Patent ID: 6132051
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A mirror attachment for attachment to a mounting stem of a rearview mirror mounted to a front windshield of a vehicle, said mirror attachment comprising:a mirror member having a center, arcuate front and back faces, and a peripheral edge;said back face of said mirror member having a light reflecting mirrored surface;a pair of generally cylindrical elongate shafts each having a pair of opposite ends and a longitudinal axis extending between said ends of the respective shaft;a first of said ends of a first of said shafts being pivotally coupled to said front face of said mirror member at said center of said mirror member;a second of said ends of said first shaft being pivotally coupled to a first of said ends of a second of said shafts;a clamp member having a pair of arms, said arms of said clamp member terminating at a pair of opposing ends defining a break therebetween, said arms of said clamp member being adapted for holding a portion of a mounting stem of a rearview mirror therebetween to mount said clamp member to the mounting stem of the rearview mirror; anda second of said ends of said second shaft being pivotally coupled to said clamp member at a middle portion of said clamp member located between said arms of said clamp member;wherein a first universal pivot joint pivotally couples said first end of said first shaft to said front face, wherein a second universal pivot joint pivotally couples said second end of said first shaft to said first end of said second shaft, and wherein a third universal pivot joint pivotally couples said second end of said second shaft to said clamp member at said middle portion of said clamp member;wherein said first universal pivot joint comprises a generally spherical first ball outwardly extending from said front face of said mirror member at said center of said mirror member, and a generally hemispherical first socket in said first end of said first shaft, said first ball being inserted into said first socket;wherein said second universal pivot joint comprises a pivot link having spaced apart generally spherical second and third balls and a center portion connecting said second and third balls together, said second universal pivot joint further comprising generally hemispherical second and third sockets, said second socket being positioned in said second end of said first shaft, said third socket being positioned in said first end of said second shaft, said second ball being inserted into said second socket, and said third ball being inserted into said third socket; andwherein said center portion of said second universal pivot joint has a pair of opposingly angled faces such that movement of said shafts towards each other causes the respective ends of said shafts to abut a respective face of said center portion thereby preventing said shafts from coming into contact and becoming lodged between said second ball and said third ball of said second universal pivot joint.