Mirror mounting assembly

• US 7,210,800 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Englander
• Inventors: Englander, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer; Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US11/442,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/871, 359/872, 359/881, 359/900, 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/479, 248/480, 248/484, 248/486
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4826 Mounting, aligning or attachment of the transducer head relative to the arm assembly, e.g. slider holding members, gimbals, adhesive G11B5/484 takes precedence; details of head housings or structures G11B5/10, G11B5/127; adjustment relative to the record carrier G11B5/56
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5552 using fine positioning means for track acquisition separate from the coarse (e.g. track changing) positioning means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/56 with provision for moving the head support for the purpose of adjusting the position of the head relative to the record carrier, e.g. manual adjustment for azimuth correction or track centering G11B5/52, G11B5/54, G11B5/58 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/596 for track following on disks G11B5/5526, G11B5/5552, G11B5/5565, G11B5/5582 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A mirror mounting assembly for mounting a mirror on a vehicle bulkhead. The assembly includes a mirror element and a main support arm having a first end and a second end. The mirror element is connected to the first end of the main support arm. The second end of the main support arm is mountable to the vehicle. A pair of brackets are configured to conform to an engine bay side wall of the vehicle. Each bracket has a center portion and two laterally extending flanges that extend at an angle from the center portion in opposite directions. One of the flanges of each bracket is connectable to the bulkhead of the vehicle in the engine bay. A first additional support arm has a first end connected to a first one of the brackets and a second end connected to the main support arm. A second additional support arm has a first end connected to the main support arm and a second end connectable to the vehicle. Finally, a third additional support arm has a first end connected to the main support arm and a second end connectable to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A combination of a mirror mounting assembly and a vehicle, the mirror mounting assembly effective to mount a mirror to the vehicle, the combination comprising:

a vehicle bulkhead;

at least one fender secured to the vehicle bulkhead by a plurality of mounting bolts disposed in mounting holes, the bolts and mounting holes extending in a vertical direction;

a mirror element;

a mirror arm assembly including a first end and a second end, the mirror element being connected at the first end of the mirror arm assembly;

a mirror arm support configured to exclusively support the second end of the arm assembly, the mirror arm support being attached to the at least one fender; and

a bracket, the bracket including a vertically extending section, a first laterally extending flange, and a second laterally extending flange, the first and second flanges extending in substantially opposite directions from the vertical section, the second flange including at least one vertically oriented through hole disposed so as to extend in the same direction and orientation as the fender mounting holes, the first flange being connected to and supporting the mirror arm support in a manner such that the mirror arm support is rigidly attached to the vehicle only by its own attaching fastener and by the bracket.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein the second flange has its through hole co-extensive with at least one of the mounting holes, and so disposed that at least one of the mounting bolts extends through the through hole of the second flange.

3. The combination as recited in claim 2, further comprising a hinge in the mirror arm support so that the mirror arm assembly is pivotally connected to the mirror arm support.

4. The combination as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a hood movably connected to the vehicle bulkhead, the hood movable between an open and a closed position; and

wherein the vertically extending portion of the bracket has a thickness so that when the hood is in the closed position, the vertically extending portion may sit between the hood and the fender.

5. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second flanges are each disposed at substantially right angles with respect to the vertically extending portion.

6. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein the mirror arm support is substantially L-shaped.

7. The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein the L-shape includes a short leg and a long leg, the long leg being connected to the mirror arm assembly and the short leg being disposed on the fender and connected to the bracket.

8. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein the second flange includes two through holes and the combination includes two mounting bolts extending through the two through holes and two of the mounting holes.

9. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein the second flange includes two legs spaced apart from one another, each with its own through hole.

10. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein the mirror arm support has an exterior side and an interior side, the exterior side being connected to the second end of the mirror arm assembly, and the interior side being shaped to conform to an exterior surface of the at least one fender.

11. A method for installing a mirror assembly to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes:

a vehicle bulkhead;

a hood movably connected to the vehicle bulkhead, the hood movable between an open and a closed position, and at least one fender secured to the vehicle bulkhead by a plurality of mounting bolts disposed in mounting holes, the bolts and mounting holes extending in a vertical direction, and wherein the mirror assembly includes;

a mirror arm assembly including a first end and a second end, a mirror element being connected to the first end;

a mirror arm support including an exterior side and an interior side, the exterior side being connected to the second end of the mirror support, the interior side being shaped to conform to an exterior surface of the at least one fender, and a bracket, the bracket including a vertically extending section, a first laterally extending flange, and a second laterally extending flange, the first and second flanges extending in substantially opposite directions, the first flange being connected to the mirror arm support structure, the second flange including at least one vertically extending through hole, the method comprising the steps of;

providing the mirror assembly separate from the vehicle;

opening the hood to the open position;

removing at least one of the mounting bolts;

placing the second flange of the mirror assembly so that the at least one vertically extending through hole thereof is co-extensive with the at least one mounting hole; and

placing the at least one mounting bolt through the through hole of the second flange and through the at least one mounting hole.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein:

the removing includes removing two mounting bolts;

the placing the second flange is performed so that two vertically extending through holes are co-extensive with two mounting holes; and

the placing the at least one mounting bolt is performed so that two mounting bolts are placed through the two through holes and through the second flange.