Supports – Mirror or picture type – Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-24
2001-03-20
Berger, Derek J. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Mirror or picture type
Bracket
C359S871000, C411S182000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202975
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mounting hardware for use on a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for use in mounting a tubular structure, such as a mirror support arm, on a vehicle fender.
2. Description of the Background Art
Many types of external vehicle mirrors are known and used today. On larger vehicles, such as trucks and buses, large side view mirrors are commonly used, and these mirrors are often held up and supported by one or more tubular support arms. Oftentimes, this support arm is bolted directly on to a vehicle fender. One common type of tubular mirror support arm assembly is in the shape of a tripod mounted sideways on the vehicle, with the mirror being mounted at the point where the three sections of the tripod come together. One disadvantage of the tripod type of design is that the mirror support arms only connect to the vehicle fender at three points, and if any of these come loose, the mirror is likely to become misaligned. A second disadvantage of this tripod design is that the support sections come away from the vehicle fender at an angle which makes them susceptible to damage from tree branches or other obstacles. Yet another disadvantage of the tripod design is that the mirror may be adjusted only at a single pivot point.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved apparatus for use in mounting a tubular structure, such as a mirror support arm, to a vehicle fender.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting apparatus for a tubular structure which is usable to give improved support along many points of the tubular structure.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mounting apparatus for a tubular structure which is usable with a mirror support arm to give higher clearance along a fender than is available with the tripod design.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus for use in mounting a tubular structure, such as a mirror support arm, on a vehicle fender. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention, generally, includes a base member for attaching to a vehicle fender, the base member including:
a support body for receiving and supporting a tubular structure, the support body having a front, a back, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the support body further having a first groove formed therein of a shape corresponding to a shape of a tubular structure to be supported; and
a pair of side reinforcing strips for contacting the vehicle fender, including a first side reinforcing strip being located on the first side of the support body and attached thereto, and a second side reinforcing strip being located on the second side of the support body and attached thereto.
The support body may include an inner support boss extending along the back side thereof, opposite the first groove, for contacting the vehicle fender. The support body may further have a second groove formed therein which is substantially parallel to the first groove.
The apparatus of the present invention may further include one or more attachment members for connecting the base member to a vehicle fender, each of the attachment members including:
a pair of resiliently deformable anchors for placing in holes in the vehicle fender and for engagingly receiving threaded fasteners therein, each anchor including a substantially cylindrical collar and a plurality of substantially bow-shaped legs attached to and extending outwardly from the collar, all the legs together resembling a barrel shape; and
a substantially flattened bridge section attached to and interconnecting the anchor collars.
An apparatus according to the present invention preferably also includes a retaining member for placing over and clamping to the base member to releasably lock a tubular structure therebetween.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description section, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following description and in the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1835710 (1931-12-01), Jenkins et al.
patent: 3136350 (1964-06-01), Rapata
patent: 3495799 (1970-02-01), Murgas
patent: 3508593 (1970-04-01), Gill
patent: 4368868 (1983-01-01), Urban
patent: 4441681 (1984-04-01), Oda et al.
patent: 4529161 (1985-07-01), Lockwood, Sr.
patent: 5046904 (1991-09-01), Malinow
patent: 5069410 (1991-12-01), McKee
patent: 5576899 (1996-11-01), Englander
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