Releasablemountingarmforavehiclemirror

1、Releasable mounting arm for a vehicle mirror            TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to mounting arms for vehicle mirrors, and more particularly, to releasable mounting arms for side view vehicle mirrors.BACKGROUND

2、 ARTMotor vehicles, and in particular larger vehicles such as busses, trucks and the like, require an array of mirrors mounted on exterior surfaces of these vehicles in order to improve the visibility and field of view of the driver in and around the vehicle. These visibility and field of view impro

3、vements are intended to increase safety, particularly for pedestrians and children when the vehicle is a school bus. Typically, a vehicle mirror element has a mounting structure integrated therein, such as a staff or pole attached thereto. The mounting structure is secured within or to one end of a

4、mounting arm. The other end of the mounting arm is attached to the body of a vehicle. Alternatively, other vehicle mirror elements have receptacles formed in the body thereof for receipt of one end of the mounting arm. The other end of the mounting arm is secured to the vehicle to attach the mirror

5、to the body of the vehicle.It is of paramount importance to maintain the position of an adjustable vehicular mirror as the vehicle travels. As is known, during vehicle operation, the mirror can vibrate and move, which can compromise the driver's field of view and/or visibility. This is especiall

6、y true when the mirrors are mounted at the front end of the vehicle beyond the driver's ability to reach and correct mirror movement while operating the vehicle, such as is encountered with trucks, busses, and larger vehicles of the like. Various mechanisms for reducing mirror vibration have bee

7、n utilized in the art, however, they can be relatively expensive and have other disadvantages.As is known, when vehicle mirrors are attached to the vehicle, they typically protrude outwardly from the side of the vehicle to provide the driver with a better field of view to potential blind spots on th

8、e front or side of the vehicle, which is the cause of many accidents. However, to provide a broader field of view, the mirror must be mounted with an arm that extends further outwardly from the side of the vehicle, which increases the effective width or length of the vehicle. Additionally, to minimi

9、ze mirror vibration, the mounting structures are typically configured such that they are stiff and inflexible or have reinforcing structures incorporated into the mounting structure.Because these mirrors are typically mounted to larger and wider vehicles such as trucks, busses, and the like, the mir

10、rors are more susceptible to inadvertently striking various objects, such as mailboxes, trees, other cars, etc. This contact between the mirror and/or mirror assembly can cause significant damage to the mirror, particularly because of the stiffness of the mounting structures. Thus, when a mirror str

11、ikes an object at a large enough force, the mirror and/or the mounting arm, can be damaged, which necessitates repair or replacement of the mirror and/or the mounting arm. Additionally, depending upon the force at which the mirror is struck, the mirror can cause the side of the vehicle to be dented,

12、 damaged, ripped or torn off, which necessitates repair of the vehicle itself and increases the cost to operate the vehicle. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a vehicular mirror that provides sufficient field of view, and overcomes these longevity problems.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordi

13、ngly, it is an object of the present to provide a mirror assembly for a vehicle, including a mounting arm that is releasable in one direction upon application of a predetermined amount of force to minimize damage to the mirror and/or the vehicle to which it is attached.It is a further object of the

14、present invention to provide a mirror assembly for a vehicle, including a mounting arm that is releasable in one of two independent directions upon application of a predetermined amount of force in a given direction to minimize damage to the mirror and/or the vehicle to which it is attached.It is st

15、ill another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle mirror assembly that increases the life of a vehicle and the mirror assembly.In accordance with the above and the other objects of the present invention, a vehicle mirror assembly is provided. The vehicle mirror assembly includes a bra

16、cket portion for attachment to a vehicle, such as a bus, truck or the like. The bracket is in communication with a first end of a mounting arm. The mounting arm has a middle portion that extends away from the attachment bracket to and terminates at a second end that is located remote from the first

17、end. The second end of the mounting arm is in communication with a vehicle mirror. The assembly includes a release mechanism, which allows the mounting arm to move with respect to the bracket when the mounting arm is subjected to a predetermined force.Other features and advantages of the present inv

18、ention will become apparent from the following description of the invention when viewed in connection with the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a perspective view of a school bus having a pair of vehicle mirror assemblies attached thereto in accordance with the presen

19、t invention;FIG. 2 is a front view of a school bus having a pair of vehicle mirror assemblies attached thereto in accordance with the present invention;FIG. 3 is a top view of a vehicle mirror assembly attached to a vehicle and illustrating movement of the assembly between a secured position and a r

20、eleased position (shown in phantom) in accordance with the present invention;FIG. 4 is a side view of a vehicle mirror assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle mirror assembly of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows labeled 5

21、5;FIG. 6 is an illustration of a vehicle mirror assembly and release mechanism in a released position in accordance with the present invention;FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle mirror assembly of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows labeled 77;FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a mounting

22、bracket and base portion of the vehicle mirror assembly shown in FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows labeled 88;FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vehicle mirror assembly in accordance with the present invention;FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the vehicle mirror assembly of F

23、IG. 9 with a first release mechanism in a released position in accordance with the present invention;FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the vehicle mirror assembly of FIG. 9 with a second release mechanism in a released position in accordance with the present invention;FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional vie

24、w of a vehicle mirror assembly with both the first release mechanism and the second release mechanism in an unreleased positions in accordance with the present invention; andFIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a vehicle mirror assembly illustrating a second release mechanism in a relea

25、sed position in accordance with the present invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTReferring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, which illustrate an exemplary application for the mirror assembly of the present invention. As shown, a school bus 10 has a pair of side view mirrors 12, 14 mounted ther

26、eto in accordance with the present invention. It will be understood that while the present invention may be utilized with side view mirrors, it may also be utilized with a variety of other mirrors, including cross-view mirrors, as are known in the art. Further, it will be understood that the mountin

27、g structure of the present invention may be utilized in connection with a variety of other mirror types. Moreover, while the present invention is illustrated by way of example as mounted to a school bus, it will be understood that the disclosed mirror assembly can be attached to and utilized with ot

28、her large vehicles, such as trucks, tractors, conventional vehicles, or any other type of vehicle.Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 7, which illustrate an embodiment of a vehicle mirror assembly 20 in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the vehicle mirror assembly 20 includes a mounting

29、bracket 22, a mounting arm 24, and a vehicle mirror 26. The mounting bracket 22 has a plurality of holes 30 formed therein through which a respective securing mechanism is intended to pass to attach the mirror assembly 20 to a vehicle. The mounting bracket 22 is preferably a separate component from

30、the mounting arm 24. The mounting bracket 22 engages a base portion 28 of the mounting arm 24, as discussed in more detail below in connection with FIG. 8. Alternatively, other mechanisms for attaching the vehicle mirror 26 to a vehicle may be utilized.The vehicle mirror assembly 20 also includes a

31、swing arm 32 extending generally away from the mounting bracket 22. The swing arm 32 is preferably secured to the base portion 28. However, it will be understood that the swing arm 32 may be a separate structure from the base portion 28 and may move independently thereof. The mounting arm 24 is pref

32、erably aligned parallel to the swing arm 32 at least along the length of the swing arm 32. The mounting bracket 22 is preferably attached to the front of the vehicle and can be constructed of a variety of materials, including metal or plastic.In one embodiment, the mounting arm 24 includes a pair of

33、 parallel spaced apart tubes 25. The tubes 25 are preferably filled with foam in order to dampen vibration of the mounting arm while the vehicle it is attached to is in motion. It will be understood that a variety of other vibration dampening items or materials may be utilized. The mounting arm 24 i

34、s preferably secured at one end 34 to the vehicle mirror 26 and at the base portion 28 to the mounting bracket 22. The mounting arm 24 has a middle portion 38 that extends between the base portion 28 and the end 34. The mounting arm 24 is preferably constructed of a metal material, such as aluminum

35、or steel. However, a variety of other materials may be utilized, including a polymer, such as a plastic.The middle portion 38 preferably includes a bend 40 and an elbow 41 formed therein. The bend 40 causes the mounting arm 26 to extend generally upward and outward with respect to ground or the vehi

36、cle as the mounting arm 26 extends from the base portion 28 to the bend 40. The elbow 41 is formed in the middle portion 38 of the mounting arm 26 such that the end 34 extends generally downwardly so that the vehicle mirror 26 can be mounted thereon and is visible to the driver. However, it will be

37、understood that the middle portion 38 may take on a variety of other configurations, including straight.The mounting arm 24 is preferably in pivotal engagement with the base portion 28 by way of a pivot mechanism 42. In one embodiment, the pivot mechanism 42 is comprised of a pin 48 that connects th

38、e swing arm 32 with the base portion 28 and allows relative rotation therebetween. The end 34 of the mounting arm 24 is secured or otherwise affixed to the vehicle mirror 26. The end 34 is preferably telescopically received in an opening 44 formed in a housing 46 for the vehicle mirror 26. AS is wel

39、l known, vehicle mirrors use a variety of mounts or other structures extending therefrom to attach or otherwise secure the vehicle mirror 26 to an end of the mounting arm 24.The vehicle mirror assembly 20 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a release mechanism 50. The

40、 release mechanism 50 allows the mounting arm 24 to rotate with respect to the base portion 28 about the pivot mechanism 42 when a predetermined force F is applied to the mounting arm 24 or the vehicle mirror 26. As best shown in FIG. 3, the mounting arm 24 is moveable between an unreleased position

41、 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and a released position (FIGS. 6 and 7). It will be appreciated that the release mechanism 50 can be configured to take on a variety of different configurations with only an exemplary configuration being described below. For example, while the pivot mechanism 42 is preferably locate

42、d adjacent the base portion 28 of the mounting arm 24, it will be appreciated that it may be located along any portion of the structure between the base portion 28 and the vehicle mirror 26, such that the vehicle mirror 26 can rotate or pivot with respect to the vehicle to which it is attached. Alte

43、rnatively, the mounting arm 24 can be omitted entirely as desired.In one embodiment, the release mechanism 50 includes the swing arm 32, a magnetic portion 52 located on an end 54 of the swing arm 32, and a corresponding metal portion 56 attached to the mounting arm 24. The metal portion 56 is inten

44、ded to mate with the magnetic portion 52 to secure the mounting arm 24 to the swing arm 32 due to the magnetic attraction force therebetween. It will be understood that the magnetic portion 52 and the metal portion 56 for engaging the magnetic portion 52 may be located in different locations. For ex

45、ample, their positions could be switched such that the magnetic portion 52 is located on the swing arm 32 and the metal portion 56 is located on the mounting arm 24. In another embodiment, the release mechanism 50 can include a non-magnetic attachment such as a releasable clip or latch.In an unrelea

46、sed position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the mounting arm 24 is rotated about the pivot mechanism 42 such that the mounting arm 24 is generally parallel to and aligned with the swing arm 32. In this configuration, the magnetic portion 52, which is located at the end 54 of the swing arm 32, is locked

47、 to the corresponding metal portion 56 due to magnetic force. It will be understood that the location of the magnetic portion 52 on the swing arm 32 and the metal portion 56 on the mounting arm 24 can be configured in a variety of different ways depending upon the desired amount of force required to

48、 overcome the magnetic force and move the mounting arm 24 to a released position. The greater the length of the swing arm 32, the greater the force F that will be required to overcome the magnetic force. Additionally, any size magnet may be utilized depending upon the desired amount of force require

49、d to separate the magnetic portion 52 from the metal portion. Moreover, in one embodiment, the metal portion 56 is disposed in a channel 58 formed in the base portion 28. Further, when the mounting arm 24 is in an unreleased position, the swing arm 32 is also received in the channel 58 such that the

50、 upper portion of the swing arm 32 is flush with the opposing sides of the base portion 28.Once the magnitude of the predetermined force to separate the magnetic portion 52 from the corresponding metal portion 56 has been determined and the location of these portions 52, 56 and the strength have als

51、o been determined, the vehicle mirror assembly 20 is assembled and mounted to a structure, such as a vehicle, by way of the mounting bracket 22. Upon application of a force greater than the predetermined force F to the mounting arm 24 and/or the vehicle mirror 26, the metal portion 56 separates from

52、 the magnetic portion 52 allowing the mounting arm 24 to rotate about the pivot mechanism 42 while the swing arm 32 remains in its fixed position. This released position is illustrated best in FIGS. 6 and 7. This releasing capability allows the mounting arm 24 to swing away if it is struck by a forc

53、e such as an opposing car, a mail box, a tree, a telephone pole, or the like without destroying the vehicle mirror assembly 20 or the structure to which the mounting bracket 32 is attached, such as a school bus 10 or other vehicle.FIG. 8 illustrates the attachment of the base portion 28 to the mount

54、ing bracket 22. As shown, the mounting bracket includes a plurality of holes 30, which allow attachment of the bracket 22 to a vehicle. The mounting bracket 22 also includes a channel 120, which is intended to communicate with a corresponding flange 122 formed on the base portion 28. The channel 120

55、 is configured such that the distance between the opposing sides 124 and 126 decreases from the top side 128 of the bracket 22 to the bottom side 130 of the mounting bracket 22. In one embodiment, the side 124 converges toward the side 126, while the side 126 remains generally parallel from the top

56、side 128 to the bottom side 130. Alternatively, both sides 124, 126 can converge to decrease the distance therebetween. The sides 132, 134 of the flange 122 have a corresponding shape to the respective side 124, 126 of the channel 120.The reduction in distance between the sides 124, 126 of the chann

57、el 120 assists in retaining the base portion 28 firmly secured to the mounting bracket 22 and thus the vehicle. Additionally, a securing screw 136 is included in the mounting bracket 22 and is intended to engage a detent 138 formed in the flange 122, once the flange 122 is positioned within the chan

58、nel 120.Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 13 which illustrate another embodiment of a vehicle mirror assembly 60 in accordance with the present invention. The vehicle mirror assembly 60 is intended for the same purpose, as discussed above in connection with the vehicle mirror assembly 20, namely atta

59、chment to a vehicle, including a large vehicle such as a bus, truck or the like. The vehicle mirror assembly 60 includes a base portion 62, a mounting arm 64, and a vehicle mirror 66. The base portion 62 has a mounting portion 68 with a plurality of mounting holes 70 formed therein through which a respective securing mechanism is intended to pass to attach the vehicle mirror assembly 60 to a vehicle. The base portion 62 also includes a pivot mechanism 72 and a swing arm 74 extending generally outwardly from the pivot mechanism 72. The pivot mechanism 72, in one embod