GB1573442A - Motor vehicle rear view mirrors - Google Patents
Motor vehicle rear view mirrors Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB1573442A GB1573442A GB325476A GB325476A GB1573442A GB 1573442 A GB1573442 A GB 1573442A GB 325476 A GB325476 A GB 325476A GB 325476 A GB325476 A GB 325476A GB 1573442 A GB1573442 A GB 1573442A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- reflective element
- mirror head
- view mirror
- rim
- head according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
- B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)
- Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
Description
(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE
REAR-VIEW MIRRORS
(71) We, DESMO LIMITED, a British Company of North Court, Packington
Park, Near Meriden, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particu
larly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to rear-view mirrors for motor vehicles.
It is an object of the invention to provide a mirror head for a motor vehicle rear-view mirror which is relatively inexpensive to make and less liable to damage than the mirror head constructions at present known. Accordingly the present invention is particularly suitable for exterior rear-view mirrors but it may equally be used for interior rear-view mirrors.
According to the present invention in a motor-vehicle rear-view mirror a rear-view mirror head comprises a reflective element and a body of the head which extends around the periphery and back of the reflective element and is a single piece moulding in resilient selfskinning foam plastics, the skin of which is exposed as the external surface of the body part of the mirror head, the body moulding having a yieldable rim shaped to receive the reflective element and which is sufficiently flexible for a bead or frame forming part of the rim to be passed over the edge of the reflective element during assembly of the mirror head, the bead or frame in the assembled mirror head extending over the peripheral edge and onto the marginal portion of the front face of the reflective element and retaining the reflective element by the resiliance of the foam material.
The reflective element may be a conventional flat or convex mirror made of glass.
Alternatively it may be of plastics such as polystyrene, polycarbonate or one of the acrylic plastics, for example acrylonitrile butadiene styrene known as ABS or it may be of metal, stainless steel for example. If the reflective element is clear and transparent the reflective layer may be applied to the back of the element so that light is received and reflected through the clear material but the reflective layer could be on the front of the reflective element and may then need to be protected by a clear transparent film or by clear lacquer.
The foam plastics is preferably a self-skinning polyurethane foam produced by an injection reaction moulding process which results in an expanded polymeric, cross-linked material. This material has a strong, smooth outer skin which affords, or may be coated after moulding to provide, a good surface finish. The outer skin combines with a low density cellular core to give a high stiffness to weight ratio to the finished moulding. A typical material is produced by the reaction within a mould of poly-functional polyol blends with an organic isocyanate with the addition of a blowing agent such as trichloromonofluoromethane.
The pressures developed during the moulding of foam plastics can in some circumstances damage the reflective element; moulding of the foam body apart from the reflective element avoids this risk. To retain the reflective element the body is moulded in dies having a cavity which forms the rim with the bead or frame which in the assembled mirror head extends over the peripheral edge and on to the marginal portion of the front face of the reflective element. As previously stated the foam must be sufficiently flexible to allow the bead or frame to be passed over the edge of the reflective element. To facilitate assembly adhesive plastics tape with a smooth outer surface may be applied over the edge of the element before the element is fitted into the body. The corners of an oblong element are the most difficult parts of the element to insert into the rim of the body. Assembly is easier if the rim is shallower at the corners than elsewhere, that is to say the overlap of the bead or frame onto the marginal portion of the front face of the reflective element is less at the corners than at other parts of the periphery. By contrast the medial part of the rim along the sides of an oblong can most easily be deflected and may with advantage be stiffened, for example by being made thicker, that is to say of larger cross-sectional area.
The foam body may be quite thick at the back of the reflective element and may be made with a cavity to reduce the amount of foam necessary. A wide ledge is preferably provided around the cavity to support the back of the reflective element near the rim.
Spaced ribs may also be formed in the moulded material across the cavity and be shaped to bear against and support the back of the reflective element at intermediate positions.
The mirror head may be mounted on a carrier arm by any convenient form of adjustable joint. The joint may be attached to the head in any of a variety of ways, for example by clips gripping opposite edges of the head or by a contractable peripheral band.
However an especially convenient way of attaching the joint is by means of an anchorage insert moulded into the foam body.
One element of the adjustable joint may be formed an integral part of the anchorage insert, or a portion of the anchorage insert (or a member such as a bolt or bracket rigid therewith) may project from the body to connect with an adjustable joint outside the mir- ror head. The anchorage inset is preferably of metal but could be of plastics suitable for the purpose. The anchorage insert may be a plate extending over a substantial portion of the back of the mirror head and generally parallel to the reflective element both to anchor the joint securely and to strengthen and stiffen the head. To assist in obtaining a firm connection between the anchorage insert and the foam the plate may be perforated andior corrugated. The plate may be provided with flanges or studs or other formations to engage, and space it from, the die or the back of the reflective element, particularly during moulding of the foam body around the element.
The ultimate stiffness of the foam may be varied according to the nature of the reflective element and of the means of attachment of the adjustable joint. It is important that the reflective element should be held firmly so that vibration does not prevent a satisfactory clear view. On the other hand the reflective element, particularly if of a brittle nature may need insulation from excessive vibration which might cause it to shatter. If the head has a large, stiff anchorage plate for the adjustable joint with means for engaging the back of the reflective element, a less stiff resilient foam might be used and be of advantage in absorbing blows to which the head can be subjected in use and make the rim more flexible to ease the fitting of the reflective element. A suitably resilient foam could even avoid the need for different body mouldings for flat or convex reflective elements and enable either a flat or convex reflective element to be fitted in the same body. The body moulding could be intermediate between the absolutely correct shapes for convex and flat reflective elements and be distorted in opposite directions to receive the one or the other; but a body moulding for a flat reflective element is cheaper to make so that this would be the preferable form provided that the moulding was sufficiently flexible to adapt to a convex reflective element.
Very large mirrors can be made according to the invention and are light in weight and strong, making them very suitable for commercial vehicle applications. Smaller mirrors suitable for use in private cars may also be made according to the invention.
In a motor-vehicle rear-view mirror including many of the above-mentioned features of the present invention a rear-view mirror head comprjses a body which is a unitary moulding in resilient self-skinning foam plastics the skin of which forms the external surface of the body part of the mirror head and a reflective element which is of oblong shape with rounded corners and which is resiliently engaged with the body, the body moulding extending continuously around the periphery and across the back of the element and having a rim which in the assembled mirror head extends over the peripheral edge and on to the marginal portion of the front face of the reflective element and retains the reflective element resiliently, the overlap of the rim on to the marginal portion of the front face of the reflective element being less at the corners than at other parts of the oblong periphery and the medial parts of the rim along the sides of the oblong being stiffer as a consequence of a local increase in the crosssectional area of the rim, the body moulding having a cavity at the back of the reflective element around which is a ledge supporting the back of the reflective element near the rim, the body including a moulded-in plate extending over a major portion of the back of the mirror head spaced from the back of the reflective element by the cavity and from the periphery of the reflective element by foam plastics of the body moulding and the plate having means for the attachment of the head to an adjustable joint by which the mirror head can be mounted on a motor vehicle.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a body of a motor vehicle rear-view mirror head according to the invention,
Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of
Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1 with the addition of the reflective element of the mirror head,
Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged section on line 4-4 of Figure 1,
Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary enlarged sections on lines 5-5 and 6-6 respectively of Figure 1.
The mirror head is oblong and comprises a body 1 moulded in flexible self-skinning polyurethane foam plastics and a convex re flective element 2 made of glass (Figures 3 and 4). The body is moulded with a rim having a bead or frame 3 which in the asembled mirror head, as shown in Figure 3, extends over the peripheral edge and on to the marginal portion of the front face 4 of the reflecttive element 2, the foam being sufficiently flexible to allow the bead or frame to be passed over the edge of the reflective element during assembly. The back of the reflective element 2 is covered with an adhesive sheet 5 (Figure 4) to hold fragments of glass and prevent their scattering if the reflective element is broken. To assist assembly of the reflective element 2 its edge is covered with adhesive plastics tape 6 with a smooth outer surface.
The tape 6 extends over the marginal portion of the front face 4 under the bead or frame 3 and, at the back of the reflective element, over the edge of the adhesive sheet 5. As shown at 3' in Figure 5 the bead or frame 3 extends well over the front face 4 of the reflective element 2 along the sides and ends of the oblong but near the corners, as shown at 3" in Figure 6 the overlap is less to ease assembly of the reflective element to the body 1. The rim along the sides of the oblong is stiffened by locally increasing the cross-section of the rim.
The body 1 is moulded with a cavity 7 which as shown in Figure 3 is at the back of the reflective element 2 in the assembled mirror head. Ribs 8 are formed in the mould ing of the body and extend across the cavity 7 to bear against and support the back of the mirror in the central zone. At the rim the back of the reflective element 2 is supported by a wide ledge 9 around the cavity 7 in the body 1.
The body 1 is moulded around an anchorage insert in the form of a metal plate 10. A dome 11 formed in the metal plate 10 protrudes from the moulding and forms part of an adjustable joint for mounting the mirror head on a carrier arm or other means of securing it to the motor vehicle. The metal plate 10 extends over a substantial portion of the back of the mirror head and is generally parallel to the reflective element. To stiffen the plate 10 and afford a firmer connection between the plate 10 and the foam plastics the edge of the plate 10 is raised as shown at 12.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. In a motor-vehicle rear-view mirror a rear-view mirror head comprising a reflective element and a body of the head which extends around the periphery and back of the reflective element and is a single piece moulding in resilient self-skinning foam plastics, the skin of which is exposed as the external surface of the body part of the mirror head, the body moulding having a yieldable rim shaped to receive the reflective element and which is sufficiently flexible for a bead or frame forming part of the rim to be passed over the edge of the reflective element during assembly of the mirror head, the bead or frame in the assembled mirror head extending over the peripheral edge and onto the marginal portion of the front face of the reflective element and retaining the reflective element by the resiliance of the foam material.
2. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 1 wherein the foam plastics is a selfskinning polyurethane foam.
3. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 2 wherein the self-skinning polyurethane foam is produced by an injection reaction moulding process which results in an expanded polymeric, cross-linked material.
4. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the self-skinning polyurethane foam is produced by the reaction within a mould of poly-functional polyol blends with an organic isocyanate with the addition of a blowing agent.
5. A rear-view mirror head according to any preceding Claim wherein adhesive plastics tape with a smooth outer surface is applied over the edge of the reflective element before the reflective element is fitted into the body.
6. A rear-view miror head according to any preceding Claim wherein the reflective element is oblong and the overlap of the bead or frame onto the marginal portion of the front face of the reflective element is less at the corners than at other parts of the periphery.
7. A rear-view mirror head according to any preceding Claim wherein the reflective element is oblong and the medial parts of the rim along the sides of the oblong are stiffened.
8. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 7 wherein the stiffening is obtained by locally increasing the cross-section of the rim.
9. A rear-view mirror head according to any preceding Claim wherein the body is moulded with a cavity which is at the back of the reflective element in the assembled mirror head.
10. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 11 wherein a ledge is provided around the cavity to support the back of the reflective element near the rim.
11. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein formations of the moulded material of the body extend
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (19)
1. In a motor-vehicle rear-view mirror a rear-view mirror head comprising a reflective element and a body of the head which extends around the periphery and back of the reflective element and is a single piece moulding in resilient self-skinning foam plastics, the skin of which is exposed as the external surface of the body part of the mirror head, the body moulding having a yieldable rim shaped to receive the reflective element and which is sufficiently flexible for a bead or frame forming part of the rim to be passed over the edge of the reflective element during assembly of the mirror head, the bead or frame in the assembled mirror head extending over the peripheral edge and onto the marginal portion of the front face of the reflective element and retaining the reflective element by the resiliance of the foam material.
2. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 1 wherein the foam plastics is a selfskinning polyurethane foam.
3. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 2 wherein the self-skinning polyurethane foam is produced by an injection reaction moulding process which results in an expanded polymeric, cross-linked material.
4. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the self-skinning polyurethane foam is produced by the reaction within a mould of poly-functional polyol blends with an organic isocyanate with the addition of a blowing agent.
5. A rear-view mirror head according to any preceding Claim wherein adhesive plastics tape with a smooth outer surface is applied over the edge of the reflective element before the reflective element is fitted into the body.
6. A rear-view miror head according to any preceding Claim wherein the reflective element is oblong and the overlap of the bead or frame onto the marginal portion of the front face of the reflective element is less at the corners than at other parts of the periphery.
7. A rear-view mirror head according to any preceding Claim wherein the reflective element is oblong and the medial parts of the rim along the sides of the oblong are stiffened.
8. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 7 wherein the stiffening is obtained by locally increasing the cross-section of the rim.
9. A rear-view mirror head according to any preceding Claim wherein the body is moulded with a cavity which is at the back of the reflective element in the assembled mirror head.
10. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 11 wherein a ledge is provided around the cavity to support the back of the reflective element near the rim.
11. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein formations of the moulded material of the body extend
across the cavity to bear against and support the back of the reflective element.
12. A rear-view mirror head according to any preceding Claim wherein an anchorage insert is moulded into the foam body for the attachment of the head to an adjustable joint by which the mirror head can be mounted on a motor vehicle.
13. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 12 wherein the anchorage insert is a plate extending over a substantial portion of the back of the mirror head and generally parallel to the reflective element.
14. A rear-view mirror head according to
Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein the anchorage insert is perforated and/or corrugated.
15. A rear-view mirror head according to any of Claims 12 to 13 wherein one element of the adjustable joint is an integral part of the anchorage insert.
16. A rear-view mirror head according to any of Claims 12 to 13 wherein a portion of the anchorage insert or a member rigid therewith projects from the body to connect with an adjustable joint outside the mirror head.
17. In a motor-vehicle rear-view mirror a rear-view mirror head comprising a body which is a unitary moulding in resilient selfskinning foam plastics the skin of which forms the external surface of the body part of the mirror head and a reflective element which is of oblong shape with rounded corners and which is resiliently engaged with the body, the body moulding extending continuously around the periphery and across the back of the element and having a rim which in the assembled mirror head extends over the peripheral edge and on to the marginal por tion of the front face of the reflective element and retains the reflective element resiliently, the overlap of the rim on to the marginal portion of the front face of the reflective element being less at the corners than at other parts of the oblong periphery and the medial parts of the rim along the sides of the oblong being stiffer as a consequence of a local increase in the cross-sectional area of the rim, the body moulding having a cavity at the back of the reflective element around which is a ledge supporting the back of the reflective element near the rim, the body including a moulded-in plate extending over a major portion of the back of the mirror head spaced from the back of the reflective element by the cavity and from the periphery of the reflective element by foam plastics of the body moulding and the plate having means for the attachment of the head to an adjustable joint by which the mirror head can be mounted on a motor vehicle.
18. A rear-view mirror head substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
19. A rear-view mirror including a rear-view mirror head according to any preceding Claim.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB325476A GB1573442A (en) | 1976-01-28 | 1976-01-28 | Motor vehicle rear view mirrors |
| DE19772703105 DE2703105A1 (en) | 1976-01-28 | 1977-01-26 | Vehicle rear-view mirror encased in a plastics moulding - which is a skin-forming, elastic, polyurethane foam |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB325476A GB1573442A (en) | 1976-01-28 | 1976-01-28 | Motor vehicle rear view mirrors |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB1573442A true GB1573442A (en) | 1980-08-20 |
Family
ID=9754862
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB325476A Expired GB1573442A (en) | 1976-01-28 | 1976-01-28 | Motor vehicle rear view mirrors |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB1573442A (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2208073B (en) * | 1987-01-27 | 1991-01-02 | David Ohayon | Vehicle door mirrors |
| JP2012501904A (en) * | 2008-09-12 | 2012-01-26 | メクラ・ラング・ゲーエムベーハー・ウント・コー・カーゲー | Mirror parts |
| CN103466919A (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2013-12-25 | 湖州天和机械有限公司 | Once forming type rear view mirror front frame mould |
| CN103465409A (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2013-12-25 | 湖州天和机械有限公司 | Mold for manufacturing outer frame of rearview mirror |
| CN103466918A (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2013-12-25 | 湖州天和机械有限公司 | Mirror base mould |
-
1976
- 1976-01-28 GB GB325476A patent/GB1573442A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2208073B (en) * | 1987-01-27 | 1991-01-02 | David Ohayon | Vehicle door mirrors |
| JP2012501904A (en) * | 2008-09-12 | 2012-01-26 | メクラ・ラング・ゲーエムベーハー・ウント・コー・カーゲー | Mirror parts |
| CN103466919A (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2013-12-25 | 湖州天和机械有限公司 | Once forming type rear view mirror front frame mould |
| CN103465409A (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2013-12-25 | 湖州天和机械有限公司 | Mold for manufacturing outer frame of rearview mirror |
| CN103466918A (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2013-12-25 | 湖州天和机械有限公司 | Mirror base mould |
| CN103466919B (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2015-10-21 | 湖州天和机械有限公司 | Frame mould before a kind of one-time formed rearview mirror |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Patent sealed | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |