Breakaway accessory mounting assembly for vehicles and windshield mounted button therefor

A windshield supported vehicular rearview mirror mounting assembly adapted for breakaway release when the rearview mirror is impacted in a collision by a vehicle occupant and/or by a deploying airbag, said assembly comprising:

• a base having a body for connecting said assembly to a windshield mounted button, a button support on said body, an unobstructed open area on one portion of said body, and an accessory/support mount providing a connection for said base to at least one of a rearview mirror and a support for a rearview mirror;
• and
• a plurality of resilient retaining flanges on said base to releasably secure said mounting assembly to the windshield mounted button such that the button engages said button support, said retaining flanges being formed from resilient material and located at positions spaced from one another around said button support for engaging the windshield mounted button to generally center the button therebetween and releasably hold the button therebetween and against said button support vet resiliently flex to release the button when the rearview mirror or accessory is impacted;
• a pair of said resilient flanges defining an open release space therebetween allowing release of said button therebetween when said pair of resilient flanges are flexed by an impact force which acts on said assembly to urge said assembly in a direction such that the button is moved through said open release space, said assembly providing an open, unobstructed passageway between said open release space and said unobstructed open area allowing release of the button from said assembly through said open area when said button is caused to move between said pair of resilient flanges;
• the windshield mounted button adapted for use with said mounting assembly including an attachment surface for attachment to a windshield surface, a mounting surface for engaging said assembly, and a peripheral edge extending between said attachment and mounting surfaces, the peripheral edge defining a top end, bottom end and opposing sides, the sides converging toward one another in the direction of said top end and tapering inwardly toward one another from the mounting surface to the attachment surface, the peripheral edge at the top end being curved and inclined inwardly from the mounting surface to the attaching surface, the bottom end including a bottom recess spaced toward said attachment surface from the mounting surface and having an inner surface and a recess shoulder extending between the inner surface and the bottom end;
• said end flange including a terminal end portion adapted to project into the bottom recess and engage the recess shoulder of the button to resist movement of said assembly away from the button;
• said retaining flanges engaging the curved top end of the button peripheral edge to resist movement of said assembly away from the button when said assembly is mounted on the button;
• said button support having a support surface adapted to engage the mounting surface of the button;
• said retaining flanges projecting outwardly from said base, each retaining flange having a terminal end, said terminal ends adapted to contact opposed portions of the top end of the button to urge the button in a direction generally parallel to said support surface of said button support and toward said end flange while resisting movement of said assembly away from the button, said end flange projecting outwardly from said base to engage the button recess and recess shoulder to urge the button generally in a direction toward said release space between said retaining flanges while resisting movement of said assembly away from the button;
• said body including second and third button supports spaced from said button support and positioned adjacent said end flange and providing a three-point support on the mounting surface of the button when said assembly is mounted on the button, and a retainer receiving portion which is adapted to receive and mount a retainer for connecting said assembly to the button;
• said retainer receiving portion defining a retainer recess in said body and including an upstanding wall extending partially therearound and terminating at said open area, said wall including a shoulder and a terminal edge;
• said assembly also including a one-piece retainer formed from resilient material and including a retainer mounting portion for mounting said retainer on said retainer receiving portion of said base and said plurality of resilient retaining flanges, said retainer mounting portion also including a plurality of resilient, upstanding mounting flanges, each mounting flange having a terminal end, said terminal ends of said mounting flanges engaging said shoulder on said wall and securing said retainer in said retainer recess;
• said retaining and end flanges extending beyond said terminal edge of said wall.

A windshield supported, vehicular rearview mirror mounting assembly adapted for breakaway release when the rearview mirror is impacted in a collision by a vehicle occupant and/or by a deploying airbag, said assembly comprising:

• a base having a body for connecting said assembly to a windshield mounted button, a button support on said body, an unobstructed open area on one portion of said body, and an accessory/support mount providing a connection for said base to at least one of a rearview mirror and a support for a rearview mirror;
• and
• a plurality of resilient retaining flanges on said base to releasably secure said mounting assembly to the windshield mounted button such that the button engages said button support, said retaining flanges being formed from resilient material and located at positions spaced from one another around said button support for engaging the windshield mounted button to generally center the button therebetween and releasably hold the button therebetween and against said button support vet resiliently flex to release the button when the rearview mirror or accessory is impacted;
• a pair of said resilient flanges defining an open release space therebetween allowing release of said button therebetween when said pair of resilient flanges are flexed by an impact force which acts on said assembly to urge said assembly in a direction such that the button is moved through said open release space, said assembly providing an open, unobstructed passageway between said open release space and said unobstructed open area allowing release of the button from said assembly through said open area when said button is caused to move between said pair of resilient flanges;
• the windshield mounted button adapted for use with said mounting assembly including an attachment surface for attachment to a windshield surface, a mounting surface for engaging said assembly, and a peripheral edge extending between said attachment and mounting surfaces, the peripheral edge defining a top end, bottom end and opposing sides, the sides converging toward one another in the direction of said top end and tapering inwardly toward one another from the mounting surface to the attachment surface, the peripheral edge at the top end being curved and inclined inwardly from the mounting surface to the attaching surface, the bottom end including a bottom recess spaced toward said attachment surface from the mounting surface and having an inner surface and a recess shoulder extending between the inner surface and the bottom end;
• said end flange including a terminal end portion adapted to project into the bottom recess and engage the recess shoulder of the button to resist movement of said assembly away from the button;
• said retaining flanges engaging the curved top end of the button peripheral edge to resist movement of said assembly away from the button when said assembly is mounted on the button;
• said button support having a support surface adapted to engage the mounting surface of the button;
• said retaining flanges projecting outwardly from said base, each retaining flange having a terminal end, said terminal ends adapted to contact opposed portions of the top end of the button to urge the button in a direction generally parallel to said support surface of said button support and toward said end flange while resisting movement of said assembly away from the button, said end flange projecting outwardly from said base to engage the button recess and recess shoulder to urge the button generally in a direction toward said release space between said retaining flanges while resisting movement of said assembly away from the button;
• said body including second and third button supports spaced from said button support and positioned adjacent said end flange and providing a three-point support on the mounting surface of the button when said assembly is mounted on the button, and a retainer receiving portion which is adapted to receive and mount a retainer for connecting said assembly to the button;
• said retainer receiving portion defining a retainer recess in said body and including an upstanding wall extending partially therearound and terminating at said open area, said wall including a shoulder and a terminal edge;
• said assembly also including a one-piece retainer formed from resilient material and including a retainer mounting portion for mounting said retainer on said retainer receiving portion of said base and said plurality of resilient retaining flanges, said retainer mounting portion also including a plurality of resilient, upstanding mounting flanges, each mounting flange having a terminal end, said terminal ends of said mounting flanges engaging said shoulder on said wall and securing said retainer in said retainer recess;
• said wall including an opening therein adjacent each of said retaining flanges providing clearance to allow flexing of said retaining flanges for release of said assembly from the button upon impact.

A windshield supported, vehicular rearview mirror mounting assembly adapted for breakaway release when the rearview mirror is impacted in a collision by a vehicle occupant and/or by a deploying airbag, said assembly comprising:

• a base having a body for connecting said assembly to a windshield mounted button, a button support on said body, an unobstructed open area on one portion of said body, and an accessory/support mount providing a connection for said base to at least one of a rearview mirror and a support for a rearview mirror;
• and
• a plurality of resilient retaining flanges on said base to releasably secure said mounting assembly to the windshield mounted button such that the button engages said button support, said retaining flanges being formed from resilient material and located at positions spaced from one another around said button support for engaging the windshield mounted button to generally center the button therebetween and releasably hold the button therebetween and against said button support vet resiliently flex to release the button when the rearview mirror or accessory is impacted;
• a pair of said resilient flanges defining an open release space therebetween allowing release of said button therebetween when said pair of resilient flanges are flexed by an impact force which acts on said assembly to urge said assembly in a direction such that the button is moved through said open release space, said assembly providing an open, unobstructed passageway between said open release space and said unobstructed open area allowing release of the button from said assembly through said open area when said button is caused to move between said pair of resilient flanges;
• said body including a retainer receiving portion which is adapted to receive and mount a retainer for connecting said assembly to the button;
• said assembly also including a one-piece retainer formed from resilient material including a retainer mounting portion for mounting said retainer on said retainer receiving portion of said base and said plurality of resilient retaining flanges, said retainer receiving portion including an upstanding wall having a terminal surface and extending partially therearound and ending at said open area, said wall including a shoulder;
• said retainer mounting portion also including a plurality of resilient, upstanding mounting flanges, each mounting flange having a terminal end, said terminal ends of said mounting flanges engaging said shoulder on said wall and securing said retainer on said retainer receiving portion;
• said wall including an opening therein adjacent each of said retaining flanges providing clearance to allow flexing of said retaining flanges for release of said assembly from the button upon impact.

A windshield supported, vehicular rearview mirror mounting assembly adapted for breakaway release when the rearview mirror is impacted in a collision by a vehicle occupant and/or by a deploying airbag, said assembly comprising:

• a base having a body, a bracket receiving portion which receives and mounts a bracket for connecting said assembly to a windshield mounted button, a button support on said bracket receiving portion, an unobstructed open area on one portion of said body, and an accessory/support mount providing a connection for said base to at least one of a rearview mirror and a support for a rearview mirror;
• and
• a bracket formed from resilient material and having a mounting portion mounting said bracket on said bracket receiving portion of said body to releasably secure said mounting assembly to the windshield mounted button such that the button engages said button support, said bracket also including a plurality of resilient retaining flanges located at positions spaced from one another around said button support for engaging the windshield mounted button to generally center the button therebetween and releasably hold the button therebetween and against said button support yet resiliently flex to release the button when the rearview mirror or accessory is impacted;
• said bracket including an open release space between a pair of said resilient flanges allowing release of said button therebetween when said pair of resilient flanges are flexed by an impact force which acts on said assembly to urge said assembly in a direction such that the button is moved through said open release space;
• said base including an unobstructed open area aligned with said release space;
• said bracket and base together including an open, unobstructed passageway between said open release space and said unobstructed open area allowing release of the button from said assembly through said open area when said button is caused to move between said pair of resilient flanges.

A windshield supported, vehicular rearview mirror mounting assembly adapted for breakaway release when the rearview mirror is impacted in a collision by a vehicle occupant and/or by a deploying airbag, said assembly adapted for use with a button adapted for attachment to the surface of a windshield in the vehicle, the button including an attachment surface for attachment to a windshield surface, a mounting surface for engaging said assembly, and a peripheral edge extending between the attachment and mounting surfaces, the peripheral edge defining a top end, bottom end and opposing sides, the sides converging toward one another in the direction of said top end and tapering inwardly toward one another from the mounting surface to the attachment surface, the peripheral edge at the top end being curved and inclined inwardly from the mounting surface to the attaching surface, the bottom end including a bottom recess spaced toward said attachment surface from the mounting surface and having an inner surface and a recess shoulder extending between the inner surface and the bottom end;

• said assembly comprising:
• a base having a body, a retainer receiving portion which is adapted to receive and mount a retainer for connecting said assembly to a windshield mounted button, a button support on said retainer receiving portion, an unobstructed open area on one portion of said body, and an accessory/support mount providing a connection for said base to at least one of a rearview mirror and a support for a rearview mirror;
• and
• a retainer formed from resilient material and having a mounting portion mounting said retainer on said retainer receiving portion of said body to releasably secure said mounting assembly to the windshield mounted button such that the button engages said button support, said retainer also including a plurality of resilient retaining flanges positioned in a triangular configuration around said button support for engaging the top end and the recess shoulder of the button to generally center the button therebetween and releasably hold the button therebetween and against said button support yet resiliently flex to release the button when the rearview mirror or accessory is impacted;
• said retainer including an open release space between a pair of said resilient flanges allowing release of said button therebetween when said pair of resilient flanges are flexed by an impact force which acts on said assembly to urge said assembly in a direction such that the button is moved through said open release space;
• said base including an unobstructed open area aligned with said release space;
• said retainer and base together including an open, unobstructed passageway between said open release space and said unobstructed open area allowing release of the button from said assembly through said open area when said button is caused to move between said pair of resilient flanges.

A windshield-supported, vehicular rearview mirror mounting assembly adapted for breakaway release when the rearview mirror is impacted in a collision by a vehicle occupant and/or by a deploying airbag, said assembly comprising:

• a base having a body, an upstanding wall defining a recess on said body, a button support in said recess and an accessory/support mount providing a connection for said base to at least one of a rearview mirror and a support for a rearview mirror;
• and
• a one-piece retainer formed from resilient material and having a plurality of spaced, resilient, upstanding flanges adapted to releasably engage a windshield mounted button and retain said assembly on the button yet resiliently flex to release the button when the rearview mirror or accessory is impacted, and a plurality of spaced, resilient, mounting flanges which secure said retainer in said recess, and an aperture having a periphery configured to the shape of and receiving said button support;
• said wall on said body including a shoulder, said mounting flanges engaging said shoulder while said aperture periphery engages said button support with an interference fit, whereby said retainer is secured in said recess without separate fasteners.

An accessory mounting button for attachment to a vehicle surface for supporting a rearview mirror for use by an occupant of the vehicle, said button comprising:

• an attachment surface for attachment to a vehicle support surface;
• a mounting surface for engaging a rearview mirror mounting assembly;
• a peripheral edge extending between said attachment and mounting surfaces, said peripheral edge defining a top end, bottom end and opposing sides, said sides converging toward one another in the direction of said top end, and tapering inwardly toward one another from said mounting surface to said attachment surface;
• said peripheral edge being curved, said top end inclined inwardly from said mounting surface to said attachment surface;
• said bottom end including a recess spaced toward said attachment surface from said mounting surface.