External rear view mirror for motor vehicles

Claim 1

Rear view mirror for motor caravans, commercial vehicles and like vehicles, of the type comprising: a mirror body; a reflective element adjustably supported by said mirror body; an articulated support having a fixed part adapted to be fixed to a side of a vehicle body, and a rotatable part; an arm structure which interconnects said rotatable part of said support and a side of said mirror body to support said mirror body in a projecting manner with respect to said vehicle body, and pivot means by which said rotatable part of said support is pivoted, with respect to said fixed part, about an axis which, in a mounted position of said vehicle, is substantially vertical so as to enable an angular movement of said mirror body and said arm structure between a laterally extended position, projecting laterally outwardly with respect to said vehicle body, and a retracted position against said body, wherein the improvement lies in said arm structure comprising: a linkage having pivot axes which, in said mounted position on said vehicle, are substantially horizontal, said linkage forming a polygon which is capable of expansion at least between an extended position, in which said mirror body is at a maximum distance from said support, and a retracted position in which, said mirror body is raised and drawn near to said vehicle body, and releasable locking means on said linkage for selectively preventing and permitting said expansion of said linkage.