Donnelly Corporation

Donnelly Mirrors Limited

Robert L Norton

Philip D Stegenga

John F Thomas

William L Katsma

Barry Dipper

Denis Wood

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

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

Holland, MI, United States of America

Robert L Norton