Powered adjustable rear view mirror for a truck trailer

Claim 1

A truck mirror intended for attachment to the front end of a trailer body to provide rear view vision to a driver seated in a compartment of a tractor cab pulling the trailer so as to be able to see along the otherwise hidden side of the trailer to the back end of the trailer while backing the trailer and without having to leave the tractor cab, the truck mirror comprising: a pair of vertically spaced apart brackets adapted to be mounted to the front end of a trailer body adjacent a side edge thereof, each bracket being of a U-shaped configuration having a flat base member adapted to be mounted to the front end wall of said trailer, and a pair of vertically spaced apart horizontally outwardly projecting arm portions; a U-shaped supporting structure including a vertically disposed rod shaped bight forming base member and a pair of depending horizontally disposed leg members; pivot means pivotally connecting the free terminal end of each leg member to an associated one of said brackets between said bracket arms for swinging movement relative thereto, each terminal end of each leg member being pivotally attached to said associated bracket intermediate said bracket arms by a vertically extending pivot pin interconnecting said arms and extending through a suitable opening in said terminal end of said associated leg member; a mirror adjustably mounted to said base member for adjustable rotative movement thereabout; a gear member having the terminal end portion of one of said legs diametrically secured in juxtaposition thereto for movement therewith, said gear pivotally mounted by said pivot means for rotative movement about its axis, said gear having gear teeth disposed about the peripheral circumference thereof; an electrically powered direct current motor having a toothed gear wheel mounted concentric on the motor shaft with its teeth in driving engagement with the teeth of the first mentioned gear to effect the selective rotation of said gear in opposite directions about its axis to effecT the simultaneous movement of the mirror support member between an inoperative storage position inwardly of the trailer front end and an operative position wherein the mirror projects outwardly of the associated side of the trailer; electrical wiring means to interconnect said motor to a source of electrical energy; switch control means in the form of a double pole double throw toggle actuated switch interposed intermediate said motor and said source of electrical energy and adapted to selectively control both the energization and de-energization of said motor as well as controlling the direction of rotation of said motor; and said source of electrical energy is in the form of a direct current battery such that the control switch effects the reversal of battery polarity as applied to the motor for controlling the reversing operations of the motor.