Adjustable support system for cycle mirror

Claim 2

An adjustable support system for a cycle mirror which support system is designed for mounting on a standard cycle brake lever bracket assembly in a manner which will not interfer with the use or operation of said brake lever bracket assembly, wherein said brake lever bracket assembly defines at least one through hole and includes a lever bracket, a lever, and a lever pivot wherein the improvement comprises: a base member having a first and a second end, wherein substantially adjacent said first end is included means designed for mechanical attachment or abutment of said base member at at least one of said through holes defined by said standard brake lever bracket assembly; an arm, said arm having a first and second end said first end of said arm pivotally secured to said base substantially adjacent to said second end of said base and at an angle to said base, and a mounting member for supporting a mirror, said mounting member pivotally connected substantially adjacent to said second end of said arm; whereby such attachment or abutment of said support system to said standard brake lever bracket assembly is in a manner which will not interfer with the use or operation of said brake lever bracket assembly, and whereby further, by adjustment of said base member, said arm and said mounting member for supporting a mirror can be adjusted to substantially any direction of rear view and then retained in that direction with a substantial amount of stability.

Claim 3

The support system of claim 1 for use with one said bracket assembly wherein at least one said through hole defined by said bracket assembly includes a slot, wherein said means of attachment of said first end of said base member to said slot opening includes a web designed and dimensioned for insertion into said slot.

Claim 4

The support system of claim 2 wherein said web includes a flange extending at an angle therefrom, said web and flange designed for insertion of said web and flange into said slot for retention of said web within said slot.

Claim 5

The support system of claim 1 for use with one said brake lever bracket assembly wherein said opening defined by said bracket assembly is annular and normally located and designed to have said brake cable pass therethrough for attachment to said lever, wherein said means for attachment or abutment at said first end of said base member to said opening includes a substantially tubular member defining an opening therethrough, said opening in said tubular member designed for attachment to or abutment with said bracket assembly adjacent said cable opening to allow said brake cable to pass therethrough.

Claim 6

The support system of claim 4 wherein hollow connecting means, of lesser diameter than said brake cable opening, in said bracket assembly are included with said attachment means, said connecting means dimensioned to pass through said brake cable opening defined by said bracket assembly to thereby secure said base to said bracket assembly.

Claim 7

The support system of claim 5 wherein the portion of said hollow connecting means passing through said brake cable opening is threaded.

Claim 8

The support system of claim 5 wherein the portion of the hollow connecting means passing through said brake cable opening includes a plurality of flanged fingers.

Claim 9

The support system of claim 5 wherein said hollow connecting means are separate from said base, and of lesser diameter than, and greater length than the opening defined by said tubular member integral with said base member, said hollow connecting means dimensioned to extend into and pass through said cable opening in said bracket assembly and said tubular member to secure said base to said bracket assembly.

Claim 10

The support system of claim 8 wherein the portion of said hollow connecting means designed to pass into said cable opening is threaded.

Claim 11

The support system of claim 9 wherein said hollow connecting means is a hollow bolt.

Claim 12

The support system of claim 1 in which a mirror assembly is attached to or integral with said mounting member.

Claim 13

An adjustable support system for a cycle mirror which support system is designed for mounting on a standard cycle brake lever bracket assembly in a manner which will not interfer with the use or operation of said brake lever bracket assembly, wherein said brake lever bracket assembly includes a lever bracket, a lever, a lever pivot, and lever pivot openings through said lever bracket wherein the improvement comprises: a base member having a first and a second end, wherein adjacent said first end is included a U-shaped saddle including a pair of legs designed and dimensioned to be mounted at said brake lever bracket assembly for mechanical attachment of said base member to said brake lever bracket assemblies; and a mounting member for supporting a mirror, said mounting member pivotally connected substantially adjacent to said second end of said base; whereby such attachment or abutment of said support system to said standard brake lever bracket assembly is in a manner which will not interfer with the use or operation of said brake lever bracket assembly.

Claim 14

An adjustable support system for a cycle mirror which support system is designed for mounting on a standard cycle brake lever bracket assembly in a manner which will not interfer with the use or operation of said brake lever bracket assembly, wherein said brake lever bracket assembly includes a lever bracket, a lever, a lever pivot, and lever pivot openings through said lever bracket wherein the improvement comprises: a base member having a first and a second end, wherein adjacent said first end is included a U-shaped saddle including a pair of legs designed and dimensioned to be mounted at said brake lever bracket assembly for mechanical attachment of said base member to said brake lever bracket assemblies; and a mounting member for supporting a mirror, said mounting member pivotally connected substantially adjacent to said second end of said base; whereby such attachment or abutment of said support system to said standard brake lever bracket assembly is in a manner which will not interfer with the use or operation of said brake lever bracket assembly.

Claim 15

The support system of claim 12 wherein each leg has an opening therethrough, said openings designed, dimensioned, and located for alignment with said lever pivot openings defined by said brake lever bracket assembly.

Claim 16

A mirror mounting mechanism for a cycle, including, in combination: a standard brake lever bracket assembly, said brake lever bracket assembly defining at least one through hole and including a lever bracket, a lever, and a lever pivot; a base member having a first and a second end, wherein substantially adjacent said first end is included means designed for mechanical attachment or abutment of said base member at at least one of said openings defined by said standard brake lever bracket assembly; and a mounting member for supporting a mirror, said mounting member pivotally connected substantially adjacent to said second end of said base member; whereby such attachment or abutment of said support system to said brake lever bracket assembly is in a manner which will not interfer with the use or operation of said brake lever bracket assembly.

Claim 17

A mirror mounting mechanism for a cycle, including, in combination: a standard brake lever bracket assembly, said brake lever bracket assembly defining at least one through hole and including a lever bracket, a lever, and a lever pivot; a base member having a first and a second end, wherein substantially adjacent said first end is included means designed for mechanical attachment or abutment of said base member at at least one of said openings defined by said standard brake lever bracket assembly; and a mounting member for supporting a mirror, said mounting member pivotally connected substantially adjacent to said second end of said base member; whereby such attachment or abutment of said support system to said brake lever bracket assembly is in a manner which will not interfer with the use or operation of said brake lever bracket assembly.

Claim 18

The mirror mounting mechanism of claim 14 wherein said brake lever bracket assembly and said base member are unitary, integrated with one another, and in the form of a single piece.

Claim 21

The method of claim 16, wherein said standard brake lever bracket assembly includes a through hole normally located and designed to have said brake cable pass therethrough, and including said brake cable passing therethrough and operatively attached to said lever, and wherein said support system base includes attachment means at said first end which define a through hole, and wherein said support system includes a hollow bolt of lesser external diameter than the diameter of both said lever bracket assembly brake cable through hole and said support base through hole, said hollow bolt being externally threaded at at least one end and of greater length than said base through hole, said hollow bolt being dimensioned to extend into and pass through said lever bracket assembly brake cable through hole and said support base through hole, and wherein said support system also includes an internally threaded nut dimensioned to receive said threaded end of said hollow bolt, including the steps of: (a) disconnecting said brake cable from said brake lever; (b) inserting said threaded end of said hollow bolt through said through hole in said base (c) placing said threaded nut within said lever bracket assembly adjacent said cable opening; (d) passing said threaded end of said hollow bolt through said cable opening in said lever bracket assembly, and threading it into said nut, thereby connecting said bolt and nut together; and (e) then placing said brake cable through said hollow bolt and reconnecting said cable to said brake lever.