Mirror stabilizer arm connector assembly

A vehicle mirror assembly for mounting an exterior rearview mirror to a vehicle body, the assembly having a support arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle for supporting the mirror, and a stabilizer bar having a first end pivotally mounted to the vehicle and a second end attached to the support arm, the assembly comprising: a connector head carried by one of the second end of the stabilizer bar and the support arm, and a connector receiver carried by the other stabilizer bar and support arm. The connector receiver includes a retention slot for receiving the connector head. A first locking element is carried by the connector head, a second locking element is carried within the retention slot; and an elongated convex biasing spring carried in the retention slot biasing the first and second locking elements together to provide a reliable interlocking connection between the stabilizer bar and support arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to vehicle mirrors, and particularly to exterior mirrors for large truck and other similar vehicles. Typically, mirror support assemblies include a C-shape support arm which attaches to the vehicle at its free ends. In addition, the stabilizer arm is often used that extends from the vehicle to the support arm to support the mirror head in a more stable manner. Previously, stabilizer arms provided have a connection between the stabilizer arm and the support arm which can be disconnected. This allows the mirror to be folded for washing and other purposes, and also prevents the mirror from breaking if it should strike an object. Previous connectors for stabilizer arms have used a rubber insert to place a friction in the connector joint so the stabilizer arm is held in place. However, the rubber wears and loses its friction fit. Since the rubber is not very compressible, the rubber tip that provides the friction can only be compressed a certain amount. When that rubber insert wears on the friction surface, it loses its fit.

In accordance with the present invention a release spring is preloaded in the connector housing and the insert is made from a polymer material for reduced wear. Reduced wear on the friction fit due to wear will be negligible in this case. The release spring is exert a fairly constant load on the insert and there will be little wear of the insert since it is a polymer material.

The prior art stabilizer arm connector assembly also has problems in that three parts are utilized that must be fitted together. The rubber insert must be fitted inside the guide block that the rubber insert is fitted into, and then those two parts must be fitted into a corresponding slot or opening in the connector joint. To fit the rubber insert properly into the guide block, and then fit the parts into the connector housing, are sometimes difficult. It the parts are not fitted correctly then the stabilizer arm does not function properly.

According to the present invention only two parts are required to be provided. A receiver connector having a narrow slot and a biasing element received in the slot which is low in cost, and applies a fairly consistent load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objectives are accomplished according to the present invention in a vehicle mirror assembly for mounting an exterior rearview mirror to a vehicle body. The assembly is of the type having a support arm which can be pivotally mounted to the vehicle for supporting the mirror, and a stabilizer bar having a first end pivotally mounted to the vehicle and a second end attached to the support arm. A connector head is carried by one of the second end of the stabilizer bar and the support arm, and a connector receiver is carried by the other of the stabilizer bar and support arm. An indent and a nib are carried by respective ones of the connector head and connector receiver which engage to provide an interlocking engagement. The connector head includes a narrow web and a lateral head flange extending from the narrow web. A retention slot is formed in the connection receiver including a top opening in which the web of the connector head slides. The retention slot includes a lateral slot flange projecting into the top opening overlying the connector head flange when the connector head is received in the retention slot. An indent and a nib are carried by respective ones of the slot and head flange to interlock upon completing the insertion of the connector head into the slot. A convex biasing element is carried in the retention slot biasing the first and second locking elements, in the form of the indent and neb, together. In this manner a reliable interlocking connection is provided between the stabilizer bar and support arm.

Preferably, the connection head includes lateral head flanges extending on opposing sides of the narrow web, and the connector receiver includes lateral slot flanges carried by opposing edges of the retention slot projecting into said top opening and extending over the head flanges. The indent is carried by each of the slot flanges and head flanges, and the nib is carried by each of the other slot flanges and head flanges so that pairs of nibs and indents interlock. Advantageously, the biasing element comprises an elongated leaf spring having first and second ends and a convex midsection. The leaf spring is carried longitudinally in the retention slot so that the connector head engages and depresses the convex section when the connector head is engaged in the connector receiver. One end of the leaf spring is free to move relative to the longitudinal slot to facilitate compression of the leaf spring. An opposing end of the spring is fixed in the receiver head.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail.

As can best be seen inFIGS. 1A and 1B, a mirror assembly, designated generally as10, is illustrated affixed to a body of a vehicle12. A stabilizer arm14is pivotally connected to the vehicle by means of a pivot mount16. The mirror assembly10is connected to the vehicle by suitable fasteners which secure a base10ato the vehicle12. Connecting the stabilizer arm to the mirror assembly is a connector assembly, designated generally as A. With the stabilizer arm14removed from the connector assembly the mirror assembly may be folded (FIG. 1B). Referring now in more detail to connector assembly A, the connector assembly includes a connector head B and a connector receiver C. While the connector head and receiver may be interchanged on stabilizer arm14and a support arm of the mirror assembly, it is preferred that the connector head B be carried by stabilizer arm14in that connector receiver C be carried by mirror support arm20. Connector head B includes a web22having at least one lateral flange projecting transversely to the web (FIG. 6B) Preferably there is a pair of lateral flanges23aand23bon either side of web22(FIG. 6A). Each lateral flange includes a first retention element24preferably in the form of a detent. Lateral projection23aincludes a detent or notch24aand lateral projection23bincludes a notch or detent24b. Connector receiver C includes a retention slot28in which connector head B is received and locked therein. For this purpose, a pair of inwardly extending slot flange30projects into an open top28aof the slot. Preferably there are a pair of slot flanges30aand30bprojecting inwardly into open top28ato define a narrow passageway32between which web22of connector head B slides. A second retention element34is carried by slot flanges30aand30bfor interlocking with detents24aand24bof the connector head. For this purpose, the nibs and detents correspond in shape. It is to be understood, of course, that a plurality of notches and a plurality of nibs may be utilized to interlock the connector head and connector receiver together instead of a single detent and nib on each flange.

As can best be seen inFIGS. 3 through 5, an elongated biasing element D is carried within retention slot20aof connector receiver C. Biasing element D is advantageously in the form of a release spring having a first end40and a second end42. Preferably end42is fixed with respect to the retention slot by affixation in a channel lock42a(FIG. 8), and end40is free to move longitudinally in the retention slot in the direction opposite to the direction that connector head B is inserted into the slot. The allows the release spring to be compressed as end40moves slightly to allow the compression. Suitable means such as hole/fastener46,46aon end and a hook47on the other end, may be provided for fastening connector receiver28to support arm20of the mirror assembly.

In operation, to secure stabilizer arm14to the mirror assembly, connector head B enters an insertion end28bof retention slot28. A smooth bottom surface48of connector head B engages a flat convex surface50of biasing element D to press the convex portion downwardly as lateral head flanges23aand23bslide underneath slot flanges30aand30buntil nibs34aand34binterlock in detents24aand24b. With the interlocking of the nibs and detents, release spring38is substantially compressed due to the longitudinal movement of spring end40(FIG. 8). A substantial upward force is applied against connector head tightly pressing the nibs into the detent notches of the connector head.