Adjustable extender for a vehicle exterior side mirror

• US 5,489,080 A
• Filed: 06/09/1994
• Issued: 02/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen, David W.
• Original Assignee: Allen, David W.
• Inventors: Allen, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin-Shue, Alvin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US08/257,178
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 248/466, 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/479, 248/480, 248/486, 359/874, 359/876
• US Class Current: 248/480
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing

Abstract

Disclosed is a new adjustable extender for a vehicle exterior side mirrors, for telescopingly extending an original equipment vehicle side rear view mirror, of a type commonly used on pickup trucks, away from a vehicle to increase an operator'"'"'s field of view when towing a trailer. The extender comprises a generally horizontal tubular arm adapted to telescopingly receive a mounting arm of the original equipment mirror. A collar, threadedly engaged with the distal end of the arm, has a pair of opposing setscrews for securing the original equipment mirror mounting arm for holding the mirror at a preferred orientation relative the vehicle. The upper end of an adapting rod extends through a lateral hole near the proximal end of the arm such that the adapting rod depends normal the arm. The adapting rod is engagable with a vehicle side mirror original equipment mounting bracket in the same fashion as the original equipment mirror mounting arm. A screw pivotally adjustably secures the arm to the upper end of the adapting rod.

Claims

1. A new adjustable extender for a vehicle exterior side mirror for telescopingly extending an original equipment vehicle side rear view mirror, of a type commonly used on pickup trucks, away from a vehicle to increase an operator'"'"'s field of view when towing a trailer, the adjustable extender for a vehicle exterior side mirror comprising:

a generally horizontal tubular extension arm formed of stainless steel and adapted to telescopingly receive a mounting arm of the original equipment vehicle side view mirror such that the mirror is in an orientation orthogonal to an original orientation, the extension arm having external threads formed on a distal end thereof, a first lateral hole through a bottom sidewall near a proximal end thereof, and a second lateral hole through a top sidewall opposing the first lateral hole, the second lateral hole being relatively smaller than the first lateral hole;

a connecting collar formed of stainless steel and having internal threads formed on a proximal end of an axial bore therethrough, the proximal end of the connecting collar being threadedly engaged with the threads of the distal end of the extension arm, the connecting collar further having a pair of setscrews disposed within opposing lateral threaded bores intermediate the internal threads and a distal end thereof for securing an original equipment side view mirror mounting arm to hold the mirror at a preferred orientation relative the vehicle;

an adapting rod formed of stainless steel and having an axial threaded bore formed in an upper end thereof, the upper end of the adapting rod extending through the first lateral hole of the extension arm such that the adapting rod depends normal the extension arm, the adapting rod being engagable with a vehicle side mirror original equipment mounting bracket in the same fashion as the original equipment mirror mounting arm; and

a screw extending through the second lateral hole of the extension arm, the screw also being threadedly engaged with the axial bore of the adapting rod whereby pivotally adjustably securing the extension arm to the upper end of the adapting rod.

2. The adjustable extender for a vehicle exterior side mirror of claim 1 wherein the extension arm is formed of 7/8-inch diameter 17 gauge tubing having an overall length of 7-inches.

3. The adjustable extender for a vehicle exterior side mirror of claim 2 wherein the adapting rod has an external diameter of 3/4-inches and an overall length of 4-inches.

4. The adjustable extender for a vehicle exterior side mirror of claim 3 wherein the center of the first hole of the extension arm is located 5/8-inch from the proximal end thereof.

5. The adjustable extender for a vehicle exterior side mirror of claim 4 wherein the extension arm, connecting collar, and adapting rod are formed of chrome plated black iron.