Adjustable mount for lateral rear view mirror

Claim 1

An adjustable mirror mount for attachment to the side of a vehicle for enabling lateral adjustment of the mirror with respect to the vehicle, said mount comprising: a side mirror support brace adapted for attachment to a side portion of the vehicle and including a substantially flat upper surface which forms a track of uniform width, said brace including an opening through the track for insertion of a locking screw therethrough; a slidable mount operable with respect to the track of the mirror support brace, said mount comprising: an elongated base member having a substantially flat (i) top and (ii) bottom surface, (iii) opposing side walls extending downward along opposing side edges of the base member, (iv) opposing base member ends, and (v) a volume contained within items (i) through (iv) of the base member; the base member including means for pivotally attaching a mirror at the top surface thereof in an orientation suitable for providing rear view to an observer seated in the vehicle; the remaining top surface of the base member having a closed configuration to conceal components thereunder and to provide an appearance of the top surface as a mere extension of the flat, upper surface of the mirror support brace; the bottom surface of the base member comprising a pair of opposing flat shoulders partially extending from the opposing edges toward each other and terminating at an elongated slot which extends between the shoulders and along a central portion of the bottom surface, said shoulders forming the primary loadbearing surface between the adjustable mount and the flat, upper surface of the brace; the contained volume of the base member including a T-slot extending substantially the full length of the base member, said T-slot having a cross-sectional configuration resembling a T shape having a single base end and a flat, top section; the base end of the T-slot forming the elongated slot between the shoulders of the bottom surface of the base member, the T-slot extending upward therefrom into the contained volume, the flat, top section of the T-slot being most proximate to the top surface of the base member, the T-slot forming a track guide within the contained volume; an elongated tracking member having a cross-sectional shape as a T substantially corresponding to the T-slot track guide and being adapted to be slidably disposed therein, the tracking member having a bottom surface which extends no lower than the bottom surface of the base member; locking means coupled to the tracking member and the support brace for locking the tracking member in fixed position within a desired location along the length of the T-slot to thereby lock the position of the adjustment mount with respect to the mirror support brace; and a rearview mirror coupled to the top surface of the base member.