Pivot support bracket

• US 4,135,694 A
• Filed: 05/16/1977
• Issued: 01/23/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Mirrors Limited
• Inventors: Vandenbrink, Wayne, Stegenga, Philip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schultz, William H.
• Application Number:
  US05/797,022
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 248/475 B, 248/478, 248/479, 248/484, 403/146, 403/162
• US Class Current: 248/478
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/076 yieldable to excessive external force and provided with an indexed use position B60R1/0617, B60R1/074 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32827 Interposed spring means coaxial with pivot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32959 Traverses interposed facing component

Abstract

This specification discloses a pivot support bracket for mounting a pivotable member supporting a mirror or the like. The bracket includes a base having an integral flange for strengthening and rigidifying the base and partially covering a coupling including a pivot axle between the base and the pivotable member. Further, the pivot axle serves both as the axis of rotation of the pivotable member and, together with a spring, as a structure for applying a constant, preset, externally nonadjustable biasing force against detent means which rotationally stabilize and resist rotation of the pivotable member with respect to the base. Applying a pivoting force above a certain magnitude to the pivotable member overcomes the biasing force and permits rotation of the pivotable member with respect to the base.

Claims

1. A pivot support for mounting a mirror bracket or the like to a vehicle comprising a base with a base aperture therethrough;

attaching means for securing said base to a vehicle body or the like;

an axle extending through said base aperture and rotatable therein;

separately formed rotation means secured to said axle such that they are rotatable in unison with said axle for engaging said base, said rotation means including one surface engaging said base, another surface opposite said one surface for supporting a mirror bracket or the like when secured on said axle and a relieved portion extending away from said one surface for strengthening and rigidifying said rotation means;

said axle including an enlarged portion extending through said base aperture and received in said relieved portion and a support flange spaced from said base on said enlarged portion;

said base and rotation means including cooperating detent means for retaining said base and rotation means in a predetermined rotational position with respect to one another;

means for biasing said rotation means toward and into engagement with said base and for maintaining engagement of said detent means when one end of said axle is secured to a mirror bracket or other member to be pivotally supported, said biasing means including at least one spring washer having a central aperture received over said enlarged axle portion and retained by said support flange for engaging said base around said base aperture a distance beyond said detent means as measured from said axle; and

flange means integral with and extending from said base and toward the other end of said axle for at least partially covering said axle and biasing means and strengthening and rigidifying said base.

2. A pivot support as recited in claim 1 wherein said flange means extends from the edge of said base.

3. A pivot support as recited in claim 2 wherein said flange means extends sufficiently far so that said flange means is at least coterminous with said other end of said axle.

4. A pivot support as recited in claim 3 wherein said base is generally triangular and said flange means extends around at least a portion of two sides of said base.

5. A pivot support as recited in claim 4 wherein said flange means is continuous in its extension toward said other end of said axle and in its extension around at least a portion of two sides of said base.

6. A pivot support as recited in claim 1 wherein said spring washer is coupled between the ends of said axle;

said axle having permanently deformed ends one of which includes said support flange, rotationally and longitudinally fixed relative to one another, for securing therebetween said spring washer, said rotation means, said base, and said mirror bracket or the like, and for applying a predetermined, fixed force to said spring washer thereby biasing said rotation means toward and into engagement with said base.

7. A pivot support for mounting a mirror bracket or the like to a vehicle comprising a base with a base aperture therethrough;

attaching means for securing said base to a vehicle body or the like;

an axle extending through said base aperture and rotatable therein;

separately formed rotation means secured to said axle such that they are rotatable in unison with said axle for engaging said base, said rotation means including one surface engaging said base and another surface opposite said one surface for supporting a mirror bracket or the like when secured on said axle;

said base and rotation means including cooperating detent means for retaining said base and rotation means in a predetermined rotational position with respect to one another;

means for biasing said rotation means toward and into engagement with said base and for maintaining engagement of said detent means when one end of said axle is secured to a mirror bracket or other member to be pivotally supported; and

flange means integral with and extending from said base and toward the other end of said axle for at least partially covering said axle and biasing means and strengthening and rigidifying said base;

said means for biasing said rotation means including at least one spring coupled between the ends of said axle; and

said axle having permanently deformed ends which are rotationally and longitudinally fixed relative to one another, for securing therebetween said spring, said rotation means, said base, and said mirror bracket or other member to be pivotally supported, and for applying a predetermined, fixed force to said spring thereby biasing said rotation means toward and into engagement with said base;

said rotation means being a plate member including a central opening having anti-rotation means for preventing rotation of said axle therein; and

at least one protrusion in a direction generally perpendicular to a major face of said plate member for acting as part of said detent means.

8. A pivot support as recited in claim 7 wherein said base includes an engaging aperture positioned to receive said one protrusion thereby rotationally stabilizing said plate member with respect to said base.

9. A pivot support for mounting a pivotally supported member such as a mirror bracket to a vehicle comprising a base with a base aperture therethrough;

attaching means for securing said base to a vehicle body or the like;

an axle extending through said base aperture and rotatable therein;

rotation means rotatable in unison with said axle for engaging said base;

said base and rotation means including cooperating detent means for retaining said base and rotation means in a predetermined rotational position with respect to one another;

means for biasing said rotation means toward and into engagement with said base and for maintaining engagement of said detent means when one of said axle is secured to a mirror bracket or other member to be pivotally supported; and

flange means integral with and extending from said base and toward the other end of said axle for at least partially covering said axle and biasing means and strengthening and rigidifying said base;

said means for biasing including at least one spring coupled between the ends of said axle, said axle having permanently deformed ends which are rotationally and longitudinally fixed relative to one another for securing therebetween said spring, said rotation means, said base, and said mirror bracket or other member to be pivotally supported, and for applying a predetermined, fixed force to said spring thereby biasing said rotation means toward and into engagement with said base;

said rotation means being a plate member including a central opening having anti-rotation means for preventing rotation of said axle therein, and at least one protrusion extending in a direction generally perpendicular to a major face of said plate member for acting as part of said detent means;

said base including an engaging aperture positioned to receive said one protrusion thereby rotationally stabilizing said plate member with respect to said base;

said ends of said axle extending radially outwardly and being of sufficient size to restrain longitudinal movement of said plate member, said base, said spring and said mirror bracket off said axle;

said axle being of a sufficient strength to apply a constant biasing force against said spring.

10. A pivot support as recited in claim 9 wherein said axle includes a longitudinal portion having a noncircular cross-sectional area taken generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said axle;

said anti-rotation means on said plate member central opening including a noncircular cross-sectional area corresponding to and mating with said noncircular area of said axle;

the periphery of said axle cross-sectional area engaging said plate member and said mirror bracket thereby rotationally stabilizing said axle, said plate member and said mirror bracket with respect to each other.

11. A pivot support as recited in claim 10 wherein said spring includes a spring washer having a generally frusto-conical shape with a central aperture receiving said axle therethrough.

12. A pivot support means for mounting a mirror bracket or the like to a vehicle comprising a base with an aperture therethrough;

attaching means for securing said base to a vehicle body or the like;

an elongated pivot axle extending through said base aperture and rotatable therein and having first and second ends;

a plate member having a relieved portion for strengthening and rigidifying said plate member and including a surface for engaging and supporting a mirror bracket or the like and an aperture through said relieved portion for receiving said pivot axle;

said axle including an enlarged portion extending through said base aperture and received in said relieved portion and a support flange at said second axle end on said enlarged portion;

means for causing said pivot axle and plate member to rotate in unison;

said base and plate member including cooperating detent means for retaining said base and plate member in a predetermined rotational position with respect to one another;

said surface of said relieved area being offset away from said base from said detent means for spacing said mirror bracket or the like from said detent means and base;

biasing spring means for applying a force along the axis of said pivot axle including at least one spring washer having a central aperture received over said enlarged axle portion and retained by said support flange, said spring washer engaging said base around said base aperture at distance beyond said detent means as measured from said axle;

said first end of said pivot axle being nonrotationally secured through said plate member aperture and through an opening to a mirror bracket or the like;

said first and second ends longitudinally securing said spring means, said plate member and said base between said first and second ends; and

said first and second ends being longitudinally and rotationally fixed in relation to one another to hold said spring means and bias said plate member toward said base for maintaining engagement of said detent means, whereby said pivot axle and spring means apply a predetermined, externally nonadjustable, biasing force to said plate member and base and permanently couple the mirror bracket or the like to said pivot support means.

13. A pivot support means as recited in claim 12 further comprising:

a flange means integral with and extending from said base toward said second end of said pivot axle for at least partially covering said pivot axle and said spring means and strengthening and rigidifying said base.

14. A pivot support means as recited in claim 13 wherein said plate member includes:

a central opening generally centered in said surface of said relieved portion for nonrotationally receiving said pivot axle; and

at least one protrusion in a direction generally perpendicular to a major face of said plate member for acting as part of said detent means.

15. A pivot support means as recited in claim 14 wherein said base includes an engaging aperture positioned to receive said one protrusion thereby preventing rotation by rotationally stabilizing said plate member with respect to said base when said biasing force is sufficient to engage said detent means.

19. A pivot support means as recited in claim 12 wherein said first and second ends of said pivot axle have a sufficient radial extension to restrain longitudinal movement of said plate member, said base, said spring means, and said mirror bracket off said pivot axle.

16. A pivot support means for mounting a mirror bracket or the like to a vehicle comprising a base with an aperture therethrough;

attaching means for securing said base to a vehicle body or the like;

an elongated pivot axle extending through said base aperture and rotatable therein and having first and second ends;

a plate member having an aperture therethrough for receiving said pivot axle;

means for causing said pivot axle and plate member to rotate in unison;

said base and plate member including cooperating detent means for retaining said base and plate member in a predetermined rotational position with respect to one another;

biasing spring means for applying a force along the axis of said pivot axle;

said first end of said pivot axle being nonrotationally secured through an opening to a mirror bracket or the like;

said first and second ends longitudinally securing said spring means, said plate member and said base between said first and second ends; and

said first and second ends being longitudinally and rotationally fixed in relation to one another to hold said spring means and bias said plate member toward said base for maintaining engagement of said detent means, whereby said pivot axle and spring means apply a predetermined, externally nonadjustable biasing force to said plate member and base and permanently couple the mirror bracket or the like to said pivot support means;

a flange means integral with said extending from said base toward said second end of said pivot axle for at least partially covering said pivot axle and said spring means and strengthening and rigidifying said base;

said plate member including a central opening for nonrotationally receiving said pivot axle, and at least one protrusion extending in a direction generally perpendicular to a major face of said plate member for acting as part of said detent means;

said base including an engaging aperture positioned to receive said one protrusion thereby preventing rotation by rotationally stabilizing said plate member with respect to said base when said biasing force is sufficient to engage said detent means;

said ends of said pivot axle extending radially outwardly and being of sufficient size to restrain longitudinal movement of said plate member, said base, said spring means and said mirror bracket or the like off said pivot axle;

said pivot axle being of a sufficient strength to compress and deflect said spring means thereby establishing a constant, externally nonadjustable biasing force.

17. A pivot support means as recited in claim 16 wherein said pivot axle includes a longitudinal portion having a noncircular cross-section area taken generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said pivot axle, the periphery of said cross-section area engaging said plate member and said mirror bracket or the like thereby rotationally stabilizing said pivot axle, said plate means and said mirror bracket or the like with respect to each other.

18. A pivot support means as recited in claim 17 wherein said spring means includes a spring washer having a generally frusto-conical shape with a central aperture receiving said pivot axle therethrough.

20. A pivot support means for mounting a mirror bracket or the like to a vehicle comprising a base with an aperture therethrough;

attaching means for securing said base to a vehicle body or the like;

an elongated pivot axle extending through said base aperture and rotatable therein and having first and second ends;

a plate member having an aperture therethrough for receiving said pivot axle;

means for causing said pivot axle and plate member to rotate in unison;

said base and plate member including cooperating detent means for retaining said base and plate member in a predetermined rotational position with respect to one another;

biasing spring means for applying a force along the axis of said pivot axle;

said first end of said pivot axle being nonrotationally secured through an opening to a mirror bracket or the like;

said first and second ends longitudinally securing said spring means, said plate member and said base between said first and second ends; and

said first and second ends being longitudinally and rotationally fixed in relation to one another to hold said spring means and bias said plate member toward said base for maintaining engagement of said detent means, whereby said pivot axle and spring means apply a predetermined, externally nonadjustable biasing force to said plate member and base and permanently couple the mirror bracket or the like to said pivot support means;

said first and second ends of said pivot axle having a sufficient radial extension to restrain longitudinal movement of said plate member, said base, said spring means, and said mirror bracket off said pivot axle;

said pivot axle including a first longitudinal portion intermediate said first and second ends, said first longitudinal portion having a radial extension sufficiently small to pass through said base aperture and sufficiently large not to pass through said plate member aperture; and

said pivot axle including a second longitudinal portion positioned between said first longitudinal portion and said first end, said second longitudinal portion having a sufficiently small radial extension to fit within said mirror bracket opening.

21. A pivot support means as recited in claim 20 wherein said second longitudinal portion has a noncircular circumference tapering in radial extension with increasing distance along at least a portion of its length toward said first end.