MIRROR WITH ADJUSTABLE DETENT

Abstract

A mirror unit for a vehicle includes a base from which extends an arm holding a mirror housing. The arm is pivotably mounted in the base to permit the mirror to be pivoted toward the vehicle in the event that the mirror is struck, for example. The extended position of the mirror when not folded is defined by a detent in the pivoting movement. The detent position of the mirror is the result of a bolt that presses a spring. The spring in turn presses a hub on the arm against an indexing pivot post, so that ramps on the hub bear against ramps on the indexing pivot post and define the detent position of the mirror. The indexing pivot post has an arrangement of teeth that engage into tooth recesses on the base when pressed thereagainst by the spring. The detent position of the mirror can be changed by the user by the user releasing the bolt to relieve spring pressure on the teeth so that the teeth of the indexing pivot post disengage from the tooth recesses and can be pivoted to a new detent position. The new detent position is ensured by tightening the bolt so that the spring presses the teeth into the tooth recesses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mirror unit according to the principles of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of a pivot portion of the mirror unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the pivot portion of FIG. 2 of the mirror unit;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the pivot portion of the mirror unit; and

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the alternate embodiment of the pivot portion of the mirror unit of FIG. 4.

Claims

1. A mirror unit for a vehicle, comprising: a base for connection to a vehicle, said base having a bracket portion defining a pivot space, said bracket portion including a first indexing surface;an arm having a pivot end in said pivot space of said base and a mirror at an opposite end, said pivot end defining a hollow interior; said pivot end including a hub with a first ramp surface;an indexing pivot member having a second indexing surface in cooperating contact with said first indexing surface of said bracket portion to define an index position of said arm with respect to said base, said indexing pivot member having a second ramp surface in cooperating contact with said first ramp surface of said arm to define a detent position of said arm with respect to said base;a spring mounted to press said first and second ramp surfaces into engagement with one another; anda release apparatus mounted on said base and operable to move said first and second indexing surfaces out of engagement when in a release position and to move said first and second indexing surfaces into engagement when in an engaged position

2. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said release apparatus includes a threaded bolt in engagement with said base, said engagement surfaces being held in engagement by said threaded bolt when said threaded bolt is in a first position, said threaded bolt being operable to a second position to release said engagement surfaces from one another.

3. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said release apparatus includes a pivot support disc at one end of said spring, said threaded bolt extending through a central bore in said pivot support disc.

4. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said indexing pivot member includes a post portion extending into engagement with said pivot support disc.

5. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said post portion includes at least one flat on said post portion fit into engagement with an opening having a corresponding flat in said pivot support disc.

6. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indexing pivot member includes a disc shaped portion having said second indexing surface on one surface of said disc shaped portion and having said second ramp surface on an opposite surface of said disc shaped portion.

7. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a slip disc disposed between said spring and said hub.

8. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indexing surfaces include teeth and tooth recesses.

9. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein said teeth are on said indexing pivot member and said tooth recesses are on said first indexing surface of said bracket portion.

10. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein said teeth are arranged in a ring on said indexing pivot member.

11. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein said teeth are arranged at regular intervals from one another.