Rear view mirror mount for interior of automobile

• US 4,254,931 A
• Filed: 06/25/1979
• Issued: 03/10/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Standard Motor Company Limited (Kin Yat Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Standard Motor Company Limited (Kin Yat Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Aikens, William R., Kurz, Arthur W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Application Number:
  US06/051,679
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 248/549, 248/475 B, 248/478, 248/480, 248/483, 248/487, 248/476, 248/481, 248/223.4, 248/222.1, 248/225.1, 248/223.1
• US Class Current: 248/549
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

A rear view mirror for mounting on the interior surface of an automobile windshield so constructed and arranged that in the event of its being struck by the head of an occupant due to a sudden stop or collision the mirror mount will automatically snap loose and drop out of the way without causing serious injury to the occupant. Further, the construction is such that the mirror cannot easily be slipped off its mount by a pilferer.

Claims

1. The combination of an automotive vehicle windshield, a rear view mirror, and means mounting said mirror on the inside face of said windshield for adjustably positioning said mirror thereon and for accomplishing a snap-off of the mirror from the windshield when impacted;

said last named means comprising a first mounting member fixed to the inside face of the windshield, a second mounting member removably disposed on said first mounting member, one of said first and second members having outwardly tapering side walls, a resilient member mounted on the other of said first and second members having longitudinally extending resilient side walls tapered to interfit with and resiliently engage said outwardly tapering side walls on said one of said first and second members to provide a snap-off interconnection between said first and second members upon impact with said mirror, a transverse locking serration provided on the inner facing wall of one of said first and second members, a lock spring on the inner facing wall of the other of said first and second members having an off-set end resiliently engageable with said serration, and said second member having a closed top end and an open bottom end providing access to said off-set end to permit longitudinal relative movement between said first and second members.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said first member has outwardly tapering side walls, in which said resilient member is mounted on said second member, in which said locking serration is provided on the facing wall of said first member, and in which said lock spring is on the facing wall of said second member.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which the outwardly tapering walls extend around the top of said first member and in which the top of said second member has a complementary taper over the top of said first member and spaced therefrom.

4. The combination according to claim 1 in which the first member is formed by the resilient member which has outwardly tapering resilient side walls in which said second member has inwardly tapering side walls tapered to interfit with and resiliently engage said tapering side walls on said first members, in which said locking serration is provided on the facing wall of said second member, and in which said lock spring is on the facing wall of said first member.