US1884756A

US1884756A - Combined mirror and instrument

Info

Publication number: US1884756A
Application number: US408755A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hodny William La
Original assignee: Standard Mirror Co Inc
Current assignee: Standard Mirror Co Inc
Priority date: 1929-11-21
Filing date: 1929-11-21
Publication date: 1932-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 1949-10-25

Description

Oct. 25, 1932. L NY 1 ,884,756

COMBINED MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 25, 1932. w. LA HODNY COMBINED MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 21, 1929 dub mugs Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM LA HODNY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD MIRROR COMPANY, INC., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK COMBINED MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Application filed November 21, 1929.

This invention relates to a combined mirror and instrument and as shown is embodied ina rear view mirror having associated therewith a watch or clock although any instrument can be substituted for the watch or clock, such as a barometer, a compass, a thermometer, an oil viscosity gage, or any other kind of instrument to which frequent reference is made. The invention is also appliif} cable to other forms of mirrors for other 5*November 18, 1929 and Ser. No. 408,965, filed November 26, 1929.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a single mirror having a watch, clock or other instrument associated therewith in which the clock or watch is securely mounted and held directly by the bracket which also supports the mirror. By this means the watch or clock, particularly when mounted in an automobile, is not sub- 5 ject to severe vibration.

A further object is to provide such a combined mirror and instrument in which the instrument is mounted for universal move ment with respect to the bracket so that it .5 can be moved to any convenient position for observing the same or to illuminate the face of the instrument from any source of light within or outside of the car.

Another object is to provide such a de- 35 7 vice in which the watch or clock; while sup ported from the bracket, can be observed through a transparency provided in the mirror by removing or eliminating the reflective coating on a portion of the mirror so 40 that the mirror plate itself forms a crystal for the watch or clock. By this means the watch or clock is firmly held against vibration, the combined mirror and watch or clock are in their most compact form, the

4 face of the watch or clock is clearly visible and the rear view mirror possesses its complete strength so that it is not liable to break or crack as would be the case if an opening of the size required were cut through the glass plate. This construction also reduces Serial No. 408,755.

the danger of dust and dirt, filtering through into the movement.

Another object is to provide such an assembly in which the diiferentparts are comparatively theft-proof by the arrangement of the mountings in such manner that the method of dismantling the same isnot instantly obvious to one who might wish to steal parts thereof.

Another aim is to provide a reliable, simple and inexpensive mounting both for the mirror and for the instrument which also permits the instrument to be readily removed for the purposes of repair or adjustment.

Other purposes are to provide a combined rear view mirror and instrument which isinexpensive to form and assemble, which'is neat and attractive in appearance, which, particularly when viewed from the rear side of the same, presents no unsightly mechanical devices and in which the instrument is readily accessible for resetting, rewinding or the like.

In the accompanying drawings: I v

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a combined rear view, mirror and watch embodying one form of my invention.

Fig. '2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figs. 1 and 3 showing a further modified form of my invention. I

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 1, 3 and 5 showing a still further modified form of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on 8-8, Fig. 7.

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts in each of the several views.

In its general organization this invention comprises a rear view mirror which is mounted for universal movement upon its support ing bracket and a watch or clock which is also carried directly by the bracket and is line also mounted for universal movement. In one form of the inventlon the mlrror is provided with a transparency and the watch or clock is held against this transparency or crystal by the bracket so that it'is movable movement thereon independently of the rear view mirror. I

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 both the mirror and the watch or clock which can be either ofthe back wind or stem wind type, are carried'by a bracket 10 having holes 11 by which the bracket is secured to the'head bar (not shown) or other suitablepart ofan automobile. At its lower end the bracket arm 10 carries a stem 12 which is formed to provide a ball 18. The mirror plate 14 is shown as generally of rectangularforin and provided with an upwardly extended andsuitably'rounded part 15. This mirror is provided on its rear face or side with a reflective coating 16. This reflective coating can be the usual'metallic silver deposit or can be any one of a largefn'umber of reflective coatings which also absorb a part of the light reflected into them so that the mirror reflects the image with reduced illumination but without'distortion and a:non

.height and width of the lower rectangular portion of the mirror plate and is'formed at its uppersides to provide two fingers v18 which extend forwardlyand are adapted to engage or embrace the upper margin or bevel of the rectangular part of the mirror plate. To clamp and hold the mirror plate against these fingers 18 the supporting plate '17 is formed to providea rearwardly extending cup-shapedpart 19. At the lower end of the cup-shaped part 19 a clamping member 20 is screwed by means of a screw 21. This clamping member 20 is formed to providea finger 22 which engages the lower bevel of the mirror plate '14 and vertical partswhich rest against and are adapted to slide along the rear side of the plate 17 and the cupshaped part 19. It is apparent that when the screw 21 is tightened it draws the clamping member 20 upwardly and draws the mirror plate 1 1 into firm engagement with the finger 22 and the fingers 18.

The cup-shaped part 19 of the metal mirror holder or plate 17 is provided with a central opening and the margin of this opening is formed to provide a socket 23. This socket receives the ball 13, the stem 12 extending through the opening. To yieldingly and frictionally hold the ball 13 in engagement with the socket 23 a plate 24 is arranged in the cup-shaped part'19' of the metal mirror ed by the vibration of the car.

.a transparency 27 i'svprovided.

holder and is formed to provide a socket 25 which engages the opposite side of the ball 13. The ball '13 is frictionally clamped between the

sockets

25 and 23 by a series of screws 26 which are adapted to draw the plate 24 toward the rear wall of the cup-shaped part 19." By this meansupon grasping the mirror 14: it can be moved to any desired position about the ball 13 and by reason of its frictional connection" therewith is held in such adjusted position without being affect- In the upwardly extended part 15 of the mirror plate This transparency is provided either by scraping a portion of the metallic deposit from the rear side of the glassplate or by covering that part with some substance on which the silver or other reflective coating will not deposit. Around this transparency or transparent opening 27 a groove 28 is shown as ground into the rear side of the glass plate and in this groove the rim of an instrument case 29 is set. This instrument case 29 houses the working parts of the instrument and the dial 30, hands 31 or other indicating parts of the instrument are visible through the transparency or crystal 27. In order to hold the instrument case 29 firmly and reliably in proper position in the groove 28 the metal mirror supporting plate 17 is formed to provide a rearwardly and upwardly extended L-shaped arm 32 which is arranged in rear of the transparency or crystal 27 and in rear of the in strument case 29. This arm 32 carries a screw 33 which, upon being-tightened, bears against the rear wall of the instrument case 29 and holds it firmly against the glass plate and inproper position in the groove 28. It is apparent that withthis construction the watch, clock or other instrument is firmly held against the mirror plate and. by reason of being supported directly from the bracket 10 is not subject to intense vibration which would, of course, injure the movement or other working parts thereof. I In Figs. 8 and 1 is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the instrument is supported independently of the rear viewinirror and both are capable of being adjusted to any position by universal mounting. In this form both the mirror and the instrument are supported by the bracket 10, as in the first form and the mirror 14- which is shown as of regular rectangular form can be supported for universal movement relative to the bracket 1.0 by the same form of ball and socket support shown as supporting the mirror plate in Figs. 1 and 2. The watch or clock in this form can be either of the rim wind, stem wind of back wind type.

Theupper partof the bracket 10 carries a forwardly projecting stem 35 which is formed to provide a ball 36 at its front end. The inbody 37 which is open at its front and provided with a wall 38 and an annular outwardly extending flange 39 at its rear end. To the annular flange 39 is suitably secured the rim of a cup-shaped part 40, this cupshaped part being provided with a central opening and the margin of said opening be ing formed to provide a socket 41 which fits against the rear side of the ball 36, the stem projecting through said opening. To hold the ball 36 in reliable frictional engagement with the socket 41 a plate 42 is arranged in the cup-shaped part 40, this plate being formed to provide a socket 43 which engages the front side of the ball 36. Screws 44 connect the plate 42 and the cup-shaped part so that upon tightening the screwsthe plate 42 is drawn into firm engagement with the ball 36 and any desired frictional engagement provided between the ball 36 and the socket 41. By this means by grasping the clock or watch case 37 and moving it into any desired position it will retain its adjusted position under any normal vibration to which it may be subjected. The bezel 45 is shown as being octagonal in form, although it is apparent that my desired artistic configuration can be employed and in this bezel is set a crystal 46 through which the face and

hands

30 and 31 of the watch or clock can be observed. In order to securely hold the bezel 45 in the case 37, the bezel is provided with i rearwardly extending collar or stem 47 which fits into the watch or instrument case 37 and is held in place by set screws 48. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the instrument case is of substantially the same form as that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and is shown as supported for universal movement on the bracket 10 in the same manner. The rear view mirror 14 can also be of rectangular form and supported for universal movement relative to its supporting bracket 10 by the same means shown in Figs. 1-4. The crystal 50 for the watch or clock is, however, shown as being formed as part of a glass plate 51 which has the same form as the bezel 45 and completely covers the front face of this bezel. This glass plate 51 is secured to the bezel 45 by a pair of screws 52 which extend through openings provided in the glass plate 51 and screws into the bezel 45. The rear face of this glass plate 51 is pro vided with a reflective coating 53 of silver or the like, this reflective coating forming a margin or frame for the crystal 50. As in the case of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the crystal 50 can be provided either by scraping a portion of the reflective coating from the rear face of the plate 51 after it has been deposited or the deposit of the reflective coating upon that portion of the glass plate 51 which is desired to form the crystal 50 can be prevented by any well known and usual method.

Inthe'form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 andS the mirror 14 is shown as rectangular. in form and is provided at one end with a transparency 27 and groove 28, asin the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1- and 2. In this form of the invention the mirror 14 is clamped to a metal backing plate 17, and as in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this plate is mounted for universal movement upon the ball 13 of the bracket 10 and held in frictional engagement therewith by the plate 24.

instead of providing the L-shaped arm for supporting the instrument case 29 in the groove 28, however, the plate 17 is formed to provide a' second cup'shaped part 55 which is-arranged to embrace and completely surround'the instrument case 29. The rim 56 of this cup-shapedpart 55 engages the rear side of the rear view mirror 14 'on all sides and this cup-shaped part 55 thereby provides an additional safeguard against the entrance of dust and" dirt into the movement contained within the watch case 29. I11 order to reliably hold the watch case 29 in its groove 28 and also to permit of compensation in the varying thicknesses of glass used in making rear view mirrors a screw 57 is provided in rear of the cup-shaped part 55 this screw 57 bearing against the rear wall of the watch or clock case 29 and holding it in firm engagement with the mirror plate 14.

All of the several forms of this invention provide a compact, attractive and inexpensive combined rearview mirror and watch, clock or other instrument in which the instrument is in part supported directly from the supporting bracket independently of the rear view mirror. By this direct support of the instrument the instrument is held against undue vibration and consequently is less liable to injury therefrom. The combined mirror and instrument shown is also comparatively simple in construction, will stand up for a long time under the severe and constant vibration to which accessories of this character are subjected, both the instrument and the mirror are in all forms capable of universal movement to any desired position relative to the bracket and both the instrument and the rear view mirror can be conveniently removed when it is necessary for the purpose of repairs. The parts of the assembly are also comparatively theft-proof, the manner of supporting the parts not being instantly obvious to one who might try to remove parts.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a panel and a sup port for said panel. an instrument case arranged in rear of said panel, whereby an instrument arranged in said instrument case is visible through said panel, and means for holding said instrument case against the corresponding face of said panel comprising an arm extending outwardly from said support and a screw having threaded engagement with and extending through said arm and bearing against a side of said instrument case to hold said instrument case with adjustable pressure against the corresponding face of said panel.

2. In combination with a panel having an" indentation in its rear face and a support for panel, anarni'extending outwardly from said support, an instrumentcase interposed between said arm and panel and ointly supported thereby, a screw carried by said arm and bearing against said instrument case to adjustably force it into engagement with said panel, said instrument case being provided with a projection extendinginto said indentation in s'aidpanel, whereby an instrument arranged in' said instrument case is visible through said panel.

In testimony whereof I hereby alfix my signature.

WILLIAM LA HODNY.