Outside rear-view mirror with a mechanically adjustable mirror glass for a vehicle

• US 4,863,255 A
• Filed: 02/05/1988
• Issued: 09/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HOHE KG Hauptstrasse 36 6981 Collenberg FED REP of Germany
• Original Assignee: HOHE KG
• Inventors: Seitz, Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/152,558
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 350/604, 350/634, 350/635, 350/639, 248/479, 248/484, 248/487, 248/485, 248/486, 248/480
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/066 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

Disclosed is an outside rear view mirror for a vehicle which has a mirror housing mounted to a pedestal such that it may rock relative to the pedestal upon impact from the front or from the rear. Within the mirror housing, means are provided for holding a mirror glass which allow pivoting of the mirror glass about any one or both of two perpendicular pivot axes, one of which is normally upright and the other of which runs transversely to the car body to which the pedestal is fastened. An adjusting device for adjusting the position of the mirror glass includes a lever which is pivotably mounted within the pedestal, and one end of which is provided with a handle and the opposite end of which is coupled to a rod. The rod extends through a joint coupling the mirror housing rockably to the pedestal into the mirror housing and is pivotably mounted to a stud means projecting from the back of the mirror and offset from the point of intersection of said axes.

Claims

1. An outside rear-view mirror for a vehicle, said rear-view mirror comprising:

a pedestal adapted to be mounted to the vehicle,

a mirror housing,

a joint for rockably mounting said mirror housing to said pedestal,

a mirror glass,

a mirror backing for mounting said mirror glass in said mirror housing,

a mounting plate secured to said mirror housing,

pivot means for holding said mirror backing for pivoting of said mirror glass about at least one of two perpendicular pivoting axes, one said axes being normally upright and the other of said axes running transversely to the vehicle to which the pedestal may be fastened, said pivot means including a ball defined by said mounting plate, said ball being clamped by a portion of said mirror backing, said ball including two opposite extending journals extending into associated slots defined by said mirror backing for allowing some rotation but limiting to less than a complete rotation the movement of said mirror glass along at least one of said pivoting axes, said pivot means also including at least one first fork means for guiding said mirror backing relative to said mirror housing about said ball, said at least one first fork means protruding from said mounting plate and having a transverse member provided on said backing member,

an adjusting device for adjusting the portion of said mirror glass, said adjusting device including a lever pivotally mounted within said pedestal,

one end of said lever extending out of said pedestal towards the vehicle and the opposite end of said lever being coupled to a rod in the form a second fork means for allowing pivotal movement between said lever and said rod, said rod extending through said joint into said mirror housing and being pivotably mounted to a stud means projecting from a back of said mirror glass and offset from a point of intersection of said axes, said rod having a ball-like thickening kept slidably and rotatably in a guiding member mounted to said mirror housing and extending along a rocking axis of said mirror housing.

2. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein said axis running transversely to the vehicle extends between a mount of said rod to said stud means and said mirror backing of said mirror glass.

3. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein said stud means include an arm mounted to a rear of said mirror backing and is provided with an eye within which a free end of said rod opposite to said lever is rotatably kept.

4. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 3, wherein said arm is formed from said rear of said backing member to which said mirror glass is fastened.

5. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein said stud means include a shank which is fastened pivotally to a rear of said mirror backing and which is rotatably mounted to a free end of said rod opposite to said lever.

6. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 5, wherein said shank is pivotably mounted to said backing member to which said mirror glass is mounted.

7. Outside rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein said lever is guided within a slot provided in said pedestal.