US 5,100,095 A · Breakaway vehicle accessory mount · patentgrep

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Abstract

A windshield mounted, vehicular accessory mounting assembly is adapted to be small and compact and to reduce occupant injuries upon impact. The assembly includes a base and a coupling member releasably mounted on the base. The coupling member includes a support for mounting a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror. A breakaway fastening assembly extends through an aperture in the base to allow separation of the coupling member and vehicle accessory from the base should an impact occur. A series of projections extend between the periphery of the base aperture and the coupling member and are received in corresponding recesses to position the coupling member, provide a stable, three point connection, and prevent its rotation unless it separates from the base. The assembly may also include a swivel support arm to allow adjustment of the accessory position and to further reduce injuries.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A windshield mounted, vehicular accessory mounting assembly comprising:

a base including a surface defining an aperture therethrough and means for attaching said base to a windshield mounted securing member;
a coupling member releasably mounted onsaid base for supporting a vehicular accessory such as a rearview mirror, coupling member including a peripheral edge and a support for mounting a vehicle accessory;
breakaway fastening means on said base and coupling member and extending through said base aperture on an axis for releasably securing said coupling member to said base and allowing said coupling member to release and separate from said base upon impact by a force of predetermined magnitude acting on said support;
and
cooperating means extending between said surface of said base aperture and said coupling member for positioning said coupling member on said base and for allowing separtoin and release of said coupling member from said base by pivotal movement around said peripheral edge of said coupling member and by camming action when rotated about said axis of said breakaway fastening means.

2 more elements

A windshield mounted, vehicular accessory mounting assembly comprising:

a base including a surface defining an aperture therethrough and means for attaching said base to a windshield mounted securing member;
a coupling member releasably mounted on said base for supporting a vehicular accessory such as a rearview mirror, said coupling member including a support for mounting a vehicle accessory;
breakaway fastening means on said base and coupling member and extending through said base aperture for releasably securing said coupling member to said base and allowing said coupling member to release and separate from said base upon impact by a force of predetermined magnitude acting on said support;
and
cooperating means extending between said surface of said base aperture and said coupling member for positioning said coupling member on said base, said cooperating means including means for resisting rotation of said coupling member with respect to said base comprising a plurality of projections on one of said base and coupling member and corresponding recesses on the other of said base and coupling member receiving said projections, said projections and recesses being spaced equally about the periphery of said base aperture;
said assembly including three of said projections spaced equally about said periphery of said base aperture, each of said projections including a tapered, truncated member having a triangular cross-section, said recesses including three indentations, each indentation corresponding in shape and position to one of said truncated members, said projections and recesses providing a stable, three point connection between said coupling member and base with the opposite surfaces of said coupling member and base spaced slightly from one another.

3 more elements

The windshield mounted, vehicular accessory mounting assembly comprising:

a base including a surface defining an aperture therethrough and means for attaching said base to a windshield mounted securing member;
a coupling member releasably mounted on said base for supporting a vehicular accessory such as a rearview mirror, said coupling member including a support for mounting a vehicle accessory;
breakaway fastening means on said base and coupling member an extending through said base aperture for releasably securing said coupling member to said base and allowing said coupling member to release and separate from said base upon impact by a force of predetermined magnitude acting on said support;
cooperating means extending between said surface of said base aperture and said coupling member for positioning said coupling member on said base;
said breakaway fastening means including a headed stud on one of said coupling member and base, and a resilient retainer on the other of said coupling member and base, said resilient retainer engaging said headed stud but releasing said headed stud upon an impact force of predetermined size acting against said support;
said base including front and back surfaces;
said resilient retainer being a spring washer received on said back surface of said base in alignment with said base aperture and opposite to said front surface which engages said coupling member;
said base further including a recessed slot of said back surface for receiving a windshield mounted securing member;
said spring washer mounted within a second recess in said recessed slot.

6 more elements

A windshield mounted, vehicular accessory mounting assembly comprising:

a base including a surface defining an aperture therethrough and means for attaching said base to a windshield mounted securing member;
a coupling member releasably mounted on said base for supporting a vehicular accessory such as a rearview mirror, said coupling member including a support for mounting a vehicle accessory;
breakaway fastening means on said base and coupling member and extending through said base aperture for releasably securing said coupling member to said base and allowing said coupling member to release and separate from said base upon impact by a force of predetermined magnitude acting on said support;
cooperating means extending between said surface of said base aperture and said coupling member for positioning said coupling member on said base;
said breakaway fastening means including a headed stud on one of said coupling member and base, and a resilient retainer on the other of said coupling member and base, said resilient retainer engaging said headed stud but releasing said headed stud upon an impact force of predetermined size acting against said support;
said base including front, back and peripheral edge surfaces;
said resilient retainer being a spring washer mounted on said base in alignment with said base aperture in said slot extending into said peripheral edge of said base.

4 more elements

A windshield mounted, vehicular accessory mounting assembly comprising:

a base including a surface defining an aperture therethrough and means for attaching said base to a windshield mounted securing member;
a coupling member releasably mounted on said base for supporting a vehicular accessory such as a rearview mirror on said base, said coupling member including a peripheral edge and a support for mounting a vehicle accessory;
a swivel support arm mounted on said coupling member and having two ends with a pivot joint at each end, said support being mounted in one of said two pivot joints, and means for supporting a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror on the other of said two pivot joints;
breakaway fastening means on said base and coupling member and extending through said base aperture on an axis for releasably securing said coupling member to said base and allowing said coupling member to release and separate from said base upon impact by a force of predetermined magnitude acting on said support;
and
cooperating means extending between said surface of said base aperture and said coupling member for positioning said coupling member on said base and for allowing separation and release of said coupling member from said base by pivotal movement around said peripheral edge of said coupling member and by camming action when rotated about said axis of said breakaway fastening means.

3 more elements

A windshield mounted, vehicular accessory mounting assembly comprising:

a base including a surface defining an aperture therethrough and means for attaching said base to a windshield mounted securing member;
a coupling member releasably mounted on said base for supporting a vehicular accessory such as a rearview mirror on said base, said coupling member including a support for mounting a vehicle accessory;
a swivel support arm mounted on said coupling member and having two ends with a pivot joint at each end, said support being mounted in one of said two pivot joints, said means for supporting a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror on the other of said two pivot joints;
breakaway fastening means on said base and coupling member and extending through said base aperture for releasably securing said coupling member to said base and allowing said coupling member to release and separate from said base upon impact by a force of predetermined magnitude acting on said support;
and
cooperating means extending between said surface of said base aperture and said coupling member for positioning said coupling member on said base;
said cooperating means including means for resisting rotation of said coupling member with respect to said base comprising a plurality of projections on one of said base and coupling member and corresponding recesses on the other of said base and coupling member receiving said projections, said projections and recesses being spaced equally about the periphery of said base aperture,
said assembly including three of said projections each of said projections including a tapered, truncated member having a triangular cross-section, said recesses including three indentations, each indentation corresponding in shape and position to one of said truncated members, said projections and recesses providing a stable, three point connection between said coupling member and base with the opposing surfaces of said coupling member and base spaced slightly from one another.

5 more elements

A windshield mounted, vehicular accessory mounting assembly comprising:

a base including a surface defining an aperture therethrough and means for attaching said base to a windshield mounted securing member;
a coupling member releasably mounted on said base for supporting a vehicular accessory such as a rearview mirror on said base, said coupling member including a support for mounting a vehicle accessory;
a swivel support arm mounted on said coupling member and having two ends with a pivot joint at each end, said support being mounted in one of said two pivot joints, and means for supporting a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror on the other of said two pivot joints;
breakaway fastening means on said base and coupling member and extending through said base aperture for releasably securing said coupling member to said base and allowing said coupling member to release and separate from said base upon impact by a force or predetermined magnitude acting on said support;
and
cooperating means extending between said surface of said base aperture and said coupling member for positioning said coupling member on said base;
said breakaway fastening means including a headed stud on one of said coupling member and base, and a resilient retainer on the other of said coupling member and base, said resilient retainer engaging said headed stud but releasing said headed stud upon an impact force of predetermined magnitude acting against said support;
said base including front and back surfaces;
said resilient retainer being a spring washer received on said back surface of said base in alignment with said base aperture and opposite to said front surface which engages said coupling member.

6 more elements

A windshield mounted, vehicular accessory mounted assembly comprising:

a base including a surface defining an aperture therethrough and means for attaching said base to a windshield mounted securing member;
a coupling member releasably mounted on said base for supporting a vehicular accessory such as a rearview mirror on said base, said coupling member including a support for mounting a vehicle accessory;
a swivel support arm mounted on said coupling member and having two ends with a pivot joint at each end, said support being mounted in one of said two pivot joints, and means for supporting a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror on the other of said two pivot joints;
breakaway fastening means on said base and coupling member and extending through said base aperture for releasably securing said coupling member to said base and allowing said coupling member to release and separate from said base upon impact by a force of predetermined magnitude acting on said support;
and
cooperating means extending between said surface of said base aperture and said coupling member for positioning said coupling member on said base;
said breakaway fastening means including a headed stud on one of said coupling member and base, and a resilient retainer on the other of said coupling member and base, said resilient retainer engaging said headed stud but releasing said headed stud upon an impact force of predetermined magnitude acting against said support;
said base including front, back and peripheral edge surfaces;
said resilient retainer being a spring washer mounted on said base in alignment with said base aperture in a slot extending into the peripheral edge of said base.

6 more elements

A windshield mounted, vehicular accessory mounting assembly comprising:

a base including a surface defining an aperture therethrough and means for attaching said base to a windshield mounted securing member;
a coupling member releasably mounted on said base for supporting a vehicular accessory such as a rearview mirror, said coupling member including a support for mounting a vehicle accessory;
a disk member on said base having a central aperture aligned with said base aperture, said disk member including a plurality of resilient flanges extending into said central aperture;
a headed stud on said coupling member and having an enlarged head projecting through said base aperture and disk member central aperture on an axis such that said resilient flanges engage said enlarged head to releasably hold said coupling member on said base;
a plurality of spaced projections on one of said base and coupling member and corresponding spaced recesses on the other of said base and coupling member receiving said projections, said projections each including camming surfaces thereon, said recesses each including walls engaged by said camming surfaces, said projections each having a length sufficient to prevent retention of said coupling member on said base when engaging said other of said base and coupling member whereby rotation of said coupling member with respect to said base about said axis upon impact by a predetermined force cams said projections out of said recesses and said coupling member axially away from said base to separate said coupling member from said base.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.