Abstract: A carrier plate including mounting tabs. A cover including attachment sockets releasably engaging the mounting tabs. A spring clip carried in each of the attachment sockets releasably engaging the mounting tabs. A bezel extending around the carrier plate including a bezel lip extending along select portions of the bezel, and a cover lip receiving slot disposed along select portions of the bezel not including the bezel lip. A cover lip included on the cover extending along select portions of a perimeter edge of the cover, and a bezel lip receiving slot extending along select portions of the perimeter edge not including the cover lip. The cover lip is received into the cover lip receiving slot and the bezel lip is received into the bezel lip receiving slot for mounting the cover to the carrier plate.

Abstract: A carrier plate including mounting tabs. A cover including attachment sockets releasably engaging the mounting tabs. A spring clip carried in each of the attachment sockets releasably engaging the mounting tabs. A bezel extending around the carrier plate including a bezel lip extending along select portions of the bezel, and a cover lip receiving slot disposed along select portions of the bezel not including the bezel lip. A cover lip included on the cover extending along select portions of a perimeter edge of the cover, and a bezel lip receiving slot extending along select portions of the perimeter edge not including the cover lip. The cover lip is received into the cover lip receiving slot and the bezel lip is received into the bezel lip receiving slot for mounting the cover to the carrier plate.

Abstract: A wear compensator for a pivoting detent joint comprising a carrier base having a bearing housing and a bearing ring disposed in an interior channel of the bearing housing. A pivot cylinder is carried in the interior channel bearing against the bearing ring. An inner cone slidably carried in a cylinder recess of the pivot cylinder. A biasing element forcing the inner cone into the cylinder recess to biases the cylinder wall against the bearing ring. A support arm pivotally mounted to the bearing housing including a lower pivot block receiving and supporting the pivot cylinder in the interior channel, and an upper pivot block having an arm detent ring engaging a base detent ring carried by the bearing housing. Accordingly, the pivot cylinder rotates on the bearing ring and the arm detent ring rotates on the base detent ring to adjust the position of the support arm.

Abstract: A carrier base with a lateral base extension having a base hollow interior channel. A tooth ring on the lateral base extension. A stop block channel within the base tooth ring. A support arm pivotally carried on the lateral base extension for carrying a mirror head. A tooth ring included on the support arm engaging the base tooth ring in interlocking cooperation. A stop block carried by the support arm within the support arm tooth ring so that the stop block travels between a first end wall and a second end wall to control movement of the support arm. A connecting bolt carried by the support arm extending through the tooth rings into the hollow base interior channel. A leaf spring biasing the connecting bolt into the hollow base interior channel to draw the support arm against the lateral base extension.

Abstract: A pivoting detent joint with selective positional engagement for a vehicle mirror assembly. The detent joint includes an arm detent ring defined by a continuous circular arrangement of a combination of arm locking teeth and alignment teeth. A base detent ring has a complementary arrangement to the arm detent ring and is defined by a continuous circular arrangement of a combination of base locking teeth and alignment channels. The arm locking teeth of the arm detent ring engage the base locking teeth of the base detent ring in a releasable interlocking engagement only when all of the alignment teeth are received into a complementary alignment channel so that positioning of a support arm relative to a carrier base is limited to specifically define orientations.

Abstract: A pivoting detent joint with selective positional engagement for a vehicle mirror assembly. The detent joint includes an arm detent ring defined by a continuous circular arrangement of a combination of arm locking teeth and alignment teeth. A base detent ring has a complementary arrangement to the arm detent ring and is defined by a continuous circular arrangement of a combination of base locking teeth and alignment channels. The arm locking teeth of the arm detent ring engage the base locking teeth of the base detent ring in a releasable interlocking engagement only when all of the alignment teeth are received into a complementary alignment channel so that positioning of a support arm relative to a carrier base is limited to specifically define orientations.

Abstract: A wear compensator for a pivoting detent joint comprising a carrier base having a bearing housing and a bearing ring disposed in an interior channel of the bearing housing. A pivot cylinder is carried in the interior channel bearing against the bearing ring. An inner cone slidably carried in a cylinder recess of the pivot cylinder. A biasing element forcing the inner cone into the cylinder recess to biases the cylinder wall against the bearing ring. A support arm pivotally mounted to the bearing housing including a lower pivot block receiving and supporting the pivot cylinder in the interior channel, and an upper pivot block having an arm detent ring engaging a base detent ring carried by the bearing housing. Accordingly, the pivot cylinder rotates on the bearing ring and the arm detent ring rotates on the base detent ring to adjust the position of the support arm.

Abstract: A carrier base with a lateral base extension having a base hollow interior channel. A tooth ring on the lateral base extension. A stop block channel within the base tooth ring. A support arm pivotally carried on the lateral base extension for carrying a mirror head. A tooth ring included on the support arm engaging the base tooth ring in interlocking cooperation. A stop block carried by the support arm within the support arm tooth ring so that the stop block travels between a first end wall and a second end wall to control movement of the support arm. A connecting bolt carried by the support arm extending through the tooth rings into the hollow base interior channel. A leaf spring biasing the connecting bolt into the hollow base interior channel to draw the support arm against the lateral base extension.

Abstract: A support arm carried by a carrier base. A base tooth ring on the carrier base and an arm tooth ring on the support arm, wherein the arm tooth ring releasably interlocks with the base tooth ring. A base column having a hollow interior chamber carried by the carrier base, and an arm column carried by the support arm extending into the hollow interior chamber. A first stop block channel disposed in a bottom surface of the base column, and a second stop block channel disposed in the support arm adjacent an exterior side of the arm column. A first stop block carried by a distal end of the base column received into the second stop block channel, and a second stop block carried by a distal end of the arm column being received into the first stop block channel to define a range of pivotal movement.

Abstract: A support arm carried by a carrier base. A base tooth ring on the carrier base and an arm tooth ring on the support arm, wherein the arm tooth ring releasably interlocks with the base tooth ring. A base column having a hollow interior chamber carried by the carrier base, and an arm column carried by the support arm extending into the hollow interior chamber. A first stop block channel disposed in a bottom surface of the base column, and a second stop block channel disposed in the support arm adjacent an exterior side of the arm column. A first stop block carried by a distal end of the base column received into the second stop block channel, and a second stop block carried by a distal end of the arm column being received into the first stop block channel to define a range of pivotal movement.

Abstract: A connector assembly for releasably attaching a stabilizer arm to a support arm of a vehicle exterior rearview mirror. The assembly includes a connector head carried by the stabilizer arm and a connector receiver is carried by the other of said stabilizer arm and support arm. A retention slot is included in said connector receiver for receiving said connector head. A biasing element is carried in said retention slot for biasing against said connector head when received in said retention slot. A catch tongue projects from one of said connector head and said biasing element. A catch recess is carried by the other of said connector head and said biasing element which is complementary to said catch tongue for interlocking said connector head with said biasing element in said retention slot to provide an increased surface area of engagement.

Abstract: A mirror assembly comprising a mounting bracket for attachment to a vehicle exterior; a first pivot plate on the mounting bracket having a concave upper surface with a series of grooves formed therein; a support arm pivotally carried on the first pivot plate of the mounting bracket; and, a second pivot plate carried by the support arm having a base surface with a plurality of protruding teeth engaging the grooves in the first pivot plate so that a pivot gap is defined between the upper surface of the first pivot plate and the base surface of second pivot plate; whereby the pivot gap allows the teeth to both pivot and slide in the grooves of the first pivot plate so that the support arm is pivotal in a multi-axis arrangement with the mounting bracket to accommodate misalignment between the mounting bracket and the support arm during installation on a vehicle.

Abstract: A connector assembly for releasably attaching a stabilizer arm to a support arm of a vehicle exterior rearview mirror. The assembly includes a connector head carried by the stabilizer arm. The connector head includes a convex bottom surface. A connector receiver is carried by the support arm. A retention slot is included in the connector receiver for receiving the connector head. A first locking element is carried by the connector head. A second locking element is carried within the retention slot for cooperating with the first locking element to releasably engage the connector head with the connector receiver. A biasing element is carried in the retention slot biasing against the convex bottom surface of the connector head for urging the first and second locking elements together, wherein the convex bottom surface pivots on the biasing element to accommodate misalignment between the connector head and the connector receiver.

Abstract: A mirror assembly comprising a mounting bracket for attachment to a vehicle exterior; a first pivot plate on the mounting bracket having a concave upper surface with a series of grooves formed therein; a support arm pivotally carried on the first pivot plate of the mounting bracket; and, a second pivot plate carried by the support arm having a base surface with a plurality of protruding teeth engaging the grooves in the first pivot plate so that a pivot gap is defined between the upper surface of the first pivot plate and the base surface of second pivot plate; whereby the pivot gap allows the teeth to both pivot and slide in the grooves of the first pivot plate so that the support arm is pivotal in a multi-axis arrangement with the mounting bracket to accommodate misalignment between the mounting bracket and the support arm during installation on a vehicle.

Abstract: A locking system for adjustably mounting a mirror mounting support arm with a motor vehicle which includes a locking device for securing with a motor vehicle having a recess at one end for receiving an end of a support arm. The recess is formed with a stem having at least one key formed along its length. The support shaft end is formed with at least one slot which is sized and located to matingly fit with the key. The system also includes an anchor plate for securing with the vehicle which is also adapted to mount a support arm holder. The support arm holder includes a body portion having a shoulder adjacent one end and a recess. The recess is formed with a stem therein and a key along the stem. This recess is adapted to receive a second end of the support arm. In use, the first and second support arm ends are inserted into the recesses about the stems with the slots engaged by the keys.