Abstract:
The device comprising a lip which is affixed to the shell of the rear-view mirror, overlaps and surrounds the edge of the mirror plate and prevents access to the mirror plate while not interfering with the view provided by the mirror plate to the driver of the vehicle. The lip is part of a security bracket that is attached to the shell, and is formed as part of a second shell that fits over the original shell or is formed as part of the original shell.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This Invention relates to externally mounted rear-view mirrors which are used on vehicles and, more specifically, to an anti-theft device which is attached to an externally mounted rear-view mirror to prevent the mirror plate or mirror glass from being stolen.  
           [0003]    2. Art Related to the Invention  
           [0004]    Externally mounted rear-view mirrors, often referred to as side-view mirrors, are mounted on the outside of a vehicle to allow the driver to see traffic approaching from behind. Typically, such mirrors are mounted on the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle and often times on the passenger side of the vehicle. A typical externally mounted rear view mirror, which is mounted on the driver&#39;s side of a vehicle, is shown in FIG. 1.  
           [0005]    Referring to FIG. 1, vehicle  10  has a rear-view mirror  12  mounted along a side wall of the vehicle on the driver&#39;s side. Rear-view mirror  12  comprises a shell  14  in which a mirror plate or mirror glass  16  has been mounted. Mirror plate  16  is typically attached to motor  18  by means of an adhesive to bracket  19  which in turn mounts on motor  18 , see FIG. 4. Motor  18  allows for the adjustment of the angle of mirror plate  16  from inside the vehicle. Often times, motor  18  is an electrical motor, however, it is not uncommon for motor  18  to be a mechanical gear assembly which is operated from inside the vehicle and allows for adjustment of mirror plate  16  via a handle which extends into the vehicle.  
           [0006]    Shell  14  has a base  20  which is attached to the side of the vehicle and through which electrical wires and/or a gear handle travels and passes into the vehicle. Shell  14  defines a hollow  22  which has a rim  24 , see FIG. 4. Rim  24 , in some instances, curves downward and ends in the same plane as the edge of mirror  16  (see FIG. 9). Other times, rim  24  does not curve at all but extends horizontally towards the back of the vehicle, see FIG. 1.  
           [0007]    The theft of auto parts is well known. Typically, thieves steel various parts off automobiles, or the whole automobile, and strip it down into its various parts. Such theft occurs because it is fairly well known that auto parts can be fairly expensive and the sale of the parts is lucrative enough to support its own industry. One of the auto parts that have recently come under a high degree of theft is mirror plate, such as mirror plate  16  shown in the drawings.  
           [0008]    There is a need for a security device, which can prevent the theft of mirror plates.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    Applicant has learned that one of the primary methods for stealing mirror plates from externally mounted rear-view mirrors employs the step of passing a flat tool between the rim of the shell of the rear-view mirror and the edge of the mirror plate and then prying the mirror plate from the bracket. The adhesive forces between the mirror plate and the bracket are not strong enough to prevent the separation of the mirror plate from the bracket.  
           [0010]    Applicant has further discovered that an anti-theft device which has a lip that is affixed to the shell of the rear-view mirror and overlaps the edge of the mirror plate can be used to prevent theft of a mirror plate from a rear-view mirror. The lip, according to the present Invention, is attached to the shell of the rear-view mirror by means of: a bracket; is a pre-formed second shell which fits over the original shell in whole or in part; or is pre-formed with the original shell of the rear-view mirror. The lip extends beyond the rim of a shell and overlaps the edge of the mirror plate, substantially surrounding the edge of the mirror plate. Applicant has found that, a thief is foiled from using an instrument to pull off or pry off the mirror plate when the rear-view mirror employs the anti-theft device of the present invention.  
           [0011]    The anti-theft device according to the present Invention can either be formed as an integral part of the shell; as a second shell that fits over the first shell; or as a separate security bracket that is secured to the shell. The security bracket can be mounted directly to the exterior of the shell of the rear view mirror; or it can be mounted to a security insert, which is mounted inside the shell. The security bracket can be mounted directly to the shell in a conventional manner such as a rivet or a screw; or the shell and security bracket can be preformed to have a tongue and groove arrangement which allows the two to be snapped together in a conventional manner.  
           [0012]    Applicant has also learned that the anti-theft device of the present Invention can be made such that it is aesthetically pleasing and does not detract from the overall appearance of the externally mounted rear-view mirror.  
           [0013]    Preferably, rubber housing is employed with the security bracket of the present Invention when a rivet or screw is used to attach the bracket to the shell or the security insert. The rubber housing covers the head of the rivet or screw and adds to both security and the aesthetic nature of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    These, and other aspects of the present Invention, may be more fully listed by reference to one or more of the following drawings.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a partial view of the side of an automobile with a conventional rear-view mirror mounted thereon;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the security insert for use in the present Invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a view of the security insert of FIG. 2 which has been bent to fit inside the rear view-mirror;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the separate security bracket and security insert of the present Invention in conjunction with the shell of a rear-view mirror;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a view of the rear-view mirror of FIG. 4 in assembled form;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of FIG. 5;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the separate security bracket of the present Invention, which is to be mounted externally to a rear-view mirror;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a view of the device of the present Invention as shown in FIG. 7 in assembled form;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 8;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the security bracket of the present invention wherein the shell has been molded to accept the security bracket;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a view of the assembled mirror of FIG. 10;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of FIG. 11;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13 is a view of the present invention wherein the anti-theft device has been pre-formed with the shell;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line  14 - 14  of FIG. 13;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 15 is a view of the anti-theft device of the present Invention which is a second shell mounted to The original mirror shell;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  of FIG. 15; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 17 illustrates a rubber housing employed with the present Invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    Referring now to the Figures, FIG. 1 shows vehicle  10  with rear-view mirror  12  attached thereto. Rear-view mirror  12  comprises shell  14  and mirror plate  16 . As shown in FIG. 3, inside of shell  14  is a motor  18 . Mirror plate  16  is attached by an adhesive to bracket  19  which in turn attaches to motor  18  as shown. Motor  18  allows for adjustment of the angle of mirror plate  16  by the driver of vehicle  10  from inside the vehicle. Shell  14  defines a hollow  22  in which motor  18  is housed. Hollow  22  ends at rim  24 . Rear-view mirror  12  is attached to the side of vehicle  10  at base  20 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 illustrates one of the preferred embodiments of the anti-theft device in accordance with the present Invention. Anti-theft device  30  comprises security bracket  32  and security insert  34 . Security insert  34  has holes  36  which align with holes  38  in security bracket  32  when security bracket  32  is mounted onto rear-view mirror  12  as shown in FIG. 5. In order to affix security bracket  32  to security insert  34  via holes  36  and  38 , fastener  50  is employed. Fastener  50  is shown in the Figures as a conventional rivet.  
         [0034]    Security insert  34  is shown in a flat view in FIG. 2 and is made of sheet metal, or other similar material, so that it can be stamped out and bent as shown in FIG. 3 to allow it to be inserted into shell  14  as shown in FIG. 4. The various oblong holes which are shown in FIG. 3 in the back of security insert  34  are designed to facilitate its insert into shell  14 . These oblong holes are made to accommodate motor  18 .  
         [0035]    In order to assemble the anti-theft device as shown in FIG. 4, motor  18  is removed and security insert  34  is mounted inside and securely affixed to shell  14 . Then, motor  18  is remounted in shell  14 . As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and  4 , security insert  34  has four wings  40  which extend out past rim  24 . Once motor  18  has been remounted into shell  14 , mirror plate  16  is reaffixed to motor  18  via bracket  19 . At that point, security bracket  32  is mounted onto shell  14  such that holes  38  align with holes  36  and rivets  50  affix bracket  32  to insert  34 . The final assembly can be seen in FIG. 5.  
         [0036]    As shown in FIG. 6, security bracket  32  overlaps the edge of mirror plate  16  by a distance of 52. The overlap is critical in order to prevent the theft of mirror plate  16 . The preferred overlap for the anti-theft device of the present Invention is between about 1 to about 5 millimeters and, more preferably, about 3 millimeters. This overlap which can be also seen in FIGS. 9, 12 and  14  preferably extends completely around the exterior edge of mirror plate  16  thereby preventing a thief from removing mirror plate  16  from rear view mirror  12 . Minor, unsubstantial breaks or voids can occur in the overlap, however, these breaks should be small so as not to effect the anti-theft properties of the present invention.  
         [0037]    As will be appreciated, mirror  16  pivots to allow for adjustment of mirror  16  to accommodate the driver so the driver can see what is behind and to the side of the vehicle. To do this, there must be free space  54  between mirror  16  and bracket  32 . Free space  54  is preferably about 15 to 20 millimeters and more preferably about 16 millimeters. Free space  54 , when mirror  16  has been pivoted to an extreme should be about 3 millimeters.  
         [0038]    Another preferred embodiment of the present Invention is shown in FIGS.  7 - 9 .  
         [0039]    As shown in FIG. 7, anti-theft device  60  comprises a security bracket  62  which has wings  64  that overlap onto shell  14 . In this embodiment, holes  66  are drilled into shell  14  and are positioned so that they align with holes  68  of security bracket  62 . When security bracket  62  is mounted onto shell  14 , holes  66  align with holes  68  and allow for fastener  50  to affix security bracket  62  onto shell  14 .  
         [0040]    The assembled unit is shown in FIG. 8. Overlap  52  extends around the edge of mirror plate  16 . FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing rivet  50  attached through shell  14  and security bracket  62  with overlap  52 . In FIG. 9, rim  24  of shell  14  ends contemporaneously with the edge of mirror plate  16 . This is conventional in some rear-view mirror designs.  
         [0041]    In FIGS. 7 and 8, wings  64  of security bracket  62  overlap a distance of about 1 to 3 centimeters and, more preferably, about 2 centimeters onto shell  14 . Holes  66  are positioned such as they extend about 1 or 2 centimeters back on the surface of rim  24 . By having holes  68  and wings  64  extend a distance back into shell  14 , a secure attachment between security bracket  62  and shell  14  is obtained.  
         [0042]    Wings  64  can extend further back on to shell  14 , however for aesthetic purposes the distance they extend back should be limited. The wings can also be connected to each other for a continuous sleeve around shell  14 . Extending wings  64  further back to cover a substantial portion of shell  64  and/or connecting wings  64  into a continuous sleeve would allow a changing of the color or decorating the mirror shell, this would allow an owner to customize the vehicle.  
         [0043]    Fastener  50  has been shown in the drawings to be a conventional rivet, however, any other conventional securing element can be employed, such as, screws with star heads or other types of heads which are non-conventional and which are considered to be security-type fasteners.  
         [0044]    Preferably, security brackets  32  and  62  are made from sheet metal which is easily stamped out to conform to the shape of the exterior of the shell and, specifically, the rim section of the shell.  
         [0045]    Security bracket  32  and  62  are formed in a conventional manner using conventional equipment, suitable sheet metal which is first bent and then painted. It can be chemical treated and hardened to prevent it from being cut off. When it has been treated to harden, it is painted afterwards. Such steps are conventional and are conducted in a conventional manner.  
         [0046]    As shown in FIG. 17, a rubberized housing  69  can be employed. Housing  69  is preferably about 0.8 to 3.0 millimeters thick and is made of synthetic rubber or a rubberized plastic which can be pulled back to allow for fastener  50  to be inserted. Housing  69  helps protect rivet  50  from the elements and dresses-up the over all appearance of the mirror. Housing  69  can be of different colors or the same color as shell  12 .  
         [0047]    Housing  69  is suitably made in a roll and a piece of suitable length is cut from the roll and fitted around the perimeter of the bracket.  
         [0048]    Preferably, housing  69  extends between the bracket and the shell to allow the rivet to extend through it and hold it in place. At the other end, housing  69  extends up and over the top of rivet  50  and starts down the front of the bracket as shown in FIG. 17.  
         [0049]    FIGS.  10 - 12  illustrate the anti-theft device of the present Invention wherein shell  70  and security bracket  72  have been formed with a tongue and grove like arrangement  74  which allows the two to be snapped together as shown in FIG. 12. The pressure due to the shape of the bracket  72  and shell  70  provide a secure attachment.  
         [0050]    Shell  70  and bracket  72  are preferably molded out of plastic in a conventional manner. Any conventional tongue and groove or snap like self-sealing arrangement can be employed.  
         [0051]    Although tongue and groove  74  in FIGS.  10 - 12  is illustrated at the front of shell  70 , it could also be situated in the middle or back of shell  70 . As will be appreciated, mirror  16  can not be attached to motor  18  when overlap  52  is present. In some way a thief can not steal the mirror from the shell when overlap  52  exists, mirror  16  can not be attached to motor  18  if the bracket has already been attached to the shell.  
         [0052]    In FIGS. 13 and 14, shell  80  has been formed with overlap  52 . In this arrangement, a trap door, not shown, is provided in the base of shell  80  to allow motor  18  and mirror  16  to be inserted into shell  80 .  
         [0053]    [0053]FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate a second shell  80  which employs a tongue and groove arrangement  92  to allow it to fit into shell  14 . Employing the anti-theft device in FIGS. 15 and 16, different colors on designs can be placed won second shell  90  to dress-up the appearance of the vehicle.  
         [0054]    Shell  90  is made in a conventional manner using conventional equipment.  
         [0055]    Suitably, the second shell is molded out of plastic, so as to fit over a particular rear-view mirror.  
         [0056]    The security bracket and second shell can be colored to match the color of the shell or it can be a different color to accent the vehicle.  
         [0057]    As it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the exterior dimensions of rear view mirrors vary from vehicle to vehicle and it has been found that, by stamping the bracket and the security insert out of sheet metal, it is very easy to revise the shape of the security bracket to meet the various shapes of the rear view mirrors employed on vehicles. This is also true for the second shell as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16.  
         [0058]    The security bracket is formed in a conventional manner using conventional equipment. It can be stamped or cut out of sheet metal and subsequently bent to fit inside the shell. It can be formed form one piece with deep bending without having to cut it out of sheet metal. It can be formed in any conventional process, in either a conventional cold metal or hot metal process. It can also be molded form plastic and formed as a single molded piece rather than formed from metal.  
         [0059]    It will be understood that the claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications of the preferred embodiment of the Invention herein chosen for the purposes of illustration which should not constitute departure from the spirit and scope of the Invention. The preferred embodiments are not intended to limit but merely to illustrate the Invention and the claims are intended to cover the broad concept not merely that which is disclosed in the preferred embodiments.