Side view mirror assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9925922-B2
Application number	US-201615010606-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2016
Priority date	Jan 29, 2016
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A mirror assembly includes a stem attached to a mirror head. The stem includes a first portion directly attached to the mirror head. The first portion includes a catch. The second portion is attached to a support structure, and includes a retention portion. The catch of the first portion is engaged with the retention portion of the second portion for supporting the first portion and the mirror head relative to the second portion. Once the first portion is supported by the interaction between the catch and the retention portion, fasteners may be installed to fixedly attach the first portion to the second portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mirror assembly comprising:
a mirror head including a housing moveably supporting a mirror;
a stem attached to the mirror head, the stem including:
a first portion directly attached to the housing of the mirror head, the first portion including a top wall and a side wall;
a second portion configured for attachment to a support structure, the second portion including a bottom wall and a side wall, with the bottom wall including an access hole, and with the bottom wall and the side wall of the second portion forming a channel therebetween;
wherein one of the first portion and the second portion includes a catch, and the other of the first portion and the second portion includes a retention portion;
wherein the catch is engaged with the retention portion for supporting the first portion and the mirror head relative to the second portion;
wherein the top wall of the first portion is disposed above the bottom wall of the second portion to cover the second portion, and with the side wall of the first portion disposed laterally outside of the side wall of the second portion to conceal the second portion; and
a conduit feature passing between the first portion and the second portion, through the channel of the second portion, and through the access hole in the bottom wall of the second portion.

2. The side view mirror set forth in claim 1 wherein a wall of the second portion defines a slot, with the retention portion extending across the slot.

3. The side view mirror set forth in claim 1 wherein the first portion includes a boss defining a threaded bore.

4. The side view mirror set forth in claim 3 wherein the second portion defines an aperture aligned with the threaded bore along an axis.

5. The side view mirror set forth in claim 4 further comprising a connecting fastener extending through the aperture and into threaded engagement with the threaded bore.

6. The side view mirror set forth in claim 1 wherein the second portion includes an opening.

7. The side view mirror set forth in claim 6 further comprising an attachment fastener extending through the opening for attaching the second portion to the support structure.

8. The side view mirror set forth in claim 1 wherein the first portion and the second portion are each formed from a metal.

9. The side view mirror set forth in claim 8 wherein the first portion includes aluminum, and the second portion includes magnesium.

10. The side view mirror set forth in claim 1 wherein the second portion includes a projecting portion extending downward from a bottom wall of the second portion, and configured to be received within a pocket of the support structure.

11. A vehicle comprising:
a door structure;
a mirror head including a housing moveably supporting a mirror;
a stem interconnecting the door structure and the mirror head, the stem including:
a first portion directly attached to the housing of the mirror head, and including a catch and a boss defining a threaded bore;
wherein the first portion includes a top wall and a side wall;
a second portion directly attached to the door structure, and including a slot with a retention portion extending across the slot, and an aperture aligned with the threaded bore along an axis;
wherein the second portion includes a bottom wall and a side wall, with the bottom wall including an access hole, and with the bottom wall and the side wall of the second portion forming a channel therebetween;
wherein the catch of the first portion is disposed within and extends through the slot, into engagement with the retention portion, for supporting the first portion and the mirror head relative to the second portion;
a connecting fastener extending through the aperture and into threaded engagement with the threaded bore
wherein the top wall of the first portion is disposed above the bottom wall of the second portion to cover the second portion, and with the side wall of the first portion disposed laterally outside of the side wall of the second portion to conceal the second portion; and
a conduit feature passing between the first portion and the second portion, through the channel of the second portion, and through the access hole in the bottom wall of the second portion.

12. The vehicle set forth in claim 11 wherein the second portion includes an opening, and wherein the vehicle further comprises an attachment fastener extending through the opening in the second portion and into engagement with the door structure for attaching the second portion to the door structure.

13. A method of attaching a mirror assembly to a support structure, the method comprising:
attaching a mirror head to a first portion of a stem;
attaching a second portion of the stem to the support structure with at least one attachment fastener;
hooking a catch of the first portion around a retention portion of the second portion such that the first portion and the mirror head are supported by the catch, relative to the second portion;
attaching the second portion to the first portion with at least one connecting fastener; and
feeding a conduit feature from the mirror head through an access hole in the second portion and into the support structure before attaching the second portion to the first portion.

14. The method set forth in claim 13 further comprising forming at least one of the first portion or the second portion from a metal.

15. The method set forth in claim 13 wherein attaching the second portion of the stem to the support structure includes sliding a projecting portion of the second portion into a pocket of the support structure.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Dziurda Robert A
• Beach Andrew K
• Wesner Michael J
• O'Kane James C

Classifications

• B60R1/07 Primary

  by electrically powered actuators · CPC title

• B60R1/06 Primary

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