Abstract:
A mounting bracket is disclosed for mounting a mirror on the passenger side of a vehicle in a manner such that the driver of the vehicle will be able to directly view the mirror through the front windshield of the vehicle as opposed to the passenger window of the vehicle and accordingly view the space on the side of the vehicle. The mounting bracket supports the mirror and is secured to the right front fascia of the vehicle. An additional side connector connects the bracket portion near the mirror to the pillar of the right side of the vehicle. The pillar is intermediate the front windshield and the passenger side window. Additionally, the mounting bracket may be adapted to vehicles which have their steering wheel on the right side and the mounting bracket may be used on the driver side for the driver to view the side view mirror through the windshield.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Most cars and trucks have the passenger side rear view mirror mounted directly on the passenger door. On certain types of vehicles, such as, but not limited to the Chrysler Jeep®, (Chrysler and Jeep are a registered trademarks of the Chrysler Corporation, Detroit Mich.), the doors may be removable completely, or have a clear plastic element zippered thereto. Certain classes of vehicles, mostly classified as off-road or expeditionary, such as the Land Rover® or Range Rover® (Land Rover and Range Rover are registered trademarks of LandRover located in the United Kingdom) may also have a removable passenger side door. Japanese or Korean made vehicles may also have a removable side door capability. Certain military vehicles, such as the American/NATO Humvee, (Humvee is a registered trademark of AM General located in Indianna) as well as Russian/Eastern Block or Chinese Communist military vehicles may also have a passenger door removal capability. As such the passenger side view mirror cannot be mounted to a non-existing door, and a plastic door cannot take the weight of such a rear view mirror. Therefore, a need exists for a mirror mounting bracket which is not attached to the passenger side door to permit the mounting of a passenger side view mirror to permit the driver to see what is behind and aside the vehicle to the right. The embodiment shown and described herein is intended for the line of Chrysler® Jeeps®. 
         [0002]    It has also been considered that some nations such as the United Kingdom have the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle as opposed to the left side of the vehicle as in the United States. In this case the passenger side would be on the left as opposed to the right. The mounting bracket of the invention can easily be adapted to be mounted on the left side of the vehicle. Thus the present invention would apply for left-hand drive vehicles as generally described herein as well as right-hand drive vehicles. 
         [0003]    The mounting bracket may be employed with any other vehicle where the passenger door could be removed. This includes, but is not limited to the Jeep® family of vehicles. Further there may exist other circumstances where it would be desirable to place the mirror in such a position achieved through the use of the mounting bracket. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention solves the above problems by providing a passenger side mirror mounting bracket which permits the driver of the vehicle to be able to view the mirror through the front windshield of the vehicle as opposed to the passenger window of the vehicle. The mounting bracket includes three basic portions. The first portion of the mounting bracket is generally rectangular and has the mirror attached to the distal portion of the first portion of the bracket. A second portion of the mounting bracket is angled and is secured to the right front fascia of the vehicle and to the proximal side of the first portion of the mounting bracket. A third portion of the mounting bracket is attached on it&#39;s first side to the passenger side pillar which is intermediate the passenger side door and the front windshield. The second side of the third portion of the bracket is also attached to the right side of the first portion of the mounting bracket. The attachments of each of the portions of the mounting bracket may include, but is not limited to, mechanical fasteners. The mounting bracket may be easily retrofit on appropriate vehicles and allows the driver to observe behind and aside the right side of the vehicle whilst looking through the front windshield of the vehicle. 
         [0005]    In the United Kingdom vehicles which have the steering wheel on the right and the passenger side on the left. In this case the mounting bracket would be mounted identically as above with the exception that the second portion of the mounting bracket is secured to the left front fascia of the vehicle. Additionally, the second side of the third portion of the bracket would be attached to the left side of the first portion of the mounting bracket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a portion of the vehicle including a portion of the passenger door, the front pillar, the front windshield and the hood; and the mounting bracket with the passenger side mirror attached thereto. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the mounting bracket for the passenger side mirror and the passenger side mirror. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a partial side view of a first portion, partially in section view, of the mounting bracket with the passenger side mirror attached thereto. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of the first portion of the mounting bracket designed to receive the passenger side mirror thereon. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of the first portion of the mounting bracket. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of a second portion of the mounting bracket designed to connect the first portion of the mounting bracket to the right front fascia of the vehicle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of the second portion of the mounting bracket designed to connect the first portion of the mounting bracket to the front fascia of the vehicle. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows an end view of the second portion of the mounting bracket designed to connect the first portion of the mounting bracket to the front fascia of the vehicle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of one of many possible passenger side view mirrors which may be employed with the mounting bracket for such a passenger side mirror. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  shows a bottom view of one of many possible passenger side view mirrors which may be employed with the mounting bracket for such a passenger side mirror. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  shows front view of one of many possible passenger side view mirrors which may be employed with the mounting bracket for such a passenger side mirror. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a partial cutaway view of an embodiment of the mounting bracket including a light mounted thereon. 
           [0018]      FIG. 13 . is an alternate embodiment of the bracket of the present invention for supporting a mirror on the driver side of the vehicle showing in a perspective view a portion of the vehicle including a portion of the driver door, the front pillar, the front windshield and the hood; and the mounting bracket with the side view mirror attached thereto. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    The features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when read in connection with the following drawing figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]      FIG. 1 , shows a perspective view of the mounting bracket  10  with the passenger side rear view mirror  14  attached thereto. For the rest of this discussion the passenger side rear view mirror  14  will be referred simply as the mirror  14 . For complete accuracy mirror  14  is an assembly which includes a housing  70  holding the mirror, a stem  75  and a tapered post  48 . The mirror  14 , per se, does not form part of the invention, the invention is directed to the mounting bracket  10  which receives the mirror assembly thereon. The mirror  14  and related elements are shown to more clearly show the apparatus and function of the mounting bracket  10 .  FIG. 1  also shows the pivotable hood  12 , the non-movable rear hood element  110 , the gap  115  to allow the hood  12  to open, the passenger door  50 , the dashboard  18 , the front window  15 , the passenger side window  55 , a front fender  52  and the passenger side pillar  37 . The passenger side pillar  37  is intermediate the front window  15  and the passenger side window  55 . The passenger side pillar  37  includes a plurality of tapped holes  32 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the mounting bracket  10  includes three major elements. The first element is the main support bracket  20 . The second element is an angled bracket connector  22 . The third element is a stabilizing bracket  24 . By interconnecting the main support bracket  20 , the angled bracket  22  and the stabilizing bracket  24  one can see the dashed line of sight  16  from the driver  100  with eye  101  through the front window  15  to the mirror  14 . This is how the mounting bracket  10  allows the driver  100  to see what is behind and aside the vehicle on the right side by not looking through the passenger side window  55 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the mounting bracket  10  and the relationship of the main support bracket  20 , the angled bracket connector  22  and the stabilizing bracket  24  to the fasteners which connect each bracket portion to one another. 
         [0023]    The main support bracket  20  has a distal end  80  and a proximal end  82 . The distal end  82  includes a vertical aperture  40  and a horizontal aperture  26 . The vertical aperture  40  and the fastener  34  and washer  36  are described in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0024]    The main support bracket  20  at proximal end  80 , has a plurality of apertures  44  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0025]    The angled bracket connector  22  has a first side  84  and a second side  86 . The first side  84  and the second side  86  are generally about the same length and are bent at point  88  causing an angular separation  50 . The angular separation  51  may be between 20 and 70 degrees. The angular separation  51  shown here is about 45 degrees. On the first side  84  are a plurality of apertures  42  (best seen in  FIG. 6 ). The number of apertures on the main support bracket  20  distal end  80  are equal and are in alignment with the plurality of apertures  42  on the first side  84  of the angled bracket connector  22 . As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 . There are three apertures on both the main support bracket  20  and the angled bracket connector  22 . Returning to  FIG. 2 , 3 bolts  38  and 3 washers  36  secure the proximal end  82  of the main support bracket  20  to the first side  84  of the angled bracket connector  22 . In  FIG. 2  only 2 bolts  38  and 3 washers  36  are visible, the third bolt  38  and third washer  36  is obscured by being directly in line with one of the other fastener combinations. 
         [0026]    On the second side  86  of the angled bracket connector  22  are a pair of apertures  46 . A pair of bolts  30  secure the angled bracket connector  22  and the attached main support bracket bracket  20  to the right front fascia  17  of the vehicle. 
         [0027]    The stabilizing bracket  24  is connected to the passenger side pillar  37  by bolt  30 ′. The stabilizing bracket  24  is further connected to the main support bracket  20  horizontal aperture  26  by bolt  28 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a partial side view in section of a first portion  20  of the mounting bracket  10  with the passenger side mirror  14  attached thereto. A mechanical fastener  34  and washer  36  are shown attached to the tapered post  48  which is received in the vertical aperture  40  on the distal end  80  of the main support bracket  20 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 4 and 5  focus on the main support bracket  20 . The main support bracket has a distal end  80  and a proximal end  82 . The distal end  80  of the main support bracket  20  is designed to receive the mirror  14 . The distal end  80  is thicker than the proximal end  82 , and includes an aperture  40  to allow the mirror  14  to be interfit and then secured by fastener  34  coming upwards through aperture  40 . The proximal end  82  includes a plurality of apertures  44  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ). The number of apertures  44  may be chosen to be three. The length of the main support bracket  20  is such that it does not interfere with the opening of the hood  12 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 6 to 8  focus on the angled bracket connector  22 . The angled bracket connector  22  has a first side  84  and a second side  86 . The angled bracket connector  22  is bent at point  88  forming an angle  51  (best shown in  FIG. 7 ) which is in the range of 20 to 70 degrees and may be chosen to be somewhere about 45 degrees. 
         [0031]    The first side  84  of the angled bracket connector  22  includes a plurality of apertures  42 . The number of apertures  42  on the first side  84  of the angled bracket connector  22  is chosen to be the same as the plurality of apertures  44  on the proximal end  82  of the main support bracket  20 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 9 to 11  show an embodiment of a mirror  14  which may be adapted to be employed with the mounting bracket  10 .  FIG. 9  shows a side view mirror  14  with a tapered post  48  designed to interfit into tapered bore  40  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ) and secured therein by nut  34  (best seen in  FIG. 2 ).  FIG. 10  shows the bottom view of the mirror  14 . Aperture  40  is provided to receive the nut  34  therein after it passes through aperture  40  attaching the mirror  14  to the main support bracket  20 . Although not shown it has been contemplated that the mirror  14  may include warming elements to prevent frost of moisture build-up. In addition, mirror  14  may include a small motor or other system to allow it to be adjusted from the interior of the vehicle allowing the mirror  14  to move to the right, left or up and down.  FIG. 11  is a front view of the mirror  14 , what driver  100  would view and see the side of the vehicle through mirror portion  65  and a magnified portion  65 ′ of what is to the rear right side of the vehicle. 
         [0033]      FIG. 12  is a partial cutaway view of an embodiment of the mounting bracket  10  including an accessory element such as a light assembly  90  mounted thereon. The light assembly  90  would be powered by the vehicle through a pair of electrical wires  91 . An additional aperture  95  would be located at the distal end  80 ′ of the main support bracket  20 ′. A nut  93  would secure the light assembly  90 . The light assembly  90  may include a stem  92  and includes a bulb  94 . The light assembly  90  may be rotatable. The light assembly  90  may also be combined with a mirror  14 ′ as previously described. Other accessory elements may be mounted on the main support bracket  20 ′ in combination with assembly  90  or separately, such as an antenna (not shown) to permit one or two way radio or other band communication. 
         [0034]    In an alternate mounting arrangement, as seen in  FIG. 13 , the mounting bracket  10 ″ is mounted for the driver to view the driver&#39;s side view mirror  14 ″ through the windshield  15 . For example, when the driver&#39;s door  50 ″ is removed, the driver&#39;s side view mirror  14 ″ can be viewed through the windshield  15  or alternatively it may be desirable to locate the driver&#39;s side view mirror  14 ″ to be seen through the windshield  15 . In this alternate embodiment, the main support bracket  20 ″ would be mounted on bracket connector  22 ″ and connector  22 ″ would be attached to the fascia  17  of the vehicle in front of the driver  100  so the driver&#39;s line of site  16 ″ is through the windshield  15  to mirror  14 ″ and to the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle as shown in  FIG. 13 . Connector  22 ″ is connected to fascia  17  with bolts  30 ″. Likewise stabilizing bracket  24 ″ provides a support between bracket  20 ″ and pillar  37 ″ and is connected to same with bolt  30 ″. Parts designated and shown in  FIG. 13  with a double prime (″) indication are the same or similar to similar parts in  FIG. 1 , but the double prime indicates the part is for the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle. It is further contemplated that a vehicle can have two mirrors of the present invention mounted on separate brackets on the fascia  17  of the vehicle in order that the driver  100  can be able to view and see both mirrors  14  and  14 ″ as shown individually in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 13  through the windshield  15 . 
         [0035]    While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.