GB2186246A

GB2186246A - External rear view mirror

Info

Publication number: GB2186246A
Application number: GB08603209A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Zipperle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-02-10
Filing date: 1986-02-10
Publication date: 1987-08-12
Also published as: GB2186246B; GB8603209D0

Abstract

External rear view mirror for motor vehicles, comprising a mirror housing (3) in which the mirror glass (4) is disposed for displacement relative to the mirror housing, and comprising a base (1) adapted for rigid connection to the vehicle and by way the mirror housing can, in a predetermined position in which it projects from the vehicle, be pivoted about an axis (2) and out of this position once the retaining force of a locking device (9) has been overcome, characterized by, for influencing the pivoting capacity of the mirror housing (3) about the axis (2) in relation to the base (1), a ratchet device (10, 11) having at least two angularly offset ratchet positions (Fig. 2), one of which maintains the mirror housing (3) in a position suitable for a left-hand drive vehicle while the other maintains it in a different position suitable for a right-hand drive vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION External rear view mirror for motor vehicles The invention relates to an external rear view mirror for motor vehicles comprising the features set out in the preamble to Claim 1.

Where the known rear view mirrors of this type are concerned, the mirror housing is, in relation to the base, in a position which is fixed by the manufacturer, because the necessary adaptation to the needs of the user is carried out by a corresponding adjustment of the mirror glass. The capacity of the mirror housing to pivot about the axis relative to the base is provided only for reasons of safety in order, for example in the case of an accident or if the vehicle passing through an automatic car wash, to allow the mirror housing to swing away.The fact that the design establishes the position of use of the mirror housing in relation to the base makes it necessary to produce for mirrors which are to be mounted on the nearside of the vehicle and for those which are to be mounted on the offside of the vehicle two different constructions for righthand drive and for left-hand drive vehicles, because a mirror disposed on the nearside of the vehicle necessitates different positions of the mirror housing according to whether the driver is sitting on the left or on the right side of the interior. Similar considerations apply to the external mirror which is to be mounted on the right-hand side of the vehicle.

The invention is based on the problem of eliminating this drawback. This problem is resolved by an external rear view mirror having the features according to Claim 1.

The need for different constructions for left and right-hand drive vehicles is rendered superfluous by the ratchet setting facility of the mirror housing according to the invention in the two positions required for a left-hand drive and for a right-hand drive vehicle. Reducing the number of different constructions by half permits of a more economical production. But also for assembly and stock-keeping, standardization is an advantage. Thanks to the ratchet locking of the mirrors in the two selectable positions, there is no risk of the mirror housing being wrongly adjusted intentionally or accidentally if, as is preferably the case, the ratchet device is so constructed that an unintended variation in the mirror housing position is impossible. This also applies if the mirror housing is secured against undesired pivoting by a second ratchet device.Then in fact, it is necessary only to construct the two ratchet devices so that when a loading is applied to the mirror housing, only that ratchet device is disengaged which has to allow pivoting on grounds of safety.

In a preferred embodiment, there is concentrically of the axis between the mirror housing and the base a disc or plate which is pressed by a pretensioned spring so that it has one side pressed against the base. At the same time, the spring presses the mirror housing against the other side of the plate. This plate and those areas of the base and mirror housing which face it are provided with the cooperating elements of the two ratchet devices which are preferably rib-like projections and corresponding groove-like depressions.By reason of a differing flank angle of the ratchet elements of one ratchet device in comparison with the ratchet members of the other ratchet device and/or by having differingly great depths of penetration in the two ratchet devices, it is possible easily to ensure that a torque exerted on the mirror housing only allows one of the ratchet devices to become ineffective. Furthermore, the displaceability of the plate and of the mirror housing in the direction of the axis may be so limited that it is not possible for both ratchet devices to become simultaneously disengaged.In order nevertheless easily to be able to pivot the morror housing out of the position which is correct for right-hand drive vehicles into that which is appropriate to left-hand drive vehicles, the plate can be provided with a recess or the like into which it is possible to insert a locking member in order to secure the disc when the mirror housing is rotated.

Further advantageous developments of the solution according to the invention are likewise an object of the Sub-Claims.

The invention is explained in greater detaii hereinafter with reference to an example of embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partly sectional and incomplete view of a first example of embodiment; Figure 2 is a plan view of the disc located between the mirror housing and the mirror base; Figure 3 is an incompletely shown but enlarged section taken on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 1, and Figure 4 is an incomplete and enlarged section taken on the line IV-IV in Fig. 1.

An external rear view mirror for a motor vehicle has, intended for mounting in known manner on the side of the body, a hollow base 1 which projects from the vehicle in a transverse direction. The at least substantially horizontal upper limiting wall of the base 1 is in the assembled condition provided at a distance from its free end with a bore in which there is guided for longitudinal displacement a sleeve 2. A mirror housing 3 in which a mirror glass 4 is located for adjustment in known manner is provided in the portion of its under side which masks the base 1 from above with a bore through which the sleeve 2 engages.

The longitudinal axis of the sleeve 2 is the axis about which the mirror housing 3 can be pivoted in relation to the base 1. Between an outwardly radially projecting edge of the sleeve 2 on the end projecting into the base 1 and the upper limiting wall of the base 1 there is clamped a plate spring assembly 5 through which the sleeve 2 passes. A radially outwardly projecting annular collar provided at the other end of the sleeve 2 engages behind the underside of the mirror housing 3. Consequently, the mirror housing is drawn towards the base 1 by the pretensioned plate spring assembly 5. Naturally, it would also be possible to dispose the plate spring assembly 5 within the mirror housing and to have the annular collar provided at the bottom end 2 bearing directly on the top limiting face of the base 1.

A Bowden cable 13 introduced through the base and the sleeve 2 and into the mirror housing 3 makes it possible to adjust the mirror glass 3 from inside the motor vehicle.

As Fig. 1 shows, there is on the sleeve 2 between the mirror housing 3 and the base 1 an annular disc 6, in fact so that it engages a cylindrical depression 7 in the underside of the mirror housing 2. Therefore, there is only a narrow gap between the top of the base 1 and that part of the surface of the underside of the mirror housing 3 which borders on the depression 7.

On its underside, in the region of the outer marginal zone, the annular disc 6 has, staggered by 1200 in respect of each other, three radially extending grooves 8 which, as Fig. 4 shows, have a trapezoidal cross-section. The flank angle of the equally constructed grooves 8 amounts to about 45". At the same radial distance as the grooves 8 from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 2 there are on the top of the base 1, staggered by in each case 1200 from each other, three ratchet projections 9 which in their cross-section and height match the grooves 8 which form the respective ratchet depressions. The ratchet projections 9 constitute a locking device which arrests the mirror housing 3 in its basic position.

A ratchet device is formed by three pairs of grooves 10 in the upper side of the annular disc 6 which is towards the mirror housing and three rib-like ratchet projections 11 integrally formed on the bottom of the depression 7. As Fig. 2 shows, the three pairs of grooves 10 are offset by about 60 in relation to the grooves 8. The grooves 10, all of which are identically constructed, extend radially and, like the grooves 8, as far as the outer edge of the annular disc 6 and, as Fig.

3 shows, they all have a trapezoidal crosssection. The flank angle is however substantially smaller than that of the grooves 8 and in the example illustrated it amounts to about 20 . Furthermore, their depth is greater than the depth of the grooves 8. The two grooves 10 of each pair are offset by about 12" in respect of each other. The ratchet projections 11 associated with the grooves 10 and whose cross-sectional form and height are matched to the cross-sectional form and depth of the grooves 10, as Fig. 3 shows, are integrally moulded in the bottom of the depression at such angular settings that the mirror housing 3 stands in the normal position for left-hand drive motor vehicles when these ratchet projections 11 are engaged in one groove 10 of each pair.Upon engagement in the other groove 10 of each pair, the mirror housing is in the position appropriate to vehicles which have right-hand control.

The plate spring assembly 5 and the sleeve 2 define the maximum path of displacement of the mirror housing 3 away from the base at a value which is less than the sum of the depth of penetration of one of the ratchet projections 9 into one of the grooves 8 and of one of the ratchet projections 11 into a groove 10. This ensures that only the ratchet projections 9 or the ratchet projections 11 can be disengaged simultaneously from the associated grooves.

If too high a torque were exerted on the mirror housing 3, for example in a car wash, then by virtue of the greater flank angle only the ratchet projections 9 would become disengaged from the slots 8. Adjustment of the mirror housing 3 to the left-hand drive position or right-hand drive position is not affected by this.

In the event of these positions having to be varied, then the annular disc 6 is provided on its periphery with a radially outwardly open recess 12 into which a screwdriver or a different type of arresting pin 15 can be introduced through the base 1. If torque is now exerted on the mirror housing 3, then it is not the ratchet projections 9 which become disengaged from the grooves 8 but the ratchet projections 11 which are disengaged from the grooves 10. Reversal from right-hand drive position to left-hand drive position is therefore simple but cannot be performed unintentionally.

All the features mentioned in the foregoing description or which may be derived solely from the drawings are, as further developments, constituent parts of the invention even though they have not been particularly stressed and in particular even if they have not been mentioned in the Claims.

Claims

1. External rear view mirror for motor vehicles, comprising a mirror housing in which the mirror glass is disposed for displacement relative to the mirror housing, and comprising a base adapted for rigid connection to the vehicle and by which the mirror housing can, in a predetermined position in which it projects from the vehicle, be pivoted about an axis and out of this position once the retaining force of a locking device has been overcome, characterized by, for influencing the pivoting capacity of the mirror housing (3) about the axis (2) in relation to the base (1), a ratchet device (10, 11) having at least two angularly offset ratchet positions, one of which maintains the mirror housing (3) in a position suitable for a left-hand drive vehicle while the other maintains it in a different position suitable for a right-hand drive vehicle.

2. External rear view mirror according to Claim 1, characterized in that the ratchet device comprises ratchet elements in the form of at least one ratchet depression (10) in each ratchet position and at least one ratchet element in the form of a ratchet projection (11) which in each of the two ratchet positions is orientated at one of the ratchet depressions (10) and engages into the latter.

3. External rear view mirror according to Claim 2, characterized in that the ratchet elements (10, 11) each lie in an annular disc zone concentric in relation to the axis (2).

4. External rear view mirror according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one type of ratchet elements (10, 11) are disposed on a plate (3) traversed by the spindle (2), on the side thereof which is towards the mirror housing (3) while the other type of ratchet elements (10, 11) are disposed in that area of the mirror housing (3) which is towards the said plate (6).

5. External rear view mirror according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized by a spring (5) preferably disposed concentrically of the axis and pretensioned in the longitudinal direction thereof, which seeks to maintain the ratchet elements (10, 11) in engagement.

6. External rear view mirror according to Claim 5, characterized in that the spring (5) is disposed in the base (1) or in the mirror housing (3).

7. External rear view mirror according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the plate (6) is disposed for displacement in the direction of the axis (2) in relation to the mirror housing (3) while each of the envisaged ratchet projections (11) is constructed in one piece with the surface carrying it.

8. External rear view mirror according to one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the ratchet device (3) comprises pairs of ratchet depressions (10) each of which is disposed at 1 20O from the others.

9. External rear view mirror according to one of Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that there is associated with the plate (6) at least one ratchet member (8) of the locking device (8, 9), which locks the plate (6) to the base (1) in at least one angular setting.

10. External rear view mirror according to Claim 9, characterized in that the ratchet member (8) is provided on the side of the plate (6) which is towards the base (1) and in at least one angular position meshes with a ratchet member (9) of the base (1).

11. External rear view mirror according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the ratchet members (8) provided on one side of the plate (6) are angularly offset in relation to the ratchet members (10) provided on the other side.

12. External rear view mirror according to one of Claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the ratchet elements (9) and ratchet members (11) constructed in the form of projections are ribs with a wedge or trapezoidal cross-section while the ratchet depressions (7, 10) are grooves having a corresponding cross-section and in that the ratchet elements (10, 11) have steeper flanks and/or are of a greater height than the ratchet members (8, 9).

13. External rear view mirror according to Claim 12, characterized by a cut-out (12) in the plate (6) for the insertion of a locking member (15) which prevents rotation of the plate (6) in relation to the base (1).

14. External rear view mirror according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the maximum displacement of the mirror housing (3) in the direction of the axis (2) and in relation to the base (1) is smaller than the total of the depth of penetration of a rib (11) of the ratchet device (10, 11) into an associated groove (10) and the depth of penetration of a groove (9) of the locking device (8, 9) into an associated groove (10).

15. External rear view mirror according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the axis is constituted by a sleeve (2) having an external shoulder at each of its two ends.