Abstract: An impact or user displaceable self-adjusting mounting assembly for attaching an outside rear-view mirror to a vehicle includes two mounting brackets for attaching respective ends of a mirror support arm to the vehicle. The upper bracket provdes an articulated joint between the bracket and the vehicle to permit adjustment of the mirror and support arm in a generally vertical orientation. The upper bracket also provides a pivot axis about which the support arm can be rotated in a generally horizontal orientation either by the user or upon impact. A detent mechanism provides a position selection and retaining means for the mirror support arm. The lower mounting bracket also provides a pivot axis for the mirror support arm and includes self-adjusting means for maintaining the lower pivot axis colinear with the upper pivot axis independent of the vehicle profile.

Abstract: A winter wiper blade consists of an articulated plastic frame, a rubber boot enclosing the frame and an external wiper blade element. The frame consists of a primary yoke and pairs of pivotable center and end yokes, each having a respective claw thereon for support of a backing strip, in turn slotted to receive the anchoring bead of the rubber wiper element. A pair of end caps, each having spring arms thereon and a further claw are adapted for interlocking engagement in a groove at the outer end of the end yoke to support the tip of the wiper element. Each end cap includes extensive surface area to engage and seal with a conforming shaped end channel portion of the rubber boot. A u-shaped saddle is disposed at the central portion of the primary yoke over the rubber boot for receipt of a wiper motor arm and is uniquely mounted by transverse rivets to facilitate assembly thereof.

Abstract: The mirror head of an outside rear view mirror is constituted by a mirror assembly mounted as a unit inside a housing having an upright front opening bounded by housing wall portions which converge in backward direction and, laterally, include a lower wall portion merging via an inner lower wall portion into an upwardly extending inner wall portion adapted to be positioned close to a window area of an automobile. The mirror assembly comprises a support bracket extending at an angle from a bracket foot portion mounted on the inner lower wall portion of the housing to a free end portion of the bracket which, through connections including a tensioned ball joint, holds a reflecting mirror plate securely yet adjustably positioned inside the housing opening.

Abstract: An electric motor driven portable air compressor consists of a reciprocating piston and cylinder arrangement with an intake throttling valve operative to unload the compressor above a predetermined pressure level. The throttling valve is a spring loaded plunger responsive to compressor output to close one of two inlet openings to reduce the charge of air in the cylinder. A stainless steel intake leaf spring is disposed between the cylinder and a two part die cast housing and is responsive to cylinder suction for control of the compressor.

Abstract: A rear view mirror head for vehicles, especially automotive vehicles such as small trucks, comprises a mirror head body constituted by a unitary, resilient dish-shaped molding of a tough, weather-resistant organic polymer composition, preferably an ABS resin, which presents about its front side peripheral formations for supporting a reflecting mirror plate with an edge gasket of the plate adhered thereto and comprises a backwardly hollowed narrow ear-shaped portion the hollow of which opens to the front side of the molding and has fitted into it rigid ear-reinforcing arms of angled brackets of which rigid base portions extend over and are fixed to areas of the front side adjacent to the hollowed portion of the molding. The resin of the molding can be of an electroplatable type having a stiffening decorative metal coating plated onto at least the outside surfaces.

Abstract: A rearview mirror positionable by remote control including a housing having a mirror that is held in an open side thereof and that is moveable to desired viewing positions. A plurality of mirror positioning rods displaceable longitudinally relative to the housing have their respective ends connected pivotally with the back of a plate that supports the mirror. Electric motors inside the housing are connected through a compact arrangement of speed reducing gears to drive transmission pinions for displacing each rod and for retaining the rod in adjusted position. Each pinion has a peripheral series of undulations held normally in meshed engagement with a series of undulations along a side of each rod to provide for displacement of the rod upon rotation of the pinion.

Abstract: A windshield wiper blade holder for attachment to a wiper arm of the side mounting type comprises a primary yoke member having a rigid central portion formed with a socket extending transversely through it to receive a side pin on the end of the wiper arm, and formed in and along its under side with a recess having fitted thereinto a resilient latch member which is formed as a unitary molding of a tough polymeric material and is assembled simply by being pressed into the recess until protrusions at one end of the latch member are anchored in a pocket to one side of the socket. A block-like abutment portion of the latch member is held resiliently in a cavity across the socket so that the abutment portion can be displaced downward by an arm side pin thrust into the socket and then will engage in a groove of the side pin to couple the blade holder with the wiper arm.

Abstract: A mounting for a rear view mirror comprises a bracket member to be fastened to a vehicle door or body surface, a coupling member joined with the bracket member so that the coupling member can be set about a horizontal axis for any desired angle of protrusion from the bracket member, and a mirror supporting arm connected with the coupling member and normally latched in a protruded viewing position but releasably latched so that the arm will be turned about a vertical axis and thus folded toward the vehicle under an abnormal force at its outer end, such as an impact against the supported mirror head. The mounting structure serves for a mirror installed on either side of a vehicle, reducing the hazards of outboard mirrors such as those required for trucks or trailers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rear view mirror assembly of the antiglare, "day or night", type which is readily attachable, such as to the face of an existing rear view mirror in a motor vehicle.The mirror assembly comprises a mirror unit (26) operable between two angularly displaced reflective positions. A cam lever (24) comprising first and second cams (48, 54) cooperates with first and second cam followers (36, 38) to move the mirror unit between the two positions. The mirror assembly preferably includes adhesive strip means (22) to secure the assembly to a support. The cam followers are preferably located on the rear wall (40) of the mirror unit such that vertical movement of the cam lever pivots the mirror unit between the operable positions, one for day driving and one for night driving. This simple, vertical actuating movement minimizes forces tending to displace the mirror assembly from the support.

Abstract: A windshield wiper blade refill unit including an elongate elastic wiping blade having an elongate spline, or backing strip, affixed to it to be received slidably and held detachably in the claws of a pressure-applying wiper blade holder is provided with structures which enable the same refill unit to be used in any one of a plurality of wiper blade holders that have different lengths. The spline is formed with an end portion that extends beyond the working position thereon of an endmost set of the claws of the longest of the blade holders, and this end portion is formed at a plurality of spaced locations with detent means each of which is interengageable with a complimentary clip means for attaching the spline to a blade holder having one of the several lengths.

Abstract: A rear view mirror of the "flag" type which is assembleable for use on either the left side or the right side of a vehicle and disposes the mirror relatively close to the driver comprises a mirror head formed by a reversible housing member recessed at one end thereof behind the mirror frame and a U-shaped saddle member fitting in the end recess, with means fixed to the lower leg of the saddle member for joining the head pivotably with a mounting bracket by which the head can be disposed upright when the bracket is attached to a vehicle body surface having any of a variety of slopes relative to the horizontal.

Abstract: A rear view mirror for vehicles is provided on a mirror housing having a remotely controllable motorized driving unit mounted inside it for turning the housing to adjust the mirror viewing range, yet enabling displacement of the housing without effect from or to the driving unit. A gear casing having an electric motor mounted on it contains speed reducing gears, is supported on and turnable about a mirror supporting post protruding from the housing, and is fixed to the housing to position the housing by movement about the axis of a ring gear that normally is held fixed relative to the post. The ring gear is connected with the post via a spring biased clutch that slips to enable forcible turning of the housing by hand or in the event of impact with an obstruction.