Breakaway rearview mirror mounting bracket

• US 5,377,948 A
• Filed: 02/19/1993
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Suman, Danny L., De Kleine, Paul C., Rumsey, Wayne J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOTKOWSKI, KAREN
• Application Number:
  US08/020,881
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 248/549, 248/548, 248/900, 248/483, 248/224.1, 248/224.2, 248/222.1, 359/872, 359/876, 359/871
• US Class Current: 248/549
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

A breakaway bracket is provided for mounting a rearview mirror to a button on the inner surface of a vehicle windshield. The bracket includes a spring clip which has a base portion, longitudinally extending, opposed, resilient side flanges, and a resilient locking flange which extends from the base portion. The side flanges have grooves and the locking flange has tabs so that when the bracket is mounted to the button, the grooves receive side surfaces of the button in tongue-and-groove fashion, and the tabs firmly engage a bottom surface of the button.

Claims

1. A breakaway bracket adapted for mounting a rearview mirror to a button having a rear surface secured to an inner surface of a motor vehicle windshield, said button having opposed side surfaces forming rails at an outer surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces and facing away from said inner surface of said windshield, said front surface being generally parallel to said inner surface of the windshield, and a locking flange edge at a juncture of the front and bottom surfaces, said bracket comprising:

a body having a mounting surface;

a unitary spring clip securely mounted to the mounting surface, said spring clip having a base portion, longitudinally extending, opposed, resilient side flanges projecting upwardly from the base portion, each of the side flanges defining a groove adapted to slidably receive a corresponding one of the button side surface rails in tongue-and-groove fashion, said spring clip further having a resilient locking flange projecting upwardly from the base portion, a portion of said locking flange being adapted to slidingly engage the front surface of the button to cause said locking flange to elastically flex toward a plane of the base portion as the side flanges become fully engaged with the button side surface rails and without any audible clicking sounds caused by a sliding movement of said portion of said locking flange over the front surface, button rest means for engaging the top surface of the button to limit, as the side flanges become fully engaged with the button side surface rails, further movement of said body and said spring clip in a first direction relative to the button, said portion of said locking flange moving suddenly to a position firmly engaging the bottom surface of the button as said portion of said locking flange moves past the bottom surface of the button and at about the same time as said button rest means engages the top surface of the button, said sudden moving of said locking flange producing a clearly perceived indication that the bracket is fully mounted to the button, wherein said locking flange includes first means defining a tab having a surface firmly engaging the bottom surface of the button when the bracket is fully seated on the button and second means which strikes the front surface of the button to emit a single and pronounced audible click in response to said tab moving past the locking flange edge, said audible click being said clearly perceived indication that said bracket is fully seated on the button, whereby the bracket will be securely retained on the button under ordinary conditions when the button is slidably received in the spring clip but is adapted to be snapped off the button in a direction away from the windshield when a force of predetermined magnitude is applied thereto.

2. The breakaway bracket according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has a stop member which engages the top surface of the button when the bracket is mounted to the button.

3. The breakaway bracket according to claim 2, wherein the stop member is formed from one of a surface of the body and a projection extending upwardly from the base portion of the spring clip.

4. The breakaway bracket according to claim 1, wherein the front surface is entirely flat, and wherein the side surfaces are inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the button so as to appear convergent, and the side flanges are also inclined at substantially the same angle as the side surfaces.

5. The breakaway bracket according to claim 1, wherein the resilient locking flange has a tab at a distal end thereof, the tab being adapted to seat behind the bottom surface with an audible sound when the bracket is slidably mounted on the button.

6. The breakaway bracket according to claim 5, wherein the tab projects laterally from the distal end of the resilient flange.

7. The breakaway bracket according to claim 6, wherein the tab has a straight forward edge and an arcuate rearward edge, and the forward edge engages the bottom surface when the bracket is mounted to the button.

8. The breakaway bracket according to claim 1, wherein the spring clip is made of spring steel.

9. The breakaway bracket according to claim 8, wherein the steel has a thickness in the range of 0.025 to 0.030 inches.

10. The breakaway bracket according to claim 8, wherein the steel has a hardness in the range of 30 to 50 on the Rockwell C scale.

11. The breakaway bracket according to claim 1, wherein the mirror mounting means comprises a ball extending from the body.

12. The breakaway bracket according to claim 1, wherein the resilient flange is adapted to generate an audible sound when the bracket is slidably mounted onto the button in fully seated condition.

13. The breakaway bracket according to claim 1, wherein the resilient flange is adapted to generate a tactile sonic vibration when the bracket is slid onto the button in a fully seated condition.

14. The breakaway bracket according to claim 1, wherein said tab, as the side flanges of said spring clip become fully engaged with the button side surface rails, also causes said body to adopt a first angular position relative to the windshield, said sudden movement of said tab to a position firmly engaging the bottom surface of the button simultaneously causing said body to suddenly move to a second and final angular, fully seated, position on the button to further enhance said clearly perceived indication.

15. A breakaway bracket adapted for mounting a rearview mirror to a button having a rear surface secured to an inner surface of a motor vehicle windshield, said button having opposed side surfaces forming rails at an outer surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces and facing away from said inner surface of said windshield, said front surface being generally parallel to said inner surface of the windshield, and a locking flange edge at a juncture of the front and bottom surfaces, said bracket comprising:

a body having a mounting surface;

a unitary spring clip securely mounted on the mounting surface, said spring clip having a base portion, longitudinally extending, opposed, resilient side flanges projecting upwardly from the base portion, each of the side flanges defining a groove adapted to slidably receive a corresponding one of the button side surface rails in tongue-and-groove fashion, said spring clip further having a resilient locking flange projecting upwardly from the base portion, a portion of said locking flange being adapted to slidingly engage the front surface of the button to cause said locking flange to elastically flex toward a plane of the base portion as the side flanges become fully engaged with the button side surface rails and without any audible clicking sounds caused by a sliding movement of the locking flange over the front surface, button rest means for engaging the top surface of the button to limit, as the side flanges become fully engaged with the button side surface rails, further movement of said body and said spring clip in a first direction relative to the button, said resilient locking flange having a segment thereon which suddenly snaps against the front face of the button and at about the same time as said button rest means engages the top surface of the button to generate a single tactile indicia as said portion of said locking flange moves past the locking flange edge to cause said portion of said locking flange to become firmly engaged with the bottom surface of the button when the bracket is fully, seated on the button, whereby the bracket will be securely retained on the button under ordinary conditions when the button is slidably received in the spring clip but is adapted to be snapped off the button in a direction away from the windshield when a force of predetermined magnitude is applied thereto.

16. The breakaway bracket according to claim 15, wherein the front surface is entirely flat.

17. The breakaway bracket according to claim 15, wherein said tab, as the side flanges of said spring clip become fully engaged with the button side surface rails, causes said body to adopt a first angular position relative to the windshield, said sudden movement of said tab to a position firmly engaging the bottom surface of the button simultaneously causing said body to suddenly move to a second and final angular, fully seated, position on said button to further enhance said single tactile indicia.

18. The breakaway bracket according to claim 17, wherein said locking flange includes first means defining a tab having a surface firmly engaging the bottom surface of the button when the bracket is satisfactorily mounted on the button said segment striking the front surface of the button to emit a single and pronounced audible click in response to said tab moving past the locking flange edge, said audible click providing said single tactile indicia indicating that said bracket is fully seated on the button.

19. The breakaway bracket according to claim 15, wherein said locking flange includes first means defining a tab having a surface firmly engaging the bottom surface of the button when the bracket is satisfactorily mounted on the button said segment striking the front surface of the button to emit a single and pronounced audible click in response to said tab moving past the locking flange edge, said audible click providing said single audible click indicating that said bracket is fully seated on the button.

20. A breakaway bracket adapted for mounting a rearview mirror to a button having a rear surface secured to an inner surface of a motor vehicle windshield, said button having opposed side surfaces forming rails at an outer surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces and facing away from said inner surface of said windshield, said front surface being generally parallel to said inner surface of the windshield, and a sharp locking flange edge at a juncture of the front and bottom surfaces, said bracket comprising:

a body having a mounting surface;

a spring clip securely mounted to the mounting surface, said spring clip having a base portion, longitudinally extending, opposed, resilient side flanges projecting upwardly from the base portion, each of the side flanges defining a groove adapted to slidably receive a corresponding one of the button side surface rails in tongue-and-groove fashion, and a resilient locking flange projecting upwardly from the base portion, a portion of said locking flange being adapted to slidingly engage the front surface of the button and elastically flex toward a plane of the base portion as the side flanges become fully engaged with the button side surface rails and without any audible clicking sounds caused by a sliding movement of the locking flange over the front surface, said resilient locking flange suddenly snapping against the front surface of the button to generate a single and pronounced audible clock as said portion of said locking flange moves past the locking flange edge to cause said portion of said locking flange to become firmly engaged with the bottom surface of the button when the bracket is fully seated on the button, whereby the bracket will be securely retained on the button under ordinary conditions when the button is slidably received in the spring clip but is adapted to be snapped off the button in a direction away from the windshield when a force of predetermined magnitude is applied thereto, wherein said spring clip is made of elastically yieldable spring material, wherein the resilient locking flange projecting upwardly from the base portion includes a first segment extending longitudinally from one end of the base portion, an upwardly projecting portion of the locking flange being oriented at a distal end of the first segment and including a second segment contiguous therewith and extending in an overlapping relation with the first segment but spaced from the first segment, the second segment, as the side flanges become fully engaged with the side surface rails, being elastically yieldably movable toward the plane of the base portion and the first segment about an axis defined generally by the upwardly projecting portion and against a spring force generated by the elastically yielding spring material, and wherein the portion of the locking flange adapted to firmly engage the bottom surface of the button includes at least one upwardly projecting tab on said second segment on a side thereof remote from the first segment, a surface on the tab firmly engaging the bottom surface of the button when the bracket is fully seated on the button.

21. A breakaway bracket according to claim 20, wherein the front surface is entirely flat.

22. The breakaway bracket according to claim 20, wherein the resilient locking flange extends longitudinally from a first end of the base portion, wherein means defining a button rest is provided and which extends longitudinally from a second end of the base portion opposite the first end, the button rest including means defining an upstanding surface oriented in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the side flanges and against which an edge of the button is adapted to fixedly rest.

23. The breakaway bracket according to claim 20, wherein the resilient locking flange extends longitudinally from a first end of the base portion, wherein means defining a button rest is provided and which extends longitudinally from a second end of the base portion opposite the first end, the button rest including means defining a first surface extending generally inclined to a plane containing the base portion, and a second, upwardly inclined, surface oriented in a plane generally defining an obtuse angle with said first surface, the button being adapted to rest normally on at least one of the first and second surfaces, but slidingly engaging the second surface when the body is impacted by an external force.

24. The breakaway bracket according to claim 23, wherein an upper surface of the second segment is generally inclined with respect to the base portion.

25. The breakaway bracket according to claim 24, wherein the body includes at least one upstanding button support member along each of the lateral sides of the body and extending upwardly beyond the mounting surface, and wherein the side flanges each include means defining an opening for receiving the respective button support member therein, and wherein an upper end of the button support members terminates in a button support surface generally parallel to the base portion.

26. The breakaway bracket according to claim 25, wherein an edge of the button support surface facing the locking flange is bevelled toward the mounting surface.

27. The breakaway bracket according to claim 25, wherein a plurality of upstanding button support members are provided along each lateral side of the body, at least a pair of the button support members straddling the locking flange.

28. The breakaway bracket according to claim 27, wherein the pair of button support members straddling the locking flange each include a surface segment that extends into a region between the button rest and the portion of the locking flange adapted to firmly engage the bottom surface of the button.

29. The breakaway bracket according to claim 20, wherein said portion of said locking flange, as the side flanges of said spring clip become fully engaged with the button side surface rails, causes said body to adopt a first angular position relative to the windshield, said sudden movement of said locking flange to a position firmly engaging the bottom surface of the button simultaneously causing said body to suddenly move to a second and final angular, fully seated, position on the button to further enhance the significance of the single audible click.

30. A breakaway bracket adapted for mounting a rearview mirror to a button having a rear surface secured to an inner surface of a motor vehicle windshield, said button having opposed side surfaces forming rails at an outer surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces and facing away from said inner surface of said windshield, and a locking flange edge at a juncture of the front and bottom surfaces, said bracket comprising:

a body member having a base portion and resilient means for gripping and releasably securing said body member to said button, said resilient means including longitudinally extending, opposed, resilient side flanges projecting upwardly from the base portion, each of the side flanges defining a groove adapted to slidably receive a corresponding one of the button side surface rails in tongue-and-groove fashion, a locking flange at one end of said body member projecting upwardly from said base portion, said locking flange, caused by said resilient means engaging the button side surfaces during a movement of said body member in a first direction generally parallel to the button side surfaces when assembling said body member to the button, slidingly engaging the front surface of the button;

button rest means at another end of said body member projecting upwardly from said base portion for engaging the top surface of the button to limit, as the resilient side flanges become fully engaged with the button side surface rails, further movement of said body member in said first direction relative to the button, said resilient means being interposed between said locking flange and said button rest means, said locking flange moving suddenly toward the inner surface of the windshield under an urging by said resilient means at about the same time as said button rest means engages the top surface of the button and said locking flange moves past the locking flange edge causing all of said body member to be forcibly drawn toward the inner surface of the windshield by said resilient means to orient said locking flange in a position firmly adjacent the bottom surface of the button and said button rest means firmly adjacent the top surface of the button and only when the bracket is fully mounted to the button and thereby providing a clearly perceived indication that said bracket has become fully mounted to the button, whereby the bracket will be prevented by said locking flange from moving in a second direction opposite to said first direction so as to be securely retained on the button under ordinary conditions when the bottom surface of the button is engaged by the locking flange and said resilient side flanges of said resilient means straddle the button but is adapted to be snapped off the button in a direction away from the windshield when a force of predetermined magnitude is applied thereto.

31. The breakaway bracket according to claim 30, wherein said body member and said resilient means are separate parts.

32. The breakaway bracket according to claim 30, wherein said body member includes mounting means for facilitating a securement of said rearview mirror thereto.

33. The breakaway bracket according to claim 30, wherein said locking flange is elastically yieldably movable toward said base portion, said elastically yieldable locking flange slidingly engaging the front surface of the button and elastically flexing toward a plane of the base portion as the side flanges become fully engaged with the button side surface rails and eventually, suddenly, snapping over the locking flange edge of the button.

34. The breakaway bracket according to claim 33, wherein said locking flange includes first means defining a tab having a surface firmly engaging the bottom surface of the button when the bracket is satisfactorily mounted on the button and second means which strikes the front surface of the button to emit a single and pronounced audible click in response to said locking flange snapping over the locking flange edge, said audible click being said clearly perceived indication that said bracket is fully seated on the button.

35. The breakaway bracket according to claim 34, wherein said second means is a flat surface that becomes oriented generally parallel to and engages the front surface of the button when said bracket is fully seated on said button.

36. The breakaway bracket according to claim 30, wherein said front surface of said button is entirely smooth and unobstructed and said locking flange edge is a sharp edge.

37. The breakaway bracket according to claim 30, wherein said locking flange has means thereon slidingly engaging the front surface of the button, as the side flanges of said spring clip become fully engaged with the button side surface rails, for causing said body member to adapt a first angular position relative to the windshield, said sudden movement of the locking flange and said means thereon to a position firmly engaging the bottom surface of the button simultaneously causing said body member to suddenly move to a second and final angular, fully seated, position on the button to further enhance the significance of the clearly perceived indication.

38. A breakaway bracket adapted for mounting a rearview mirror to a button having a rear surface secured to an inner surface of a motor vehicle windshield, said button having opposed side surfaces forming rails at an outer surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces and facing away from said inner surface of said windshield, said front surface being generally parallel to said inner surface of the windshield, and a locking flange edge at a juncture of the front and bottom surfaces, said bracket comprising:

a body having a mounting surface;

a unitary spring clip securely mounted to the mounting surface, said spring clip having a base portion, longitudinally extending, opposed, resilient side flanges projecting upwardly from the base portion, each of the side flanges defining a groove adapted to slidably receive a corresponding one of the button side surface rails in tongue-and-groove fashion, said spring clip further having a resilient locking flange projecting upwardly from the base portion, a portion of said locking flange being adapted to slidingly engage the front surface of the button to cause said locking flange to elastically flex toward a plane of the base portion as the side flanges become fully engaged with the button side surface rails and without any audible clicking sounds caused by a sliding movement of said portion of said locking flange over the front surface, button rest means for engaging the top surface of the button to limit, as the side flanges become fully engaged with the button side surface rails, further movement of said body and said spring clip in a first direction relative to the button, said resilient locking flange having a segment thereon which suddenly snaps against the front face of the button at about the same time as said button rest means engages the top surface of the button to generate a single and pronounced audible click as said portion of said locking flange moves past the locking flange edge to cause said portion of said locking flange to become firmly engaged with the bottom surface of the button and thereby prevent a movement of said body and said spring in a second direction opposite to said first direction and only when the bracket is fully seated on the button, whereby the bracket will be securely retained on the button under ordinary conditions when the button is slidably received in the spring clip but is adapted to be snapped off the button in a direction away from the windshield when a force of predetermined magnitude is applied thereto.

39. The breakaway bracket according to claim 38, wherein the resilient locking flange extends longitudinally from a first end of the base portion, wherein said button rest means extends longitudinally from a second end of the base portion opposite the first end, said button rest means including means defining an upstanding surface oriented in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the side flanges and against which the top surface of the button is adapted to fixedly rest.

40. The breakaway bracket according to claim 38, wherein the resilient locking flange extends longitudinally from a first end of the base portion, wherein said button rest means extends longitudinally from a second end of the base portion opposite the first end, said button rest means including means defining a first surface extending generally inclined to a plane containing the base portion, and a second, upwardly inclined, surface oriented in a plane generally defining an obtuse angle with said first surface, the button being adapted to rest normally on at least one of the first and second surfaces, but slidingly engaging the second surface when the body is impacted by an external force.