An omni-directional self-orienting structure for a motorcycle, ATV, UTV, off road vehicle, snowmobile, bicycle or other vehicle. The structure extends from the vehicle and will deflect or breakaway under an applied force such as an impact, for example by a tree branch strike or crash. The structure can re-position and re-orient itself once the force is removed. Examples of the structure are hand guards, side mirrors, turn signals, extended lights, mounts and antennas. Apparatus and method claims are provided.

An omni-directional self-orienting structure for a motorcycle, ATV, UTV, off road vehicle, snowmobile, bicycle or other vehicle. The structure extends from the vehicle and will deflect or breakaway under an applied force such as an impact, for example by a tree branch strike or crash. The structure can re-position and re-orient itself once the force is removed. Examples of the structure are hand guards, side mirrors, turn signals, extended lights, mounts and antennas. Apparatus and method claims are provided.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm, a mirror head and an electrically-operated actuator. The mounting arm includes a base mounting portion that is configured for attachment at an exterior side portion of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element sub-assembly. The actuator is secured at an actuator-mounting bracket of the mounting arm. With the mirror assembly mounted at an exterior portion of a side door of a vehicle, electrical operation of the actuator moves the mirror head to adjust a rearward view provided by the mirror reflective element to the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. A mounting post of the mounting arm passes through an opening of the mirror head that provides clearance between the mirror head and the mounting arm to allow movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm during electrical operation of the actuator.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting arm, a mirror head and an electrically-operated actuator. The mounting arm includes a base mounting portion that is configured for attachment at an exterior side portion of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element sub-assembly. The actuator is secured at an actuator-mounting bracket of the mounting arm. With the mirror assembly mounted at an exterior portion of a side door of a vehicle, electrical operation of the actuator moves the mirror head to adjust a rearward view provided by the mirror reflective element to the driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. A mounting post of the mounting arm passes through an opening of the mirror head that provides clearance between the mirror head and the mounting arm to allow movement of the mirror head relative to the mounting arm during electrical operation of the actuator.

A vehicular imaging system includes a camera device disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle. The camera device includes a pivotable arm that accommodates a camera. The pivotable arm is pivotally mounted at a mounting base at the vehicle and is pivotable between at least a drive position and a folded position. An actuator includes a pivot post structure attached to the mounting base and an output gear disposed at the pivot post structure, the actuator operable to pivot the pivotable arm about the output gear. The actuator includes a primary detent that is engaged to maintain the pivotable arm at the drive position when the pivotable arm is pivoted to the drive position. The actuator includes a secondary detent that is disengaged when the pivotable arm is manually pivoted between the folded position and the drive position.

Fastening construction, in particular for an exterior vision unit of a motor vehicle, comprising a base part which can be fixedly connected with a vehicle, and a rotation part which is couplable with the base part and which in coupled condition forms a central shaft for pivotally bearing-mounting a housing of an exterior vision unit. The base part and the rotation part are provided with at least one cam and groove pair cooperating as a bayonet catch, such that in a first angular position of the rotation part with respect to the base part, the rotation part for the purpose of coupling can be displaced along a geometric axis to the base part to align the cam and groove pair for cooperation and the rotation part is pivotable about the geometric axis from the first angular position to a second angular position in which the cam and groove pair cooperate.

Fastening construction, in particular for an exterior vision unit of a motor vehicle, comprising a base part which can be fixedly connected with a vehicle, and a rotation part which is couplable with the base part and which in coupled condition forms a central shaft for pivotally bearing-mounting a housing of an exterior vision unit. The base part and the rotation part are provided with at least one cam and groove pair cooperating as a bayonet catch, such that in a first angular position of the rotation part with respect to the base part, the rotation part for the purpose of coupling can be displaced along a geometric axis to the base part to align the cam and groove pair for cooperation and the rotation part is pivotable about the geometric axis from the first angular position to a second angular position in which the cam and groove pair cooperate.

A manually foldable rearview device includes a head for holding at least one reflective element comprising at least one of a rearview mirror, a camera, and a display, a foot for attaching the head to a vehicle, a bearing bush connected rigidly to the foot and engaging the head for support and rotation of the head, the bearing bush including head and foot parts and a sliding disk which is connected axially displaceably to the bearing bush but not rotatably relative to the bearing bush by a suitable fixing, and a pretensioned spiral spring arranged around the bearing bush and pressing the head onto the foot.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head movably attached at a mounting base configured for mounting at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element. An actuator is operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting base between at least an extended position and a folded position. The actuator includes a first detent interface that is engaged to maintain the mirror head at the folded or extended position when the mirror head is moved via the actuator to that position. The actuator includes a second detent interface that is engaged to maintain the mirror head at the folded or extended position when the mirror head is manually moved to that position. The second detent interface is not engaged while the actuator moves the mirror head between the folded position and the extended position.

A tilting mechanism of a view device for a vehicle has a configuration in which a rotating section is rotatably supported on a shaft of a fixed portion. A helical compression spring is fitted onto the shaft. A plate is attached to the free-end side of the shaft via a washer. An outer circumferential surface of the shaft and a center hole of the washer include respective different diameter portions. A gap g in a radial direction is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the shaft and an inner circumferential surface of the center hole of the washer. The tilting mechanism includes a deviation mechanism. The deviation mechanism makes the gap g become narrow or zero at the different diameter portions at at least one place, the different diameter portions facing each other, by making the washer move relative to the shaft in the radial direction.