GB2164617A

GB2164617A - Remote control external rear-view mirror for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2164617A
Application number: GB08523295A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl-Heinz Leonberger
Original assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker KG
Current assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker KG
Priority date: 1984-09-22
Filing date: 1985-09-20
Publication date: 1986-03-26
Also published as: GB2164617B; IT8522131A0; FR2570659B1; GB8523295D0; DE3434959A1; FR2570659A1; DE3434959C2; IT1185713B

Abstract

The remote control external rear-view mirror is attached to the vehicle by a mirror base (1). A mirror head (2) with a pivotally mounted mirror glass support plate (7) is able to tilt downwards with respect to the mirror base (1) with a U-shaped bracket (3) serving as a hinge connection. The mirror glass support plate (7) is connected by way of an intermediate lever (10) to an actuating member (8). The actuating member (8) is released from the intermediate lever (10) when the mirror head (2) is tilted down. In order that the mirror glass support plate (7) resumes its original position, despite this separation, when returning the mirror head (2), the actuating member (8) is connected by a guide member (18) to the intermediate lever (10). The guide member (18) forms a positive guide, by which the intermediate lever (10) is brought back into engagement with the actuating member (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Remote control external rear-view mirror for vehicles The invention relates to a remote control external rear-view mirror for vehicles, in particular for motor vehicles having a mirror base adapted to be attached to the vehicle and a mirror head tiltable relative to said base. In particular the invention relates to such a mirror, which comprises a pivotally mounted glass support plate connected by an inter-mediate lever to an actuating member located in the mirror base.

External rear-view mirrors of this type are attached to the vehicle by the mirror base. The mirror head and the mirror base are connected to each other by a drop-in connection as well as by a hinge-like intermediate joint. The mirror head is able to be tilted with respect to the mirror base forwards and rearwards in the direction of travel, in which case the drop-in connection is released.

When the mirror head tilts down with respect to the mirror base, the adjusting device, consisting of the intermediate lever and actuating member must necessarily follow the tilting movement, in order that when the mirror head is returned to the position of use, the adjustability of the mirror glass support plate is again provided, or the mirror glass returns immediately to its position assumed before tilting down. For this purpose, in the known external rear-view mirrors, several intermediate levers are provided between the actuating member and the mirror glass support plate. This construction is complicated as regards assembly and the number of moving parts, and cannot be used in all designs of external rear-view mirrors. The various intermediate levers require a considerable installation space, which is frequently not available.Also, on account of the high number of components and necessary moving joints and sliding guides, undesirable play may occur, which may have a detrimental effect, in the form of vibrations of the mirror glass support plate. Corresponding tools are required for the various intermediate levers, which tools are expensive to produce and make the external rear-view mirror more expensive.

External rear-view mirrors are also known in which the actuating member is connected to the mirror glass support plate by way of Bowden cables. However, Bowden cables are liable to vibrations, are bulky and require a considerable installation space. Since the Bowden cables must be sufficiently long to allow the tilting-down movement of the mirror head, they bulge considerably in the position of use of the external rear-view mirror, for which a correspondingly large space must be available. In addition, Bowden cables can only be attached to the actuating member and to the mirror glass support plate in a complicated manner.

It is the object of the invention to construct an external rear-view mirror in which, whilst using only a small number of components, the mirror head is able to tilt down with respect to the mirror base and in which when the mirror head is returned, the mirror glass support plate again assumes its original position adopted before tiltingdown.

The invention provides a remote control external rear-view mirror for vehicles, having a mirror base adapted to be attached to the vehicle and a mirror head able to tilt with respect to said base, comprising an intermediate lever connecting a pivotally mounted mirror glass support plate to an actuating member located in the mirror base, wherein the actuating member is detachably connected to said intermediate lever so that the connection between said actuating member and said intermediate lever is released when the mirror head is tilted downwardly relative to said base and that said actuating member and said intermediate lever are connected to each other by at least one guide member, which is located in a guide of said intermediate lever and wherein said intermediate lever is able to slide relative to the guide member.

In this external rear-view mirror, the intermediate lever and the actuating member can be detached from each other, when the mirror head tilts down with respect to the mirror base. Due to this, no complicated intermediate parts are required between the actuating member and the mirror glass support plate. The adjusting device for the mirror glass support plate, consisting of the intermediate lever and actuating member, therefore only takes up a small amount of space and can be provided in all designs of external rear-view mirror. The guide member ensures that despite the separation of the actuating member and intermediate lever, when the mirror head is returned, the glass support plate again adopts its original position. The guide member ensures that when the mirror head is folded back, the intermediate lever comes into engagement reliably with the actuating member.

When the mirror head is tilted down, the guide member slides in the guide relative to the intermediate lever. In this case, the cohesion between the actuating member and the intermediate lever is maintained. When the mirror head is tilted back, the guide member forms a type of positive guide, by which the intermediate lever is brought into engagement reliably with the actuating member.

The invention is hereafter described in detail with reference to one embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section view in which the mirror head is in its position for use, Figure 2 shows the mirror of Figure 1, in which the mirror head is tilted down with respect to the mirror base towards the rear in the direction of travel, Figure 3 shows the mirror of Figure 1 in sectional view, in which the mirror head is tilted with respect to the mirror base towards the front in the direction of travel, Figure 4 is a view on line IV-IV of Figure 5 showing a guide member of the mirror located in a guide, whereof the mirror head assumes its position for use, Figure 5 shows the guide and the guide member of Figure 4 in side view and partly in section, Figure 6 shows the guide member in a position with respect to the guide, in which the mirror head is tilted down with respect to the mirror base in an illustration corresponding with Figure 4, Figure 7 shows the guide and the guide member of Figure 6 in side view and partly in section, Figure 8 is a section on line Vill-VIII of Figure 4.

The external rear-view mirror has a mirror base 1 to be attached to the vehicle (not shown), on which a mirror head 2 is pivoted. Serving as a hinge connection is a substantially U-shaped bracket 3, which is mounted to rotate by one side 4 in a mounting 5 of the mirror head 2 and by its other side 6 in a mounting (not shown) of the mirror base 1. The mirror head 2 is connected by drop-in connections (not shown) in a detachable manner to the mirror base 1. In the position for use, the mirror head 2 assumes the position illustrated in Figure 1 with respect to the mirror base 1.

Serving for the adjustment of a mirror glass support plate 7 located in the mirror head 2 is an actuating member 8 constructed as a control lever, which in known manner is mounted in the manner of a ball joint in the mirror base 1. The actuating member 8 is fixed to a coupling 9 constructed as a fork and located in the mirror base 1, to which coupling an intermediate lever 10 is detachably connected. It is mounted to pivot in the mirror head 2 by way of a ball joint 11 and is constructed as a two-armed lever, which is pivoted by one end 12 on the rear side of the mirror glass support plate 7 and at the other end comprises a fork member 13 (Figure 2), by which it can be detachably connected to the coupling 9.The sides 14 (Figure 2) of the coupling 9 are provided on their facing inner sides with pins 15 directed towards each other, which are located at the same height and at a distance apart. These sides 14 and 16, 17 are directed towards each other and staggered by 90" with respect to each other The two sides 16 and 17 of the fork member 13 of the intermediate lever 10, the width of which corresponds approximately to the distance between the sides 14 of the coupling 9, receive the pins 15 therebetween and engage between the sides 14 of the fork member 13. Due to this, in the position for use of the mirror head 2, a positive connection between the coupling 9 and the intermediate lever 10 is provided.When the actuating member 8 is swung from the position illustrated in full lines in Figure 1, into the position illustrated in dot dash lines, the glass support plate 7 is tilted from its position illustrated in full lines into the dot dash position. Furthermore, as a result of its mounting in the manner of a ball joint, the actuating member can also be rotated so that the mirror glass support plate 7 is able to tilt about an axis lying in the plane of the drawing.

When the mirror head 2 is tilted down (Figure 2) out of its position for use (Figure 1) in the opposite direction to the direction of travel A, the drop-in connection is released and the mirror head 2 is held on the mirror base 1 solely by the bracket 3.

The fork member 13 comes out of engagement with the coupling 9, so that the positive connection between the actuating member 8 and the intermediate lever 10 is eliminated. However, the actuating member 8 or its coupling 9 and the intermediate lever 10 are connected to each other by a guide member 18 even in the tilted down position of the mirror head 2. It is provided at one end with an annular suspension member 19, by which the guide member is attached to a pin 20 of the coupling 9. It is provided on the outside of one side 14, so that the guide member 18 with its suspension member 19 can be pushed conveniently from the side onto the pin 20. The intermediate lever 10 is provided with a guide 21, through which the guide member 18 passes. It is so long that it cannot slide out of the guide 21 when the mirror head 2 is tilted down.Since the guide member 18 is fixed to the coupling 9, when the mirror head 2 is tilted down, the adjusting lever 10 shifts relative to the guide member.

If the mirror head 2 is tilted back again from the position according to Figure 2 into its position for use according to Figure 1, then the guide member 18 ensures that the intermediate lever 10 comes into engagement reliably with the coupling 9 of the actuating member 8. As it is tilted back, the intermediate lever 10 slides with its guide 21 on the guide member 18.

Since the mirror head 2 and with it the intermediate lever 10 carry out a swinging movement, the guide member 18 is produced from flexible material, so that it can follow this swinging movement.

The guide member 18 preferably consists of a suitable synthetic material. When the mirror head 2 is tilted down, the guide member 18 is bent over its length, as is apparent from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2. In order to prevent excessive bending of the guide member 18, it is seated with its suspension member 19 able to rotate on the pin 20 of the coupling 9.

Since the guide member 18 consists of flexible material, no other guide member is necessary for the other tilting direction of the mirror head 2. As shown in Figure 3, the mirror head 2 can be tilted forwards in the direction of travel A with respect to the mirror base 1. In this case, the guide member 18 is bent in the opposite direction to the case of tilting rearwards in the direction of travel A. Since the tilting angle is greater when tilting in the direction of travel A towards the front, the length of the guide member 18 must be selected so that it cannot slide out of the guide 21 of the intermediate lever 10. When the mirror head 2 is tilted back from the position according to Figure 3 into its position for use (Figure 1), it is again ensured by the guide member 18 that the fork member 13 of the intermediate lever 10 comes into engagement reliably with the coupling 9 of the actuating member 8.

In order that the actuating member 8 is not able to twist relative to the intermediate lever 10 when the mirror head 2 is tilted down, due to which the joining together of the fork member 13 and of the coupling 9 would be impossible, the guide member 18 has a particular design as shown in Figures 4to 8. The guide member 18 has an elongated base member 22 of approximately semi-circular cross section (Figure 8), which lies in a recess 23 in the guide 21 and engaging over which is a bracket 24. The bottom 25 of the recess 23 is curved to correspond to the base member 22, so that the guide member 18 may rest over its entire surface on the bottom 25 by its base member.

The bracket 24 is constructed in one piece with a guide 26, which is in turn constructed in one piece with the intermediate lever 10. The bracket 24 is substantially shorter than the guide 26 (Figure 5).

In order that the guide member 18 cannot fall out of the recess 23, the guide 26 is provided with retaining members 27 to 30, which lie opposite each other at a distance apart at the front and rear ends of the guide 26 in the displacement direction (double arrow 31) of the guide 21. The retaining members 27 to 30 rest on the flat upper side 32 of the base member 22, so that the guide member 16 is prevented from falling out of the recess 23 transversely with respect to its longitudinal direction.

The spacing between the opposing retaining members 27, 29 and 28, 30 corresponds to the width of a web 33, which is provided on the upper side 32 of the base member 22 and is constructed in one piece therewith. The web 33 has a rectangular cross section and is constructed in the form of a point at its end facing the suspension member 19.

When the web 33 arrives in the region of the guide 26 (Figure 6 and 7), then the retaining members 27 to 30 bear by their end faces against the side faces 34 and 35 of the web.

In the position for use of the mirror head 2, the guide 21 assumes the position illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 with respect to the guide member 18.

Since in this case, the intermediate lever 10 with its fork member 13 is in engagement with the coupling 9 of the actuating member 8, the suspension member 19 of the guide member 18 is located at a relatively small distance from the guide 21. The web 33 lies in the region outside the guide 21. The free end 36 of the guide member 18 (Figure 1) is free in the mirror head 2. The mirror glass support plate 7 can be swung in the desired direction by means of the actuating member 8. In the region outside the bracket 24, the recess 23 is continued as a groove in the guide 26 (Figure 5). The side walls 37 and 38 (Figures 6 and 8) of the recess 23 are constructed with a V-shape in the guide 26 (Figures 4 and 6) so that starting from the retaining members 27 to 30, half way along their length between the retaining members, they project furthest in the direction of the opposing side wall.Consequently the side walls 37, 38 are formed by wall sections 39, 40 and 41, 42 lying at an obtuse angle with respect to each other. They form contact surfaces for the guide member 18 at the time of tilting of the intermediate lever 10 for adjusting the mirror glass support plate 7. The various swinging positions of the guide member 18 are shown in Figure 4 in dot dash lines. The wall sections 39, 42 and 40, 41 lie parallel to each other and have such a vertical spacing from each other that the base member 22 of the guide member 18 bears laterally against the wall sections 39, 42 respectively 41, 40 in the swung positions (dot dash line in Figure 4).

The guide member 18 thus does not prevent the adjustment of the intermediate lever 10 and thus of the mirror glass support plate 7.

When the mirror head 2 is tilted down with respect to the mirror base 1, the guide 21 provided on the intermediate lever 10 is shifted along the guide member 18 into the position illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. The guide member 18 itself does not carry out any shifting movement, since it is attached by the suspension member 19 to the mirror base 1 fixed to the vehicle. As the guide 21 shifts along the guide member 18, the web 33 arrives in the recess or groove 23 between the retaining parts 27 to 30 (Figure 6). Consequently the actuating member 8 is fixed in its instantaneous position relative to the intermediate lever 10. Due to this the actuating member 8 cannot twist relative to the intermediate lever 10.When the tilted mirror head 2 is swung back into its position for use, the fork member 13 (Figure 1) of the intermediate lever 10 comes easily into engagement with the coupling 9 of the actuating member 8. After the engagement of the mirror head 2 with the mirror base 1, the actuating member 8 and the mirror glass support plate 7 again resume their original positions.

In order to ensure that the guide member 18 is not removed accidentally from the guide 21, a lug 43 projecting in the opposite direction to the web 33 is provided at the free end 36 in the base member 22, which lug projects obliquely outwards in the direction of the guide 21. This lug 43 comes to bear against the bracket 24, in case the guide member 18 is shifted as far as the guide 21.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the pin 20 is at a smaller distance from the fulcrum 44 for the actuating member 8 than the pin 15 of the coupling 9. It is thus ensured that the free end 36 of the guide member 18 does not carry out any or only minimal angular deflections at the time of adjustment of the mirror glass support plate 7. The free end 36 of the guide member can thus be prevented in a simple manner from abutting against housing parts of the mirror head 2, which leads to undesirable noises.

In a further embodiment (not shown), in place of the pin 15, the sides 14 of the coupling 9 may comprise a through hole, through which a pin projecting perpendicularly from the guide member 18 and constructed in one piece therewith projects.

The section of this bolt lying between the sides 14 of the coupling 9 is surrounded laterally by the sides 16, 17 of the fork member 13 of the intermediate lever 10.

Claims

1. A remote control external rear-view mirror for vehicles, having a mirror base adapted to be attached to the vehicle and a mirror head able to tilt with respect to said base, comprising an intermediate lever connecting a pivotally mounted mirror glass support plate to an actuating member located in the mirror base, wherein the actuating member is detachably connected to said intermediate lever so that the connection between said ac tuating member and said intermediate lever is released when the mirror head is tilted downwardly relative to said base and that said actuating member and said intermediate lever are connected to each other by at least one guide member, which is located in a guide of said intermediate lever and wherein said intermediate lever is able to slide relative to the guide member.

2. A mirror according to Claim 1, wherein the actuating member is provided with a coupling, which can be engaged in a counter-coupling of the intermediate lever.

3. A mirror according to Claim 2, wherein the coupling is constructed as a fork, engaging between sides of which are sides of the counter-coupling, likewise constructed as a fork.

4. A mirror according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the guide member is pivoted on the coupling of the actuating member.

5. A mirror according to Claim 4, wherein the coupling comprises a pin, onto which the guide member can be slid with a suspension member.

6. A mirror according to Claim 3 or any Claim dependent thereon, wherein the coupling comprises at least one engagement member, projecting from its sides on the inner side, for the sides of the counter-coupling.

7. A mirror according to Claim 6, wherein said engagement member comprises two pins.

8. A mirror according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the actuating member is mounted by means of a ball joint in the mirror base, wherein the pin for the guide member is at a smaller distance from the fulcrum of the actuating member than the engagement member for the counter-coupling.

9. A mirror according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the guide member is constructed as a flexible rod-like part.

10. A mirror according to Claim 9, wherein said guide member is of a synthetic material.

11. A mirror according to one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the guide member is located in a recess in the guide.

12. A mirror according to Claim 11, wherein the guide member is secured in the recess by at least one retaining member.

13. A mirror according to Claim 12, wherein the guide member is secured in the recess by four retaining members.

14. A mirror according to Claims 12 or 13, wherein the guide member comprises a base member of substantially semi-circular cross section, which rests on the bottom of the recess.

15. A mirror according to anyone of Claims 12 to 14, wherein the retaining member rests on a flat upper side of the base member.

16. A mirror according to any one of Claims 13 to 15, whereby when the mirror head is tilted down relative to the base, the guide member is prevented from rotating about its longitudinal axis in the guide.

17. A mirror according to Claim 16, wherein the guide member is provided with a web, which when the mir head is tilted down, is restrained by means of an abutment on the guide.

18. A mirror according to Claim 17, wherein the web projects from the flat upper side of the base member.

19. A mirror according to Claim 18, wherein the web is constructed in one piece with said upper side of said base member.

20. A mirror according to any one of Claims 17 to 19, wherein the web is restrained by means of an abutment provided by the retaining member.

21. A mirror according to any one of Claims 17 to 20, wherein the retaining members lie opposite each other with a spacing which corresponds to the width of the web.

22. A mirror according to one of Claims 11 to 21, wherein the recess is defined by side walls which are each formed by wall sections lying at an obtuse angle with respect to each other.

23. A mirror according to Claim 22, wherein the wall sections located diagonally opposite each other are mutually parallel.

24. A mirror according to one of Claim 1 to 23, wherein close to a free end thereof, the guide member comprises at least one retaining member, preventing it from being drawn out of the guide.

25. A mirror according to Claim 24, wherein the retaining member is a lug projecting obliquely from a base member of the guide member.

26. A mirror according to one of Claims 1 to 25, wherein the guide is constructed in one piece with said intermediate lever.

27. A remote control external rear-view mirror for vehicles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.