Patent ID: 7048395

Claim:
A detent joint for use with mirrors having first and second hinge pieces, said detent joint interconnecting said first and second hinge pieces about an axis of rotation: a detent element carried by one of said first and second hinge pieces, said detent element being secured in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation and movable along an axis in a direction of engagement; a spring element carried by said one hinge piece exerting a force on the detent element in the direction of engagement; said detent element having an engagement surface with at least two protruding teeth; a counter surface carried by a second of said first and second hinge elements which includes a plurality of cuts for determining at least one detent position; wherein, when the at least two teeth of the detent element are engaged with at least two of said cuts in the counter surface, said detent joint locks said first and second hinge elements in said one detent position.