Rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle

• US 5,107,374 A
• Filed: 12/21/1989
• Issued: 04/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilardini SpA, Iveco Fiat SpA (Iveco Group NV)
• Original Assignee: Gilardini SpA, Iveco Fiat SpA (Iveco Group NV)
• Inventors: Zuccotti, Alberto, Lupo, Elio
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAFER, RICKY D
• Application Number:
  US07/454,762
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 350/604, 350/605, 350/606, 350/626, 350/631, 350/632, 350/639, 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/478, 248/479, 248/480, 248/484, 248/486, 248/487
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0617 foldable along the vehicle, e.g. in case of external force applied thereon

Abstract

A rearview mirror assembly for an industrial vehicle comprising a C-shaped supporting element, a mirror attached to this supporting element, hinging means for attaching the supporting element in a projecting position to the body of the vehicle defining at least one preferential angular position of the supporting element, and a telescopic rod connected to a lower arm of the supporting element and to a bracket fixed to the vehicle body, so as to reduce the vibrations during use of the supporting element and equipped with elastic means exerting a return force on the arm.

Claims

1. In a rearview mirror assembly for industrial vehicles, having a mirror, a supporting element to which said mirror is attached, and hinging means for connecting said supporting element in a projecting position with a first area of the body of said vehicle, said hinging means defining at least one preferential angular position of said supporting element in relation to said vehicle body, wherein the improvement comprises at least one rod providing an auxiliary attachment between said suporting element and a second area of said vehicle body, said rod comprising a tube and a stem, said stem sliding along an internal chamber of said tube, said stem attaching to a first pin on said supporting element to form a first pivot, said tube attaching to a second pin to form a second pivot, said second pin secured to a bracket at said second area of said vehicle body, said bracket comprising at least one substantially horizontal wall with an arc-shape through-slot in which said second pin is mounted to freely slide in a arcuate manner, said rod further comprising a spring disposed within said tube;

said spring exerting a force on said stem urging said supporting element towards said second area of the vehicle body when said supporting element is located near said preferential angular position.

2. A rearview mirror assembly for industrial vehicles comprising:

a mirror;

a supporting element to which said mirror is attached;

hinging means for connecting said supporting element in a projecting position to at least a first support means fixed to a first lateral portion of a body of said vehicle;

said hinging means defining at least one preferential angular position of said supporting element in relation to said vehicle body;

a telescopic auxiliary rod connected by respective pins at one end to said supporting element and at the other end to a bracket fixed to a second lateral portion of said vehicle body, said auxiliary rod having a tube and a stem slidingly received in an internal chamber of said tube, said auxiliary rod further having a spring coiled around said stem inside said tube, said spring being compressed between a first stopping means attached to an inlet of said tube and a second stopping means attached to the end of said stem disposed within said tube, said auxiliary rod exerting a force on said supporting element towards said bracket when said supporting element is located near said preferential angular position; and

said internal chamber of said tube having a first section with a first diameter adjacent to said inlet section and slidably receiving said first and second stopping means therein, and a second section having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said stopping means but larger than the diameter of said stem, said second stopping means being slidable along said stem.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bracket presents at least one substantially horizontal wall with a through slot in which said end pin of said rod connected to said bracket is mounted free to slide.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said slot is a concave shaped slot with its concave part facing towards the outside of said vehicle.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said supporting element comprises a substantially C-shaped member and having a central part to which said mirror is attached in an adjustable fashion, and an upper arm and a lower arm attached by said hinging means to said body of said vehicle;

said hinging means attaching said lower arm to said body of said vehicle defining said preferential position of said supporting element with respect to said vehicle body.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said rod is attached to said lower arm of said supporting element.

7. A rearview mirror assembly for industrial vehicles comprising;

a mirror;

a supporting element to which said mirror is attached;

hinging means for connecting said supporting element in a projecting position to at least a first support means fixed to a first lateral portion of a body of said vehicle;

said hinging means defining at least one preferential angular position of said supporting element in relation to said vehicle body;

a bracket fixed to a second lateral position of said vehicle body, said bracket having a horizontal wall having a through slot, a rear end of said slot located substantially on the rotating axis of said supporting element about said hinging means;

a telescopic auxiliary rod connected by respective pins at one end to said supporting element and at the other end to said bracket, said auxiliary rod having a tube and a stem slidingly received in an internal chamber of said tube; and

said auxiliary rod including resilient means for exerting a force on said supporting element towards said bracket when said supporting element is located near said preferential angular position.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said auxiliary rod further comprises a spring coiled around said stem inside said tube and is compressed between a first stopping means attached to an inlet of said tube and a second stopping means attached to the end of said stem disposed within said tube.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said internal chamber of said tube comprises a first section with a first diameter adjacent to said inlet section and slidably receiving said first and second stopping means therein, and a second section having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said stopping means but larger than the diameter of said stem;

said second stopping means slidable along said stem.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said preferential position of said supporting element is tilted forward with respect to a cross plane passing through said rotational axis (A) of said supporting element.