US 11,927,298 B2
Rearview assembly mounting element
Eric S. Sloterbeek, Hudsonville, MI (US)
Assigned to GENTEX CORPORATION, Zeeland, MI (US)
Filed by GENTEX CORPORATION, Zeeland, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/893,520.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/235,965, filed on Aug. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0055544 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. F16M 11/14 (2006.01); B60R 1/04 (2006.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC F16M 11/14 (2013.01) [B60R 1/04 (2013.01); B60R 1/12 (2013.01); B60R 2001/1215 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mounting element for a rearview assembly, comprising:
a mount removably attachable to a button, the mount having a first end and a second end, the first end defining a tapered channel;
a pivot comprising a first end and a pivot ball, the first end being configured to support a housing of the rearview assembly;
a pivot cup disposed at least partially within the tapered channel of the first end of the mount, the pivot cup having fingers extending from a first end and a generally flat annular surface having an outer diameter at a second end, the pivot cup being operable to at least partially accept the pivot ball and to exert a pivot torque on the pivot ball;
a coil spring having a first end, a second end, and an outer diameter that is generally the same as the outer diameter of the generally flat annular surface of the pivot cup, the coil spring disposed within the mount and the first end of the coil spring pressing against the generally flat annular surface of the pivot cup; and
a detach spring disposed at least partially within a cavity defined by the second end of the mount and configured to abut the second end of the coil spring, the detach spring configured to secure the mounting element to a surface of a vehicle.