Patent ID: 7452088

Claim:
A mirror unit for a vehicle, comprising: a base for connection to a vehicle, said base having a bracket portion defining a pivot space, said bracket portion including a first indexing surface; an arm having a pivot end in said pivot space of said base and a mirror at an opposite end, said pivot end defining a hollow interior; said pivot end including a hub with a first ramp surface; an indexing pivot member having a second indexing surface in cooperating contact with said first indexing surface of said bracket portion to define an index position of said arm with respect to said base, said indexing pivot member having a second ramp surface in cooperating contact with said first ramp surface of said arm to define a detent position of said arm with respect to said base; a spring mounted to press said first and second ramp surfaces into engagement with one another, said spring permitting said first and second ramp surfaces to rotate relative to one another from the detent position, said first and second indexing surfaces remaining in cooperating contact with one another in a set index position as said first and second ramp surfaces rotate relative to one another; and a release apparatus mounted on said base and operable to move said first and second indexing surfaces out of engagement when in a release position and to move said first and second indexing surfaces into engagement when in an engaged position.