Patent ID: 7686274
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A pivoting detent joint for an exterior vehicle mirror assembly comprising: a support arm for carrying a mirror head; a mounting bracket for being affixed to a vehicle exterior and carrying said support arm; a base keyway included in said mounting bracket having a convex engaging surface extending across at least a portion of said mounting bracket generally in one of a parallel and perpendicular orientation to a side of the vehicle adjacent said mounting bracket; a key received in sliding engagement with said base keyway so that said key pivots on a first axis traversing said base keyway, wherein said key includes a concave bottom surface complementary to said convex engaging surface of said base keyway; a lower detent member having a detent keyway receiving said key in sliding engagement, said detent keyway having a concave engaging surface complementary to a convex top surface of said key so that said lower detent member pivots on said key along a second axis that traverses said key in a direction perpendicular to said first axis; and, an upper detent member carried by said support arm engaging said lower detent member in a cooperating arrangement to hold said support arm in a selected position relative to said mounting bracket; whereby said support arm pivots along said first axis and said second axis to accommodate misalignment between said mounting bracket and said support arm to maintain proper detent resistance of said upper and lower detent members.