Dual mounting assembly for mirrors

• US 4,890,909 A
• Filed: 02/13/1989
• Issued: 01/02/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William P. Schmidt Living Trust
• Original Assignee: Frank D. Hutchinson, Kirk Malcomson, William P. Schmidt
• Inventors: Malcomson, Kirk, Schmidt, William P., Hutchinson, Frank D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARNOLD, BRUCE
• Application Number:
  US07/310,241
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 350/610, 350/611, 350/616, 350/626, 350/627, 350/604, 350/609, 350/631, 350/632, 350/634, 248/476, 248/477, 248/478, 248/479, 248/480, 248/475.1
• US Class Current: 359/855
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1824 Manual alignment

Abstract

A mirror mounting apparatus for having two separate mounting assemblies. The first mounting assembly mounts directly to the vehicle. The second mounting assembly with attached mirrors mounts on the first mounting assembly. A clamping bracket or brackets having to separate pieces is insertable in one or more slots of the second assembly to clamp the first and second assemblies together.

Claims

1. A dual mounted dual mirror assembly for attachment to a vehicle, comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced apart mirrors each having at least one visual reflective surface;

(b) a first attachment means to be mounted to a vehicle surface;

(c) a second attachment means for securing the pair of mirrors to the first attachment means, the second attachment means having a pair of spaced apart slots formed therein;

(d) at least one clamping bracket associated with each slot, each bracket being removable and emplaceable within its associated slot, each bracket interconnecting an associated mirror with an associated slot; and

(e) a fastening means to secure the clamping bracket about the first attachment means.

2. The dual mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second mirrors are vertically spaced apart.

3. The dual mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the first attachment means comprises a generally U-shaped member, having an elongated post, with first and second ends, the first and second ends having first and second spaced apart legs, respectively, extending from the first and second ends, the legs being perpendicular to the post.

4. The dual mirror assembly of claim 3 further comprising a means for connecting the first and second ends of the first attachment means to a vehicle surface.

5. The dual mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the first attachment means comprises a two part bracket having:

(a) an upper frame member comprising a vertically extending end section which forms a telescoping section; and

(b) a lower open faced tubular member which receives the telescoping section.

6. The dual mirror assembly of claim 5 wherein the telescoping section of the first attachment means is enclosed by a vibration absorbing material.

7. The dual mirror assembly of claim 5 wherein the vertically extending pilot is enclosed by a vibration absorbing material.

8. The dual mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the second attachment means comprises:

(a) a first L-shaped section having a generally vertically extending bar having first and second opposed ends, and a generally horizontal member which attaches to the first end of the bar, one mirror being attached to the horizontal member, and the second end of the bar comprising a vertically extending pilot of a smaller diameter than the bar;

(b) a second L-shaped section comprising a vertically extending bar having first and second opposed ends and a generally horizontal member which attaches to the second end of the bar, the first end of the bar comprising an open tube to receive the pilot from the bar of the first L-shaped section.

9. The dual mirror assembly of claim 8 wherein the vertically extending pilot is flattened.

10. The dual mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the clamping bracket comprises two members, each having the same shape with a flat planar portion, an outwardly extending circular arcuate portion which extends to a second planar portion, the first planar portion being insertable in the slot of the vertical bar of the second attachment means and the second planar portion having an aperture for receipt of a fastening means.

11. The dual mirror assembly of claim 10 wherein the clamping bracket defines a means to connect the first attachment means to the second attachment means when the planar first ends of the first and second bracket members are in abutment for insertion into the vertical slot located on the second attachment means, and the arcuate portions of each member curve away from each other to form an opening to receive the post of the first attachment means, and the second planar ends abut and align to receive a fastening means through the aperture of each, for attaching the two clamping members together.

12. The dual mirror assembly of claim 11 wherein the fastening means comprises a nut and bolt.

13. The dual mirror assembly of claim 11 wherein the second attachment means is rotatable about the post of the first attachment means by loosening of the fastening means of the clamping bracket.

14. The dual mounted dual mirror assembly for attachment to a vehicle, comprising:

(a) a pair of vertically spaced apart mirrors each having at least one visual reflective surface;

(b) a first attachment means to be mounted to a vehicle surface comprising a generally U-shaped member, having an elongated post, with first and second ends, the first and second ends having first and second spaced apart legs respectively extending from the first and second ends, the legs being perpendicular to the post;

(c) a second attachment means for securing the pair of mirrors to the first attachment means comprising;

first and second L-shaped sections, each L-shaped section having an attached mirror, the first and second L-shaped sections having pairs of spaced apart slots formed therein;

(d) at least one clamping bracket associated with each slot each bracket being removably emplaceable within its associated slot, and each bracket interconnecting an associated means within associated slot; and

(e) a fastening means to secure the clamping bracket about the first attachment means.

15. The dual mirror assembly of claim 14 wherein the first L-shaped section has a generally vertically extending bar having first and second opposed ends, the generally horizontal extending member attaching to the first end of the bar for attachment of a mirror, and the second end of the bar comprising a vertically extending pilot having a smaller diameter than the bar;

and the second L-shaped section comprising a vertically extending bar having first and second opposed ends, the generally horizontal member attaching to the second end of the bar, for attachment of the mirror, and the first end of the bar comprising an open tube to receive the pilot from the bar of the first L-shaped section.

16. The dual mirror assembly of claim 14 wherein the clamping bracket comprises two members, each having the same shape with a flat planar portion, an outwardly extending circular arcuate portion which extends to a second planar portion, the first planar portion being insertable in the slot of the second attachment means and the second planar portion having an aperture for receipt of a fastening means.

17. The dual mirror assembly of claim 14 wherein the clamping bracket defines a means to connect the first attachment means to the second attachment means when the planar first ends of the first and second bracket members are in abutment for insertion into the vertical slot located on the second attachment means and the arcuate portions of each member curve away from each other to form an opening to receive the posts of the first attachment means, and the second planar ends abut and align to receive a fastening means to the aperture of each, for attaching the two clamping members together.