GB2104856A

GB2104856A - Retractable vehicle rear view mirror

Info

Publication number: GB2104856A
Application number: GB08224382A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Macmillan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-08-27
Filing date: 1982-08-25
Publication date: 1983-03-16
Also published as: GB2104856B

Abstract

A retractable rear view mirror comprises a mirror frame and arm mounted onto a shaft in bearings on a plate which allows the mirror assembly to be mounted onto the vehicle body. The extremity of the mirror arm is formed with pinion gear teeth engaging a spindle having a toothed rack and moved by an electric motor drive through a reduction geared transmission. The motor and drive operate reciprocally; the forward movement of the drive on the spindle engaging the mirror arm pinion gear causing retraction of the mirror while the rearward movement results in erection of the mirror arm. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Retractable vehicle rear view mirror This invention relates to an external retractable rear view mirror for a motor vehicle operated either automatically or manually.

External rear view mirrors are found on most motor vehicles. The shape and configuration may vary but all have common features in that they comprise a mirror reflector mounted in a frame or carrier with an extension therefrom by which the mirror is rigidly fixed to the side of the vehicle. The mirror reflector is pivotally mounted within the frame or carrier, allowing adjustment by hand to the required field of vision. Recent developments in the field provide for the manual or automated adjustment of the mirror reflector through a system of levers or gears from within the vehicle.

This obviates the need for the driver to open a vehicle window in order to adjust the mirror reflector by hand. Other forms of external rear view mirror are known which may be mounted on the vehicle when towing large trailers to increase the drivers rear field of vision which may be partially obscured by the trailer. This form of rear view mirror can be detached or attached as required but the mounting on removing of the mirror is time consuming.

Known rear view mirror brackets when in an operational position, are rigidly fixed. Accordingly they are susceptable to damage by other passing vehicles and vandals when parked, and as they protrude outwardly from the vehicle body they may be damaged or broken off if the vehicle is driven through a narrow space or opening.

The object of the present invention is to provide an external rear view mirror which will retract to a position lying against the vehicle body when not in use and can be extended when required.

A retractable rear view mirror for a motor vehicle comprises a mirror reflector in a frame or carrier pivotably connected to a mounting or stanchion on the vehicle and engagable by a linkage to a reversible electric motor which is activated automatically or manually to extend the mirror from or retract the mirror to the vehicle body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a retractable rear view mirror comprises a mirror reflector mounted in a frame or carrier with an arm projecting therefrom. The extremity of the arm has a toothed quadrant or section. The arm is pivotally mounted on a shaft through an aperture in the toothed quadrant or sector. The shaft projects from a stanchion connected to an external mounting plate.

The toothed quadrant or sector engages a toothed spindle or rack in a housing plate. The rack is connected by a drive shaft or cable to a piston and reduction geared transmission.

A reversible electric motor provides the drive for the transmission which accordingly transfers the drive to the rack engaging the toothed sector on the mirror arm.

A dual electric circuit with limit switches incorporated, connected between the ignition reversible electric motor, and battery activates the reversible electric motor to extend or retract the mirror automatically.

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a vehicle door cut away to reveal the transmission and drive assembly in a housing, the mirror mounting plate, toothed spindle or rack, rear mounting plate and mirror illustration how the toothed quadrant or sector of the mirror arm engages the rack in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the transmission drive, motor and housing illustrating the position of the motor relative to the transmission within the housing.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the mirror mounting plate showing the toothed quadrant of the mirror arm mounted onto the shaft through an aperture in the toothed quadrant.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mirror frame, with a cut away view of the mirror mounting plate to expose the toothed quadrant mounted on the shaft therein, showing the toothed quadrant of the mirror arm engaging the rack through an elongate aperture in the mirror mounting plate and a section of drive.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rack housing plate illustrating the rack and the rear mounting plate containing a channel for housing the rack.

In carrying out the invention a retractable rear view mirror as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a mirror frame 1 into which an adjustable mirror reflector is fitted. Secured to the mirror is an arm 2 with a toothed quadrant 8 at its extremity. The mirror arm is mounted on a shaft 3 shown in Fig. 3 through an aperture in the toothed quadrant. The shaft is attached to an upward projection of the external mirror mounting plate 5 as shown in Fig.

1 providing axial support for toothed quadrant and mirror arm. A rack 6 as shown in Fig. 5 is housed in a channel formed in the rear mounting plate 7. As shown in Fig. 4 the teeth of the quadrant 8 engage the rack 6 through an elongate aperture 9 formed in the external mirror mounting plate 5.

A leaf spring (not shown) is provided in the channel below the rack 6 engaged by the rack to allow the mirror arm to collapse on impact by any pedestrian.

The rack is driven by an electric motor 10 as shown in Fig. 2 through a reduction geared transmission 11 and piston 12 in a housing 13 by way of a drive cable or shaft 14. The external mirror mounting plate 5 providing axial support for the toothed quadrant and mirror arm is mounted onto the vehicle door by bolts which pass through apertures 4 in the external mounting 5 and through the vehicle skin and apertures 16 in the rear mounting plate 7 on the opposite side of the vehicle skin, thereby holding them in position relative to each other.

A dual electric circuit connected between the battery, motor and ignition activates the reversible electric motor automatically to extend or retract the rear view mirror.

The circuit contains limit switches to switch the motor off when the mirror is fully extended and to energise the motor to retract the mirror frame when ignition is switched off.

The mirror reflector is fixed directly onto a backplate which is mounted into a mirror housing 1 by means of a ball and socket which allows the mirror to be adjusted to the required horizontal and/or vertical field of vision. The mirror arm 2 is mounted in bearings onto a shaft on external mirror plate 5 through an aperture in the toothed quadrant 8.

The quadrant teeth engage the rack 6 housed in a channel in the rear mounting plate 7 on the opposite side of the vehicle skin through an elongate aperture 9 in the external mirror mounting plate, the mounting plate being fixed to the vehicle door by a number of bolts passing through both plates and the vehicle skin. The rack is connected by a cable or shaft 14 to the piston 12 of the reduction geared transmission 11 in a housing 1 3 located within the space formed by the inner and outer skins of the vehicle door.

The circuit between the electric motor, ignition and battery is a dual one for the opening and closing sequences of the retractable rear view mirror. With the above described retractable rear view mirror installed in a motor vehicle the switching on of the vehicle ignition automatically activates the electric motor 10 to retract the piston 1 2 through the reduction geared transmission 11. Accordingly the drive shaft 14 connected to the piston 1 2 retracts the rack 6 engaging the toothed quadrant or sector 8 on the mirror arm causing an extension of the rear view mirror to protrude outwardly from the vehicle.

Limit switches are incorporated into the dual circuit which automatically switch the reversible electric motor off when the mirror has reached its fully extended position conversely the reversible electric motor is activated to forwardly extend the piston hence the drive cable or shaft and rack upon turning the ignition off thereby retracting the rear view mirror to lie flat against the vehicle body.

The reduction geared transmissions provide a breaking effect to hold the mirror rigid when in the open or extended position. This rigidity or breaking effect is further enhanced by the use of a piston in conjunction with the transmission. The mirror may be mounted in the conventional position of a fixed rear view mirror on the vehicle body with the rack, rear mounting plate, drive assembly and housing containing the transmission and motor all situated within the space formed by the inner and outer skins of the vehicle door panel.

The circuit contains further limit switches which initiate the automatic retraction of the rear view mirror if the vehicle door is opened.

The rear view mirror may also be extended or retracted manually if necessary and is collapsible on contact in accordance with E.E.C. and U.K.

regulations governing exterior rear view mirrors.

Claims

1. A retractable rear view mirror for a motor vehicle comprising a mirror reflector in a frame or carrier pivotally connected to a mounting or stanchion on the vehicle and engagable by a linkage to a reversible electric motor which is activated automatically or manually to extend the mirror from or retract the mirror to the vehicle body.

2. A retractable rear view mirror for a motor vehicle as in claim 1 in which the mirror reflector is mounted in a frame with an arm projecting therefrom the extremity of which has a toothed quadrant mounted on a shaft affixed to the vehicle door by a plate, the mirror frame and arm lying against the vehicle body when not in use, and raised to project from the vehilcle body by means of an electric motor providing a drive through a reduction geared transmission and piston to a toothed spindle or rack all situated within the vehicle door or body, which engages the toothed quadrant on the mirror arm retraction or extension of the mirror being initiated automatically through a circuit connected to the vehicle battery.

3. A retractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles as claimed in claims 1 and 2 characterised in that the rack is housed in a channel formed in a mounting plate affixed to the inner surface of the vehicle skin.

4. A rectractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles as claimed in claims 1. 2 and 3, characterised in that the toothed quadrant engages the rack through an elongate aperture in the external mirror mounting plate.

5. A retractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles as claimed in claims 2 and 4 in which the toothed quadrant is mounted on a shaft providing axial support for the toothed quadrant and mirror arm enabling the quadrant to travel in either forward or reverse direction.

6. A retractable rear view mirror for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 5 in which the shaft providing axial support for the mirror frame and arm is secured to and protrudes from an upright projection of the external mirror mounting plate.

7. A retractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles as claimed in any preceding claims in which the reduction geared transmission provides a breaking effect to hold the mirror rigid when in the open or extended position.

8. A retractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles as claimed in claim 7 in whicha piston is connected between the transmission and drive shaft in order to enhance the breaking effect imparted by the reduction geared transmission.

9. A retractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles as claimed in any preceding claims in which the circuit between the electric motor and ignition is a dual one for the opening and closing sequences of the retractable rear view mirror.

1 0. A retractable rear view mirror vehicles as claimed in claim 9 in which the circuit is wired to the ignition to cause the automatic extention of the mirror when switched on the conversely the retraction of the mirror to lie flat against the vehicle body upon switching off.

11. A retractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles as claimed in claims 9 and 10 in which limit switches are incorporated into the dual circuit, which automatically switch the electric motor off when the mirror is fully extended.

12. A retractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles as claimed in claims 9, 10 and 11 in which there is a further switch for automatic retraction of the mirror if the vehicle door is opened.

1 3. A retractable rear view mirror for motor vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.