US1923768A - Combined rear vision mirror and instrument - Google Patents

Description

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. WQLQQBTT ND INSTRUMENT JZ o o COMBNED REAR VISION MIRRDR A Filed July 5, 1932 Aug. 22, 1933.,

Patented Aug. 22, 1933 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBNED REAR VISION MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Application July 5, 1932. Serial No. 620,854

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a means for mounting an instrument on a panel and more particularly to a combined mirror and instrument and is shown as embodied in a rear vision mirror having associated therewith a watch or clock, although any instrument can be substituted for the watch or clock, such as a barometer, a compass, a thermometer, a viscosimeter or any other kind of instrument to which frequent reference is made, particularly in an automobile. The invention is also applicable to wall mirrors, bathroom cabinet mirrors, desk mirror-clock combinations, or anywhere else where it may be desirable to have a watch, clock or other instrument as well as a mirror or to mount a watch, clock or other instrument in a panel.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide such a combined mirror and clock or watch in which the watch or clock is supported exclusively by the mirror and has no direct connection with the bracket or other support for the mirror. l

Another object of this invention is to provide a mirror having a watch or clock associated therewith, the watch or clock being directly visible through a transparency or transparent opening provided in the mirror by removing or by eliminating the reiiective coating from a portion of the mirror so that the mirror plate itself forms a crystal for the Watch or clock. By this means the combined mirror and watch or clock are in their most compact form, the assembly is attractive in appearance, the face of the watch or clock is clearly visible and the rear vision mirror possesses its complete strength so that it is not likely to break or crack as would be the case if an opening of the size required were provided in the glass plate. By forming the mirror so as to also form the crystal for the watch or clock the danger of dust and dirt filtering through to the movement is also reduced. The invention is, however, applicable to a mirror in which an opening is actually cut through the mirror plate to receive the watch or clock case.

Another object is to form a simple and inexpensive means for securing a watch or clock case to a rear vision mirror, which means practically prevent the Watch or clock from being stolen -rom the combination. In most forms of rear vision mirror-clock combinations now on the market the theft of the Watch or clock is comparatively simple since in most cases all that is required is to loosen one or more screws after which the watch or clock can be readily removed. The present invention proposes to eliminate this ready theft of the watch or clock by providing a securingmeans, the assembly and disassembly of which requires a certain sequence of operations which are not at all apparent but can only be observed after a careful study of the construction. inasmuch as articles of this character are only subject to theft by petty thieves, the present invention provides, for all practical purposes, a theft-proof mounting even though it is possible to remove the watch or clock without special keys.

Another purpose is to provide such a mounting which is simple and inexpensive and can be quickly applied to both the watch or clock case and to the mirror thereby expediting the assembly of the same.

A still further object is to provide such a. mounting which is neat and attractive in appearance, particularly when viewed from the rear side and to provide such a mounting in which the necessity for clamping bolts or other visible means of removable attachment are not apparent.

A further object is to provide such a mounting which is suitable for use with various types and sizes of mirrors so that any movement can be employed. l l 8.0

Other purposes are to provide a combined rear vision mirror and instrument which is inexpensive to form and assemble, which is neat and attractive in appearance; which, particularly when viewed from the rear side of the same, presents no unsightly mechanical devices and in which the instrument is readily accessible for resetting, rewinding or the like.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is afront elevation of a combined rear vision mirror and watch or clock embodying my invention.

Fig. 2` is an end view thereof viewed from the end of the mirror opposite to that on which the clock is mounted.

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof viewed from the end of the mirror on which the clock is mounted and showing the winding stein removed.

Fig. 4 -is a fragmentary rear elevation.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5, 100 Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the locking band which forms part of the combination for rendering the watch or clock movement theft-proof.

In its general organization this invention comprises a mirror which is formed to provide a crystal, a clock case fitted over said crystal in rear of the mirror and having a marginal fiange, a

locking band engaging the flange and a pair of clips engaging the band and engaging the oppo- '110 site margins oi the mirror, these parts being specially designed to cooperate with one another and with a removable stern provided on the watch or clock case so that the watch or clock movement can only be removed upon removing the stein of the watch or clock and thereafter manipulating the parts in a certain sequence. While the invention has been shown as including the watch stem aff. a part of its operative combination, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this feature but comprehends all modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

The rear vision mirror can oe of any suitable construction and is shown as comprising a plate 15 of elongated rectangular form, which plate is beveled at its margin and is provided on its rear side :Vith a reflective coating 16. Any other transparent material can be used in place of the glass and the reflective coating can be of the usual silver or it can be of a material which absorbs a part of the light reflected into the same, such light absorbing reflective coating providing what is commonly known as a non-glare rear vision mirror. This mirror can be mounted in any well known and approved manner, this mounting forming no part of the present invention and therefore not being shown. In general such mirrors are secured by a suitable bracket to the head bar or" an automobile windshield immediately to the right of the driver so that it is in the most convenient position to observe road conditions in rear of the automobile.

In the form of the invention shown, the mirror plate 15 is first coated over its entire surface with the film of reflective material 16.- If the watch or clock to be used has a circular face, a circular transparency, transparent opening or crystal 18 is then provided in the right hand end of the mirror by removing a circular disk of the reflective coating from the back of the mirror plate. This can be done by scraping off the reflective coating, grinding a concave recess in the rear of the mirror, or by coating the crystal part of the rear vision mirror, before the mirror is silvered, with a suitable material to which the coating will not adhere. Around the crystal a circular groove 19 is ground into the rear side of the mirror.

The watch movement (not shown) is set into a watch or clock case 21, this watch or clock case being circular and preferably having its forwardly projecting rim 22 set into the groove 19. The rim 22 of the watch or clock case is reversely formed to provide a rearwardly projecting circular ilange 23 and to provide a rearwardly opening channel 24. The watch or clock movement, includes the usual dial 25, hands 2G, and the winding stem 27 and crown 28. The details of the movement form no part of the present invention and consequently no details of construction with regard to this movements are shown. The stem 27 is, however, removable in the usual and well known manner by loosening a locking screw 29, this screw extending through the rear wall of the watch or clock case so that upon unscrewing this screw the stem 27 can be withdrawn, the withdrawal of this stem constituting one step in assembling or disassembiing a clock made according to my invention.

The watch or clock case 21 is held to the rear side of the rear vision mirror by means of a pair of clips 30 and a locking band 31. Two of the clips 30 are provided, one at the top and one at the bottom oi' the mirror and watch case. Each of these clips is generally of C-shaped form and one end of each is formed to extend around and engage the beveled part of the mirror plate 15 while the other end 2J is formed to extend around and projec into the channel 24 formed by the reversely bent flange 23 at 'the rim of the watch or clock caso. In this channel 2li is also arranged the locking band 31. This locking band, as best shown in Fig. G is made of a strip of metal of uniform width and at its center this strip is formed to provide on upward extension 34 and this extension, at its center, is notched as indicated at 35 for a purpose which will presently appear'. The longrzituciinal sides of the locking band 3l are parallel but are provided with rounding wedge ends :i7 and. on one side, preferably on the side opposite from the stern 27 the rearwardly projecting flange 23 ol' the watch or clock case is notched or cut away as indicated at 36. In aswzembliiig :auch a construction the watch or clock case 21 with its contained movement, but without the windingl stein 27, is first set into the groove 19. The watch or clock case is then turned until its notch 36 is arranged either in its uppermost or lowcrmost positions. This notch, at this time. is arranged at its closest point to the upper or lower margins of the mirrors. The locking band 31 is then inserted into the channel 24 formed by the reversely formed iange 23 at the rear of the watch or clock case. In positioning this locking band 31 the projection 34 is arranged to project rearwardly or outwardly from the channel in the watch or clock ease. The locking band 31 is then slid around in the channel 24 until it is out of register with the positioned notch 36 of the watch or clock case. One of the clips 30 is then placed so that its end 32 extends around the adjacent margin of the mirror and its other end projects through the notch 36. The watch or clock case and the locking band 31 is now turned so that the notch 36 is removed outof register with the clip and one end of the lecleing band 31 passes under the hoolvshaped inner end 33 of the clip 3G. The watch or clock'case is then rotated in the groove l19 until its notch 36 is arranged diametrically opposite to the clip so applied. In this position it is arranged at the point closest to the opposite margin of the mirror. The locking band 3l is then moved around in the channel 24 until it is out of register with the notch 36. The other clip 30 is then applied, one end being hooked around the opposite margin of the mirror and its other end 33 being arranged to project through the notch 36. The watch or clock case is then rotated in the groove 19 until the opening, which receives the winding stem 27 is arranged adjacent the right hand side of the mirror and is positioned at a point halfway between the two clips 30. The locking band 31 is then shifted along the groove 2e until its notch 35 ls arranged in register with this opening, as best shown in Fig. 3. The'winding stem 27 is then inserted in its hole and the screw 29 is tightened so as to hold'this winding stom against withdrawal. With a mirror-clock seasasembled it is apparent that the clock case and the movement is heid in firm engagement with the back of the mirror, the locking ring being tightly engaged under the rear hook-shapod end 33 of each of the clips 30.

When it is desired to remove the watch oriclock case for the purpose of repairs the screw 29 is first loosened so as to release the winding stem 27. The winding stem is then withdrawn so as to permit thev locking ring to be shifted in either ressfres direction around the groove 24. The clock case is then rotated in the groove 19 until its notch 36 is in register with one of the clips 30 and the locking band 3l is also shifted in one direction in the groove 24 so that it is out of register with this notch 36. The corresponding clip 30 can thereupon be readily removed through the notch 3G.

The watch or clock case is then rotated in the opposite direction until its notch 36 is in register with the other clip 30 and thereafter the locking band 31 is also shifted in the same direction in the groove 2a until it is ,out of register with the notch 36. Thereupon the other clip 30 can be readily removed through the open notch 36. Since both clips are removed it is apparent that the watch or clock case can be lifted free of the groove 19 and that the locking band can also be removed.

From the foregoing it will be noted that a somewhat involved procedure is necessary to release the watch or clock case from the mirror and while this procedure is entirely suited to production methods, to a petty thief who might seek to steal the watch or clock movement it presents an obstacle which can only be overcome by a careful study of the construction of the mounting. ln view of the fact that the theft of a watch or clock would only be committed by a petty thief and in view of the fact that such a thief would probably have neither the opportunity to make a careful study nor the ability to solve the problem of disassembling the mounting, the present mounting is theft-proof for all practical purposes. At the same time it provides a reliable mounting which securely holds the watch or clock case in proper position on the mirror since the locking band is made suiciently wide to tightly engage under the hook-shaped ends 33 of each of the clips 30 so that there is no danger of a rotation of the watch or clock case after the clocl: case has been properly mounted on the mirror.

The present invention also does away with all screw connections in the mounting itself, the usual screw which holds the winding stem in position being the only screw employed in the mounting. The present invention therefore provides a mounting which is extremely simple and neat in appearance, especially when viewed from the back, is theft-proof and at the same time is readily assembled and disassembled by mechanics familiar with the construction of the mounting.

I claim as my invention:

l. Means for supporting an instrument case from a panel which consists of means independent of said case and panel loosely connecting said instrument case and panel and locking means inserted from one side of said rst means and forced between said case and said first means to hold said case in rm engagement with said panel.

2. Means for supporting an instrument case from a panel which consists of means loosely connecting opposite sides of said instrument case to said panel and a split ring adapted to be forced between said rst means and the opposite sides of said case to hold said case in firm engagement with said panel.

3. Means for supporting an instrument case from a panel which consists of means loosely embracing said instrument case and panel and lockn ing means embracing said case and forced between said case and said rst means to hold said case in firm engagement with said panel.

4. Means for supporting an instrument case and contained instrument from a panel, said instrument having a part projecting outwardly from said case, which consists of means loosely connecting said instrument case and panel, means arranged between said instrument case and connecting means and holding said instrument case in firm engagement with said panel, said outwardly projecting part of said instrument being arranged in the path of said last named means and holding it in its operative position.

5. Means for supporting an instrument case from a panel which consists of a clip means ernbracing opposite sides of said clock and the adjacent margins of said panel and locking means inserted from the side of said clip means between said clip means and said case to hold said instrument case in firm engagement with said panel.

6. Means for supporting an instrument case from a panel which consists of a pair of independent clips each loosely engaging one side of said case and the adjacent margin of said panel and a single locking member having two ends, one end of said locking member being forced between each of said clips and said case and holding said case in rm engagement with said panel.

7. Means for supporting an instrument case from a panel, said instrument case having a reversely turned rim forming an external rearwardly opening channel, which consists of means loosely hooking over the rim of said channel and connected with said panel and a locking member in said channel and slidable along said channel to a position between said first means and said instrument case thereby to hold said instrument case in iii-m engagement with said panel.

8. `Means for supporting an instrument case from a panel, said instrument case having a reversely turned rim forming an external rearwardly opening channel, which consists of a pair of clips loosely hooking over the rim of said case and the adjacent margins of said panel and a strip arranged in said channel and movable along said channel to a position between said first means and said instrument case thereby to hold said instrument case in firm engagement with said panel.

9. Means for supporting an instrument case from a panel, said instrument case having a reversely formed flange at its rim, said flange extending part way around said rim and forming an external rearwardly opening channel, which 125 consists of at least one clip having one end adapted to hook around the margin of said panel and having an opposite hook shaped end adapted to be placed adjacent the end of said flange and adapted, upon rotating said case, to hook 13@ around said ange and connect said oase and panel and a rotating locking member interposed between said case and clip and adapted to hold said case in firm engagement with said panel.

l0. Means for supporting an instrument case from a panel, said instrument case having a reversely turned rim forming an external rearwardly opening channel and the reversely exe tending wall of said rim being provided with a recess, which consists of a clip having one end le@ adapted to be hooked over one margin of said panel and an opposite hook shaped end adapted to be passed through said recess whereby upon turning said case the reversely formed rim of A said case is caught by said clip and wedge means 145 in said channel between said clip and channel to force said case into rm engagement with said panel.

11. Means for supporting an instrument case from a panel, said instrument case having a reiti@ lid@ lll@

versely turned rirn forming an external rearwardly opening channel and the reversely extending wall of said rim being provided with a recess, which consists of a clip having one end adapted to be hooked over one margin of said panel and an opposite hook shaped end adapted to be passed through said recess whereby upon turning said case the reversely formed rim of said case is caught by said clip and means sliding along said channel to a position between said clip and channel to force said case into firm engagement with said panel.

l2.' Means for supporting e time piece case and movement from a panel, said time piece having a removable winding stem projecting outwardly from said case and said case having a reversely turned rim forming an external rearwardly opening channel and the reversely extending wall of said rim being provided'with a recess, which consiste of a pair 'of clips each having one end adapt ed to be hooked over the margin of said panel and an opposite hook shaped end adapted to be passed through said recess whereby upon turning said case the reversely formed rim of said case is caught by said rim and a band arranged in said channel and adapted to be slid first in one direction and then in the other to a position between said clips and rim and thereby hold said case in rm engagement with said panel, said band being provided with a recess adapted to register with the opening in said case for said Winding stem whereby upon inserting said stem through said opening and recess said band is held against movement and in operative position.

ROBESON B. WOLCO'IT.4

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