GB2225993A

GB2225993A - An external rear-view mirror for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2225993A
Application number: GB8922970A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernhard Mittelhauser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-15
Filing date: 1989-10-12
Publication date: 1990-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-12
Also published as: ES2019155A6; GB2225993B; GB8922970D0

Abstract

The adjustable mirror body (4) of an external rear-view mirror is electrically heated and detachably connected to a mounting support (13), the electrical connections for heating purposes being connected to the mounting support (13) and electrical contacts being achieved between the mirror body (4) and mounting support (13) when these two component parts are assembled. In order to simplify further the assembly of the mirror body, a form-locking connection (27) is provided for the mirror body (4) and its mounting support (13) such connection excluding the possibility of lateral displacement and causing these component parts to be centred relative to each other once the connection has been achieved. In addition, the contacts are situated in the region of the above-mentioned form-locking connection. <IMAGE>

Description

AN EXTERNAL REAR-VIEW MIRROR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES The invention is based on an external rear-view mirror, having an electrically heatable mirror body detachably disposed on a mounting support, which is adjustable in all directions, the mounting support together with the mirror body being situated in a substantially dish-shaped housing which is open at one end, in which the electrical supply line for electrical heating purposes is connected to the mounting support, and corresponding electrical contacts are provided on the mounting support and on the mirror body when the mirror body is placed in position.

Such an arrangement for a rear-view mirror has the advantage that there are substantial means for assisting assembly during the fitting of the mirror. Such arrangement forms the subject-matter of my co-pending application No. 8908003.0 (Publication No. 2217665).

The invention seeks to improve the abovementioned mirrors so that the prescribed contact closure between the mirror body and the mounting support, which accommodates the mirror body, is always reliably achieved, even if assembly has to be effected by inexperienced personnel. At the same time, the securement of the mirror body to the mounting support should also be made even more positive.

To achieve this object according to the invention, a form-locking connection, which is safeguarded against lateral displacement, is provided between the mounting support and the mirror body, and, in addition, the electrical contacts are disposed in a region facing this connection. In such a case, the mounting support is preferably provided on one edge with a projection which engages in a recess in the mirror body, or in a plate supporting the mirror body, to establish form-locking.In such a case, the projection and the recess are preferably so adapted that, by utilising inclined surfaces for the establishment of the form-locking, for example, an alignment or centering effect occurs in order to achieve thereby such a reciprocal position of the mounting support and of the mirror body, even during the establishment of the form-locking, that the contact closure has to occur in the correct position. In such a case, the elements of the mounting support and mirror body which achieve formlocking may also be of such a configuration that a pivotal movement of the mounting support and mirror body relative to each other is possible when the assembly of the mirror body is to be effected.Thus, to realise this concept, the parts of the connection which are in contact with one another may be rounded, so that a kind of hinge or pivotal movement may be produced and, as a result, the contact closure for the electrical connection can be achieved more satisfactorily.

Further details of the invention are explained with reference to the drawing, in which two embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a rear view of the mounting support and the mirror body, supported thereby, for an external rear-view mirror of a motor vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is à rear view of the upper edge portion of a modified mounting support together with a mirror body, on a scale larger than that of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

The mirror body 4, which is adhered to a thin plate 25 of corresponding size and is provided, on its rear surface, with a heating layer (not shown), is situated in conventional manner in the opening of a dishshaped housing (not shown). A mounting support 13, which supports the mirror body 4 and can effect adjustment thereof, is situated on the rear surface of the mirror body 4, that is to say of its plate 25; a cup 11 and a ball 12 are used for adjustment purposes; the adjusting means may engage with cups 14'.

The heating layer of the mirror body 4 has rearwardly protruding contacts 18 which are in contact with contact pieces 19 on the mounting support 13; the connecting wires leading to these contact pieces are referenced 21. Current for the heating of the mirror is supplied, therefore, via the mounting support 13, to which the mirror body 4 (with plate 25) is detachably connected.

During the fitting of the mirror, however, it is important that this connection can be established rapidly and reliably - even by inexperienced personnel - so that the Contact closure for the electrical connection is readily achieved with the fitting automatically and at the correct position.

The mounting support 13 is substantially in the form of a circular disc, which is surrounded by an annular rib 26 of the plate 25 in a virtually clearance-free manner.

Form-locking connections are provided both at the upper end at 27 and at the bottom end at 28, but also at both sides at 29, and they serve to retain the plate 25 securely on the mounting support 13. In such a case, the connections at 29 are formed by snap-locking hooks 22, whereas the lower connection at 28 is formed by an overlap portion 30 of the rib 26, which portion overlaps the edge of the mounting support 13. This overlap portion 30 and the snap-locking hooks 22 are so adapted, that is to say they are so resilient, that the connection can be established or released by instantaneous deformation.

However, the connection at 27 in the region of the upper edge of the mounting support 13 and of the mirror body 4 is important for the invention.

According to Figs. 1 and 2, the upper edge 31 of the mounting support 13 extends in a conically tapering manner; it engages beneath a flange 32 of the rib 26, which also has an inclined surface internally.

Furthermore, the recess 33, which serves to accommodate the edge 31 and is defined at its upper end by the flange 32, is defined on both sides by inclined lateral surfaces 34; these lateral surfaces 34 cause the mirror body 4 to be accurately centred during a movement, as per arrow 35, for assembling the mirror body 4; the mirror body 4 is centred, therefore, simultaneously with the establishment of the form-locking at 27. The arrangement is such that, by pushing the mirror body 4 onto the mounting support 13, contact can readily be made in the correct position between the contacts 18 and 19. The connections at 28 and 29 are established simultaneously with this contact closure.

In this arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the edge 31 is grooved. In such a case, the groove 35 is in contact with a rounded portion 36 of the flange 32 so as to permit a pivotal movement to be achieved in the direction of arrow 37 during assembly of the mirror body 4, as shown in Fig. 4, the rounded portion 36 and the groove 35 serving as pivot mounting. Here also, contact is readily made between the contacts 18 and 19 by means of the pivotal movement. This positional accuracy is particularly important when the contacts 18 are knifeblade contacts.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 also, the mirror body 4 is centred during the establishment of the form-locking at 27, as a result of the inclined guide surfaces 38 at the edge 31, or respectively the inclined lateral surfaces 34.

Claims

1. An external rear-view mirror for motor vehicles, having an electrically heatable mirror body detachably disposed on a mounting support, which is adjustable in all directions, the mounting support together with the mirror body being situated in a substantially dish-shaped housing which is open at one end, in which the electrical supply line for electrical heating purposes is connected to the mounting support, and corresponding electrical contacts are provided on the mounting support and on the mirror body when the mirror body is placed in position (assembled), wherein a form-locking connection, which is safeguarded against lateral displacement is provided between the mounting support and the mirror body or respectively a plate which accommodates the mirror body, and the electrical contacts are disposed in a region facing this connection.

2. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which conical or inclinedly extending guide surfaces are provided at the form-locking connection in such a manner that, during an assembly movement to establish the connection, the mirror body and the mounting support are centred relative to each other (correct position for making contact).

3. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the form-locking connection has, at the mounting support, an edge which engages beneath a flange on the mirror body wherein the space serving to accommodate the edge is defined laterally by convergent surfaces and/or the edge is defined laterally by convergent surfaces.

4. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the electrical contacts in the half of the mounting support, or respectively of the mirror body facing the form-locking connection, are preferably provided, however, in the very first third facing the connection.

5. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which, in addition to the form-locking connection, additional formlocking connections are provided, which are in the form of snap-locking connections.

6. A mirror as claimed in claim 3, in which the flange and/or the edge are rounded in the form of a pivot mounting.

7. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which an inclined taper for the positive bringing-together of the mirror body and mounting support is provided at the formlocking connection.

8. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the mounting support is closely surrounded by an annular rib of the plate, which accommodates the mirror body.

9. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the form-locking connection is situated on the edge of the mounting support or respectively of the mirror body.

10. A mirror as claimed in claim 9, in which the form-locking connection is situated on the upper or lower edge, but is preferably situated on the upper edge of the mounting support.

11. An external rear-view mirror for motor vehicles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.