With Additional Pivotal Connection Patents (Class 248/484)
  • Patent number: 10597122
    Abstract: An extender for holding boating accessories including at least a first limb and a second limb engaged in elbow relationship such that one can be pivoted with respect to the other about a transverse axis. At least one of the limbs includes a swivel portion that is able to turn about a longitudinal axis. At least one locking part moves longitudinally along a respective one of the limbs between locked and unlocked positions. When the locking part is in the locked position, it prevents the swivel portion turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Railblaza Limited
    Inventors: Ross Gregory Pratt, Christopher Ross Pratt
  • Patent number: 9745007
    Abstract: A mirror mount that mounts a mirror to a vehicle fender. The mount can include a base that faces a vehicle fender exterior without extending upwardly and under a hood of the vehicle. A support arm extends from the base and includes a distal end that joins with a mirror. One or more pillars extend away from the base. The pillars can be sized and shaped to extend through holes in the fender to a frame member of the vehicle disposed inwardly relative to the fender. The pillars are associated with a fastener to join with the frame member so that weight of the mirror, the base, the support arm and/or the pillars are substantially born by the frame member. This can reduce transmission of vibration inherent in the fender to the mirror, and/or can rigidly and structurally connect the mirror to the frame member, rather than the fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Dutton, Daniel L. Cook
  • Publication number: 20130112836
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting assembly for adjustably mounting the mirror head at an interior portion of a vehicle. The mounting assembly includes a mounting base that is attachable to an interior portion of the vehicle and a mounting arm adjustably joined to the mounting base via a base joint. The mirror head is pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting arm via a mirror pivot joint. The mounting arm includes an arm portion and a mirror ball portion that are unitarily formed of a metallic material. The mirror ball portion of the mounting arm is pivotally received at a socket element of the mirror head. The mirror head is adjustable about the base and mirror joints to adjust a rearward field of view of a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
  • Patent number: 8413398
    Abstract: Ball pivot assemblies for mounting panels to a cable regardless of panel geometry or orientation include a ball pivot. The ball pivot includes geometry configured to enable a panel to pivot about the ball pivot in a plurality of orientations in a plurality of planes with respect to the cable. One or more implementations of the present invention can include a ball socket configured to receive the ball pivot, and provide a secure interface between the ball pivot assembly and the panel. Also, systems of at least one implementation of the present invention include a plurality of panels mounted to one or more cables using one or more ball pivot assemblies. In addition, one or more implementations of the present invention include methods of mounting panels using one or more ball pivot assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: 3form, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles B. Allred, Brian Hillstrom, Guillaume Martin, Jeremy Porter
  • Patent number: 7665697
    Abstract: An improved scissor-type clamp includes two opposing clam shell type members, one male and one female, that pivot together, are biased outwardly by coil springs and are held together by a thumbscrew. Embodiments feature rectangular and tapered opposed clam shell portions and one embodiment includes identical clam shell members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventor: Michael T. O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20090309003
    Abstract: A sliding torque between a pivot portion and a fitting portion may be preferably secured. In an inner mirror device, pivot portions are arranged on both end portions in an axis line direction of a stay formed by a resin material. One pivot portion is fitted in a fitting hole of a holder main body, and the other pivot portion is fitted in a fitting hole of a device main body. In this manner, the holder and the device main body are connected to each other through the stay. In this case, plural notches are formed in the pivot portions, and outside dimensions of the pivot portions may be elastically expanded and reduced. A metal spring pin is pressed into the stay, and the spring pin biases the pivots in a dimension-expansion direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Masatsugu OHASHI
  • Patent number: 7216885
    Abstract: A trailer mounted and adjustable mirror assembly for attachment to a trailer or hitch being towed by a towing vehicle. The assembly, when secured, helps facilitate securement of the trailer to the towing vehicle while the driver/operator remains in the towing vehicle. The assembly comprises a removable clamp mounting a pair of adjustable, telescopic tubular members on which is mounted a pivotal mirror mechanism pivotal throughout 360° and countless angles relative to the plane of the pivotal mirror mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: Brian Stopka
  • Patent number: 7178925
    Abstract: A retractable mirror assembly for a tractor trailer includes a base component having a pair of arms and a motorized hydraulic cylinder mounted on the upper surface thereof. The arms are pivotally attached at a lower end to the base component and at an upper end to a mirror. The hydraulic cylinder includes an upper distal end that is pivotally attached to an outer edge of the mirror. A control panel within the vehicle passenger compartment activates the motor allowing a driver to automatically extend and retract the mirror between an operable and inoperable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Donald R. Tidwell
  • Patent number: 7104663
    Abstract: A vehicle memory mirror system of the present invention includes an interior rearview mirror assembly. The mirror assembly includes a mirror casing, with a reflective element, and a support, which is adapted to mount the mirror assembly to a vehicle. An electrical actuator is located interiorly of the mirror casing and is adapted to adjust the orientation of the reflective element to adjust the rearward field of view of the reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Peter J. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 7090364
    Abstract: A movement mechanism applicable to a vehicle outside rearview mirror and employing a substantially spherical holder and a substantially spherical bowl nested one in the other and relative rotatable relative to each other about first and second mutually perpendicular axes with the plane of the outer edge of the holder lying in or parallel to the plane of the axes. The disk is located between the holder and bowl and connected to the bowl for rotation about one of the axes and connected to the holder for rotation only about the other of the axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Stefan Frits Brouwer
  • Patent number: 7008069
    Abstract: A mirror mount includes a mirror-head-attached first mount component, a window-attached second mount component, and a tubular connector. The first component includes a base defining an attachment plane, an angled stem, and a first ball section with a clearance area around the stem. A bore extends into the stem for receiving an attachment screw. A clearance area is formed around the stem near the ball section and extends at an acute angle to the attachment plane, thus providing increased angular adjustability of the mirror head in at least an upward direction. The second component includes a ball section and angled extended stem, and is connected to the first component by the tubular connector. The first and second ball sections define a distance less than a distance from a flat side of the second component to the second ball section, thus providing improved rigidity against vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Ostreko, Joshua C. Owen
  • Patent number: 6955437
    Abstract: A mirror assembly is provided for use in “hitching” trailers to towing vehicles. The mirror assembly can be used for conventional ball and socket couplings, fifth wheel couplings and variations thereof. The mirror assembly is magnetically attached to the trailer tongue so it can be easily removed after coupling. The mirror assembly includes a telescoping stanchion mirror post and a swivel joint which can be vertically rotated. A ball joint connected to the back of the mirror allows the mirror to be turned in any of a variety of positions for precise alignment during the hitching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventor: Fred H. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6902284
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in the interior cabin of a vehicle is provided that includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having an interior rearview mirror support adapted for attaching to a windshield or header portion of the vehicle. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an interior rearview mirror casing and an interior rearview mirror reflective element. The interior rearview mirror casing is pivotally adjustable about the interior rearview mirror support whereby adjustment of said mirror casing by a driver of the vehicle adjusts the rearward field of view of the interior rearview mirror reflective element in order for the driver to see rearwardly when driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Barry W. Hutzel, Niall R. Lynam, Darryl P. DeWind, John O. Lindahl
  • Patent number: 6834972
    Abstract: An articulated arm of the rear mirror for cars, bicycles and/or to that of an additional internal car rear mirror, suitable for efficient mounting either on the handlebar or inside the car and allowing for simple adjustment of the viewing position. The articulated rear mirror arm referred to in this invention allows for simple adjustment and arresting of the selected position by means of the articulated parts including the rod shaped structure of the carrier element, the intermediate connection element and the fixing element. The mirror is with its frame fixed to one end of the intermediate connection element, thereby forming an articulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Phophetes, D.D.
    Inventor: Slavko Medimurec
  • Patent number: 6550923
    Abstract: A mirror surface angle adjusting device is provided which can be used at both left and right outer mirror devices of a vehicle. At a mirror driving unit, positional relationships between respective points (fulcrum of swinging A1 and A2, first adjusting points B1 and B2, second adjusting points C1 and C2, first mounting points D1 and D2, second mounting points E1 and E2, and third mounting points F1 and F2) are set such that the points have line symmetry with respect to 45° direction reference lines P1, P2. Accordingly, from a functional standpoint as well, there are no obstacles at a time of mounting, and as a result, a same type of mirror driving unit can be used at both a left door mirror device and a right door mirror device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masato Sakamoto, Yoshio Tsujiuchi, Morihiko Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 6193377
    Abstract: A dual rear view mirror assembly for trucks and other vehicles comprising a bracket assembly having an upper portion and a lower portion, each bracket portion having an inboard end adapted to be attached to a truck and like vehicles forwardly of the driver and to one side thereof, each bracket portion having an outboard end with attachment mechanisms, an inboard first mirror having a supporting strip on its upper edge, lower edge and inboard edge, the supporting strip including adjustable support means coupled to the bracket assembly for allowing the adjustment of the first mirror at its inboard end about a vertical axis, and an outboard second mirror having a supporting strip on its upper edge, lower edge and outboard edge, the inboard edge of the second mirror being located adjacent to the outboard edge of the first mirror, and adjustment means coupling the first mirror and second mirror about a vertical axis extending through the line of coupling between the first and second mirrors whereby the second mirr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Gary W. Spigner
  • Patent number: 6181242
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly having an adjustable information display device. The display device rotates independently of the rearview mirror to allow both the driver and the front passengers to observe the display when the rearview mirror is rotated toward the driver. The display device displays information about various vehicle systems. The rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror housing for holding a rearview mirror. The mirror housing is pivotally mounted on the windshield of the vehicle so that the rearview mirror is adjustable by the driver into a desired position. The information display device is pivotally mounted on a top or bottom side of the mirror housing to allow the display device to rotate independently of the mirror housing. The display device is attached to the mirror housing through a hollow tubular support arm which has opposite first and second ends, one of the ends being attached to the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hue T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6132051
    Abstract: A mirror attachment for attachment to a rearview mirror of a vehicle to enhance a user's view behind the user. The mirror attachment includes a mirror member with front and back faces. The back face of the mirror member has a light reflecting mirrored surface. A pair of shafts are provided each having a pair of opposite ends. A first of the ends of a first of the shafts is pivotally coupled to the front face of the mirror member. A second of the ends of the first shaft is pivotally coupled to a first of the ends of a second of the shafts. A clamp member is provided having a pair of arms. A second of the ends of the second shaft is pivotally coupled to the clamp member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth Morell, Renee Morell
  • Patent number: 6130790
    Abstract: A mirror assembly for releasable attachment to the windshield a land vehicle. The assembly includes a mount having a base plate and at least one suction cup. A telescoping arm extends from the base plate and joins a mirror thereto. The length of the arm may be set by means of a clamp which it carries. Swivel balls on the opposite ends of the arm permit the position of the mirror relative to the mount to be further adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Inventor: Bin Tu
  • Patent number: 6059415
    Abstract: The rearview mirror, especially for an automobile, has an improved retention device for holding the mirror in a predetermined fixed position. This retention device (6) includes at least one fixing element for securing the mirror supporting arm (3) in a predetermined fixed position relative to its base (4). The fixing element or elements project from an internal surface of the holding member (40) or project from the pivot (30) provided on the supporting arm (3) and each include an elastic element (61) pressing in a radial direction from the holding member (40) toward the pivot (34) or from the pivot (34) to the holding member (40) and a corresponding recess (62) provided in the pivot (30) or in the holding member in which each elastic element (61) engages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Metagal Industria e Comercio Ltda
    Inventors: Ricardo Poveda Moreno, Fabio Koiti Anze, Paulo Roberto Milani
  • Patent number: 5845885
    Abstract: Couplers with ball-shaped heads are mounted on a pair of objects, and a split arm assembly is interposed along a line of juncture between the pair of couplers and clamped together about the heads thereof. However, before that time, a spring is interposed between the pair of elongated arm sections in the assembly to produce a differential in the reaction of the respective pairs of end portions in the arm sections to the clamping forces so that the assembly is formed into a bifurcated arm assembly at one of the heads. That one head is also compressible so that after the split arm assembly has been rotated in relation to the one head, or vice versa, to set the angle of the line of juncture with respect to one or both of the objects, further clamping of the assembly operates to interlock the assembly with the heads of the pair of couplers to rigidify the connection made by the assembly between the pair of heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: National Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali
  • Patent number: 5600497
    Abstract: An external rearview mirror for motor vehicle has a housing and a mirror support plate connected in the housing so as to be pivotable about two axes perpendicular to one another. A pivot joint is connected to the mirror support plate for pivoting the mirror support plate. An actuating lever for pivoting the mirror support plate is provided. Two push rods are pivotably connected with a first end to the mirror support plate at a distance from the pivot joint. An intermediate lever is pivotably connected to the actuating lever and to the push rods. The intermediate lever has a transverse rod with two ends in the form of bearing balls. The push rods have at a second end thereof a bearing cup, wherein each bearing ball of the transverse rod rests in one of the bearing cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Leonberger
  • Patent number: 5583703
    Abstract: A motor vehicle rear view mirror comprising a housing, a mirror glass support supported by a pivot joint disposed in the housing to be pivotable relative to the housing and a mirror glass disposed on the mirror glass support. The mirror glass support defines an installation chamber sized to hold at least one servomotor for the remote-controlled pivotable adjustment of the mirror glass support and thus of the mirror glass relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Mekra Rangau Plastics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Lang, Wolfgang Seiboth
  • Patent number: 5582383
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror for a vehicle. The mirror includes a mirror bracket that by means of a ball-and-socket joint carries a mirror housing that is provided with a mirror glass mounted on a glass carrier that together with the housing can be shifted between a first position and a second position by a knob. The glass carrier is pivotably connected to a support, and a swivel plate is fixedly connected to the knob. A guide pin is disposed on the swivel plate and engages a guide of the support for interconnecting the support and the swivel plate. A stop is disposed on the swivel plate and in one of the positions of the glass carrier rests against the outer surface of the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Mertens, Klaus Weller
  • Patent number: 5576900
    Abstract: An adjustable rear view mirror assembly for trucks comprising a pair of sleeves fastened to a conventional side mirror on a truck, a mirror support slidably and rotatably mounted through the sleeves, and a mirror pivotally connected to an end portion of the mirror support and disposed in an operable position above the truck box so that a user seated in the cab of the truck can rotate the mirror support to adjust the mirror and to see most any part inside the truck box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventors: Thomas K. Baumler, Raymond P. Baumler
  • Patent number: 5566030
    Abstract: A multi-stage adjustable mirror support in a car has a sucker covered by a sucker cover and a post on the sucker. The post passes through the sucker cover. A press body which is on the sucker cover connects the post pivitedly. The front of the sucker cover receives a gear seat. The gear seat has a chamber to receive a gear, a hole and a recess. A lower link has two parallel side plates to receive the front of the sucker cover. The upper end of the lower link receives the lower end of the middle link pivitedly. An upper link has two parallel side plates to receive the upper end of the middle link pivitedly. The interspace between the upper ends of the spaced side plates receives two arms of a swivel. The swivel has a ball end and two parallel arms. Each arm has a central hole. The interspace between two parallel arms receives a gear seat. The gear seat has a chamber to receive a gear, a hole and a recess. The upper link, the gear seat and the swivel are connected pivotedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Inventor: Chin-Chuan Yue
  • Patent number: 5478101
    Abstract: An alignment device for a trailer hitch which detachably mounts to a tailgate of a pickup truck for visually aligning a hitch ball on a drop hitch bumper of the pickup truck with a coupler on a tow bar of a trailer. The device comprising a reflecting element. A structure is for supporting the reflecting element. A facility is for attaching the reflecting element to the supporting structure in an adjustable manner. A unit is for mounting the supporting structure to the tailgate of the pickup truck in a detachable manner. An assembly is for securing the mounting unit to the supporting structure in an adjustable manner. A driver can look into a rearview mirror of the pickup truck and see within the reflecting element the hitch ball which will align up and engage with the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Inventor: Robert L. Roberson
  • Patent number: 5461515
    Abstract: An assembly for mounting an optical element, for example, a secondary mirror. The assembly realizes a novel design technique that incorporates a capability for minimizing mass, minimizing the assembly's susceptibility to deleterious, extraneous vibratory perturbations, and reducing design constraints on assembly member angular separation distances. To this end, the assembly comprises a mounting unit frame including six elongated support legs arranged in a tetrahedral geometrical configuration having three supported corners defined by adjacent ends of different groupings of three of the support legs, the supported corners being respectively attached to three mounting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Craig J. Sorce
  • Patent number: 5383061
    Abstract: A rearview mirror apparatus for use by hunters while seated in a tree stand facing a tree trunk, includes a mirror attached to a mounting arm assembly having a spike for removably penetrating the tree trunk for selective mounting thereto and demounting therefrom in a viewing position forwardly of the tree stand seat to provide a hunter with a reflected rearward field of view from a stationary seated position facing the tree trunk. Preferably, the arm assembly includes a jointed arm portion providing at least one ball-and-socket joint by which the viewing field of the mirror may be selectively adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: John T. Lanier
  • Patent number: 5327288
    Abstract: A reduced vibration day/night rearview mirror assembly provides improved stability of the mirror assembly. The assembly preferably includes a molded mirror case, a prismatic mirror element, and a two piece actuator assembly which provides reduced vibratory movement between a mirror mounting bracket and the mirror assembly. The actuator assembly includes a toggle member and a pivot lever which pivotally interconnect. The toggle member has a pivot journal defined along at least a portion of a first side and has a pivot surface defined along at least a portion of a second, opposing side. The pivot lever has a pivot shaft for pivotally mounting the lever in the mirror case and has an open-sided pivot channel generally parallel to and spaced from the pivot shaft for receiving and pivotally engaging the pivot surface of the toggle member. The case has cooperating supports for receiving the pivot lever pivot shaft and a pivot axle for engaging the toggle member pivot journal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Wellington, Craig M. Miller, Edward R. Adams
  • Patent number: 5321556
    Abstract: The present invention is a vehicle safety rearview mirror assembly with distortion offset element and method of using the same. The rearview mirror assembly comprises an elongated convex mirror. The convex mirror is independently supported by a double-ball-joint shank and a mounting base affixed on the windshield of the vehicle. The present invention also provides a method to offset the distortion created by the convex mirror. The method combines a safety reference and a safety locker to tell the driver whether and when it is safe to change lanes or make turns. The safety reference includes two opposite end portions of the rearward visual field respectively prescribed by the side windows of the vehicle, and the safety locker includes the central portion of the extended rearward visual field respectively prescribed by the rear window of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Inventor: Tobby F. Joe
  • Patent number: 5210652
    Abstract: An inside rear view mirror system (10) for motor vehicle (18) employs a two-position rotary-action solenoid (16) electronically activated from a switch (54) mounted on the steering wheel spoke (52) for momentarily locating the rear view mirror (36) in a down position when the switch (54) is depressed and releasing the solenoid (16) to rotate mirror (36) to a normally up position when the switch (54) is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Inventor: Walter E. Perkinson
  • Patent number: 5198938
    Abstract: A wide-angle mirror attachment for an existing side mirror of a van, pick-up truck, truck, and the like, whereby all blind spots are eliminated when viewing the rear during driving. The wide-angle mirror attachment in a first embodiment is uniquely designed for a specific type of pick-up truck, and, in other embodiments is provided will a more universal-type of mount that allows it to be mounted to most types of trucks and vans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Ward
  • Patent number: 5182676
    Abstract: A retractable turn-over type rearview door mirror in which angular adjustment of the mirror member can be effected by manually operating an actuation lever. By using a certain linkage mechanism, a favorable correspondence is achieved between the direction of movement of the actuation lever and the direction of movement the mirror member. The use of a clutch unit permits the adjusted state of the mirror member to be conserved, even when the rearview door mirror is retracted and restored, by minimizing the influences of the retracting movement upon the linkage mechanism. This can be accomplished by applying a suitable amount of friction to the linkage mechanism, but, by using a lock lever which fixes the angular orientation of the mirror member when the rearview door mirror is retracted, the angular orientation of the mirror member may be kept fixed without requiring such a friction and it allows the operation of the actuation lever to be performed with a small force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
    Inventors: Noriyuki Iwai, Kimito Sasaki, Masaru Yano, Fumiyoshi Wakimoto, Wataru Tokunaga, Masaru Shirakura
  • Patent number: 5177642
    Abstract: A manually operated remote control type door mirror having a base unit and a bracket unit which are separate from each other and can be assembled integrally, wherein the base unit comprises an attaching stay to be attached on the side of a vehicle body, a base extended from the attaching stay, a manipulation lever supported turnably to the attaching stay with one end being protruded to the inside of the vehicle body and with the other end being exposed to the inside of a recess formed in the base, and the bracket unit comprises a cylindrical member having one end to be combined with the recess of the base and a shaft having one end extended from the cylindrical member a bracket supported to the cylindrical member and a mirror tiltably held to the bracket and connected by way of a link mechanism to the mirror and the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Honda Lock Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumiyoshi Wakimoto
  • Patent number: 5116013
    Abstract: A mirror mounting mechanism for mounting a mirror to a vehicle and preventing mirror movement after the mirror is positioned. A retaining device, which is attached to the mirror and a vehicle mounting bar, is securely tightened in place after the mirror is positioned to prevent the mirror from moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Mirror Lite Co.
    Inventor: Kirk Malcolmson
  • Patent number: 5107374
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly for an industrial vehicle comprising a C-shaped supporting element, a mirror attached to this supporting element, hinging means for attaching the supporting element in a projecting position to the body of the vehicle defining at least one preferential angular position of the supporting element, and a telescopic rod connected to a lower arm of the supporting element and to a bracket fixed to the vehicle body, so as to reduce the vibrations during use of the supporting element and equipped with elastic means exerting a return force on the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignees: Gilardini S.p.A., Iveco Fiat S.p.A.
    Inventors: Elio Lupo, Alberto Zuccotti
  • Patent number: 5073019
    Abstract: A vehicle external rear view mirror assembly comprising a frame, a mirror secured in frame, a base for securing the frame with the mirror to a vehicle body, a lever assembly for rotatably connecting the frame with the mirror to the base, and an articulation assembly for pivotally attaching the frame with the mirror to the lever assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Metagal Industria e Comercio Ltda.
    Inventor: Antonio Ferreira do Espirito Santo
  • Patent number: 4988068
    Abstract: A remote controlled rearview mirror assembly is disclosed, in which a mirror body is foldably mounted on a shaft forwardly or rerawardly, a mirror is tiltably mounted on a pivot in the mirror body, and a mirror angle control lever with a ball joint provided on the shaft is mounted on the back side of the mirror via a mirror operation arm. The ball joint consists of a pair of semi-spherical members being vertically separable with a clutch provided between opposed surfaces of these members. When the mirror body is folded forwardly or rearwardly from its neutral position, the ball joint is separated into the upper and lower semi-spherical members by the clutch between the opposed surfaces of the members, so that the connection between the control lever and mirror operation arm is released. When the mirror body is returned to the neutral position, the clutch is engaged again to restore the connection between the control lever and mirror operation lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Murakami Kameido Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Yamana, Toshiaki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 4941639
    Abstract: An automotive remotely controlled rearview mirror assembly is remotely controlled from within an automobile for adjusting the angle of the reflecting surface of the rearview mirror to obtain a desired rear sight. The remotely controlled rearview mirror assembly comprises a housing adapted to be mounted on the automobile body by a mount, a mirror swingably supported in the housing, a control lever swingably mounted on the mount for remotely controlling the mirror for a desired angle thereof from within the automobile, and a link mechanism operatively interconnecting the mirror and the control lever and angularly movable vertically and laterally in response to swinging movement of the control lever. The link mechanism is angularly movable vertically about an axis which is inclined upwardly in a lateral direction away from a nominal vertical plane, and also angularly movable laterally about an axis which lies in a plane including a line substantially normal to a nominal horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Matsuyama Seisakusho
    Inventor: Masahito Sakao
  • Patent number: 4913543
    Abstract: A mirror angle adjusting device for a door mirror assembly for use in motor vehicles has an operating lever, and first and second connecting members for sequentially transmitting to a mirror holder vertical and horizontal movements of the lever for angle adjustment. Smooth operation of the angle adjustment of a mirror can be performed by a connection between the lever and the first connecting member, and between the first connecting member and the second connecting member. The first connecting member can include a first joint for connecting with the lever, and a second joint for connecting the first joint with the second connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Shinji Haba, Hitoshi Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 4890909
    Abstract: A mirror mounting apparatus for having two separate mounting assemblies. The first mounting assembly mounts directly to the vehicle. The second mounting assembly with attached mirrors mounts on the first mounting assembly. A clamping bracket or brackets having to separate pieces is insertable in one or more slots of the second assembly to clamp the first and second assemblies together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventors: William P. Schmidt, Frank D. Hutchinson, Kirk Malcomson
  • Patent number: 4856886
    Abstract: Disclosed is an outside rear-view mirror for a vehicle having a mirror housing which is mounted to a pedestal such that the mirror housing may rock relative to the pedestal upon impact from the front or from the rear. Within the mirror housing means are provided for holding a mirror glass which allow pivoting of the mirror glass about anyone or both of two perpendicular pivot axes, one of which is normally upright and the other of which runs transversely to the car body to which the pedestal is fastened. An adjusting device for adjusting the position of the mirror glass includes a lever mounted to the mirror housing and adapted to rotate about axes which run parallel to the pivot axes of the mirror glass. The first arm of the lever is coupled to a handle which may be manipulated from the interior of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Hohe KG
    Inventors: Herwig W. Polzer, Edwin Seitz
  • Patent number: 4828215
    Abstract: An external rearview mirror for a vehicle, with adjustment of the mirror being effected by a hand lever that removably engages in a funnel-like adjustment member that is disposed within a pivotable housing for the mirror body. In order in an operative position of the mirror to always assure a positive connection between the adjustment member and the hand lever, the adjustment member, with a resilient restoring force, rests against the hand lever in the operative position of the mirror, and rests against a stop in a non-operative, swung in or swung out position of the mirror. This restoring force is preferably effected by a torsion spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Inventor: Bernhard Mittelhauser
  • Patent number: 4824065
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rearview mirror having a mirror-holder casing, a fixed base, a connecting mechanism interposed between the casing and the base and members for guiding pivoting of the casing about a substantially vertical, forward-rearward axis and a substantially horizontal upward-downward axis. Friction bearing surfaces combined with the members for guiding pivoting of the casing cooperate to create friction couples resisting the pivoting. The rearview mirror futher has two distinct springs cooperating, respectively, with at least one bearing surface for guiding upward-downward pivoting and at least one bearing surface for guiding forward-rearward pivoting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Societe Manzoni Bouchot
    Inventor: Stephane Manzoni
  • Patent number: 4802751
    Abstract: A full viewer is a kind of device, which comprises at least a mirror assembly, a support assembly and adjusting means to rotate said mirror assembly; said full viewer is to be installed inside a vehicle near the existing inside rearview mirror at the top middle of the windshield to provide the driver the ergonomics views in the directions of the rear left and the rear right portions, or the left hand and the right hand portions of said driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Inventor: Ming-Shean Ueng
  • Patent number: 4660944
    Abstract: In a foldable mirror provided with a mirror case foldable around rotary members on a mirror stay, a manual angle adjusting device for tilting a mirror accommodated in the mirror case, comprises a penetrating shaft vertically movably and rotatably mounted on the rotary members, a clutch member for moving a connecting portion between the clutch member and a mirror holder vertically and for rotating the connecting portion around the shaft in one unit therewith or independently, a first connecting member which is secured on the shaft rotates around it and moves vertically, second connecting members provided with a connecting shaft and a bent portion having one end connected thereto and the other end for engagement with the first connecting member so that the bent portion and the first connecting member are rotatable in opposite directions to each other and movable vertically, a third connecting member secured on the connecting shaft and movable vertically and rotatable around it, and an operating lever for connec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masaru Suzuki, Yoshio Tsujiuchi, Akira Ogawa, Tadashi Usami
  • Patent number: RE42060
    Abstract: Couplers with ball-shaped heads are mounted on a pair of objects, and a split arm assembly is interposed along a line of juncture between the pair of couplers and clamped together about the heads thereof. However, before that time, a spring is interposed between the pair of elongated arm sections in the assembly to produce a differential in the reaction of the respective pairs of end portions in the arm sections to the clamping forces so that the assembly is formed into a bifurcated arm assembly at one of the heads. That one head is also compressible so that after the split arm assembly has been rotated in relation to the one head, or vice versa, to set the angle of the line of juncture with respect to one or both of the objects, further clamping of the assembly operates to interlock the assembly with the heads of the pair of couplers to rigidify the connection made by the assembly between the pair of heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: National Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali
  • Patent number: RE42581
    Abstract: Couplers with ball-shaped heads are mounted on a pair of objects, and a split arm assembly is interposed along a line of juncture between the pair of couplers and clamped together about the heads thereof. However, before that time, a spring is interposed between the pair of elongated arm sections in the assembly to produce a differential in the reaction of the respective pairs of end portions in the arm sections to the clamping forces so that the assembly is formed into a bifurcated arm assembly at one of the heads. That one head is also compressible so that after the split arm assembly has been rotated in relation to the one head, or vice versa, to set the angle of the line of juncture with respect to one or both of the objects, further clamping of the assembly operates to interlock the assembly with the heads of the pair of couplers to rigidify the connection made by the assembly between the pair of heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: National Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali
  • Patent number: RE43806
    Abstract: Couplers with ball-shaped heads are mounted on a pair of objects, and a split arm assembly is interposed along a line of juncture between the pair of couplers and clamped together about the heads thereof. However, before that time, a spring is interposed between the pair of elongated arm sections in the assembly to produce a differential in the reaction of the respective pairs of end portions in the arm sections to the clamping forces so that the assembly is formed into a bifurcated arm assembly at one of the heads. That one head is also compressible so that after the split arm assembly has been rotated in relation to the one head, or vice versa, to set the angle of the line of juncture with respect to one or both of the objects, further clamping of the assembly operates to interlock the assembly with the heads of the pair of couplers to rigidify the connection made by the assembly between the pair of heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: National Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali