In order to enable a clearer understanding, the various aspects of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to drawings and description of preferred embodiments. In the drawings:
Although there are several distinct aspects of the present invention separately defined herein, they will be described in the section hereinbelow and in other parts of this specification in combination with one another, but it is stressed that this is not to detract from the distinct nature of certain of the aspects of the present invention.
Referring to
The reflecting assembly 12 includes a chassis 26 which includes a backing frame 28 which includes spaced apart, opposed lip walls 29 which form a recess 27 for receiving and mounting mirror element 20. The chassis 26 also includes a retaining frame 28 for retaining the mirror element 20 in the recess 27. The retaining frame 28 includes peripheral frame bars or tubes 25.
Access means 30 are provided to provide access to the mirror element 20. The access means 30 include a hinge 32 operatively connected to a peripheral tube 25 disposed at a base edge 34 of the retaining frame 28. The access means 30 also includes an access control means 36 in the form of a lock 38 in the form of a pair of elongate pins 39 which include biasing means 37 in the form of springs 35 which bias the pins 39 into catches 33. Handles 41 on the pins 39 extend perpendicularly to a longitudinal pin 39 axis to facilitate opening of locking means 38.
The mirror element 20 includes a flat reflecting plane 42 though it could be slightly convex-outwards, to extend the field of view. The mirror element 20 may be formed from a polished stainless steel sheet or plate 45 and includes a grip means 40 which includes a tab 44 which extends perpendicularly to the reflecting plane 42. The tab 44, when the mirror 20 is installed in the recess 27, extends past the retaining frame elements 25 to indicate to a user to grip in this region if the mirror needs removal for maintenance, replacement, and the like.
The mirror element 20 further includes suspension means 50 in the form of pads 52 mounted at peripheral edges 54 of the mirror element 20. This is to reduce rattles when mounted in the recess.
An adjustment means 60 is provided in order to adjust the reflecting assembly 12 about the yaw axis 16, though the same arrangements could easily be utilized to provide adjustment about the roll and pitch axes. The adjustment means 60 includes a cam 62 and follower 64, the cam 62 being mounted in a pivot plate 66 in the form of an arcuate aperture or track 68. The follower 64 is in the form of a stem 69 of a locking stem 67. Movement of the follower 64 in the cam 62 is limited by the ends or extent of the track 68. About 45° adjustment is provided by the arrangement shown.
A locking means 70 is provided which includes a clamp 72 in the form of a handle 74 which includes a T-bar 75 and the stem 69 to elevate the T-bar 75 above the upper extremity of the reflecting assembly 12 so that knuckle hazards are reduced. The clamp 72 includes the pivot plate 66 which is forced downwards onto mounting means 80 by bulb or 10 nut 77 on stem 69. Stem 69 comprises a threaded base (not shown) which provides advancement of the bulb or nut 77 onto the pivot plate 66 for clamping.
The mounting means 80 is in the form of a pair of vertically spaced-apart mounting blocks 82 which include bores 84 for pivoting pivots (not shown) about the yaw axis 16. Captive nuts are also provided in the mounting blocks 82 in order to engage with threaded stem base.
In operation, at the beginning of a shift, an operator of a truck (not shown) may reach out and unscrew T-bar hand 75 to unlock the mirror from a clamped position. The mirror may be pivoted about the yaw axis 16 and then the handle 74 is screwed back down until the nut 77 clamps down on pivot plate 66 and the reflecting assembly 12 is inhibited from further rotation. If the mirror 10 is bumped, there is no need to call for skilled trades people to adjust the mirror about the yaw or other axis.
If the mirror surface 20 is scarred, pitted, or otherwise wrecked, the pins 39 may be operated to gain access to the recess 27 and remove the mirror element 20.
Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.