Vehicle mirror mount assembly

• US 10,752,174 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2018
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Koetje, Christopher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kakalec, Kimberly N.
• Application Number:
  US16/010,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20180297527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 359871-878
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head, a mounting member configured to mount at an interior portion of a vehicle, and an attachment member having a connecting portion, a flange, a neck and a pivot element. The attachment member includes a conical portion that tapers from the flange portion toward the neck of the attachment member. The pivot element is disposed at an opposite end of the neck from the conical portion. With the attachment member disposed at a lower portion of the mounting member, and with the connecting portion received in and secured at a receiving portion of the mounting member, the flange abuts an end of the lower portion of the mounting member and an outer surface of the conical portion corresponds with an outer surface of the lower portion of the mounting member. The mirror head is adjustably attached at the pivot element.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head comprising a mirror casing and a reflective element;

a mounting member having an upper portion configured to mount at an interior portion of a vehicle;

an attachment member having a connecting portion, a flange, a neck and a pivot element;

wherein said connecting portion of said attachment member protrudes from said flange of said attachment member;

wherein said attachment member comprises a conical portion that tapers from said flange portion toward said neck of said attachment member;

wherein said pivot element is disposed at an opposite end of said neck from said conical portion;

wherein said attachment member is disposed at a lower portion of said mounting member, and wherein, with said attachment member disposed at said lower portion of said mounting member, said connecting portion is received in and secured at a receiving portion of said mounting member;

wherein, with said connecting portion received in and secured at said receiving portion of said mounting member, said flange abuts an end of said lower portion of said mounting member and an outer surface of said conical portion of said attachment member corresponds with an outer surface of said lower portion of said mounting member; and

wherein said mirror head is adjustably attached at said pivot element.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises polymeric material, and wherein at least said connection portion of said attachment member comprises metallic material.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said connection portion of said attachment member is insert molded in said receiving portion of said mounting member.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said connection portion of said attachment member includes a knurled outer surface to limit disengagement of said attachment member from said receiving portion of said mounting member.

5. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said pivot element of said attachment member comprises metallic material.

6. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein electrically conductive elements of said attachment member are configured to electrically connect to circuitry of said mirror head.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein said mounting member comprises a hollow passageway and is configured to at least partially conceal electrical wiring that extends through said passageway to said pivot element of said attachment member for electrically connecting to circuitry of said mirror head.

8. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said mounting member mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, said lower portion of said mounting member is angled rearward from said upper portion of said mounting member and away from a vehicle windshield.

9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said attachment member comprises a die cast metal, and wherein said pivot element of said attachment member comprises a ball member configured to pivotally attach at a socket of said mirror head.

10. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said upper portion of said mounting member is configured to mount to one of (i) a header portion of the vehicle and (ii) an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle.

11. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head comprising a mirror casing and a reflective element;

a mounting member having an upper portion configured to mount at an interior portion of a vehicle;

an attachment member having a connecting portion, a flange, a neck and a pivot element;

wherein said connecting portion of said attachment member comprises a cylindrical connecting portion that protrudes from said flange of said attachment member;

wherein said attachment member comprises a conical portion that tapers from said flange portion toward said neck of said attachment member;

wherein said pivot element is disposed at an opposite end of said neck from said conical portion;

wherein said attachment member is disposed at a lower portion of said mounting member, and wherein, with said attachment member disposed at said lower portion of said mounting member, said connecting portion is received in and secured at a receiving portion of said mounting member;

wherein, with said connecting portion received in and secured at said receiving portion of said mounting member, said flange abuts an end of said lower portion of said mounting member and an outer surface of said conical portion of said attachment member corresponds with an outer surface of said lower portion of said mounting member;

wherein said mirror head is adjustably attached at said pivot element;

wherein said mounting member is made of polymeric material;

wherein at least said connection portion of said attachment member is made of metallic material; and

wherein said upper portion of said mounting member is configured to mount to an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said mounting member comprises a hollow passageway and is configured to at least partially conceal electrical wiring that extends through said passageway to said pivot element of said attachment member for electrically connecting to circuitry of said mirror head.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said connection portion of said attachment member is insert molded in said receiving portion of said mounting member.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said connection portion of said attachment member includes a knurled outer surface to limit disengagement of said attachment member from said receiving portion of said mounting member.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said pivot element of said attachment member is made of metallic material.

16. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein electrically conductive elements of said attachment member are configured to electrically connect to circuitry of said mirror head.

17. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein, with said mounting member mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, said lower portion of said mounting member is angled rearward from said upper portion of said mounting member and away from the vehicle windshield.

18. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said attachment member comprises a die cast metal, and wherein said pivot element of said attachment member comprises a ball member configured to pivotally attach at a socket of said mirror head.

19. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror head comprising a mirror casing and a reflective element;

a mounting member having an upper portion configured to mount at an interior portion of a vehicle;

an attachment member having a connecting portion, a flange, a neck and a pivot element;

wherein said connecting portion of said attachment member protrudes from said flange of said attachment member;

wherein said attachment member comprises a conical portion that tapers from said flange portion toward said neck of said attachment member;

wherein said pivot element is disposed at an opposite end of said neck from said conical portion;

wherein said attachment member is disposed at a lower portion of said mounting member, and wherein, with said attachment member disposed at said lower portion of said mounting member, said connecting portion is received in and secured at a receiving portion of said mounting member;

wherein, with said connecting portion received in and secured at said receiving portion of said mounting member, said flange abuts an end of said lower portion of said mounting member and an outer surface of said conical portion of said attachment member corresponds with an outer surface of said lower portion of said mounting member;

wherein said mirror head is adjustably attached at said pivot element;

wherein said mounting member is made of polymeric material;

wherein at least said connection portion of said attachment member is made of metallic material;

wherein said mounting member comprises a hollow passageway and is configured to at least partially conceal electrical wiring that extends through said passageway to said pivot element of said attachment member for electrically connecting to circuitry of said mirror head; and

wherein said connection portion of said attachment member includes an outer surface configured to limit disengagement of said attachment member from said receiving portion of said mounting member.

20. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 19, wherein said upper portion of said mounting member is configured to mount to an attachment element adhesively attached at an in-cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle.

21. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein said connection portion of said attachment member is insert molded in said receiving portion of said mounting member.

22. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 21, wherein said pivot element of said attachment member is made of metallic material.

23. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein said outer surface of said connection portion of said attachment member comprises a knurled outer surface to limit disengagement of said attachment member from said receiving portion of said mounting member.

24. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein, with said mounting member mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, said lower portion of said mounting member is angled rearward from said upper portion of said mounting member and away from the vehicle windshield.

25. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 20, wherein said attachment member comprises a die cast metal, and wherein said pivot element of said attachment member comprises a ball member configured to pivotally attach at a socket of said mirror head.