CA1180212A - Rearview mirror support bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

REARVIEW MIRROR SUPPORT BRACKET
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
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 ?-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 dimen-sioned 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.

Description

RE~RVIEW MIRROR SUPPORT BRACKET
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to commonly-owned, co-pending Canadian applications, Serial No. 398,178, -filed March 11, 1982, entitled VEIIICLE MIRROR ASSEMBLY, and ~erial No. 399,542, :Eiled March 26, 1982, en-titled VE13ICLE
MIRROR AND SUPPORT ASSF.MBLY.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vehicle interior lQ rearview mirror assemblies and more particularly to a mirror assembly supported from a button secured to the interior of a vehicle windshleld.
~leretofore, various rearview mirror assemblies have been proposed. In one :Eorm, the interior rearview mirror is suspended from a support attached to the vehicle header adj acent the windshield. These forms of mirror mounts are not completely acceptable. Present vehicle windshielci areas, angles of inclination and radii of curva-ture place certain design constraints on such interior rearview mirror configurations, Aesthetically unpleasing and/or relatively lon~ support arms mus-t be used in order to bring a header moun-ted mirror in-to the viewin~ pusition of the ~ehicle operator, As a result~ the majority o rearvie~1 m:irrors are now attached directly to the windshield oE the vehicle. An e~cample of one such windshield mounted mirror may be :Eound in U.S. Patent No. 3,131,251, entitled MIRROR klOUNTING
ASSE~IBLY and issued on April 28, 1964, to Ryan. As shown therein, a button is ~ecured by a suitable adhesive to an interior sur:Eace o the windshield. The button has a coe:Eficient o expansion similar to that of the windshield.

. ~ -1- .
-~,k 1 glass. A mount defines a shaped recess or cutout which has a complementary configuration to -the button. Secured to the mount is an arm to which a mirror case is adjustably attached.
The mount supports the mirror case Erom the windshield when it is slid over the windshield button.
Various governmental agencies have imposed certain standards, test procedures, test conditions, records and recording formats on the manufacture oE internal rearview mirror assemblies. The current federal safety standard in the United States is applicable to passenger cars, multi-purpose passenger vehicles, truc~s and buses. The stated purpose of the standard is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries that occur when the driver o-f a motor vehicle does not have a clear and reasonably unobstructed view to the rear. It requires tllat each passenger car have an inside rearview mirror of unit magni-fication and that the mirror provide a speci-fied field of view. The mirror mounting is required to provide a ~table support -Eor the mirror. Mirror adjustment by tilting in both horlzonta:L and vertical directions must be provicled. ~urther, if the mirror as~embly is located in the llead impack area, -the mounting is requirecd to deElect~ collapse or break away without leaving sharp edges when ~he reflective sur-face of the mirror is subjectecl to a force o-f 90 pounds in any forward direction which is not more than ~5 Erom the -forward longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
Proposed future stanclards may require -the avoidance of any column loading possibility i:E a mirror assembly is impacted. ~uch standard would prevent any mirror assembly Erom inclucling a support which would not collapse or move upon impact to prevent injury.

1 Another example of a regulation which must be considered by the manufacturer is that promulgated by the European Economic Community (EEC). The EEC hlotor Vehicle Regulation sets -forth certain standards and testing re-quirements for interior rearview mirror assemblies. In order to pass a bending test of this regulation, it is necessary that the base or mirror support not leave any ~dallgerous projection" should the rod or support become detached from its vehicle mount point.
Mirror mounts must be su:Eficiently rigid to with-stand normal loads imposed during use. hlounts must maintain proper operating characteristics throughout the ~ull range of temperatures which might be experienced. Also, as should be apparent, the assembly must be adjustable and meet various governmental regulations. The wide variety of windshield surface areas, angles of inclination and radii of curvature encountered must also be considered in designing any mirror assembly which is adaptable to more than one style or brand of vehicle.
Various proposals have been made :Eor detachably mounting the rearview mirror to the button or other portion of the vehicle in a breakaway fashion. An example of one such mirror may ~e found in ll. ~. Paten-t No. ~,012,022, entitled ~REAKAWAY hlIRROR hlOUNTING and issued on March 15, 1~77, to Tomita. This patent discloses a rearview mirror assembly including a base plate and a supporting arm. The base plate is fastened to the vehicle header immediately above the windshield. The supporting arm defines an abutting surface -from which a con~igured projection extends. The 3n projection is received within a correspondingly configured opening de~ined by the base pla-te. Lateral protrusions on 1 the projection are engaged by resilient strips de~ined by the base plate.
Ano-ther prior windshield-mounted interior rearview mirror including a breakaway feature may be -found in French Patent Publication No. 2,229,233. The rearview mirror disclosed therein includes a mirror case support arm o:E a rigid material and a base part or button which is attached to the vehicle windshield. A separate resilient clip secures the support ar1n to the base part. The clip is ~abricated from a plastic material and the support arm is ~irmly secured to the button through the plastic clip. ~ome o the engaging surfaces of the clip are rlexible so that the clip and support arm can be disenga~ed rom the button upon impact to the mirror case. The assembly inclucles essentially three parts.
A still ~urther example o-f a breakaway mirror assembly includes a one-piece plastic support bracket and a rigid, substantially inflexible button. lhe br~cket in-cludes a support arm and an attachment means which is inte~ral therewithO lhe t)utton is Eormed :Erom s-tampeci or die cast metal ancl is securely bound directly to the inside surface of the vehicle windshield. The button has a linear co~ `ici~n~ of thermal expansion which is close to that o:E
the glass. Repeated temperature cycling or heating and cooling of the windshield and/or but-ton will not induce strains which would subsequently weaken the adhesive. lhe button defines a recess bordered by a pair oE opposed, inwardly acing grooves. The bracket defines a pair o~
outwardly extending tongues which are engaged by and slide into the grooves o the base part. The bracket also in-cludes bearing suraces which are pressed slightly against - ~L8~

1 complementary bearing surfaces of the button. These sur~aces assist in securing the attachment of the bracket to the button. The bracket is assembled to the button from a point above the button and immediately below the vehicle header.
lihen the bracket sustains an impact of predetermined magni-tude, the lower en~ of tlle bracket at its attachment area will in effect pivot about a bottom wall defined by the button. Ihe pliable ton~ues will release from thc grooves of tlle button.
A need exists for an interior rearview mirror assembly which is capable of satisEying the various desi~n criteria, is configured to be usable in the majority of vehicles which have varying windshield areas, angles of inclination and ra~ii of curvature, which will rcadily break away from the mirror mount when subjected to an impact of predetermined magnitude, which is aesthetically pleasing and capable o~ hi~h volume production at reduced manufacturing cost from that heretofore experienced.
~ ~RY OF TIIE INVENTION
_ In accordance with tlle present invention~ a unlque rearview mirror sllpport bracket is provided whereby the aforementioned needs are substantially fulfilled. F.ssen-tially, the bracket is adapte~ for attachillg tlle rearview mirror to a mountin~ button which is secured dircctly to a windshield.

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In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the body of the bracket with a bracket attachment means has an l-beam cross section conEiguration and includes a central web, a front flange and a rear flange. A mirror case mounting means is on the front flange of the body. A plurality of angularly related ribs may be formed integral with the web between the front and back flanges to further reduce vibration.
Resilient, retaining means for engaging and retaining the bracket on the button after the bracket attachment means have received the button adjacent the attachment means may also be included. In one form such retaining means is a resilient, semi-spherlcal member which engages the button and tensions attachment means. In another form, the retaining means is a sloped, detent ridge which engages the button.

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1 The mirror support bracket is a~apted for use in an assembly witll a mirror case havin~ a rear surface at ~hich a socket is supported. The socket is configured to snap onto th~ mirror case mounting means defined by the brack~t body.
l~llen subjecte~ to an impact of predetermined ~agnitude, the bracket attachment means will spread apart and separate from the win~shield button. The bracket pivots about the pivot and tension means. Tl~c mirror assembly ~ill tl~ere~ore separate in a brealca~ay fasllion from the button.
~RI~F D~SCRI~rI~ 0~ Tll~ DRAI~INGS
. .
~i~. l is a persl)ective front elevational view of a bracket an~ n~irror case assembly in accor~ance Wit]l the ~resent invcntion;
~ig. 2 is a perspective, rear elevational view o~
the bracket an~ mirror assembly;
FiR. 3 is a side, elevational view of a one-piece bracket in accor~ance with the present invention;
Fi~. ~ is a front3 plan view of the bracket;
Fi~. 5 is a top end, elevational view o the bracket;
Fi~. 6 is a rear, plan vie~ o~ the bracket;
FigQ 1 is a fragmelltary~ crass-sectional view taken g~nerally alon~ linc ~ VII o~` Fi~ 3;
~ig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken gellerally 2S along line VIII-VIII of ~ig. 3;
lig. 9 is a cross-sectional vie~ taken generally along line IX-IX of lig. 3;
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional viel~ taken generally along line X-X o~ ~ig. 3;
~o ~ is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view ~aken generally along line XI-XI o-f Fig. 3;

1 Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line XII-XII of Fig. 3;
Fig. 13 is a Eragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along line XIII-XIII of Fig. 1, Fig. 14 is a side, elevational view of a resil-ient, leg or retaining means incorporated in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2;
Fig. 15 is a rear, elevational view o-f the leg o:E
Fig. 1~;
~igs. 16-18 are fragmentary, side elevational views showing the manner by which the bracket i5 installed onto a windshield mounted button;
Fi~ is a perspective view of an alternative bracket in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 20 is a perspective view o-f a rigid stiffening insert included in the embodiment of Fig. 19;
Fig. 21 is a side, elevational vlew of the alterna-tive embodiment o:E Fig. 19;
Fig. 22 is a :Eragmentary, cross-sectional v:ie~Y
taken generally along line XXII-XXII oE Fig~ 21;
Fig. 23 is a rear, elevational view oE an alterna-tive attacimlent means in accorclance ~ith the present inven-tion, Fig. 2~ is a fragmentary, end elevational view taken generally along line XXIV-XXIV of Fig. 23;
Fig. 25 i5 a cross-sectional view taken generally along line XXV-XXV of Fig. 23;
Fig. 26 is a rear, plan elevational view o-f a further alternative embodiment oE an attachment means in accordance with the present invention~
Fig. 27 is an end3 elevational view taken generally ;2 1 along line XX`VII-XXVII o~ Fig. 26; and Fig. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line XXVIII-XXVIII of Fig. 26.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION O~ THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A preferred embodiment of an interior rearview mirror assembly in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and generally designated 10.
Mirror assembly 10 includes a support bracket 12 and a mirror case assembly generally designated 14. Mirror case 10, assembly 14 includes a case 16 having a surrounding :Elange 18 and a rear wall 20. Case 16 supports a reflective surface or mirror 22. In the embodiment illustrated, a toggle mechanism 24 is supported within the case. The toggle defines a socket 26 and includes an operating lever 28. Tlle toggle assembly 24 is employed in day/night mirrors in which reflective sur-face 22 is a prism. Flipping or movement of the toggle actuator 28 pivots the mirror case with respect , to the bracket 12 -to provide day/night capability. ~ more '~ detailed description o~ the mirror case assemb],y and toggle mechanism may be :Found in co-pending Canadiall application ~erial No. 398!178, entitled VF~I-Il'CL~ MIRROR AS~I'.MBLY, :Eiled on even dat~ herewith. ~her mirror case assemblies, with or ~lthout a day/nigllt -feature~ may be employecl wlth bracket 12.
~rac~e-~ 12 i~cludes a main body portion 40. hlain body 40 includes a rear flange 42, a :Eront flange 44 and a central web 46. The body has a ,top end 48 and a bottom end 50. As best seen in ~ig. ~, bracket 12 is configured to comply with the geometic design requirements imposed upon the mirror assembly by Ihe angle of inclination of vehicle ~0 windshields and by the radii of cur~ature o-f such windshields.
ear -~lange 42 inclucles a -first, generally planar por~ion 1 52, a second portion 5~ which is angled with respect to the ~irst portion and a third portion 56. Portion 56 is angled with respect to por-tion 5~. Portion 52 is generally planar or flat and de~ines a bracket attachment means which is described in detail below.
Flange 44 defines three portions including a ~irs~, planar portion 60, an intermediate portion 62 and a lower portion 64. Extending outwardly from portion ~ and Eormed integral therewith is a mirror case mounting means 66. ~leans 66 includes a spherical ball 6~ formed integral with a neck 70. Neck 70 is joined centrally of flange portion 64 (Fig. ~). As seen in Figs. 1, 3 7 ~ and 13, portion 60 of the ~ront ~lange 44 includes an annular rec~ss or groove 74 which defines a planar sur-face 76. Sur-~ace 76 is a styling/logo area. The bracket may be "customized" to the particular vehicle manufacturer and/or special styling, logos or other trim may be added to area 76 of the bracket.
As seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 7, flanges ~l2~ 44 at the bottom end S0 o:E the bracket merge in a lower ~nc~ -flange 80.
The -~langes ext~nd outwardly symmetrically a~out the planar web 46 o-f the main bocly. As seen in Fig. 8, neck 70 is integral with portion 64 of the front -flange. The flanges taper inwarclly frolll the top end of the body downwardly towards the bottom end, at which point the mirror attachment or n~ounting means 56 is positioned.
The I-beam configuration o-f the body (Figs. 8, 9 and 10) provides sufficient strength to the bracke-t and rigidity while decreasing the material needed to achieve such strength and rigidity. The I-beam configuration in ~n cross section pro~ides suitable vibration characteristics to the mirror. The mirror must be supportecl within the vehicle -1~)-2~

1 in a stable, essentially vibration-free fashion.
It is preferred that the complete mirror and bracket assembly when mounted on a windshield button have Jl;inimal image distortion due to vibration caused by road shocks to the vehicle and the like. The vibration charac-teristics o-f the bracket, in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-12, are improved by the inclusion of a plurality o-~
angularly related ribs 8~, ~6, ~g and 90. The ribs are i.ntegral with and extend outwardly ~rom central web 46 and between the inner surfaces of rear flange ~2 and Eront flange ~4. The ribs e~ctend rom both sides of the central web and the same numerical designations have been employed for the ribs on each side o-f the web. ~ib ~l extends per-pendicular to the flanges adjacent the mounting ball 6~.
Ribs S6, 88 are angularly related with respect to each other and are tapered inwardly with respect -to each other -from the front flange 4~ to the rear Elange 42. The ribs insure that the bracket has the rigidity required to meet the various governmental regulations and testing procedures. T}le 2Q materlal requirements for the bracke~ are reducecl by employ-ing ~he l-beam con~iguration and angularly related ribs.
The bracket attachmen-t means de-~`inecl by portlon 52 o~ rear ~lan~e ~2 is adapted to receive a button which is mounted to the windshield of a vehicle. lypical buttons have a generally trapezoidal configuration and longitudin-ally e~tending, inwardly directed sides. The button is secured to the windshield by a suitable adhesive in a con-ventional and ~nown fashion.
Portion 52 of the bracket~ as seen in Figs. 2, 5 ancd ~ defines a recessed area 100 having a planar -floor~
area or surface 102. ~rea 102 lS surrounded on three sicles 1 by a wall lO~. Wall 104 includes sides 106, 108 an~ a base or bottom wall 110 (Fig. ~ urrounding wall 10~ is open at its upper end 112 :Eor receipt o:t the moun-ting button, as described below.
Positioned symmetrically about a longitudinal centerline 11~ ~Fig. 6) of floor 102 are opposed clips 116, 118. Clips 116, 118 are spaced apart closer adjacent their ~orward ends 120 than adjacent their rearward ends 122. 'l'he clips have a configuration which ls the negative o~ the sic~e taper of the button which is attached to the windshield.
As seen in Fig. 12, each clip 116, 118 is generally channel-shaped in cross section and includes an ups-tanding or sidewall 12~ and an inwardly directed lip 12~. The clips define opposed, inwardly facing grooves 127 (Fi~s. 5 and 12). A lower or under surface 128 o~ each lip 126 is angled downwardl~ towards floor 102. The clips clamp the brac~et to the windshield button.
The clips are contigurecl and formed Erom a suitable resilient material ko pre~ent vibration of the mirror yet ~ithstand all reasonable loads expec-ted to be enco~ln-tered in normal use. The clips also permlt remova:L or breakaway action o-~' the bracket from t~e button when the bracket is impacted ~ith a precletermined load. ~he slope o~ the under-surface 128, whlch in a presently exis-ting embodimellt is 15 downwardly -from horizontal, facilitates ejection or separa-tion of the bracket from the button.
~s seen in Figs. 3, 6 and ll, a pivot and tension support member 132 extends transversely and symmetrically about centerline 114 between the surrouncLing walls lO~, :108.
~0 ~lember 1~2 is positionecl adjacent the lower ends 122 of clips 116, 118. Support member 132 has an oblong half i cylindrical configuration.
Adjacent the upper end o~ Eloor 102 is a tension support member 13~ (Figs. 3 and 6). Tension support member 13~ also has an oblong, hal~-cylindrical configuration.
Member 13~, however, extends longitudinally along centerline 114. ~lember 134 is at right angles to the pivot and tension support member 132. Member 132, as explained below, applies a tension to clips 116, 11~ when the button is slid into opposed grooves 127 de~ined by the clips. In the event that the mirror sustains an impact 9 member 132 acts as a pivot about which the bracket rotates causing the bracket and mirror assembly to break away from the mountin~ button. The tension support 134 engages the support button applying a tension to the clips. Members 132, 13~, there-fore, secure the bracket to the button. The main body configuration and the location of the attachment means prevent so-called ~'column loading" oE tlle assembly. A moment arm will always exist between an impact -force ancl the plvot point de:Eined by member 132.
As seen in Figs. o and 12, bracke-t attachn~ent means 52 includes a pair o-f longitudi]lally extencling, elongated~ opposed V-shaped guides or bars 13~ 0. The guides prevent the leading or loacling edge of the button -from `'catching" on the floor lU2 o~ the bracket attachment means. These members extend upwardly from the -floor and facilitate assembly of the bracket onto the button.
The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-6 is adapted for loading onto the button from the bottom edge of the button. This permits the bracket to be used in vehicles ~here the windshield button must be positioned relatively close to the vehicle header. Such positioning ~oulcl make 1 loading ~rom above dif-ficult. The surrounding wall 10~, and particularly its bottom or back wall portion 110, limits the upward movement o~ the bracket and attachment means onto the button.
Provision is made to insure that the bracket will not slide downwardly from the button after installation. As seen in Figs. ~, 5 and 6, the attachment means includes a pair o:E resilient leg elements 160. Leg elements 160 are disposed within cornplementary configured recesses 162 defined by the ~:loor 102. Each recess is angled inwardly towards the longitudinal centerline 11~ o~ ~loor area 102. Upstand-ing studs 16~ are formed at the lower ends of the recesses.
At the rear ends, the recesses are provided with stops 166 (Fig. 6). As best seen in Figs. 14 and 15, each leg 16~
includes an elongated portion 170 having a -free end 172 and a base portion 17~ ase portion 17~ includes inwardly tapered ~ront and 'bac~ aces 176, 17~, respectively. Faces 176, 180 taper inwardly to a narrow portion 1~2 ~hich is integral with and joins leg 160 to -t'he back ~lange. Por-tion 2~ 1~2 acts as a "li~ing hinge" permit~ing the legs to rotate clownwardly d~rlng assembly, as explained below. ~ince the legs are ~ormed ~rom a resillent material, tha~ are inher-en-tly biasecl to an upstandin~ position, as illustrated in Pigs. 5 and 1~
Elongated portion 170 and base 17~ are joined together to deine a stop shoulder 1~6. The stop shoulder, as explained belo~, engages an upper or trailing end o~ the button. The legs ~unction as a resilient retaining means to insure that the bracket is retained on the button a~ter assembly~

ASSEMBLY AND OPERATION
The assembly oE the bracket in accordance with the' present invention to a windshield button is illustrated in Figs. 16, 17 and 18. As shown therein, a vehicle winclshield 20~ has secured thereto a mounting button ~02. Button 202 is secured to the windshield in a conventional fashion, SUC}I
as by suitable adhesives. The button 202 is a relatively rigid member and is of a configuration found on present Ford Motor Company passenger cars. The button may be fabricated from ~ie cast metals or other materials having a coe~'ficient of thermal expansion substalltially the same as that oE the windshield 200. Button 202 includes inwardly tapered, laterally extending sides 204. End 2U6 oE the button is ~acing towards the dash of the vehicle and end 2~8 is facing lS towards the ~ehicle header. End 206 is wider than end ~08.
To assemble the bracket onto the button, the bracket is initially positioned below the button 2~2 and the leading edge 206 of the ~utton is located at the entry end to the clips 118, 116 ~Fig. 1Q~ The bracket is then pushe~
upwardly towards t.he ~ahicla header. Tlle button will depress or pivot th~ legs 160 downwarclly towa*cls -~loor area 102~ The lcgs will pi~ot until free ends 172 of por-tlons 170 engage upstanding studs 164 in recesscs 162. 'l~he wide end 206 oE the button will force clips 116, 118 outwardly initially since this end enters the clips at their narrowest width. This initial strain on the clips is eliminated after assembly is completed.
As the bracket is pushed in? Vguides 13~ engage button 204 and pre~ent interference between the button and iO the :Eloor of the attachment means. Contact is made betwee -the ~ut-ton and resilient support elements 132, 1~4. The 1 bracket is pushed upwardly until the button is engaged ~y portion 110 of surrounding wall 10~. The bracket is now in the position shown ill Fig. 18. In this pcsition, ~he legs 160 have sufficient clearance to rotate in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 18, to clear the top end 208 of the button 202. The stop shoulders 186 o-f the legs prevent the bracket -Erom shifting downwardly and off the button after assembly. If the bracket is pulled downwardly with an excessive force, the legs 160 may break at their bases of hinge portions 182. The legs would detach and move against stops 166 in recessed areas 162. The legs would be "trapped"
between the stops 166 and the button 202 to pre~ent complete removal without depression o:E the legs as occurred during installation.
If the mirror case receives an impact of a pre-determined magnitude, the bracket will separate or break away -from the mounting button 202. Since -the spherical ball 68 is positioned at an angle ~yith and ~elow the attachment ~ means, a moment arm exists between the ball and pivot and support member 132. With the force being applied to the ball, member 132 acts as a pi~ot and the bracket ro-tates about this member. The resilien-k cllps 116, 118 spreacl apart until they separate Erom but-ton 202. Tlle bracket will -khereEore "~reak a~Ya~" from the suppor-t butkon witllout brea~a~e o:E the bracket main bod~.
It ls presently pre~erred that the bracket be lnjection molded as a one-piece unit from a suitable acetal copolymer materlal. On such materlal is that sold under the trademark Celcon M-90 by Celanese Corporation. This materlal has a yl`eld stress of 61 Njmm2 and an elongation of 60~ in accordance ~Yith ASTM Test Method D 638 Speed "B" and 1 a ~-le~ural modulus of 2590 N/mm2 and flexural stress at 5 deflection of 90 N/mm2 in accordance with ASl~l Test Method D 790. The notched impact (120 D) property in accordance with ASTM Test Method D 256 for this material is 1560 N
mm/mm In the alternative, the bracket could be molded in two parts which are subsequently bonded together, or it could ~e made in a twc~-stage molding process so that separate materials could he employed. For Example, a glass-filled material could be employecl for the main brac~et body in order to obtain suitable vibration properties and an engin-eering thermoplastic could be emplo)red -~or the attachment means of the bracket.
In a presently existing embodiment o the bracket in accordance with the present invention, the main body has an overall width wl ~Fig. 1) o-f approximately 35 mm, an o~-erall height hl ~Fig. 5~ to the cen-ter of the ball 68 of approximately 34.6 mm. Each clip 1l6, 118 has a length ll ~Fig. 6) of approximately 1~ mm. Lip 126 o-E each clip 116, 11~ has a trans~erse dimension tl ~Fig~ 1) o~ approximately

3 mm The maximum tllickness o:E the lip and the ~ertical siclewall 124 o t}le clip is ~pproximately 1.45 mm. Bach leg 160 has an overall leng-tl~ Fig. 14~ of approximately 7.~4 mrm. Portion 170 has a minimum thickness t2 ~Fig. 14) of 2S approximately .24 mm. The leading portion of leg 16~ is tapere.d at an angle o approximately 5. The o~erall height h3 ~Fig. 14) o:E base 174 o-f each leg 1~0 is approximately 3.40 mm. Each of the V-guides 138, 140 has an overall height h4 ~Fig. 12) of 1.55 mm and an included angle o:E
approximately 3~~ Pivot ancl tension support member 132 has an o~erall length of 8 mm.

1 lhe basic dimensioning o~ the bracket main body and its angular coniguration is determined by the geometric design constraints of existing winds}lields. The bracket is designed for "universal" application in vehicles of U. S.
manu~acture. Automobiles of U. ~. manufacture have a wind-shield angle of inclination within the range of 31-38, a radius o~ curvature within the range o:E 5,000-7,000 mm and a vertical height from the base of the mirror glass at a nominal driving pOsitioIl to the base o-f the header of approx-imately 105-122 mm. ~.mploying the ~means" of these values, lhe basic bracket configuration or dimensioning thereoE can be determined. The bracket is symmetrical about a nominal centerline extending down t.he center of the central flange 46 and is also symmetrical about a longitudinal centerline 114 extending down and through the center o-f the flanges ~2, ~4. l`he bracket is capable of relatively high volume manu-facture at reduced costs when compared to the multi-piece brackets hereto~ore employed. The bracket is con~igured to the various wlndshield angles o:E inclina-tio-n which can be encountered and reaclily pro~ides a "breakaway" fea-ture clue to the resilient clips and tension ancl support pivot member.
The bracket may be assembled -from below the button and is thereore usable in ~ehicles wherein ~.he button must be located close to the vehicle header.
BRACKET ALTERNATIVE E~IBODI~IENT
An alternati~e embodiment o:~ the bracket is illus-trated in Fi~s 19-22 and generally designated 12'. Bracket 12' differs -from bracket 12 primarily in the elimination of the reinforcing ribs 84, 86, ~8 and ~0. Bracket 12' sim-ilarly includes a rear flange ~12 ancL a ~ront 1ange '14.
Extending :Erom and :Eormed integral with Eront Elange 44 is a -lS-1 mirror case )nounting means 66 including the spherical ball 68 and neck 70. Front flange ~4 includes a styling/logo area 76. Also, the bracket attachment means 52, as in the previous embodiment, is defined on the upper end of rear flange 42. The bracket 12' includes a central web 230.
Therefore, bracket 12' has an l-beam conEiguration in cross secti.on. Rigidity is provided by a metal, planar insert 23 ~Fig. 20~. As shown, the insert 232 has a con:figuration which corresponds generally to the side elevation o:F the bracket body 12l. As seen in Figs. 21 and 22, rigid metal insert ~32 is disposed cen~rall~ within the central web 230.
Insert 232 has a depending leg portion 234 which e~tends into the neck area 70 of mirror a-ttachment 66. ~racke-t is -~abricated -from the same pre-Eerred materials as bracket 12. The desired rigidity and vibration charact.eristics are obtained by molding the main body abaut the metal rein-~orcement in~ert 232.
ALTERNATIVE ~RACK~T ATTAC~!~IENT ~IEANS
An alternative bracket at-tachment means for use ZO w.ith either o-~ ~he bracket maill boclies is illllstra-ted in F`i~5. 23, 2~ and 25. Attaclmlen-t means 250 is -formed integral ~lth or joined to a back flange or other rea* sur~ace o~ the bracket main bocly. As illustrated, the attachment means includes a surrounding wall 252 having lateral sidewalls 2559 256 and a top end wall 258. Attachment means 250 is adapted to be sli.d onto a button shown in phantom in Fi~. 23 and designated 2fiO. Attachment 250 de~ines a planar member or ~loor sur~ace 262. Positioned in opposed, spaced re-lationship are cl.ips 264, 266. Clips 264~ 266 are icLentical in con~i~uration to clips 116, 118 o:E the embodiment illus-trat~d .in Pig. 6. Embodiment 250 includes elongated ~-shaped -1~-1 in cross section, guides 268, 270. Guides 268, 27~, as in the prior embodiment, extend immediately in front of the opposed grooves defined by the clips 264, 266.
At-tachment means 250 is adapted for use with a button 260 which, as seen in Fig. 27, includes a rear surface 280 which is attached to the windshield. Button 260 includes a ~ront sur~ace 282. As shown in Fig. 25, front surface 282 de-fines a sperical-shaped recess 2g4 which opens therethrough. Recess 284 cooperates a semispherical, resil-ient member 286 which extends ~rom ~loor 262 of the attach-ment means. Member 286 is positioned between clips 2~4, 266.
Attachment means 250 includes a transversely extending tension member 2~8 and a longitudinally extending, perpendicularly related tension member 2Y0. Tension members 288, 290 arc oblongl hal:E-cylindrical shaped members.
As seen in Fig. 24, when the button is inserted in the direction of arrow 292, front -face 282 will be engaged by the V-guides 26g, 270 an~ by tension and support members 2~ 288~ 2~0 The outl~ardly extending flanges 2~4 of the button will be biased lnto en~agement with the undersurface oE the lip5 2~6 o-f the clips ~64, 266.
~lembars 2~8~ 2~0 ancl the ~r guides place the clips in tension so that the bracket is securely retained on the button. Semispherical member 286 functions as a retaining means and is received ~ithin the recess 2S4. ~lember 2g6 insures that the bracket is retained on the button in a detent fashion. ~emispherical member 286 replaces the resilient legs l~Q of the previous embodiment.
~ttachment means 250 inclucles the same breakaway -f~ature as the prior embodiment. When subjected to a load 1 at a mirror case mounting means, the bracket will pivot or rotate about the pivot member 28g and the clips 26~ 2~6 will release from the but-ton 260.
Figs. 26, 27 and 28 illustrate a still -further alternative embodiment of an attachment means in accordance with the present invention. The alternative attachment means, clesignated 302 in Fig. 26, includes a surrounding wall 252 having lateral sides 254, 256 and a lower end wall 25g. Opposed, inwardly -facing clips 26~, 266 extend out-wardly fro~ the ~loor or planar area 304. As seen in the end view ~Fig. 27), -~loor 30~ de~ines a generally rectangu-larly conEigured, elongated guide 306.
Attachment means 302 is adapted for use wi-th a button generally designated 3Q8. Bu-tton 308 includes a rear surface 310 ~hich is secured to the windshield and a front surface 312. ~ron~ surface 312 defines an elonxated, rec-tangular in cross section, recess 31~ which is configured to receive elongated guide 306 de-fined by the at-tachment means.
Button 308 also includes dovetail-shapecl side -L:langes ~16 2~ which are received :in opposed groo~es 318 defined by clip5 26~ 9 26~.
~racket or a-ttachmen-t means 3Q2 ls retalnecl on the button hy a transversely extending, $1OpecL ridge 320. As seen in Fig. 26, ridge 320 extends transversely of the center, longitudinally ex-tending guide 306. Ridge 3~0 includes a top surface 322 and a -front or stop surface 32~.
Button 308 is formed with a correspondingly or matingly configured recess 326.
~Yhen attachment means 302 is slid onto button 3~8, i0 in the directi~n o~ arro~ 32S ~Fig. 2~, recess 31~ receives ~u:ide 306 and ridge 32~ snaps into recess ~26 in a cletent 1 ~ashion. Ridge 320~ which is resilient, retains the bracket on the mounting button.
Embodiment 302 releases from the button in the same fashion as in the prior embodiments. ~hen the bracket is impacted, it will pivot about detent ridge 320. Clips 26~, 266 will expand and release -Erom flanges 316 of button 308. Guide 306 is dimensioned to tension clips 26~, 2~6 so that they are placed under an initial strain. 'l'his insures that tlle bracket will be securely held by the button and that suitable vibration characteristics will be obtained.
In view of the -foregoing description, those of ordinary skill in the art will undoubtedly envision various 3nodi~ications which will not depart from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. For example, the mirror case mounting means which is illustrated in the form of a spher-ical ball could be eliminated. ~ socket could be -formed as part o:E or added to the -front flange o:E the body and the ball defined b~ the mirror case assembly. The speci-Eic attachmen-t means which have been illustra-ted could be employed with a main body other than the I-beflm con-figur-ation e~pressly illustrated~
The unique mirror support bracket in accorclance with the present in~ention provides the manu-facturer with a bracket which is "uni~ersely" adaptable to the various vehicle windshield angles and curvatures. The bracket provides a unique breakaway feature yet insures that it is stably held without annoying vibrations. The resilient clips and tension and suppor-t members incorporated in each of the attachment means accomplish this result. Fur~her, the bracket is reaclily secured to the button from below.
This eliminates problems caused by insufficient clearance z 1 between the button and the vehicle header. The bracket may be relatively inexpensively manufactured as a single, one-piece injection molded member. This eliminates the multiple parts heretofore employed in interior rearview ~irror assem-blies. The assembly is, however, aesthetically pleasing and additional covering caps need not be employed.
It is expressly intended, therefore, that the above description should be considered as that oE the pre-ferred embodiment. The true spirit and scope o-f the present invention may be determined by re-Eerence to the appencled claims.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

A bracket for supporting a rearview mirror from a button mounted on a vehicle windshield, said bracket comprising:
an integral body having an I-beam configuration in cross section and including a central web, a front flange and a rear flange extending along said web, said flanges each including top and bottom ends;
bracket attachment means on said rear flange adjacent its top end for attaching said body to a wind-shield button; and mirror case mounting means on said front flange for adjustably mounting a mirror case to said body.

A bracket as defined by claim 1 wherein said flanges extend symmetrically about said central web.

A bracket as defined by claim 1 further including a plurality of angularly related ribs, each extending between said front and back flanges to reduce vibration of said body.

A bracket as defined by claim 1 wherein said front flange adjacent its top end defines a recess which boarders a styling/logo area to which styling trims and logos may be applied.

A bracket as defined by claim 1 further including a planar, rigid reinforcing member which extends along and between said flanges and which is disposed within said central web.

A bracket as defined by claim 5 wherein said reinforcing member is a metal plate.

A bracket as defined by claim 6 wherein said mirror case mounting means comprises:
a spherical ball; and a neck joining said ball to said front flange adjacent its bottom end.

A bracket as defined by claim 1 wherein said bracket attachment means comprises:
a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending and transversely spaced clips which are joined to said back flange, said clips each having a generally L-shape in cross section to define a groove for receipt of the windshield button, said clips being resilient so as to break away from said button to release said bracket when an impact of predetermined magnitude impacts said mirror case mounting means.

A bracket as defined by claim 8 wherein said bracket attachment means further includes:
a wall which surrounds said clips and defines an open end for receipt of the windshield button, said wall acting as a stop to limit movement of said attachment means onto said button during installation.

A bracket as defined by claim 9 wherein said bracket attachment means further includes:
a resilient pivot member disposed generally along the longitudinal centerline of said back flange and adjacent said clip means, said pivot member dimensioned to engage the button and tension said clips and to serve as a pivot point about which said bracket may pivot when impacted.

A bracket as defined by claim 10 wherein each of said clips includes a sidewall and an inwardly directed lip, said lip having an under surface which is sloped downwardly towards said sidewall.

A bracket as defined by claim 11 wherein said bracket attachment means further includes:
resilient retaining means adjacent said clips for engaging and retaining said body on said button after said clips have received the button.

A bracket as defined by claim 12 wherein said resilient retaining means comprises:
an integral resilient semi-spherical member which engages the button and tensions the clips and wherein said surrounding wall opens towards the bottom end of said body.

A bracket as defined by claim 12 wherein said retaining means comprises:
a sloped detent ridge which extends transversely of said back flange and said attachment means further includes an elongated guide extending longitudinally of said back flange and dimensioned to be received in a comple-mentarily configured groove defined by the button.

A bracket as defined by claim 12 wherein said bracket attachment means further includes:
a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending guides, each having a generally V-shape in cross section, said guides dimensioned to prevent a leading edge of the button from catching on the attachment means as the clips are slid over the button.

A bracket as defined by claim 13 wherein said bracket attachment means further includes:
a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending guides, each having a generally V-shape in cross section, said guides dimensioned to prevent a leading edge of the button from catching on the attachment means as the clips are slid over the button.

A bracket as defined by claim 12 further including a plurality of angularly related ribs, each extending between said front and back flanges to reduce vibration of said body.

A bracket as defined by claim 17 wherein said flanges extend symmetrically about said central web.

A bracket as defined by claim 16 further including a planar rigid reinforcing member which extends along and between said flanges and which is disposed within said central web.

A bracket as defined by claim 19 wherein said reinforcing member is a metal plate.

A bracket as defined by claim 20 wherein said mirror case mounting means comprises:
a spherical ball; and a neck joining said ball to said front flange adjacent its bottom end.