Dirk A Vandenbosch

US Patent:

60683805, May 30, 2000

Filed:

Feb 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/251971

Inventors:

James D. Lynn - Fennville MI
John W. Carter - Holland MI
Daniel J. Bostwick - Grandville MI
James A. DeHaan - Zeeland MI
Wayne J. Rumsey - Holland MI
Dirk A. VandenBosch - Zeeland MI

Assignee:

Gentex Corporation - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

G02B 7182

US Classification:

359871

Abstract:

A mounting assembly for a vehicle interior rearview mirror of the automatic dimming type includes a vehicle mount having a rearwardly projecting first ball portion, a tube having a first end that receives the first ball portion and a second end including a rearwardly projecting second ball portion fixed with respect to the tube and having a wire hole therethrough, a ball clamp within the tube for engaging the first ball portion, a helical spring for biasing the ball clamp to a clamping relationship with the first ball portion, and a mirror socket for receiving and clamping the second ball portion. The tube of the mounting assembly and the first ball portion are unitary in one embodiment, while another embodiment has the tube and second ball portion provided with flanges that are biased into engagement with each other by the helical spring. The ball clamp has circumferentially spaced seat portions that seat the helical spring, clamping portions respectively aligned with the seat portions, and a wire conduit extending substantially to the hole in the second ball portion. In one embodiment, the tube is made from drawable quality material by a process using low-cost forming technology.