Rearview mirror mounting assembly

• US 20030160146A1
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: DeLine, Jonathan E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,983,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/481
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A rearview mirror mounting assembly comprises a mounting arm which is pivotally secured to a mounting base and may be further pivotally attached to an accessory or an interior rearview mirror. The mounting arm comprises a ball receiving portion for receiving and pivotally engaging a ball member on the mounting base. The ball receiving portion tightly engages the ball member in response to a biasing force exerted on the ball receiving socket by a biasing member within the mounting arm. The biasing member is aligned and guided within the mounting arm via at least one confinement member, such as an annular guide portion, extending longitudinally within the arm and surrounding at least one substantially flat or planar surface, which the biasing member engages. Preferably, one of the surfaces is rigidly secured to the arm, thereby reducing potential vibration between the arm and the interior rearview mirror. Preferably, the arm comprises a ball-in and ball-out mounting arrangement which provides a double ball joint mount for the interior rearview mirror.

Claims

1. A support assembly for pivotally securing an accessory to a vehicle comprising:

a mounting base adapted for mounting to the vehicle;

a mounting arm pivotally securable to at least one of said mounting base and the accessory, said mounting arm comprising at least one ball receiving socket, a biasing member, an alignment element for aligning said biasing member, said alignment element engaging at least a portion of an outer surface of said biasing member.

2. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one ball receiving socket pivotally receives a ball member of at least one of said mounting base and the accessory.

3. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein said biasing member engages said alignment element and biases said at least one ball receiving socket toward said ball member to pivotally secure said ball member therein.

4. The support assembly of claim 3, wherein said mounting arm further comprises a sleeve which at least partially encases said ball receiving socket and said biasing member, said alignment element extending within said sleeve at least partially along said biasing member to align said biasing member within said sleeve.

5. The support assembly of claim 4, wherein said alignment element comprises an annular ring.

6. The support assembly of claim 5, wherein said alignment element further comprises a substantially planar surface at a base of said annular ring, an end of said biasing member engaging said planar surface.

7. The support assembly of claim 4, wherein said sleeve narrows at at least one end, said at least one end corresponding to said at least one ball receiving socket, said narrow end being operable to clamp said ball receiving socket about a ball member of at least one of said mounting base and the accessory in response to said biasing member biasing said socket toward said narrow end of said sleeve.

8. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein said alignment element comprises an annular ring.

9. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein said alignment element further comprises a substantially planar surface at a base of said annular ring, an end of said biasing member engaging said planar surface.

10. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises an interior rear view mirror.

11. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting base is securable to a mounting plate attached to an interior surface of a windshield of the vehicle.

12. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting base comprises a first ball member, said first ball member being pivotally received by one of said at least one ball receiving socket of said mounting arm.

13. The support assembly of claim 12, wherein said mounting arm further comprises a sleeve which at least partially encases said ball receiving socket and said biasing member, said sleeve of said mounting arm being fixedly secured to the accessory.

14. The support assembly of claim 13, wherein the accessory comprises said alignment element.

15. The support assembly of claim 14, wherein said ball receiving socket comprises said alignment element.

16. The support assembly of claim 12, wherein said mounting arm is pivotally secured to both said mounting base and the accessory.

17. The support assembly of claim 16, wherein said mounting arm comprises a first ball receiving socket at a receiving end and a second ball member at an end opposite said receiving end, said first ball receiving socket receiving said first ball member of said mounting base and said second ball member being pivotally received by the accessory, at least one of said first ball receiving socket and said second ball member comprising said alignment element such that said biasing member is positioned and aligned between said first ball receiving socket and said second ball member.

18. The support assembly of claim 17, wherein said second ball member comprises said alignment element.

19. The support assembly of claim 18, wherein said mounting arm further comprises a sleeve which at least partially encases said ball receiving socket and said biasing member, said second ball member being secured by an end of said sleeve having a narrowed opening.

20. The support assembly of claim 19, wherein said second ball member is further secured by at least one dimple in said sleeve.

21. The support assembly of claim 18, wherein said first ball receiving socket comprises said alignment element.

22. The support assembly of claim 18, wherein said biasing member is integrally molded with said ball receiving socket.

23. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein said ball receiving socket comprises a socket and said alignment element.

24. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein said biasing member comprises a coil spring.

25. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein said biasing member comprises an elastomeric material.

26. The support assembly of claim 25, wherein said biasing member is integrally formed with said ball receiving socket.

27. A support assembly for pivotally securing an accessory to a vehicle comprising:

a mounting base adapted for mounting to the vehicle, said mounting base comprising a first ball member extending therefrom;

a mounting arm pivotally securable to said first ball member and the accessory, said mounting arm comprising a first ball receiver at a first end for pivotally securing to said first ball member, a second ball member at a second end for pivotally securing to the accessory, and a biasing member positioned between said first ball receiver and said second ball member, said first end being generally opposite said second end, at least one of said first ball receiver and said second ball member comprising a confinement member extending at least partially between said first ball receiver and said second ball member, said biasing member being aligned between said first ball receiver and said second ball member by said confinement member engaging at least a portion of an outer surface of said biasing member.

28. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein said at least one of said first ball receiver and said second ball member further comprises a biasing member engaging surface recessed within said confinement member.

29. The support assembly of claim 28, wherein said confinement member comprises an annular guide ring.

30. The support assembly of claim 29, wherein said biasing member engaging surface comprises a planar surface.

31. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein said first ball receiver and said second ball member both comprise said confinement member and said engaging surface.

32. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein said second ball member is fixedly secured to said mounting arm.

33. The support assembly of claim 32, wherein said biasing member is integrally formed with said first ball receiver, said second ball member comprising said confinement member and said engaging surface.

34. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein said first ball receiver comprises an elastomeric material.

35. The support assembly of claim 34, wherein said first ball member and said second ball member comprise aluminum.

36. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein said biasing member comprises a coil spring.

37. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein said biasing member comprises an elastomeric material.

38. The support assembly of claim 37, wherein said biasing member is integrally formed with said first ball member.

39. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein said mounting base is mountable to an interior surface of a windshield of the vehicle.

40. The support assembly of claim 27, wherein the accessory is an interior rearview mirror.

41. A support assembly for pivotally securing an accessory to a vehicle, the accessory having at least one electronic component which is electrically connected to a vehicle wiring via an accessory wiring, said support bracket comprising:

a mounting base adapted for mounting to the vehicle, said mounting base comprising a first ball receiving socket;

a mounting arm pivotally secured to said mounting base and the accessory, said mounting arm comprising a first ball member for pivotally engaging said first ball receiving socket and a second ball member for pivotally engaging a second ball receiving socket on the accessory, said first ball member being positioned at an opposite end of said mounting arm from said second ball member, said mounting arm further comprising an outer sleeve which at least partially encases said mounting arm and the accessory wiring, said outer sleeve comprising a channel therealong for receiving the accessory wiring.

42. The support assembly of claim 41, wherein said mounting base further comprises a wiring passageway for encasing a portion of the accessory wiring as it is routed to and within said outer sleeve.

43. The support assembly of claim 41, wherein said mounting base is securable to an interior surface of a windshield of the vehicle.

44. The support assembly of claim 41, wherein the accessory is an interior rearview mirror.

45. The support assembly of claim 41, wherein said outer sleeve of said mounting arm comprises a recessed portion and a perforated cover over said recessed portion, said recessed portion being adaptable to receive scented inserts therein.

46. The support assembly of claim 45, wherein said recessed portion is positioned adjacent to said channel, such that heat generated by the wiring accessory in said channel is at least partially received in said recessed portion.