US5455716A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle mirror with electrical accessories
Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Co
•
Filing: 1992-12-10
•
Granted: 1995-10-03
•
Expires: 2012-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A mounting assembly for a vehicle rearview mirror has breakaway capability and includes a base for attachment to an interior portion of a vehicle and a support for releasable attachment to the base. A rearview mirror assembly is mounted on an end of said support. The support and base include removable electrical connectors for removably, electrically connecting any one of a variety of selectable electrical circuits in the rearview mirror assembly to wiring in the vehicle roof structure. A spring clip is provided to releasably connect the support member to the base such that a predetermined level of force is required to cause the support to release from the base and thereby permit the rearview mirror to break away.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Suman
- 👤 Sheldon J. Watjer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:39
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00182; B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/04; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; B60R1/088; B60R1/12; G07C9/00817; B60R1/1207; B60R2001/1215; B60R2001/1223; B60R2001/123; B60R2001/1284; G07C2009/00261; G07C2009/00753; G07C2009/00769; G07C2009/00793; G07C9/00896; G07C2009/00928; G08; G08C; G08C2201/00; G08C2201/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S248/00; Y10S248/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
An overhead breakaway mirror mount for a vehicle including a roof structure comprising: a base carried on the vehicle roof structure; a mirror assembly including a mirror housing and an electrical accessory carried therein; a support member for said mirror housing, said support member including first and second ends, means at said first end of said support member for mounting said mirror housing to said support member; and said support member including means for mechanically releasably coupling said second end of said support member to said base and means coupled to said electrical accessory for releasably electrically coupling said electrical accessory to conductors in the vehicle's roof structure, said electrical coupling means carried on said second end of said support member, whereby an impact force will cause said support member to disengage said base and said electrical coupling means to disconnect from said conductors in the roof structure, wherein said support member includes a first pair of slots formed on a rearward edge of said support for receiving a mechanical connecting means on said base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
An overhead breakaway mirror mount for a vehicle including a roof structure comprising: a base carried on the vehicle roof structure; a mirror assembly including a mirror housing and an electrical accessory carried therein; a support member for said mirror housing, said support member including first and second ends, means at said first end of said support member for mounting said mirror housing to said support member; and said support member including means for mechanically releasably coupling said second end of said support member to said base and means coupled to said electrical accessory for releasably electrically coupling said electrical accessory to conductors in the vehicle's roof structure, said electrical coupling means carried on said second end of said support member, whereby an impact force will cause said support member to disengage said base and said electrical coupling means to disconnect from said conductors in the roof structure, wherein said support member includes a first pair of slots formed on a rearward edge of said support for receiving a mechanical connecting means on said base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
An overhead breakaway accessory mount for a vehicle comprising: a base carried on the vehicle roof, said base including a mechanical connector and an electrical connector coupled to wiring in the vehicle roof; an accessory for mounting to a vehicle; a support member for said accessory, said support member having first and second ends and means at said first end of said support member for mounting said accessory to said support member, said support member including a first pair of slots formed on said second end of said support member for receiving said mechanical connector on said base, and said support member including a resilient clip aligned with said slots, wherein said clip receives said mechanical connector on said base and said support member including mechanically releasably coupling an opposite end of said means electrically coupled to said accessory for releasably coupling to said electrical connector, said electrical coupling means on said second end of said support member whereby an impact force will cause said support member to disengage said base and said electrical connector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
An overhead breakaway accessory mount for a vehicle comprising: a base carried on the vehicle roof, said base including a mechanical connector and an electrical connector coupled to wiring in the vehicle roof; an accessory for mounting to a vehicle; a support member for said accessory, said support member having first and second ends and means at said first end of said support member for mounting said accessory to said support member, said support member including a first pair of slots formed on said second end of said support member for receiving said mechanical connector on said base, and said support member including a resilient clip aligned with said slots, wherein said clip receives said mechanical connector on said base and said support member including mechanically releasably coupling an opposite end of said means electrically coupled to said accessory for releasably coupling to said electrical connector, said electrical coupling means on said second end of said support member whereby an impact force will cause said support member to disengage said base and said electrical connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The breakaway mirror mount as defined in claim 2 wherein said clip is coupled to said support by a pair of fasteners.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
181 words
A rearview mirror mounting assembly for a vehicle including a roof structure, comprising: a base carried on the vehicle roof structure, said base including first mechanical coupling means, having a first end and a second end, and first electrical coupling means connected to wiring in the vehicle roof; a rearview mirror assembly having an electrical option therein; and a support means attached to said mirror assembly and including second mechanical coupling means having first and second ends for removably mounting said support means to said first mechanical coupling means, said support means including second electrical coupling means for removably electrically coupling said rearview mirror assembly to said first electrical coupling means, said first and second mechanical coupling means each including connectors on said first and second ends which are interconnected whereby said rearview mirror assembly is securely, releasably attached to the vehicle roof structure and said electrical option is releasably electrically coupled to the vehicle electrical system, and wherein said support-means includes a first pair of slots formed on a rearward edge for receiving a mechanical connecting means on said base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
181 words
A rearview mirror mounting assembly for a vehicle including a roof structure, comprising: a base carried on the vehicle roof structure, said base including first mechanical coupling means, having a first end and a second end, and first electrical coupling means connected to wiring in the vehicle roof; a rearview mirror assembly having an electrical option therein; and a support means attached to said mirror assembly and including second mechanical coupling means having first and second ends for removably mounting said support means to said first mechanical coupling means, said support means including second electrical coupling means for removably electrically coupling said rearview mirror assembly to said first electrical coupling means, said first and second mechanical coupling means each including connectors on said first and second ends which are interconnected whereby said rearview mirror assembly is securely, releasably attached to the vehicle roof structure and said electrical option is releasably electrically coupled to the vehicle electrical system, and wherein said support-means includes a first pair of slots formed on a rearward edge for receiving a mechanical connecting means on said base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The rearview mirror mounting member as defined in claim 4 wherein said support means include a second pair of slots spaced from said first pair of slots which receive a at least a portion of said base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
218 words
A rearview mirror mounting assembly for a vehicle including an electrical system comprising: a base adapted to be attached to the vehicle, said base including a first mechanical coupling means and an electrical coupling means carried by said base; a rearview mirror assembly having at least one of a plurality of different electrical options therein; and a support means attached to said mirror assembly and including means for removably mounting said support means to said first mechanical coupling means on said base, said support means including electrical coupling means for removably electrically coupling said rearview mirror assembly to said electrical coupling means carried by said base, said support means adapted to be removably attached to said base whereby said rearview mirror assembly having said at least one of said plurality of different electrical options may be attached to and removed from said base, said removable mounting means on said support means including a second mechanical coupling means wherein one of said first and second mechanical coupling means includes a first pair of slots for receiving the other one of said mechanical coupling means and a clip for receiving said other one of said first and second mechanical coupling means when said slots receive said other one of said first and second mechanical coupling means carried by said base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
218 words
A rearview mirror mounting assembly for a vehicle including an electrical system comprising: a base adapted to be attached to the vehicle, said base including a first mechanical coupling means and an electrical coupling means carried by said base; a rearview mirror assembly having at least one of a plurality of different electrical options therein; and a support means attached to said mirror assembly and including means for removably mounting said support means to said first mechanical coupling means on said base, said support means including electrical coupling means for removably electrically coupling said rearview mirror assembly to said electrical coupling means carried by said base, said support means adapted to be removably attached to said base whereby said rearview mirror assembly having said at least one of said plurality of different electrical options may be attached to and removed from said base, said removable mounting means on said support means including a second mechanical coupling means wherein one of said first and second mechanical coupling means includes a first pair of slots for receiving the other one of said mechanical coupling means and a clip for receiving said other one of said first and second mechanical coupling means when said slots receive said other one of said first and second mechanical coupling means carried by said base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The rearview mirror mounting assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said clip is coupled to said support by a pair of fasteners.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
201 words
An overhead breakaway mirror mount for a vehicle including a roof structure comprising: a base carried on the vehicle roof structure; a mirror assembly including a mirror housing and an electrical accessory carried therein; a support member for said mirror housing, said support member including first and second ends, means at said first end of said support member for mounting said mirror housing to said support member said second end having a forward and rearward portion; and said support member including means for mechanically releasably coupling said second end of said support member to said base and means coupled to said electrical accessory for releasably electrically coupling said electrical accessory to conductors in the vehicle's roof structure, said electrical coupling means carried on said second end of said support member, whereby a forward impact force to said mirror assembly will cause said support member to disengage said base and said electrical coupling means to disconnect from said conductors in the roof structure, wherein said support member includes at least one substantially "C"-shaped slot formed on the rearward portion of said support and having an opening at a rearmost end of said slot for receiving a mechanical connecting means on said base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
201 words
An overhead breakaway mirror mount for a vehicle including a roof structure comprising: a base carried on the vehicle roof structure; a mirror assembly including a mirror housing and an electrical accessory carried therein; a support member for said mirror housing, said support member including first and second ends, means at said first end of said support member for mounting said mirror housing to said support member said second end having a forward and rearward portion; and said support member including means for mechanically releasably coupling said second end of said support member to said base and means coupled to said electrical accessory for releasably electrically coupling said electrical accessory to conductors in the vehicle's roof structure, said electrical coupling means carried on said second end of said support member, whereby a forward impact force to said mirror assembly will cause said support member to disengage said base and said electrical coupling means to disconnect from said conductors in the roof structure, wherein said support member includes at least one substantially "C"-shaped slot formed on the rearward portion of said support and having an opening at a rearmost end of said slot for receiving a mechanical connecting means on said base.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-02 | 1999-04-03 | 1999-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-02 | 2003-04-03 | 2003-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-02 | 2007-04-03 | 2007-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |