GB2152455A

GB2152455A - Vehicle rear view mirrors

Info

Publication number: GB2152455A
Application number: GB08401085A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wolfgang Zipperle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-01-14
Filing date: 1984-01-14
Publication date: 1985-08-07
Also published as: GB2152455B; GB8401085D0

Abstract

A vehicle rear view mirror (Figure 1) has a base (1) and a mirror housing (2) pivotally mounted at (4,5 and 6,7) on the base for forward or rearward deflection. A spring (3) positively holds the mirror housing (2) in place on the base (1) during deflection as lugs (8, 11) engage in respective recesses (9, 12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION External rear view mirror for motor vehicles This invention relates to an external rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, in which the housing containing the mirror can be deflected in or opposite to the direction of travel relatively to the mirror base attached to the vehicle body,by being moved in each case about a respective one of two vertical axes.

Known such external rear view mirrors have the disadvantage that when the mirror housing is deflected forwards or backwards, it is no longer securely connected to the mirror base. It is thus an object of the invention to provide a mirror which will remain securely connected to the mirror base even when it is deflected forwards or backwards relatively to the base.

According to this invention, an external rear view mirror for a motor vehicle comprises a mirror housing supported by a mirror base adapted to be attached to the vehicle, which housing mounts the mirror and can be deflected in a first direction relative to the mirror base about a first axis against a biassing force and in a second, opposite direction relative to the mirror base about a second axis, bearings for such deflection movements being formed by bearing elements on the base and on the housing supported on each other, wherein for both directions of deflection there is provided,in addition to the bearing elements, at least one connecting device comprising connecting elements, at least one connecting element being on the mirror base and at least one connecting element being on the mirror housing, the connecting elements being in positive locking engagement at least when the mirror housing is deflected.

This connecting device provides a secure connection between the mirror base and housing even when the housing is deflected, whereas the bearings of known external rear view mirrors cannot provide such a secure connection owing to the requirement that the mirror housing should be separable from the base. In particular, the connecting device used in the mirror of the invention secures the deflected mirror housing against separation from the base produced by upward or downward movement in the longitudinal direction of the hinge axis.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure I is a part section of a first embodiment in a horizontal plane penetrated at right-angles by the hinge axes, indicating different positions of deflection of the mirror housing; Figure 2 is a similar part section of a second embodiment, taken on the line ll-ll of Figs. 3 and 4; Figure 3 is an elevation in the direction of arrow X (Fig.2) of the side of the mirror housing facing the mirror base; Figure 4 is an elevation in the direction of arrow Y (Fig. 2) of the side of the mirror base facing the mirror housing;; Figure 5 is an incomplete section through the second embodiment, corresponding to Fig. 2, showing the mirror housing deflected in one direction, and Figure 6 is an incomplete section through the second embodiment taken on the line VI-VI of Figs.

3 and 4.

An external rear view mirror for motor vehicles has a mirror base 1, shown incompletely in Fig. 1 adapted to be attached to the body of a motor ve hicle by screws (not shown).

The side of the mirror base facing away from the car body serves to hold and pivotally mount a mir ror housing 2 containing the mirror (not shown).

For deflection of the mirror housing forwards' in the direction of travel, about a vertical axis against the force of a biased helical spring 3' the mirror base 1 has two front bearing seats 4 spaced apart one above the other, in each of which engages a front bearing element 5 formed on the mirror housing 2. For rearward deflection, the mirror base 1 has two supporting elements 6 spaced apart one above the other, each of which is contacted by a rear bearing element 7 formed on the mirror hous ing 2 when the housing is in the normal position.

As shown in Fig. 1, the rear bearing elements 7 lift away from the supporting elements 6 when the mirror housing 2 is deflected forwards whereas the front bearing elements 5 lift away from the bearing seats 4 when the mirror housing is deflected backwards.

In addition to each front bearing element 5 there is provided, adjacent thereto on the mirror housing 2, a projecting lug 8 engaging in its respective recess 9 of the mirror base 1. Each of the two identical recesses 9 is overlapped on its inner side by a respective part 10 of the mirror base. This part 10 of the material of the mirror base also overlaps the lug 8 when this engages in the recess 9 in the deflected position of the mirror housing, as shown in Fig.1, so that the lug 8 and part 10' which form the two elements of a connecting device, are in positive locking engagement when the mirror housing is deflected forwards.

A projecting lug 11 is also formed on the mirror housing 2 adjacent to each rear bearing element 7, each lug 11 engaging in its respective recess 12 of the mirror base when the mirror housing 2 lies in contact with the base 1. The inner part of each of these two identical recesses 12 is also overlapped by its respective part 13 of the mirror base 1.

When the mirror housing 2 is deflected backwards, these parts 13 also overlap the respective lugs 11 so that each part 13 cooperates with the connecting element formed by its lug 11 to form the connecting device in which the part 13 and the lug 11 are in positive locking engagement when the mirror housing is deflected backwards.

The external rear view car mirror shown in Figs.2 to 6 also comprises a mirror baste 101 adapted to be attached to the body of the vehicle and a mirror housing 102 containing the mirror (not shown), which housing 102 is urged by a biased helical spring 103 to bear against the mirror base 101. As shown most clearly in Fig.4, the mirror base 101 has two front bearing seats 104 spaced apart one above the other and open to the mirror housing 102 and two rear bearing seats 106 also spaced apart one above the other to define, respectively, a front and a rear vertical hinge axis.As may be seen from Fig.6, when the mirror housing is de flected neither forwards nor backwards, each bear ing seat 104 engages with a respective front bearing element 105 formed on the mirror housing 102 while each bearing seat 106 engages with a rear bearing element 107 also formed on the mir ror housing 102.

Between the two front bearing seats 104 as well as between the two rear bearing seats 106 there is provided in each case a hook-shaped connecting element 110, respectively 113 projecting forwards, respectively backwards, formed on the mirror housing 102 and overlapping the hinge axes de fined by the bearing seats 104 and, respectively 106. The two rod-shaped portions of mirror hous ing 102 forming the two front bearing elements 105 and the two rear bearing elements 107 have each a recess, 114 and 114', respectively, in the middle section aligned with the connecting ele ment 110, respectively 113, to engage with the connecting elements 110 and 113 when the mirror housing 102 is deflected neither forwards nor back wards, as may be seen from Fig.2.

When the mirror housing is deflected forwards, the connecting element 113 departs from the re cess 114, while a positive locking engagement is obtained between the connecting element 110 and the hook-shaped part 115 of the mirror housing 102 formed by the recess 114, as shown in Fig.5.

When the mirror housing is deflected backwards, the connecting element 113 and the hook-shaped part 116 formed by the recess 114' similarly overlap. This positive locking engagement between the connecting element 110 and the part 115 when the mirror housing is deflected forwards and between the connecting element 113 and part 116 when the mirror housing is deflected backwards securesthe mirror housing in the deflected position not only against displacement in the direction of the hinge axes but also against detachment from the mirror base.

All the features mentioned in the above description as well as those features which can be found only in the drawing are to be regarded as further developments constituting part of the invention even if they have not been particularly mentioned and in particular also if they have not been mentioned in the claims.

Claims

1. External rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, comprising a mirror housing supported by a mirror base adapted to be attached to the vehicle, which housing mounts the mirror and can be deflected in a first direction relative to the mirror base about a first axis against a biassing force and in a second, opposite direction relative to the mirror base about a second axis, bearings for such deflection movements being formed by bearing elements on the base and of the housing supported on each other, wherein for both directions of deflection there is provided, in addition to the bearing elements, at least one connecting device comprising connecting elements, at least one connecting element being on the mirror base and at least one connecting element being on the mirror housing, the connecting elements being in positive locking engagement at least when the mirror housing is deflected.

2. Mirror according to claim I, wherein at least one of the two co-operating connecting elements is forced to overlap the other when the housing is deflected.

3. Mirror according to claim 2, wherein one connecting element is in the form of a lug pro Jecting towards the base and the other is in the form of a stop extending into the range of swing of the lug.

4. External rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings.

4. Mirror according to claim 3, wherein, when the housing is not deflected, the lug of the connecting device for one direction of deflection and the lug of the connecting device for the opposite direction of deflection receive between them their associated stops with slight clearance.

5. External rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 8 Aug 1984.

Superseded claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 New or amended claims: CLAIMS

1. External rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, comprising a mirror housing supported by a mirror base adapted to be attached to the vehicle, which housing mounts the mirror and can be deflected in a first direction relative to the base about a first axis against a biassing force and in a second, opposite direction relative to the base about a second axis, bearings for such deflection movements being formed by bearing elements on the base and on the housing supported on each other, wherein i) for both directions of deflection there is provided, in addition to the bearing elements, at least one connecting device comprising co-operating connecting elements, at least one connecting element being an integral part of the base and at least one connecting element being an integral part of the housing; ii) the connecting elements are in positive locking engagement at least when the housing is deflected; and iii) at least one of the two cooperating connecting elements is formed to overlap the other only when the housing is deflected.

2. Mirror according to claim I, wherein one connecting element is in the form of a lug projecting towards the base and the other is in the form of a stop extending into the range of swing of the lug.

3. Mirror according to claim 2, wherein, when the housing is not deflected, the lug of the connecting device for one direction of deflection and the lug of the connecting device for the opposite direction of deflection receive between them their associated stops with slight clearance.