CA1325909C - Roll over rear view mirror assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Multi-position, side rear view mirrors are commonly provided on vehicles which frequently haul trailers. Existing devices of this type require the mirror to be rotated about two vertical axes to relocate the mirror in a use position.
The simpler, more effective device disclosed herein requires only a single rotation of the mirror about a horizontal axis.
The device includes a support arm and brace for mounting the device on a vehicle; a pivot joint defined by a pair of pivotally interconnected arms, one of which is connected to the support arm, and the other of which carries the mirror for rotation around a horizontal axis, and a stop for limiting movement of the mirror between inner and outer positions.

Description

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This invention relates to a rear view mirror bracket and in particular to a side rear view mirror bracket for an automobile.
Rotatable brackets for rear view mirrors are disclosed, for example by Canadian Patents Nos. 909,751, issued to Gerald Goslin et al on September 12, 1972 and 1,107,107 issued to Lawrénce O'Connell on August 8, 1981. The Goslin et al patent discloses a complex bracket in combination with a mirror structure. The Goslin et al mirror structure, which includes long support arms, is susceptible to vibration.
Moreover, the Goslin et al structure requires two separate pivoting motions to reposition the mirror. The O'Connell device, while improving slight on the Goslin et al bracket is still somewhat complicated structurally and requires two -1 15 rotations of the mirror about different vertical axes for ¦ repositioning of the mirror. When rotating a mirror around two axes, it i~ difficult to locate the mirror accurately in I the two use positions. The structure required to effect such ¦ rotations is necessarily complicated.
ff 20 An object of the present invention is to solve the i above mentioned problems by providing a relatively simple bracket, requiring only one pivoting motion for movement between use positions.
Another object of the invention is provide a mirror bracket requiring only one rotation around a horizontal axis f to relocate the mirror. This avoids the problem inherent in :~
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rotation of the mirror about its vertical axis, namely the maintaining of the mirror in proper viewing position without adjustment.
Accordingly, the invention relates to a rear view mirror bracket for a vehicle comprising support means for mounting the bracket on the side of the vehicle; and pivot means carried by said support means permitting rotation of the mirror through approximately 180 about a substantially horizontal axis from an outer position to an inner position.
The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates ~ :
a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a mirror bracket in accordance with the invention in an outer use position on a vehicle;
Figure 2 is a front view of the mirror bracket of Fig. l;
Figure 3 is a partly sectioned, front view of a pivot device used in the bracket of Figs. l and 2;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 3;
Figure 5 is a partly sectioned plan view of the ~:-pivot device of Figs. 2 to 4 on a larger scale; and ~; -Figures 6 to 8 are rear views of the pivot device with parts removed in three positions. ~-With reference to the drawings, the mirror bracket of the present invention includes a support generally ;

~32~909 indicated at 1, and a pivot device, generally indicated at 2 for carrying a mirror 3. One end 4 of a tubular, generally L-shaped arm 5 is mounted in a conventional mirror bracket 6 on a vehicle cab 7. The other end 8 of the arm 5 is bent slightly rearwardly midway along its length. A diagonal brace 9 extends upwardly and outwardly from the vehicle door 11 to the outer end of the arm 5. The brace 9 is defined by a tube with flattened ends 12 and 13. The end 12 is connected to the vehicle door 11 by a screw 14. The other end of brace 9 is connected to a clamp 16 on the arm 5 by a bolt 17 and a nut (not shown).
The pivoting device 2 is mounted on the outer end of th arm 5. The device 2 is defined by a fixed arm 18, a pivot joint 19 and a rotary arm 21 carrying the mirror 3. As best seen in Fig. 3, the fixed arm 18 has a reduced diameter outer end for insertion into the arm 5. A set screw 22 extends through the arm 5 into a notch 23 (Fig. 3) in the arm 18 to prevent relative motion between the arms 4 and 18.
With reference to Figs. 5 to 8 the pivot joint 19 is defined by axially aligned hollow, cylindrical bodies 24 and 25 on the ends of arms 18 and 21, respectively. Each of bodies 24 and 25 has one closed end 26 and 27, respectively.
The bodies 24 and 25 and a brass bushing 28 sandwiched therebetween are pivotally interconnected by bolt 29 and a nut 30. The bolt 29 also carries a brass bushing 31, a metal washer 32, a stop lug 33, and a lock washer 34 in the body 24.
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132~909 The head of the bolt 29 is recessed in the end 27 of the body 25 to prevent rotation of the bolt. An arcuate shoulder 36 is mounted on the interior of the body 24 for engaging the stop lug 33 when body 24 is rotated relative to the body 25 and the bolt 29. The open end of each body 24 and 25 is closed by a plug 38 (Figs. 2 to,4).
In order to move the mirror 3 from the outer position (solid lines in Figs. 1 to 6) to the inner position (phantom outline in Fig. 1~, the body 24 is rotated through 180 with the arm 21 from a first position in which one end of the shoulder 36 engages one side of the stop lug 33 (Fig. 6) to a second position (Fig. 8) in which the other end of the shoulder 36 engages the other side of stop lug 33.

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Claims (3)

1. A rear view mirror bracket for a vehicle comprising support means for mounting the bracket on the side of the vehicle;
and pivot means carried by said support means permitting rotation of the mirror through approximately 180 degrees about a substantially horizontal axis from an outer position to an inner position, said pivot means including first arm means fixedly connected at one end to said support means; second arm means pivotally connected to the other end of said first arm means for carrying the mirror; first sleeve means on said other end of said first arm means; second sleeve means on one end of said second arm means axially aligned with said first sleeve means; and pin means pivotally interconnecting said sleeve means.

2. A mirror bracket according to claim 1, including stop means on said first arm means limiting rotation of said second arm means between said outer and inner positions.

3. A mirror bracket according to claim 2, where said stop means includes shoulder means in said second sleeve means; and lug means fixed on said pin means for engagement by said shoulder means in said inner and outer positions of the mirror.