JP2003194040A - Inclinable clamp mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inclinable clamp mechanism of a structure for disusing a leaf spring member without involving an adjustment work decreasing producitivity and for reducing the number of parts and assembling manpower. <P>SOLUTION: In a state that a support cap 7 serving as a cap member is pressed to the side of a housing rear 6 serving as a base member by a pressing member or a check screw 8, a pressing contact face 7E formed as a part of a convex surface on outer peripheral surface of a resilient tongue 7F is surely in resilient contact with a concave face 6D of a pivot frame 3 serving as a movable member. The pivot frame 3 surely abuts on the pressing contact face 7E of the support cap 7 and on the concave face 6D of the housing rear 6 and is clamped between them in an inclinable manner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tilting and clamping mechanism used in, for example, an automobile door mirror device, and more particularly to a tilting and clamping mechanism having a simplified structure with a reduced number of parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a vehicle door mirror device or the like has a built-in mechanism for tilting the mirror vertically and horizontally. As a mechanism of this kind, for example, a tilting and sandwiching mechanism as shown in FIG. 6 is conventionally known. This tilting and sandwiching mechanism is a mechanism that allows the pivot frame B, on which the mirror A is mounted, to tilt in all directions with respect to the mirror housing C, and includes a housing rear E fixed in the mirror housing C together with a housing front D. , And a cap member F for sandwiching the pivot frame B in a tiltable manner with the housing rear E.

A concave spherical surface E1 is formed in the center of the housing rear E, and a convex spherical surface F1 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member F. Further, a convex spherical surface (not shown) which is in sliding contact with the concave spherical surface E1 of the housing rear E is formed on the front surface side of the pivot frame B as the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion B1 having an arcuate cross section, and the cap member is formed on the rear surface side. A concave spherical surface B2 that is in sliding contact with the convex spherical surface F1 of F is formed as the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion B1. Then, a support cylinder G having a screw hole is configured to project at a central portion surrounded by the concave spherical surface E1 of the housing rear E. This support cylinder G
Is configured so that the cap member F can be mounted on the outer periphery of the pivot frame B by protruding through the center of the cylindrical portion B1 of the pivot frame B to the inside of the concave spherical surface B2.

Here, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 7, the cap member F has a hemispherical contour with a flat tip portion, and is located inside the outer wall F2 having the convex spherical surface F1. A cylindrical inner wall F3 is provided so as to project, and a fitting tubular portion F4 that fits on the outer periphery of the support tube G is provided at the center of the inside thereof. Then, the outer wall F2 and the inner wall F3 are connected by a plurality of ribs F5 radially arranged,
The cap member F is configured as a rigid body.

The cap member F thus constructed as a rigid body is fitted on the outer circumference of the support cylinder G shown in FIG.
Are fitted and mounted. And this cap member F
Is pressed forward by a cross-shaped leaf spring member I fixed to the tip of the support cylinder G with a set screw H, so that its convex spherical surface F1 comes into pressure contact with the concave spherical surface B2 of the pivot frame B shown in FIG. . In this way, the pivot frame B on which the mirror A is mounted is sandwiched by the spherical contact between the concave spherical surface E1 of the housing rear E fixed to the mirror housing C and the convex spherical surface F1 of the cap member F, and with respect to the mirror housing C. It is tiltably supported in all directions.

[0006]

By the way, in the conventional tilting and sandwiching mechanism shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cap member F is formed as a rigid body, and therefore the leaf spring member I is used.
Cap member F only by set screw H without passing through
When is pressed forward, the pressure contact force of the convex spherical surface F1 of the cap member F with respect to the concave spherical surface B2 of the pivot frame B changes greatly due to a slight difference in the tightening amount of the set screw H. That is, in the conventional tilting and sandwiching mechanism, if the leaf spring member I is abolished, it becomes difficult to adjust the tightening amount of the set screw H and the mass productivity deteriorates. If the leaf spring member I is used, its manufacturing cost and assembly are reduced. There was a problem that the work cost increased.

Therefore, the present invention provides a tilting and sandwiching mechanism having a structure in which the leaf spring member can be eliminated without the need for adjustment work that deteriorates mass productivity, and the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced. The task is to do.

[0008]

As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a tilting and clamping mechanism according to the present invention clamps a movable member in a tiltable manner between a concave spherical surface of a base member and a convex spherical surface of a cap member. In the tilting and sandwiching mechanism, a part of the convex spherical surface of the cap member that is pressed toward the base member side by a pressing member is provided with a pressure contact surface that elastically contacts the movable member.

In the tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to the present invention, the pressure contact surface provided on a part of the convex spherical surface of the cap member is surely elastic to the movable member when the cap member is pressed toward the base member side by the pressing member. Contact. Therefore, the movable member surely contacts (spherical contact, line contact, or point contact) with the pressure contact surface of the convex spherical surface of the cap member and the concave spherical surface of the base member, and is tiltably sandwiched between the two.

In the tilting holding mechanism of the present invention, if the pressure contact surfaces are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the convex spherical surface of the cap member, the holding force for tiltably holding the movable member in the circumferential direction of the cap member. It is preferable because it is equalized.

Here, the pressure contact surface may be constituted by an outer surface of an elastic tongue piece formed by splitting the cap member by slitting. In this case, it is preferable that the base end portion of the elastic tongue is continuous with the flat portion formed on the top portion of the cap member via the thin portion, because sufficient elastic force can be obtained for the elastic tongue.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings to be referred to, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle door mirror device to which a tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 configures a main part of the tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to one embodiment. FIG. 3A is an enlarged perspective view of the cap member, FIG. 3A is a view of the cap member shown in FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction of arrow A, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of the cap member shown in FIG. is there.

The tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to the embodiment has a pivot frame 3 as a movable member to which a mirror holder 2 having the mirror 1 mounted therein is mounted on a mirror housing 4 in the vehicle door mirror device shown in FIG. The housing recess 4 of the mirror housing 4 is a mechanism that allows tilting.
A housing rear 6 as a base member fixed in A together with the housing front 5, a support cap 7 as a cap member for sandwiching the pivot frame 3 in a tiltable manner between the housing rear 6 and the support cap 7 Is provided with a set screw 8 as a pressing member for pressing the housing rear side.

Pivot frame 3 as the movable member
Has a roughly rectangular plate shape, and on the rear side of this side,
Locking recesses 3A for locking engagement claws (not shown) protrudingly provided on the front surface side of the mirror holder 2 are formed at four positions, that is, vertically and horizontally. At the center of the pivot frame 3, a tubular portion 3B having an arcuate cross section is provided so as to project toward the front side, and a concave spherical surface 3C facing the rear side of the pivot frame 3 is formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. A convex spherical surface 3D (see FIGS. 4 and 5) facing the front side of the pivot frame 3 is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Then, on the front surface side of the pivot frame 3, a first spherical joint concave portion 3E is formed as a connecting portion for tilting left and right at a position away from the center of the tubular portion 3B to the right, and from the center of the tubular portion 3B. A second spherical joint concave portion 3F is formed as a connecting portion for vertically tilting at a position separated downward.

The housing rear 6 as the base member is
A cover member that is flange-bonded to and covers the housing front 5 and has a first opening 6A and a second opening 6B formed at locations corresponding to the first connecting portion 3E and the second connecting portion 3F of the pivot frame 3. Seal covers 9 and 10 are attached to the first opening 6A and the second opening 6B, respectively. A cylindrical portion 6C having an arcuate cross section is provided on the rear side of the housing rear 6 so as to project rearward, and the convex spherical surface 3D of the pivot frame 3 is provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof (see FIGS. 4 and 5). A concave spherical surface 6D that is in sliding contact with is formed. Further, an insertion hole 6E is formed at the center of the cylindrical portion 6C so as to insert the tip end portion of the support cylinder 5A protrudingly provided in the housing front 5.

In the housing front 5 covered by the housing rear 6, the support cylinder 5A is provided so as to project. The support cylinder 5A has a stepped shape with a tip portion formed to have a small diameter, and a screw hole 5B is formed inside thereof. The front end of the support cylinder 5A is connected to the housing rear 6
The support cap 7 can be mounted on the outer periphery of the concave spherical surface 3C by protruding from the insertion hole 6E through the center of the cylindrical portion 3B of the pivot frame 3. And such a housing front 5
A first drive mechanism 11 for tilting the mirror 1 together with the pivot frame 3 in the left-right direction and a second drive mechanism 12 for tilting the mirror 1 in the up-down direction are provided therein.

The first drive mechanism 11 has a first adjusting screw 11A projectingly provided in the housing front 5.
And a first adjusting nut 11B screwed into the first adjusting screw 11A, and an outer periphery of the first adjusting nut 11B are integrally engaged with each other in a rotational direction and relatively movable in an axial direction. 1st worm wheel 1
1C and a first drive motor 1 having a worm shaft 11D meshing with the first worm wheel 11C as a rotation shaft
1E and. Then, the first end of the first adjusting nut 11B is attached to the first part of the pivot frame 3.
A spherical joint portion 11F that is press-fitted into the spherical joint recess 3E is formed. A first motor coupling terminal 11G is connected to the first drive motor 11E from outside the housing front 5.

The second driving mechanism 12 includes a second adjusting screw 12A and a second adjusting screw 12A which are similar to the first driving mechanism 11.
Adjust nut 12B, second worm wheel 12
C, and a second drive motor 12E having a worm shaft 12D. Then, the second adjustment nut 12
At the tip of B, the spherical joint portion 1 is press-fitted into the second spherical joint recess 3F of the pivot frame 3.
2F is formed. A second motor coupling terminal 12G is connected to the second drive motor 12E from outside the housing front 5.

Here, the support cap 7 as the cap member has a substantially hemispherical contour having a flat portion 7A at the tip, as shown in an enlarged view in FIGS. 2 and 3, and its outer peripheral surface. Is a convex spherical surface corresponding to the concave spherical surface 3C of the pivot frame 3. At the center of the support cap 7, there is formed a fitting cylinder portion 7B which is fitted to the outer periphery of the tip end portion of the support cylinder 5A provided in the housing front 5. Around the fitting cylindrical portion 7B,
A fixed spherical portion 7D having an outer peripheral surface formed as a sliding contact surface 7C capable of sliding contact with the concave spherical surface 3C, and an elastic tongue piece 7F having an outer peripheral surface formed as a pressure contact surface 7E elastically contacting the concave spherical surface 3C.
3 and 3 are alternately arranged at equal intervals in a form in which they are divided from each other by the slot 7G.

In each of the fixed spheres 7D, the left and right wall portions 7H along the radial direction of the fitting cylinder portion 7B are connected by a circular arc rib 7I concentric with the fitting cylinder portion 7B to form a rigid body. Is configured as. On the other hand, in each of the elastic tongues 7F, the base end portion is formed on the flat portion 7A of the support cap 7 and the thin portion 7J.
A large elastic force is imparted by being continuous through (see (b) of FIG. 3), and the pressure contact surface 7E on the outer peripheral surface of the fixed ball portion 7D is located outside the sliding contact surface 7C. Can be displaced to a position on the same plane as the sliding contact surface 7C.

The support cap 7 as such a cap member has the movable member between the housing rear 6 as a base member fixed together with the housing front 5 in the accommodation recess 4A of the mirror housing 4 shown in FIG. The pivot frame 3 is attached by means of a set screw 8 as a pressing member so that the pivot frame 3 can be tilted by spherical contact (including line contact and point contact). This set screw 8
Has a large-diameter head portion 8A capable of pressing the fitting cylinder portion 7B of the support cap 7.

The procedure for assembling the support cap 7 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the housing rear 6 is flange-joined to the housing front 5 by fitting the insertion hole 6E of the housing rear 6 into the front end of the support cylinder 5A of the housing front 5. Subsequently, the convex spherical surface 3 of the pivot frame 3 is attached to the concave spherical surface 6D of the housing rear 6.
Stack D and place the pivot frame 3 on the housing rear 6.

In this state, the housing rear 6 shown in FIG.
Spherical joint portion 11F at the tip of the first adjustment nut 11B of the first drive mechanism 11 protruding from the first opening 6A of
Is press-fitted and connected to the first spherical joint recess 3E of the pivot frame 3. Similarly, the spherical joint portion 12F at the tip of the second adjusting nut 12B of the second drive mechanism 12 protruding from the second opening 6B of the housing rear 6 is press-fitted into the second spherical joint recess 3F of the pivot frame 3 to be connected. To do.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the support cap 7 is fitted to the tip of the support cylinder 5A of the housing front 5 which protrudes inside the concave spherical surface 3C through the center of the cylinder 3B of the pivot frame 3. The tubular portion 7B is fitted and the supporting tube 5A
The set screw 8 is screwed into the screw hole 5B inside. As a result of this operation, the support cylinder 7 has the fitting cylindrical portion 7B pressed by the head portion 8A of the set screw 8 and the concave spherical surface 3 of the pivot frame 3.
Enter inside C. At that time, the three elastic tongues 7F arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the support cap 7 are elastically deformed inward by contact with the concave spherical surface 3C of the pivot frame 3.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the set screw 8 is screwed in until the head portion 8A of the set screw 8 comes into contact with the tip surface of the support cylinder 5A, the support cap 7 is arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. In addition, the three fixed spheres 7D have the outer peripheral surface sliding contact surface 7C slidably contacting the concave spherical surface 3C of the pivot frame 3 and three elastic tongues 7F arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the support cap 7. The outer peripheral surface of the pressure contact surface 7E uniformly elastically contacts and presses the concave spherical surface 3C of the pivot frame 3.
By this pressure contact force, the convex spherical surface 3D of the pivot frame 3 is pressed against the concave spherical surface 6D of the housing rear 6, and thus the pivot frame 3 is moved from the concave spherical surface 6D of the housing rear 6 and the sliding contact surface 7C and the pressure contact surface 7E of the support cap 7. It is sandwiched so as to be tiltable.

Therefore, by engaging an engaging claw (not shown) protruding from the front side of the mirror holder 2 in each engaging recess 3A of the pivot frame 3 shown in FIG. 1, the mirror 1 is pivoted together with the mirror holder 2. Attach to frame 3. The mirror 1 assembled in this way has a mirror housing 4
Of the first drive mechanism 1 located at the opening of the accommodation recess 4A of
1 tilts in the left-right direction and tilts in the up-down direction by the second drive mechanism 12.

Although one embodiment of the tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to the present invention has been described above, the tilting and sandwiching mechanism of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the support cap 7 serving as a cap member, each fixed spherical portion 7D may be changed to an elastic tongue piece 7F, and the outer peripheral surface thereof may be configured as a pressure contact surface 7E. Further, the support cap 7 may be configured by providing an elastic piece having a structure in which a synthetic resin foam having a cushioning property is filled inside a resin plate having a convex spherical surface, instead of each elastic tongue piece 7F.

Further, the tilting and sandwiching mechanism of the present invention is applicable not only to the door mirror device for automobiles but also to other devices having a structure capable of tilting the movable member with respect to the base member.

[0029]

As described above, in the tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to the present invention, the pressure contact surface provided on a part of the convex spherical surface of the cap member in the state where the cap member is pressed toward the base member by the pressing member. Ensures that the movable member elastically contacts the movable member, so that the movable member surely contacts (spherical contact, line contact or point contact) with the convex spherical surface of the cap member and the concave spherical surface of the base member, and tilts between them. It is pinched as possible. Therefore, according to the tilting and sandwiching mechanism of the present invention, the conventional leaf spring member can be abolished without the work of adjusting the pressing member that reduces the mass productivity, and the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced. It can be reduced.

In the tilting pinching mechanism of the present invention, when the pressure contact surfaces are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the convex spherical surface of the cap member, the pinching force for tilting the movable member in the circumferential direction of the cap member is provided. Can be equalized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle door mirror device to which a tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a cap member that constitutes a main part of the tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to the embodiment.

3A is a view of the cap member shown in FIG. 2 as seen from the direction of arrow A, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of the cap member shown in FIG. It is a figure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an assembling work of the tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an assembled state of the tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle door mirror device to which a tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to a conventional example is applied.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a cap member, a leaf spring member, and a set screw that constitute a tilting and sandwiching mechanism according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

3: Pivot frame (movable member) 3B: tubular part 3C: concave spherical surface 3D: convex spherical surface 5: Housing front 5A: Support tube 5B: Screw hole 6: Housing rear (base member) 6C: Cylinder 6D: concave spherical surface 7: Support cap (cap member) 7A: Flat part 7B: Fitting cylinder 7C: Sliding surface 7D: Fixed ball 7E: Pressure contact surface 7F: Elastic tongue 7G: pickpocket 7H: Wall 7I: Rib 7J: Thin part 8: Set screw (pressing member)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tilting and holding mechanism for tiltably holding a movable member between a concave spherical surface of a base member and a convex spherical surface of a cap member, wherein the cap member is pressed toward the base member by a pressing member. The tilting holding mechanism, wherein a pressure contact surface that elastically contacts the movable member is provided on a part of the convex spherical surface. 2. The tilting holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the pressure contact surfaces are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the convex spherical surface of the cap member. 3. The tilting pinching mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the pressure contact surface is constituted by an outer surface of an elastic tongue piece which is divided and formed on the cap member by slitting. 4. The tilting and clamping mechanism according to claim 3, wherein a proximal end portion of the elastic tongue piece is continuous with a flat portion formed on the top portion of the cap member via a thin portion.