Patent ID: 6390634
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An external mirror assembly for commercial vehicles providing rear area and dead zone area vision to a driver of the vehicle, the external mirror assembly comprising:a tubular support structure having a first end fixable to an outside portion of a commercial vehicle, and having a second end extending from the first end away from the outside portion of the commercial vehicle for receiving a mirror assembly for providing the driver with vision of the vehicle rear area; and a support arm including a molded part and an insert core including a plurality of core elements, each element having a surface defining at least one recess configured for receiving a portion of the tubular support structure adjacent the first end, the molded part encapsulating the insert core such that the core elements are clampingly disposed about the tubular support structure, the molded part including an outer surface defining a placement recess for receiving a mirror for providing the driver with vision of the vehicle dead zone area, the molded part and the insert core each having a respective density, the insert core density being less than the molded part density, whereby the presence of the insert core within the molded part reduces the overall weight of and stiffens the support arm.