US3599927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rearview mirror
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-02-20
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Granted: 1971-08-17
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Expires: 1989-02-20
Abstract
Abstract An external rearview mirror for motor vehicles includes a base mountable on the coachwork of the vehicle. An arm is mounted on the base projecting therefrom and is tiltable about an axis which at least substantially parallels the longitudinal axis of the vehicle so as to be movable from an operating position in which it projects laterally beyond the coachwork to a retracted position. A mirror-head is associated with the arm and means is provided which mounts the mirror-head on the arm for turning movement about an upright axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and this means is operative for effecting tilting of the arm about the axis paralleling the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in direction towards the coachwork in response to turning movement of the mirror-head initiated by an impact on the same acting in direction of the longitudinal vehicle axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Yorck Joachim Talbot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/06; B60R1/076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An external rearview mirror, particularly for a motor vehicle having a longitudinal axis coincident with its direction of forward movement, comprising a base arranged to be mounted on the coachwork of the vehicle; an arm mounted on said base projecting upwardly therefrom and tiltable about a first axis at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis from a normal operating position to a retracted position; a mirror-head associated with said arm and tiltable with the same so as to extend outwardly beyond the coachwork when said arm is in said normal operating position; and means mounting said mirror-head on said arm for turning movement about an upright second axis normal to said longitudinal axis and including cam means coacting with an abutment face on said base and operative for effecting tilting of said arm about said first axis in direction towards the coachwork in response to turning movement of said mirror-head initiated by an impact on the same acting in direction of said longitudinal axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
An external rearview mirror, particularly for a motor vehicle having a longitudinal axis coincident with its direction of forward movement, comprising a base arranged to be mounted on the coachwork of the vehicle; an arm mounted on said base projecting upwardly therefrom and tiltable about a first axis at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis from a normal operating position to a retracted position; a mirror-head associated with said arm and tiltable with the same so as to extend outwardly beyond the coachwork when said arm is in said normal operating position; and means mounting said mirror-head on said arm for turning movement about an upright second axis normal to said longitudinal axis and including cam means coacting with an abutment face on said base and operative for effecting tilting of said arm about said first axis in direction towards the coachwork in response to turning movement of said mirror-head initiated by an impact on the same acting in direction of said longitudinal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
115 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, said base comprising a hollow shell member provided with an upper wall, an elongated opening in said wall extending transversely of said longitudinal axis and through which said arm extends, said abutment face being provided on said upper wall; and wherein said means comprises a cam element of substantially L-shaped configuration and having a bifurcated leg embracing said arm transversely of the elongation of the latter and including two projections each arranged to engage said abutment face in response to turning movement of said mirror-head about said second axis in one or an opposite direction, and to thereby effect tilting of said arm about said first axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 2; further comprising biasing means biasing said arm to said operating position thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 3, said biasing means comprising a leaf-spring operatively associated with said arm and serving to guide said arm for tilting movement about said first axis in response to turning movement of said mirror-head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 2; further comprising arresting means accessible to an operator of the vehicle and operable for arresting said arm and said means in said operating position to thereby enable turning adjustment of said mirror-head at the will of the operator and without initiation of said tilting movement about said first axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 5, said arresting means comprising a cutout in said socket, a guide groove at the interior of said socket, and a springy member mounted for sliding movement in said cutout and along said guide groove between an advanced position in which a leading portion of said springy member extends across the free part of said elongated opening precluding movement of said arm in the latter, and a withdrawn position in which said leading portion is withdrawn from said free part.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 2, said means including an intermediate member connected with said mirror-head and mounted on said arm turnable about the same and about said second axis; and wherein said cam element comprises an other leg slidably mounted on said intermediate member and integral with said bifurcated leg, said cam element being mounted on said intermediate member with one of said projections contacting said abutment face under a first active radius and with the other of said projections contacting said abutment face under a smaller second active radius, whereby different turning angles of said mirror-head, depending upon the direction in which an impact acts on the latter, are translated into a constant tilting angle of said arm from said operating position to said retracted position thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 7, said projections each having an outer edge face directed outwardly away from the bifurcation and inclined to the center axis intersecting said bifurcation midway between said projections, whereby when said mirror-head is inclined towards the vehicle for viewing an impact on the mirror-head longitudinally of said longitudinal axis and acting in the direction of movement of said vehicle, will result in initial turning movement of said mirror-head about said second axis through a predetermined angle and thereupon in further turning through 90* to said retracted position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 2, said mirror-head having a mirror plate facing away from the direction of forward movement of the vehicle, and said mirror plate being inclined slightly upwardly and in direction of forward movement of the vehicle, to thereby facilitate viewing by an operator inside the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 9, said mirror-head further comprising a housing having a rearwardly facing open side in which said inner plate is mounted and having in direction of said longitudinal axis a substantially wedge-shaped vertical cross section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 2, said mirror-head comprising a housing having a rearwardly facing open side in which said mirror-plate is mounted and having in direction of said longitudinal axis a cross section substantially resembling a rectangle having corners facing in forward direction of movement of the vehicle and converging towards one another in such direction; and wherein said mirror plate is mounted in said open side of said housing for adjustment relative thereto about at least one pivot axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 2; and further comprising cushioning means provided on said mirror-head and positioned to cushion possible impacts of said mirror-head upon said coachwork in response to movement of said arm to said retracted position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 7, said arm having an upper free end portion of circular cross section and provided with a circumferential groove, and said intermediate member surrounding said upper free end portion and being provided with a setscrew threaded through a wall of said intermediate member and having a tapering leading portion extending into said groove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
A rearview mirror as defined in claim 13, said intermediate member having a bore accommodating said upper free end portion and having at the side opposite said leading end of said setscrew a cross section resembling an obtuse angle hollow prism so that the play of said intermediate member on said arm can be adjusted at will.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-16 | 1975-02-15 | 1975-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-16 | 1979-02-15 | 1979-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-16 | 1983-02-15 | 1983-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |