the pivot member and the base member, the lower end including a keyed recess formed on the cupped lower end for engaging the keyed portion of the stud;

a bore formed through the cupped lower end for receiving the stud of the spherical bearing, the bore aligned with the aperture formed through the hemispherical top end;

an attachment surface area formed in an upper end of the pivot member; and

a cavity formed through the attachment surface area of the pivot member in communication with the bore formed through the cupped lower end of the pivot member, wherein the spherical bearing stud extends into the cavity;

an elongate support arm pivotally attached to the pivot member, the elongate support arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate support arm is pivotally attached with a fastener to the attachment surface of the pivot member at the first end of the support arm; and

a mirror pivotally attached to the second end of the elongate support arm;

wherein the pivot member is located between the hemispherical top end of the base member and the elongate support arm; and

wherein the pivot member is movably associated such that the pivot member and pivotally attached elongate support arm are movable along multiple planes relative to the base member.