Donnelly Mirrors Limited

Donnelly Corporation

Denis Wood

John F Thomas

Barry Dipper

Philip D Stegenga

William L Katsma

Robert L Norton

John H Veltkamp

A rearview mirror support bracket is disclosed having a body defining a front surface, a rear surface, a top end and a bottom end. A pair of elongated, spaced, opposed clips are formed on the back surface of the body. The clips define grooves for receipt of a windshield mounted button. The body has an I-beam configuration in cross section and includes a central web and front and rear flanges defining the front and back surfaces. A wall surrounds the opposed clips and defines an open end through which the button may be slid. Resilient tension and support members are defined by the rear flange in the clip area. At least one resilient retainer is defined by the rear flange. The retainer engages the button and retains the bracket on the button after assembly. The front flange adjacent its lower end defines a spherical ball which is adapted to be snap fitted into a correspondingly configured socket included in a mirror case assembly. The clips and bracket are dimensioned so that when a predetermined force impacts the ball, the clips will separate from the button and the bracket will break away from the button support.

Rearview mirror support bracket

A day/night rearview mirror assembly for vehicles including a one-piece, molded, resinous mirror case having flexible, resilient portions and a substantially rigid pivot actuator which is biased by the case into either a day or night position. Movement of the actuator changes the position of the case and mirror element thereby changing the amount of light reflected. An interference fit between supports for the actuator within the case and the pivot actuator expands and pre-stresses the case to provide a predetermined biasing force which must be overcome by a pivoting force to move the actuator between its positions. A continuous lip extending around the periphery of the case allows snap-in insertion and permanent retention of a preferably prismatic mirror element. The retaining lip is sized to maintain coverage of the edge of the mirror element even during flexing of the case while the actuator is pivoted.

Vehicle mirror assembly

An inside rearview mirror assembly for vehicles preferably including four parts, namely, a molded breakaway mirror support bracket, a molded mirror case, a prismatic reflective mirror element, and a rigid, molded pivot actuator for moving the case and mirror element between day and night positions for reduced glare. The support bracket has a body with an I-beam configuration in cross section and vibration reducing ribs extending between front and rear flanges adjacent a central web defining the I-beam shape. Resilient clips define grooves for receipt of a windshield mounted button over which the bracket is slid and snapped on. Resilient tension and support members are included along with at least one resilient retainer to keep the bracket on the button. The case includes a peripheral lip allowing snap-in insertion of the mirror element and flexible resilient portions which provide a biasing force urging the pivot actuator into either the day or night position. Preferably, a ball and socket joint extends between the bracket and actuator for adjustment.

Vehicle mirror and support assembly

Growing community of inventors

Dublin, Ireland

Denis Wood