Automotive side view mirror attachment structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10093235-B2
Application number	US-201715425045-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2017
Priority date	Dec 19, 2011
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

An automotive side view mirror attachment assembly includes first and second loading surfaces for engaging a mounting member of a side view mirror assembly, wherein the first and second loading surfaces are disposed within an interior of a vehicle door, such that, in assembly, a mounting member of the mirror assembly is substantially or fully disposed within the interior of a vehicle door, thereby minimizing the overall mirror footprint by eliminating the need for an external base for attachment of a mirror assembly to a vehicle door.

First claim

We claim:

1. A mirror-mounting system for a vehicle door, comprising:
a mirror-mounting reinforcement member including a first portion laterally spaced-apart from a second portion, wherein the first portion defines a primary loading surface, and further wherein the mirror-mounting reinforcement member is substantially disposed in an interior of the vehicle door in assembly;
a connecting member connecting the first portion and second portion, wherein the connecting member defines a secondary loading surface; and
a mirror assembly having a base portion operably coupled to the primary loading surface and wedgingly engaged with the secondary loading surface.

2. The mirror-mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is tapered inwardly from the second portion of the mirror-mounting reinforcement member to the first portion of the mirror-mounting reinforcement member.

3. The mirror-mounting system of claim 2 , wherein the base portion of the mirror assembly further comprises a channel.

4. The mirror-mounting system of claim 3 , including:
a fastener, wherein the fastener is operably coupled to the channel of the base portion of the mirror assembly and further coupled to a mounting aperture disposed through the primary loading surface.

5. A mirror-mounting system for a vehicle door, comprising:
a mirror-mounting reinforcement member including a first portion spaced-apart from and interconnected to a second portion by an intermediate connecting member, wherein the intermediate connecting member is tapered inwardly from an outer portion to an inner portion thereof, wherein the first portion defines a primary loading surface, and further wherein the intermediate connecting member defines a secondary loading surface; and
a mirror assembly having a base portion operably coupled to the primary loading surface, wherein the base portion includes a sidewall having an outwardly extending wedged flange wedgingly engaged with the secondary loading surface.

6. The mirror-mounting system of claim 5 , wherein the primary loading surface includes one or more mounting apertures disposed therethrough.

7. The mirror-mounting system of claim 6 , wherein the base portion of the mirror assembly further comprises at least one channel adapted to receive a fastener for operably coupling the mounting member to the primary loading surface at the one or more mounting apertures.

8. The mirror-mounting system of claim 7 , wherein the mirror-mounting reinforcement member is substantially disposed in an interior of the vehicle door in assembly.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Pearson Craig
• Brancaleone Robert Anthony

Classifications

• B60R1/006 Primary

  Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle (combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10) · CPC title

• B60R1/06 Primary

  mounted on vehicle exterior {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R1/08

  involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots {, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors (B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R1/025

  comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors · CPC title