Patent ID: 6371618
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B60R,Y10S

Abstract:
A vehicular side-view mirror, comprising:a shell housing; at least one mirror unit having a first side-view mirror mounted to the shell housing; a housing member engageable with the shell housing; a hinge plate member operatively engageable with the housing member and having attachment elements disposed thereon for rigidly fixing the hinge plate member to a vehicle, the hinge plate being contoured to follow the body contour of the vehicle, one of the hinge plate member and the housing member having a bore for accepting a mounting bolt therethrough which operatively engages the other of the hinge plate member and housing member such that the hinge plate is fixed to the housing member in swingable relation about a swiveling axis, the dimensions of the bore and the bolt being effective to reduce vibrational movement between the hinge plate member and the housing member; and the housing member and the hinge plate member comprise an elongated, resiliently biased detent member extending parallel to the swiveling axis for fixing a position of use of the hinge plate member relative to the housing member, the detent member exerting a force on the hinge plate member and housing member, substantially perpendicularly to the swiveling axis, that resists swingable movement and reduces vibrations in the hinge member when the side-view mirror is in a position of use, the detent member permitting swingable movement of the housing member relative to the hinge plate when sufficient torsional force is exerted on the housing member relative to the hinge plate member.