GB2128151A - Vehicle driving mirrors - Google Patents

Abstract

An externally mountable driving mirror unit having forward and rearward facing mirrors 21,22 in which both mirrors are electrically controllable in orientation from the driving position. Preferably both mirrors are adjustable from the driving position in their vertical planes sufficiently to enable viewing front and rear extremities of the vehicle at ground level. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in driving mirrors The present invention relates to improvements in driving mirrors and more particularly to forwardand-rearward viewing exterior mirrors.

Mirrors which are fitted to the exterior of a motor vehicle adjacent the windscreen and visible through the driver's window are known. These can be fitted to the near side of the vehicle or the off side and may be adjusted either manually or electrically. It has also been proposed in the past to devise this form of mirror unit so that a second mirror reflects forward iy. This is of particular assistance on the 'blind' side of the vehicle, that is the side opposite to that of the driver, where it can be used to assist in overtaking when the car is driven in a country adopting a different convention, e.g. a British car driven on the continent. Up until now these mirrors have not met with any significant success.In general, the difficulties of adjusting the mirrors of such units so that both are similtaneously effective has made their market acceptance negligible.

The present invention is aimed at improving the qualities of forward-and-backward mirror units sufficiently to gain market acceptance.

In one aspect the invention provides an externally mountable driving mirror unit having forward and rearward facing mirrors in which both mirrors are electrically controllable in orientation from the driving position.

The provision for electrical adjustment on the forward viewing mirror radically alters the market acceptability of such units since it means that the remote adjustment of the mirrors is no longer a problem.

In a preferred form of the invention the mirrors are adjustable by means of a single operating lever. In this form it is preferred to drive the mirrors, in the horizontal plane, in contra-rotation. The contrarotation is preferably synchronus and may be performed by separate motors or more preferably by a single motor and a mechanical linkage ortransmis- sion system.

However an important preferred aspect of the invention relates to movement of the mirrors in their individual vertical planes. It is known to adjust a rear view mirror electrically both in the vertical and horizontal planes by means of a single operating lever which can be moved in two planes. Hitherto such movement has been utilised merely for the purpose of obtaining the best possible rearward view for the driver. However, the present aspect of the invention is based upon the perception that by sufficient adjustment of forward and rearward mirrors in their vertical planes, the position of the front and rear of the car at ground level can be simultaneously viewed, especially on the blind side of the car, and this greatly facilitates accuracy of parking.

This is especially true since cars are normally parked on the blind side of the road.

Thus an aspect of the invention provides an exterior mountable driving mirror unit having forward and rearward viewing mirrors in which both mirrors are adjustable in their vertical planes sufficiently to enable viewing front and rear extremities of the vehicle at ground level,.

The preferred mirror unit to be described performs operations in acordance with both aspects above described. In general any of the features above described can be used in any combination.

An embodiment of the invention is hereafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a car fitted with a mirror unit in accordance with the invention indicating the scope of forward and rearward vision, Figure 2 is a plan view of traffic on a road illustrating use of the mirror for overtaking on a non-conventional road, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 indicating use of the mirror unit in parking on a conventional road, Figures 4a and 4b are diagrammatic views of a mechanical linkage system for linking the two mirrors of the unit considered respectively in the horizontal plane and in a vertical plane, Figure 5 is a plan view of a practical form of mirror unit showing movement in the horizontal plane, and Figure 6 is a partly diagrammatic view of the unit of Figure 5, viewed along the line VI-VI of Figure 5 showing movement of the mirrors in two vertical planes.

Figure 1 shows a right hand drive motor car 10 having a mirror unit 11 in accordance with the invention fitted on the exterior of the nearside of the vehicle i.e. the blind side. The drivers eye is indicated diagrammatically at 12. The upper sets of broken lines 13,14 respectively show the forward and rearward view subtended by the driver through the mirrors when these are properly adjusted for normal fore and aft viewing. The lower sets of broken lines respectively 15, 16 show the view subtended by the driver through the mirrors when these are adjusted for parking.

Turning to Figure 2 the motor vehicle 10 is illustrated in position in traffic on a continental road with the mirror unit 11 adjusted for normal viewing, the broken lines 13, 14 corresponding to those in Figure 1 but viewed in plan. It will be seen that the mirror unit affords not only an appropriate view of the vehicle 17 to the rear but also a view of on-coming traffic approaching the vehicle 18 in front which is normally hidden from the driver and renders overtaking hazardous.

Figure 3 shows the vehicle 10 positioned for parking between a rearward vehicle 19 and a forward vehicle 20. The mirror is adjusted so that the field of view corresponds to that of the lines 15, 16 of Figure 1 enabling the extremities of the vehicle to be perceived at ground level. It illustrates that the driver has a clear view of the relationship of the car to the pavement or sidewalk as well as the clearance between the vehicles 19 and 20, which is normally impossible. This enables precise parking with an increased safety factor, reducing considerably the likelihood of incidental damage to any of the vehicles.

From Figures 1 to 3 it will be appreciated that in the normal forward/rearward.position, the two mir rors of the mirror unit will be generally at right angles, since the side of the vehicle forms a substantially straight line axis for the total field of view. It therefore follows that in adjusting one mirror to correctly adjust this axis in the horizontal plane (the axis being indicated at X in Figure 2), it is necessary or desirable, if the mirrors are not separately adjustabie, to adjustthem by mutual contra-rotation. Such an adjustment will bring the forward and rearward elements of axis X into alignment. Therefore if the mirror unit as a whole is correctly positioned, the correct view as in Figure 2 will result.

When moved in the vertical planes, the mirrors are required to be dipped together. This is in effect a contra-rotating movement. It is therefore necessary or desirable that the mechanism be arranged to move the two mirrors synchronously and in contrarotation. This may be achieved by the use of individual motors e.g. arranged in master and slave relationship. In practice this leads to an expensive unit particularly since means are desirable to ensure close synchronisation. Nevertheless it will be appreciated that the invention at least in this form allows a single operating lever to obtain all of the benefits explained with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

In practice, since the incremental movements are small and close synchronisation is desirable, it is preferred to use a single motor unit, connected e.g.

to one mirror, and an appropriate mechanical linkage ensuring synchronous contra-rotating movement of the other mirror in both planes. This has the added advantage that a standard rearview mirror unit can if necessary be adapted in a simple and elegant fashion.

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate diagramatically an ideal form of mechanical linkage. This linkage involves a joint which is movable along two axes, a horizontal axis P in Figure 4a and a vertical axis 0. In Figure 4b the two mirrors are indicated at 21 and 22.

Each has a lever arm respectively 23,24 which interengage at a coupling 25. In Figure 4a the coupling 25 is arranged to be movable along the axis P. The mirrors 21,22 are pivotable about fixed vertical axes respectively 26,27 by equal increments to e.g. the dotted line position. For simplicity the lever arms 23, 24 are joined to the mirrors at the position of pivot although this is not strictly necessary. Movement of the mirrors from the hard line to broken line position involves movement of the coupling 25 vertically upwards to its second position and this also involves changes in the effective length of levers 23, 24. The latter means that the coupling 25 must allow both for mutual pivoting motion of the levers 23, 24 and for sliding movement of these levers through the coupling.

If only movement in the plane of Figure 4a were necessary, all of the elements shown in Figure 4a could lie in the plane of the paper.

However it is necessary for the linkage also to allow for the pivoting motion shown in Figure 4b. In this view the two mirrors are viewed along a bisecting plane, the mirrors being generally at right angles, so that the edges 28,29 of the mirrors are towards the viewer and the edges 30, 31 are away from the viewer. In the hardline position, the mirrors are considered adjusted for normal viewing so that edges 28, 29 will appear vertical. In the broken line position the mirrors are dipped to produce the view 15, 16 of Figure 1,so that the lower corners of edges 28, 29 will move away from the viewer. In order to effect this movement, it will be appreciated that the coupling 25 will have to rise vertically along the axis Q.Therefore the coupling must also allow, in addition to the components of movement permitted by Figure 4a, for a contra-rotating rotary movement of the levers 23,24 in and out of the plane of the paper when viewed in Figure 4a.

It will be appreciated that the axes P and Qare imaginary in Figures 4a and 4b and that by appropriately constructing the coupling 25 the necessary movements can be obtained. This means that a movement of one of the mirrors will cause a synchronous contra-rotatory movement of the other mirror in both planes.

Figures 4a and 4b have been introduced to illustrate in a simple form the principles behind an appropriate mechanical linkage. Figure 5 shows a practical embodiment in which the same motion is effected through a sinlge interconnecting lever and two fulcrums. To enable a comparison with Figure 4a, the same reference numerals have been used where possible.

In Figure 5 mirror 21 is mounted and controlled in a known manner as an electrically operated mirror movable in two planes. The motor unit M is fastened to a support plate 32, itself fixed to a peripheral casing 33 provided with a conventional frictionally movable ball and socket joint connected to an appropriate mounting 34 for attachment to e.g. the door of a motor vehicle. Mirror 21 is mounted through a frictional ball and socket joint 35 (permitting manual adjustment) to a shaft 36 which is pivotable by means of the motor unit in two planes about a point of pivot 37.

The motor unit M is controlled in a known fashion by means of a joystick type four position switch for movement in both directions in the horizontal and vertical planes.

Mirror 22 is similarly connected through an adjustable, frictional ball and socket joint 38 to a bracket 39 which is connected to and forms an extension of a link lever 40. The lever 40 is mounted through a rose joint 41 to a bracket 42 fixed to the support bracket 32.

By means of the rose joint 41,the lever 40 is held against sliding motion relative to the bracket 42 but is allowed to pivot in two planes.

The lefthand end of lever 40 is arcuately curved as shown in Figure 5 and is slidably mounted within a bearing 43 in a vertical flange 44 of a bracket 45 which in turn has a second vertical flange (not shown) adhered to the rear surface of mirror 21 at an off-centered position seen more clearly in Figure 6.

The bearing 43 allows both a sliding movement of the lever 40 and a rotational movement. The curvature of the end of lever 40 is such that in the normal position the appropriate part of the lever meets the bearing 43 at an angle of approximately 450 to the principle direction of lever 40.

In the embodiment shown, mirror 22 is sur rounded by a peripheral frame which forms part of a casing 46 which is partly broken away in Figure 5 and which forms an enclosure for the mirror unit as a whole and connects up with the peripheral casing 33.

The operation of the linkage mechanism can be seen with reference to both Figures 5 and 6, Figure 6 forming a complementary view to Figure 5 but in diagrammatic form. When the joystick (not shown) is operated to move the mirror 21 to the position shown in broken lines, the shaft 36 also moves to the broken line position around pivot point 37. Viewed in Figure 5, the movement of the bracket 45 consequent upon movement of mirror 21 causes bearing 43 to follow the broken line arc to its new position in broken lines which causes an anticlockwise rotational movement of lever 40 about rose joint 41. This causes an inward tilting movement of mirror 22 to the broken line position in Figure 5. The movement of the lever 40 is accompanied by some sliding movement of the bearing 43 along the lever 40 which is facilitated by the curved bend.

Movement of the mirror 21 to the broken line position in Figure 6, i.e. in the vertical plane, is accompanied by a movement to the left (in Figure 6) of bearing 43. This causes a clockwise rotation of the lever 40 about the rose joint 41 as viewed in Figure 6.

It will be appreciated that in Figure 6 the lever 40 is in an obliquely downward direction proceeding from bearing 43 to ball joint 38. Movement of the ball joint 38 to the right in Figure 6 therefore represents a tilting movement of mirror 22 away from the plane of the paper, so that the righthand edge comes towards the viewer.

In order to ensure that the movements are complementary, the radius of pivoting movement of the mirrors should be equal in both planes. In other words the distance along the lever 40 and bracket 39 of mirror 22 from rose joint 41 is equal to the length of the shaft 36 attached to mirror 21.

It will be appreciated that in Figures 5 and 6 the single coupling 25 of Figures 4a and 4b is divided between two pivot points represented by the rose joint 41 and the bearing 43. Other forms of mechanical linkage would be within the general scope of the invention. Such a linkage could for example make use of flexible transmission members such as cable.

In fitting and adjusting the mirror unit of Figure 5, mirror 21 can be considered to be the rearward viewing mirror. This can be adjusted to its central position and then the mirror unit as a whole adjusted by the driver manually as closely as possible to the proper viewing position. The unit can then be locked in place conventionally. A spring loaded collision displacement system can be incorporated if desired.

Fine adjustment by means of the joy stick of the mirror 21 should result in correct forward and rearward viewing, provided that the two mirrors are correctly in adjustment at right angles. If not, one of them can be appropriately manipulated through its wall joint (35 or 38). Once set up, no further mechanical adjustment should be necessary.

CLAIMS (Filed on 5th October 1983) 1. An externally mountable driving mirror unit having forward and rearward facing mirrors in which both mirrors are electrically controllable in orientation from the driving position.

2. A mirror unit according to claim 1 wherein the mirrors are adjustable by means of a single operating lever.

3. A mirror unit according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the mirrors are drivable in the horizontal plane in contra-rotation.

4. A mirror unit according to claim 3 wherein the rotating motion of the mirrors is synchronous.

5. A mirror unit according to any preceding claim including a separate electric motor for each mirror.

6. A mirror unit according to claims 1 to 4 including a single electric motor connected to the mirrors by a mechanical linkage or transmission system.

7. A mirror unit according to any preceding claim wherein both mirrors are adjustable from the driving position in their vertical planes sufficiently to enable viewing front and rear extremities of the vehicle at ground level.

8. A mirror unit according to claim 7, the mirrors being arranged so that movement of one of the mirrors is accompanied by a synchronous contrarotary movement of the other mirror in both planes.

9. A mirror unit according to claim 7 or 8 as dependent on claim 6 comprising a mechanical linkage system, including a joint between the two mirrors which is movable along two axes.

10. A mirror unit according to claim 9 wherein the axes are at right angles.

11. A mirror according to claim 9 wherein the axes are respectively normally vertical and horizontal.

12. A mirror unit according to any of claims 9 to 11 including a lever arm attached to each mirror and connected to a coupling constituting the said joint, the coupling permitting mutual pivotting motion of the lever arms and relative sliding of the lever arms.

13. A mirror unit according to claim 8 as dependent on claim 6 wherein a first of the mirrors is directly coupled to an electric motor for joystick pivotting control in two planes and the second mirror is coupled to a link lever having a generally straight portion held by a rose joint at an intermediate position and an arcuate portion slidingly received in a bearing which is rigid with the first mirror and oriented at an angle to the straight portion of the link lever.

14. An exterior mountable driving mirror unit having forward and rearward viewing mirrors in which both mirrors are adjustable in their vertical planes sufficiently to enable viewing front and rear extremities of the vehicle at ground level.

15. An exterior mountable driving mirror substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and Figures 4a and 4b of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (16)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. rounded by a peripheral frame which forms part of a casing 46 which is partly broken away in Figure 5 and which forms an enclosure for the mirror unit as a whole and connects up with the peripheral casing 33. The operation of the linkage mechanism can be seen with reference to both Figures 5 and 6, Figure 6 forming a complementary view to Figure 5 but in diagrammatic form. When the joystick (not shown) is operated to move the mirror 21 to the position shown in broken lines, the shaft 36 also moves to the broken line position around pivot point 37. Viewed in Figure 5, the movement of the bracket 45 consequent upon movement of mirror 21 causes bearing 43 to follow the broken line arc to its new position in broken lines which causes an anticlockwise rotational movement of lever 40 about rose joint 41. This causes an inward tilting movement of mirror 22 to the broken line position in Figure 5. The movement of the lever 40 is accompanied by some sliding movement of the bearing 43 along the lever 40 which is facilitated by the curved bend. Movement of the mirror 21 to the broken line position in Figure 6, i.e. in the vertical plane, is accompanied by a movement to the left (in Figure 6) of bearing 43. This causes a clockwise rotation of the lever 40 about the rose joint 41 as viewed in Figure 6. It will be appreciated that in Figure 6 the lever 40 is in an obliquely downward direction proceeding from bearing 43 to ball joint 38. Movement of the ball joint 38 to the right in Figure 6 therefore represents a tilting movement of mirror 22 away from the plane of the paper, so that the righthand edge comes towards the viewer. In order to ensure that the movements are complementary, the radius of pivoting movement of the mirrors should be equal in both planes. In other words the distance along the lever 40 and bracket 39 of mirror 22 from rose joint 41 is equal to the length of the shaft 36 attached to mirror 21. It will be appreciated that in Figures 5 and 6 the single coupling 25 of Figures 4a and 4b is divided between two pivot points represented by the rose joint 41 and the bearing 43. Other forms of mechanical linkage would be within the general scope of the invention. Such a linkage could for example make use of flexible transmission members such as cable. In fitting and adjusting the mirror unit of Figure 5, mirror 21 can be considered to be the rearward viewing mirror. This can be adjusted to its central position and then the mirror unit as a whole adjusted by the driver manually as closely as possible to the proper viewing position. The unit can then be locked in place conventionally. A spring loaded collision displacement system can be incorporated if desired. Fine adjustment by means of the joy stick of the mirror 21 should result in correct forward and rearward viewing, provided that the two mirrors are correctly in adjustment at right angles. If not, one of them can be appropriately manipulated through its wall joint (35 or 38). Once set up, no further mechanical adjustment should be necessary. CLAIMS (Filed on 5th October 1983)

1. An externally mountable driving mirror unit having forward and rearward facing mirrors in which both mirrors are electrically controllable in orientation from the driving position.

2. A mirror unit according to claim 1 wherein the mirrors are adjustable by means of a single operating lever.

3. A mirror unit according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the mirrors are drivable in the horizontal plane in contra-rotation.

4. A mirror unit according to claim 3 wherein the rotating motion of the mirrors is synchronous.

5. A mirror unit according to any preceding claim including a separate electric motor for each mirror.

6. A mirror unit according to claims 1 to 4 including a single electric motor connected to the mirrors by a mechanical linkage or transmission system.

7. A mirror unit according to any preceding claim wherein both mirrors are adjustable from the driving position in their vertical planes sufficiently to enable viewing front and rear extremities of the vehicle at ground level.

8. A mirror unit according to claim 7, the mirrors being arranged so that movement of one of the mirrors is accompanied by a synchronous contrarotary movement of the other mirror in both planes.

9. A mirror unit according to claim 7 or 8 as dependent on claim 6 comprising a mechanical linkage system, including a joint between the two mirrors which is movable along two axes.

10. A mirror unit according to claim 9 wherein the axes are at right angles.

11. A mirror according to claim 9 wherein the axes are respectively normally vertical and horizontal.

12. A mirror unit according to any of claims 9 to 11 including a lever arm attached to each mirror and connected to a coupling constituting the said joint, the coupling permitting mutual pivotting motion of the lever arms and relative sliding of the lever arms.

13. A mirror unit according to claim 8 as dependent on claim 6 wherein a first of the mirrors is directly coupled to an electric motor for joystick pivotting control in two planes and the second mirror is coupled to a link lever having a generally straight portion held by a rose joint at an intermediate position and an arcuate portion slidingly received in a bearing which is rigid with the first mirror and oriented at an angle to the straight portion of the link lever.

14. An exterior mountable driving mirror unit having forward and rearward viewing mirrors in which both mirrors are adjustable in their vertical planes sufficiently to enable viewing front and rear extremities of the vehicle at ground level.

15. An exterior mountable driving mirror substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and Figures 4a and 4b of the accompanying drawings.

16. An exterior mountable driving mirror sub

stantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.