Dual function mirror mount

A mirror head for securement to a vehicle support bracket, said mirror head comprising:

• a head wall formed as an integrally molded plastic piece and having an interior surface defining an interior chamber and a periphery shaped to receive a mirror,
• mounting means for clamping said mirror head tightly yet turnably to an end portion of said support bracket, said mounting means comprising:
• socket means interiorly of said interior chamber and defining a socket for receiving said end portion, said socket means comprising:
• an endwall facing inwardly of said interior chamber, said endwall having an opening communicating with said socket,
• a clamping plate, said endwall and said clamping plate being configured to form a socket for captivating said end portion and constraining said mirror head to turn about an axis through said socket, and
• tightening means, disposed at least in part exteriorly of said interior chamber, for forcing said clamping plate and said endwall towards one another and against the end portion when said end portion is disposed in said socket to thereby prevent the mirror head turning relative to the end portion;
• said tightening means being actuated from outside said mirror head and said interior chamber.

A dual mounting member for mounting a mirror head to a mirror shaft, comprising:

• a clamping plate having a central substantially semi-spherical portion, a pair of opposed sleeve portions extending outwardly from the hemispherical portion,
• a ribbed endwall mating with the clamping plate and having a plurality of spaced apart discontinuous ribs, the discontinuity forming a hemispherical portion complimentary to the hemispherical portion of the champing plate, the endwall having a pair of opposed sleeve portions extending from the hemispherical portion, and
• wherein when the clamping plate and endwall are mated the hemispherical portions cooperate to define a ball receiving socket adapted to receive a ball mount and the sleeves and the socket cooperate to define a shaft receiving passageway adapted to receive an elongated shaft;
• wherein said dual mounting member can mount a mirror head to a shaft with said shaft either having a ball mount or having an elongated shaft.

In a rear view mirror assembly comprising a mirror head for mounting a mirror and attachable to the end portion or ball mount of a vehicle support bracket, said mirror head having an interior surface defining an interior chamber and a periphery shaped to receive said mirror, and clamping means for clamping said mirror head tightly yet turnably to said end portion or ball mount, the improvement wherein said clamping means comprises:

• socket means interiorly of said interior chamber and defining a socket for receiving said end portion, but capable of receiving said ball mount, said socket means comprising:
• an endwall portion of said mirror head facing inwardly of said interior chamber, said endwall portion having a first opening communicating with said socket,
• a clamping plate, said endwall portion and said clamping plate being configured to form a socket for captivating one of either said end portion and said ball mount, said socket having both a cylindrical section and a spherical section, and
• tightening means, at least in part disposed exteriorly of said interior chamber, for forcing said clamping plate and said endwall portion towards one another and against the end portion or ball mount when said end portion or ball mount is disposed in said socket whereby to prevent the mirror head from turning relative to the end portion or ball mount;
• said tightening means being actuated from outside said mirror head and said interior chamber.

A rear view mirror assembly comprising a mirror head for mounting a mirror and attachable to the ball mount of a vehicle support bracket, said mirror head having en interior surface defining an interior chamber and a periphery shaped to receive said mirror, and clamping means for clamping said mirror head tightly yet turnably to said ball mount, the improvement wherein said clamping means comprises:

• socket means interiorly of said interior chamber and defining a socket for receiving said ball mount, said socket means comprising:
• an endwall portion of said mirror head facing inwardly of said interior chamber, said endwall portion having a first opening communicating with said socket,
• a clamping plate, said endwall portion and said clamping plate being configured to form a socket for captivating said ball mount and constraining said mirror head to turn about said ball mount, and
• tightening means, at least in part disposed exteriorly of said interior chamber, for forcing said clamping plate and said endwall portion towards one another and against said ball mount when said ball mount is disposed in said socket whereby to prevent the mirror head from turning relative to the ball mount;
• said tightening means being accessible while the mirror assembly is assembled.