GB2266690A

GB2266690A - A rear view mirror for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2266690A
Application number: GB9309230A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giuseppe Valde
Original assignee: Gilardini SpA
Current assignee: Marelli Europe SpA
Priority date: 1992-05-05
Filing date: 1993-05-05
Publication date: 1993-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-05
Also published as: GB9309230D0; ITTO920380A0; FR2690887B1; GB2266690B; FR2690887A1; DE4314549A1; IT1263120B; ITTO920380A1

Abstract

A rear view mirror (1) for a vehicle comprising a hollow outer body (2) a reflecting plate (3) housed in a frontal aperture (4) of the body (2) and a support and orientation device (5) for the connection of the reflecting plate (3) to the body (2), in which this device (5) includes a first element (6) fixed to the body (2) and a second element (7) fixed to the plate (3) cooperating together by means of a ball joint (18, 21), a third element (24) rigidly connected to one of the said first and second elements (7), a ball (30) carried by the third element (24) and a spring (29) housed therein and cooperating with this ball (30) to maintain it in contact with a spherical rolling surface (31) formed in a central portion (9) of another (6) of the said first and second elements; these first and second elements (6, 7) are thrust towards one another by the resilient load of the spring (29). <IMAGE>

Description

2266690 A REAR VIEW MIRROR FOR A VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH AN IMPROVED TYPE OF

SUPPORT AND ORIENTATION DEVICE FOR A REFLECTING PLATE The present invention relates to a vehicle rear view mirror provided with an improved type of support and orientation device for a reflecting plate.

Rear view mirrors are known which essentially comprise a hollow body which can be connected by means of a support arm to a portion of a vehicle body, and a reflecting plate housed in a frontal aperture of the body. The connection of the reflecting plate to the body is achieved by means of a support device which conveniently allows orientation of the reflecting plate with respect to the body itself.

In one known arrangement this device consists of a pair ofelements f ixed respectively to the body and to the reflecting plate, which are each shaped as a substantially spherical bowl and cooperate with one another. Auxiliary attachment means between the two elements, for example, constituted by a Cardan cross def ine a pair of mutually orthogonal axes of relative rotation; rotations about the said axes are generally achieved by means of Bowden cables controlled by a knob which can be positioned within the vehicle. The two spherical bowl elements are urged into contact with one 2 another by resilient means, which are conveniently incorporated in the Bowden cable control.

The known type of reflecting sheet support and orientation devices briefly described have several disadvantages.

First of all, the operating loads on the device are high and the operation is somewhat irregular, causing a certain difficulty in fine adjustment of the position of the plate and frequent jamming; this is due to the high friction between the contacting parts of the spherical bowl elements, and the high load exerted by the said resilient means incorporated in the control, which must ensure relative contact between the elements themselves, and this is aggravated by the possibility that foreign bodies, essentially dust, can penetrate between the contacting parts.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a rear view mirror for a vehicle, which will be free from the disadvantages associated with the known mirrors described above.

The said object is achieved by the present invention in that it relates to a rear view mirror for a vehicle, of the type comprising an outer hollow body, a reflecting plate housed in a f rontal aperture of the body and a 3 support and orientation device f or connecting the said plate to the said body, the said device comprising at least a first element fixed to the said body and a second element f ixed to the said plate cooperating with one another by ball joint means and Bowden cable control means for adjustment of the position of the said second element with respect to the said first element, characterised in that it includes a third element rigidly connected to one of the said first and second elements? a f irst ball carried by the said third element, and resilient means housed in the said third element and cooperating with the said first ball to maintain the said first ball in contact with a spherical rolling surface formed in a central portion of another of the said first and second elements, the said first and second element being urged towards one another by the resilient load of the said resilient means.

For a better understanding of the present invention two preferred embodiments will be described below, purely by way of non-limitative example, and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial front view, with parts removed for clarity, of a rear view mirror f or a motor vehicle provided with a support and orientation device for a reflecting plate, formed as a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a transverse section of the mirror of 4 Figure 1, taken on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of a manual adjustment device for adjusting the position of the reflecting plate of the mirror of Figure i; Figure 6 is a partial front view, with parts removed for clarity, of a rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, provided with a support and orientation device for a reflecting plate, formed as a different embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a section taken on the line VII-VII of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a perspective partial view of the support and orientation device for the reflecting plate of the mirror of Figure 6.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, an external rear view mirror for a motor vehicle is generally indicated with reference numeral 1.

The mirror 1 essentially comprises an outer body 2 of plastics material, which can be fixed by means of a support arm, not illustrated, to an outer lateral portion of a body of the vehicle, and a reflecting plate 3 housed in a front aperture of the body 2.

The reflecting plate 3 is connected to the body 2 by means of a ball joint support and orientation device 5.

According to the present invention, the device 5 (Figure 2) comprises a first, substantially cup-shape element 6 f ixed to the body 2, and a second element 7 substantially shaped as a spherical segment with a diameter decreasing towards the interior of the body 2; this second element 7 partially houses the said first element and is fixedly secured to a plate 8 on which the reflecting plate 3 is fixed, for example by means of double sided adhesive tape.

More particularly, the first element 6 is delimited by a is flat bottom wall 9 facing the interior of the body 2, and a side wall 10 in the form of a spherical segment; from the bottom wall 9, project three integral bosses 14 for fixing by screws 15 to respective projections 16 which extend integrally from the body 2. Further, the side wall 10 integrally defines three cylindrical recesses 17 having axes parallel to an axis A of the f irst element 6; each of these recesses houses a respective ball 18 and communicates with the exterior through a radial aperture 19 which opens axially into the bottom wall 9 to permit the introduction of the respective ball; this aperture has a smaller width than the diameter of the ball in such a way as to prevent the ball f rom escaping in a radial direction, but such as to permit a small portion of the

6 ball to project radially outwardly and cooperate with an inner surface 21 of the second element 7.

The device 5 further includes a third element 24 which is mounted f ixedly to the second element 7 close to an opening 25 therein facing towards the plate 3. More particularly, the element 24 comprises a central disc 26 (Figure 1) and a plurality of spokes 27, conveniently 3, extending radially from the disc 26. These spokes 27 form a bayonet connection with the second element 7, as illustrated in Figure 4 and better described hereinbelow.

A hollow cylindrical body 28 housing a coil spring 29 extends axially from the disc 26 towards the bottom wall is 9 of the first element 6; this spring cooperates with a ball 30 partially housed in a terminal portion of the body 28, and maintains it in contact with a concave rolling surface 31 of spherical bowl shape, formed at the centre of the bottom wall 9 of the first element 6. So that the operation of the device shall be kinematically correct the centre of curvature of the rolling surface 31 and of the inner surface 21 of the second element 7 must coincide at a single point (C) as indicated in Figure 2.

Turning now to the assembly of the element 24 onto the second element 7, it is observed that this latter has, on its inner surfacef three slots 34 angularly spaced from one another like the spokes 27. Each of the said slots 7 34 (Figure 4) defines a frontal entrance aperture 35 which can receive a respective end pin 36 of a spoke 27, a circumferentially inclined section 37, and a terminal portion 38 having a V-shape seat 39.

Upon assembly, the element 24 is conveniently disposed with the opening in the body 28 facing upwardly; the spring 29 and the ball 30 are housed in the said aperture. The second element 7 is fitted onto the first element 6, into which the balls 18 have been previously introduced; with this element disposed with its axis vertical.

As is clearly illustrated in Figure 4, the connection of the element 24 is achieved by a bayonet coupling. First, a relative axial movement between the element 24 and the element 7, conveniently imparted with a tool on an axial end of the element 7 opposite the element 24, causes engagement of the entrance aperture 35 of the slot 34 by the end pins 36 of the spokes 27, against the resilient action of the spring 29; subsequently, by imparting a relative rotation between the element 7 and the element 24 a displacement of the pins 36 is obtained along the intermediate sections of the slot 34 causing a further compression of the spring 29, and then engagement of the V-shape seats 39 in which the pins 36 are stably maintained by the resilient reaction of the spring 29.

8 The first element 6 has an outer tooth 40 (Figure 3) which slidably engages, with wide clearance, a groove 41 formed along a generatrix of the inner surface 21 of the second element 7, in such a way as to prevent relative rotation between the first element 6 and the second element 7 about the axis A.

Finally, the disc 26 has on its periphery three anchoring regions 43 for respective Bowden cables 44 the sheaths 45 of which are fixed to the bottom wall 9 of the first element 6.

The regions 43 are angularly spaced from one another and essentially comprise a cylindrical bush 46 within which is formed an axial wall 47 defining, with the inner surface of the said bush, two chambers 48, 49; the space 48 constitutes an aperture allowing axial introduction of a cable 45, whilst in the space 49 there is formed a transverse wall 50 for engagement by a nipple 51 of the cable 45. The wall 47 and the wall 50 are provided with an intermediate slot 52 which allows the cable to pass from the space 48 to the space 49, but of width less than the transverse dimensions of the nipple 51 so that this latter is locked within the space 49 when assembly is completed.

The cables 44 are actuated by a manual adjustment device for the orientation of the plate, which is of known type, 9 illustrated in Figure 5. The device 53 essentially comprises an element 54 which can be fixed to the vehicle body and constituted by a rod 55 and a cup shape body 56 coaxial to this rod. At one end of the rod 55, within the vehicle, is connected a knob 57 to which the f ree ends of the cables 44 are fixedly secured, which cables pass through the cup shaped body 56; close to an opposite end of the rod 55, and coaxially therewith, is mounted a slidable ring 58, to which the free ends of the sheaths 45 are fixedly secured. Between the ring 58 and the cup shape body 56 is mounted a pre-compressed spring 59, coaxial with the rod 55, and operable to exert a tension on the cable.

is The operation of the device 5, already partly evident from what has been described, is as follows.

A tension on a cable 45 causes rotation of the element 24 and therefore of the second element 7 and the reflecting plate 3 about an axis passing though the point C and orthogonal to the line joining the anchorage point of the cable to the point C itself. By orientating the knob of the control device different tensions are exerted on the cables 45, in the most general case on all three cables, and the resultant rotation is defined by the superimposition of the effects of these forces.

The device 5 therefore behaves as a ball joint to allow rotations about any axis contained in a plane orthogonal to the axis A and passing through the point C.

Now, with reference to Figure 5, 6 and 7, a rear view mirror f or a motor vehicle according to a different embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated 60.

The mirror 60 comprises a body 61 and a reflecting plate 62 connected together by a support and orientation device 63 for the plate.

The device 63 essentially comprises a first element 64 which is shaped substantially as a frontally open box, which is f ixed securely to the body 61 as will be clearly explained hereinbelow, and a second element 65 fixed to the plate 62 and constituted by a flat plate 66 having a central portion 67 in the form of a spherical bowl extending from the opposite sIde from the sheet 62, towards the interior of the first element 64. The outer surface 68 of the portion 67 cooperates with a plurality of balls 69 housed in respective seats 70 formed on a bottom wall 71 of the first element 64.

The device 53 further includes a further element 74 constituted by a hollow cylindrical central body 75, and by three spokes 76 extending in substantially radial directions from the body 75 and each having, at its end, 11 a respective portion 77 the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the central body 61. Two of the said bushes 77 are joined together by a circumferential portion 78 of the element 74.

The element 74 is housed with wide clearance in the second element 65: more particularly, the central body 75 of the element 74 is disposed within the spherical bowl portion 67, whilst the spokes 76 are housed with wide clearance in correspondingly shaped apertures 79 formed in the plate 66 of the second element 65. The element 74 is f ixed to the f irst element 64 and to the body 61 of the mirror 60 by means of clamping screws 80 housed in the bushes 77: from the first element 64 extend three integral bushes 84 each having a cylindrical section 85a engaged by a respective bush 77 and a frusto-conical section 85b which can receive a corresponding frustoconical projection of the body 61 into which the corresponding screw 80 is screwed. The cylindrical section 85a and the frusto-conical section 85b are separated from one another by an annular axially serrated partition 85c between the projection 86 and the bush 77. Within the cylindrical section 85a of each of the said bushes 84 is formed a respective annular ridge 87 which substantially snap engages a corresponding outer annular recess 88 of the corresponding bush 77. This makes it possible to pre-assemble the device 63, which can be f ixed subsequently to the body 61 as a pre-assembled 12 unit.

Within the central cylindrical body 61 of the element 60 are housed a spring 89 and, partially, a ball 90 which is maintained in contact with the inner surface 91 of the spherical bowl portion 67 of the second element 65 by the spring 89. In a manner entirely analogous that described with reference to the mirror 1, the second element 65 has three anchoring regions 94 for respective Bowden cables, of which only the nipples 96 are visible in Figure 6; the sheaths, not illustrated, of the said cables are fixed to the bottom wall of the first element 64. The Bowden cables are actuated by means of a manual plate orientation adjustment device of known type similar to that of the mirror 1 described with reference to Figure 4.

The operation of the mirror 60 is substantially similar to 'What of the mirror 1 in that differential tension loads on the Bowden cables cause rotations of the second element 65, and therefore of the plate 62 fixed to it, about an axis passing through the common centre of curvature of the surfaces 68 and 91 of the spherical bowl) portion 67.

From an examination of the characteristics of the mirrors 1,60 formed according to the principles of the present invention, the advantages which they achieve are evident.

13 First, the contact between the relatively movable parts occurs with the interposition of balls, and therefore with particularly low friction. Moreover, contact is ensured essentially by the spring 29 or 89; therefore the spring incorporated in the manual adjustment device 53 can be designed in such a way as to generate a very low resilient load, sufficient to compensate for clearances in the Bowden control, or possibly eliminated. Consequently the manual load which must be exerted on the knob is also very low. Therefore manual adjustment of the position of the plate is sweet and precise.

In the case of the mirror 1, possible jamming due to the presence of foreign bodies, for example dust, can easily is be overcome by increasing the manual load on the knob since this causes a compression of the spring 29 and therefore an increase in the clearance between the relatively moveable parts (in particular between the balls 18 and the element 7).

In the case of the mirror 60, what is described above does not occur since a greater load on the element 65 does not produce any axial movement of this latter, it being rigidly supported by the balls 69. However, the operation of the mirror 60 is less effected by dimensional errors than the mirror 1, and therefore the embodiment of this mirror requires less rigorous precision. In fact, in the mirror 1 small dimensional 14 errors, for example in the internal diameter of the second element 7, can lead to very different operating conditions due to a different degree of compression of the spring 29; in the mirror 60, on the other hand, dimensional errors of the surface 68 do not produce similar effects because of the opposite curvature of the contacting parts.

Finally, it is clear that the mirrors 1 and 60 can have modifications and variations introduced thereto, which do not depart from the ambit of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A rear view mirror (1;60) for a vehicle, of the type comprising a hollow outer body (2;61), a reflecting plate (3 62) housed in a frontal aperture (4) of the said body (2;61) and a support and orientation device (5;63) for connecting the said plate (3;62) to the said body (2;61), the said device (5;63) including at least a first element (6;64) fixed to the said body (2;61) and a second element (7;65) fixed to the said plate (3;62) cooperating together by means of a ball joint (7,18; 68,69),and Bowden cable control means (44,45) for adjustment of the position of the said second element 7;65) with respect to is the said first element (6;64), characterised in that it includes a third element (24;74) fixedly connected to one (7;64) of the said first and second elements, a first ball (30;90) carried by the said third element (24;74) and resilient means (29;89) housed in the said third element (24;74) and cooperating with the said first ball (30;90) to maintain the said first ball (30;90) in contact with a spherical rolling surface (31;91) formed in a central portion (9;67) of another (6;65) of the said first and second elements, the said first and second elements (6,7; 64,65) being thrust towards one another by the resilient load of the said resilient means (29;89).

16

2. A mirror according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said ball joint means (21,18; 68,69) include a spherical surface (21;68) formed on one (7;64) of the said first and second elements, and a plurality of further balls (18;69) housed in respective seats (17;70) of another (6;65) of the said first and second elements and cooperating with the said spherical surface (21;68); the said rolling surface (31;91) and the said spherical surface (21;68) having a common centre of curvature (C).

3. A mirror according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the said third element (24;74) comprises a central body defining a cylindrical seat (28;75) for the said first ball (30;90) and for the is said resilient means (29;89), and a plurality of spokes (27;76) extending in an at least approximately radial direction from the said central body (28;75) and having, at their ends, connection means (36;77) to one of the said first and second elements (7;64).

4. A mirror according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterised in that the said second element (7) is of spherical segment shape and rigidly carries fixing means (8) for the said plate (3); the said first element (6) including a bottom wall (9) in which the said spherical rolling surface (31) is formed, and a side wall (10) having a plurality of seats (17) for the said further balls (18), the said further balls (18) cooperating with 17 an inner surface (21) of the said second element (7).

5. A mirror according to Claim 4, characterised in that the said third element (24) is rigidly connected to the said second element (7) by means of a bayonet coupling (34,36).

6. A mirror according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, characterised in that the said third element (24) has anchoring means (43) for the said Bowden cable controls (44).

7. A mirror according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterised in that the said second element (65) has a is plate-like form (66) provided with a central spherical bowl (67); the said first element (64) having a plurality of seats (70) for respective said further balls (71) cooperating with an outer surface (68) of the said spherical bowl surface (67).

8. A mirror according to Claim 7, characterised in that the said third element (74) is housed in the said second element (65) and is fixed to the said first element (64) through apertures (79) of the said second element (65); the said first ball (90) cooperating with an inner surface (91) of the said spherical bowl portion (67) of the said second element (65).

18

9. A mirror according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterised in that the said second element (65) has anchoring means (94) for the said Bowden cable control means (44). 5

10. A rear view mirror for a vehicle, substantially as described and illustrated in the attached drawings.