JP4173764B2 - Mirror device for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle mirror device including a plate-like conductor such as a heater.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the vehicle mirror device, a configuration in which a mirror anti-fogging heater is provided on the back side of the vehicle mirror is used.
[0003]
Such a heater can be energized by connecting a lead wire or the like connected to the battery to the heater. The connection between the heater and the lead wire, for example, is configured such that the terminal connected to the lead wire is fixed to the substrate of the heater (PTC surface heating element) with a grommet and a waterproofing sealant is applied to this portion. Yes (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
In this configuration, the holder opening through which the terminal passes is a large opening so that it does not hit even if the terminal is deformed, so that the terminal is prevented from being deformed and a load is not applied to the terminal fixing portion.
[0005]
However, if an external force acts in the direction of deformation to the terminal, cracking or breakage of the sealant will cause the heater to get wet, so it is difficult to select the sealant material, or a strong terminal fixing structure Necessary. In particular, in the configuration in which the receptacle is directly attached / detached to / from the terminal, a large external force acts on the terminal at the time of attaching / detaching, so that it becomes more difficult to select a material for the sealant or a stronger terminal fixing structure is required.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-50458 (second page, FIG. 3)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle mirror device that maintains a sealed state with a sealant with a simple configuration even when a terminal is deformed.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle mirror device according to the present invention, comprising: a plate-like conductor provided on the back side of the vehicle mirror; and a connection that is fixed to the plate-like conductor and connects the plate-like conductor to a power source. A terminal, a sealant that covers a connection portion between the plate-like conductor and the connection terminal, and the vehicle mirror are held and provided on the opposite side of the vehicle mirror via the plate-like conductor. A mirror holder in which a through portion through which the connection terminal passes is formed in the back portion; and a restriction portion formed in the back portion and restricting a tilting range of the connection terminal to a predetermined range.
[0009]
Here, examples of the plate-like conductor include a heater, a lamp, and a plate material for energizing them.
[0010]
According to the vehicle mirror device of the present invention described in claim 1, the connection terminal connects the plate-like conductor to the power source. Here, a sealing agent covers the connection part of a plate-shaped conductor and a connection terminal, and ensures the waterproofness in this part. The connection terminal passes through the penetration part on the back of the mirror holder, but the restricting part on the back of the mirror holder restricts the tilting range of the connection terminal to a predetermined range. The regulation by the regulation unit includes both a case where the regulation is performed by directly acting on the connection terminal and a case where the regulation is performed by indirectly acting on the connection terminal via another member (for example, a receptacle or the like). Thus, by restricting the tilt of the connection terminal by the restricting portion without making it free, it is possible to prevent the sealant from being cracked or damaged, and to maintain the sealing state by the sealant.
[0011]
The vehicle mirror device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle mirror device according to the first aspect, wherein the restriction portion includes a plurality of portions along the axial direction of the connection terminal as contact portions with the connection terminal. The tilting range of the connection terminal is restricted to a predetermined range.
[0012]
According to the vehicle mirror device of the present invention described in claim 2, the plurality of portions of the restricting portion are along the axial direction of the connection terminal and are in contact with the connection terminal. As a result, the connection terminal is restricted in the tilting range to a predetermined range. Here, “a plurality of parts” means a plurality of parts, and includes, for example, cases such as an upper part and a lower part in surface contact in addition to a plurality of points. Further, the contact with the connection terminal includes both the case of direct contact and the case of contact indirectly through another member (for example, a receptacle or the like). In this way, rather than supporting the connection terminal at one point and restricting tilting, supporting the connection terminal at multiple parts and restricting tilting prevents so-called neck breakage of the connecting terminal and seals it from the connecting terminal based on the lever principle. Since the force acting on the stopper can be suppressed, cracking and breakage of the sealant can be prevented and the sealing state by the sealant can be maintained.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle mirror device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the tilting range is within a tilting range of elastic deformation of the sealant. To do.
[0014]
According to the vehicle mirror device of the present invention described in claim 3, since the tilting range is within the tilting range of the elastic deformation of the sealant, the sealant is prevented from being cracked or damaged and sealed with the sealant. The stop state can be maintained.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a vehicle mirror device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a door mirror device as a vehicle mirror device in a state where a mirror body is held by a mirror holder. As shown in FIG. 1, the door mirror device 10 includes a flat mirror body 12 as a vehicle mirror. On the back side of the mirror body 12, a heater 14 as a plate-like conductor is attached with a double-sided tape 16. Here, the attachment of the heater 14 may use other attachment means such as an adhesive instead of the double-sided tape 16. The heater 14 is formed in a thin sheet shape, has a smaller area than the mirror body 12, and is disposed on the back side of the mirror body 12.
[0017]
The heater 14 is provided with a strip-shaped resistor (not shown). When the resistor is energized, resistance heat is generated by electric resistance. This heat is transmitted to the mirror main body 12 to heat the mirror main body 12 to remove the fogging of the surface of the mirror main body 12 and to prevent the occurrence of fogging.
[0018]
FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the power feeding portion of the heater 14. As shown in FIG. 2, a substrate connecting portion 14A is provided on the back surface of the heater 14, and one end portion 18B of a tab terminal 18 as a connecting terminal is connected to the eyelet 20 as a fastening means. It is fixed by caulking. In this embodiment, the fastening means is the eyelet 20, but various rivets other than the eyelet 20 may be applied. The tab terminal 18 has a plate shape with a plate thickness of 0.5 to 0.8 mm, a length of 17.2 mm, and a width of about 2.8 mm, and is bent in the plate thickness direction at a substantially center 18C in the longitudinal direction. The insertion side end 18D as the other end extends in an oblique direction away from the mirror body 12. The bent insertion-side end 18D has an angle (acute angle θ) with respect to the virtual extension surface of the board connecting portion 14A of about 45 ° in the present embodiment. An insertion-side end 18D of the tab terminal 18 is inserted into a receptacle 21 serving as a connection means and connected to a power supply wire 22.
[0019]
FIG. 3 shows a connection portion where the tab terminal 18 is inserted into the receptacle 21. As shown in FIG. 3A, which is an exploded perspective view of this portion, the receptacle 21 includes a terminal insertion portion 21A for guiding and inserting the tab terminal 18 on one end side. Inside the terminal insertion portion 21 </ b> A, a locking projection 21 </ b> B that fits into a locking hole 18 </ b> A formed in the tab terminal 18 is formed. As shown in FIG. 3B, which is a side view of the connection portion, when the tab terminal 18 is inserted into the receptacle 21, the locking projection 21 </ b> B of the receptacle 21 is fitted into the lock hole 18 </ b> A of the tab terminal 18. Become locked. Further, the tab terminal 18 and the receptacle 21 are pressed against each other by the urging force of the terminal insertion portion 21A.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 3A, a core wire crimping portion 21C is formed at the longitudinal center of the receptacle 21, and the core wire crimping portion 21C crimps and connects the core wire 22A of the feeding wire 22 (FIG. 3). (See (B)). In addition, a coated crimp portion 21D is formed on the other end portion side of the receptacle 21, and the coated crimp portion 21D is crimped to a coated portion 22B of the power supply wire 22 (see FIG. 3B).
[0021]
Here, at the stage where the tab terminal 18 is inserted into the receptacle 21, the receptacle 21 and the power supply wire 22 are already connected. For this reason, the tab terminal 18 is connected to a vehicle-side power source (not shown) via the receptacle 21 and the power supply wire 22 by being inserted into the receptacle 21, and power is supplied to the heater 14 side as shown in FIG.
[0022]
An adhesive 24 as a sealant is applied to the fixing portion of the heater terminal 14 of the tab terminal 18 for waterproofing. The adhesive 24 is a silicon resin. As the silicon-based resin for the sealant, for example, a one-component room temperature curable silicone resin using siloxane as a raw material can be used. As an example, after covering the hole of the eyelet 20 and the gap between the eyelet 20 and the hole of the substrate connecting portion 14A with a liquid silicon resin (300 mg) brought to room temperature, the temperature is 23 ° C. or higher and the humidity is 60% or higher. It may be time cured. By applying the adhesive 24, the adhesive 24 prevents water such as rainwater from entering the heater 14 through the hole of the eyelet 20 and the gap between the eyelet 20 and the hole of the board connecting portion 14 </ b> A.
[0023]
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged perspective view of the mirror body 12 held by the mirror holder 26. As shown in FIG. 4, a mirror holder 26 is provided on the back side of the mirror body 12. The mirror holder 26 includes a frame-shaped rim portion 28 corresponding to the outer peripheral edge of the mirror body 12. The rim portion 28 is formed in a substantially C-shaped cross section, and the outer peripheral edge of the mirror main body 12 enters the inner peripheral portion of the rim portion 28 so that the entire peripheral surface of the mirror main body 12 and the entire peripheral edge of the surface of the mirror main body 12 are obtained. It is covered. As a result, the rim portion 28 holds the mirror body 12.
[0024]
The mirror holder 26 includes a back wall 30 as a back portion. The back wall 30 is formed in a substantially plate shape as a whole (the right side is omitted in the drawing), and is substantially parallel to the opposite side of the mirror body 12 via the heater 14.
[0025]
In the vicinity of the rim portion 28 of the back wall 30, a through portion 32 that penetrates the back wall 30 is formed so that the tab terminal 18 can penetrate as shown in FIG. 1. At the opening edge of the penetrating portion 32 on the back surface 30A side of the back wall 30, on the acute angle θ side formed by the insertion side end portion 18D of the tab terminal 18 and the virtual extension surface of the board connecting portion 14A, the first regulating wall is provided. A portion 34 is provided. The first restriction wall 34 is erected with an angle (for example, about 35 °) slightly smaller than the acute angle θ (about 45 °) with respect to the back wall back surface 30A parallel to the board connection portion 14A. Further, on the back surface 30 </ b> A side of the back wall 30, a second restriction wall portion 36 that faces the first restriction wall portion 34 with the penetration portion 32 interposed therebetween is erected from the opening edge portion of the penetration portion 32. The second regulating wall portion 36 is inclined with respect to the back wall back surface 30A parallel to the board connecting portion 14A, and has an acute angle θ (about approximately) formed by the insertion side end portion 18D of the tab terminal 18 and the virtual extension surface of the board connecting portion 14A. 45 °) (for example, about 53 °). Both the first and second regulating wall portions 34 and 36 are formed into a thin plate shape, and the opposing wall surfaces 34 </ b> A and 36 </ b> A are also opposed to the front and back surfaces of the receptacle 21.
[0026]
Between the 1st control wall part 34 and the 2nd control wall part 36, it is set as the space | interval of the grade which the tab terminal 18 and the receptacle 21 can tilt a little, and is set corresponding to the elastic deformation range of the adhesive agent 24, The deformation movement of the tab terminal 18 is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the adhesive 24. That is, the bending inclination width (double arrows α, β) due to the inclination of the tab terminal 18 is regulated within a range in which the adhesive 24 is not peeled off or cracked by the wall surfaces 34A, 36A of the first and second regulating wall portions 34, 36. Thus, the sealed state by the adhesive 24 is maintained. In the present embodiment, the first restriction wall 34 is erected so as to tilt from about 9 to 10 ° from the initial state on the first restriction wall 34 side (between both arrows α). On the regulating wall portion 36 side (between both arrows β), the second regulating wall portion 36 is erected so as to tilt to about 7 to 8 °. Further, in this embodiment, the angle of the first regulating wall 34 with respect to the back wall back surface 30A is an acute angle θ (created by the insertion-side end 18D of the tab terminal 18 in the initial state and the virtual extension surface of the board connecting portion 14A. The maximum angle (10 °) of the restriction range is subtracted from the angle of about 45 °), and the angle of the second restriction wall portion 36 with respect to the back wall back surface 30A is the end portion on the insertion side of the tab terminal 18 in the initial state. The maximum angle (8 °) of the restriction range is added to the acute angle θ (about 45 °) formed by 18D and the virtual extension surface of the board connecting portion 14A.
[0027]
Note that the tilting range from the initial state to the first regulating wall 34 side (between both arrows α) is set slightly larger than the tilting range from the initial state to the second regulating wall 36 side (between both arrows β). There is a force acting in the direction of compressing the acute angle side adhesive 24 formed by the insertion side end 18D and the heater 14 in the tab terminal 18 when tilting to the first regulating wall 34 side, This is because cracking of the adhesive 24 is less likely to occur than when tilting toward the second regulating wall portion 36 side.
[0028]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
[0029]
The tab terminal 18 electrically connects the heater 14 and the vehicle-side power source (not shown) via the receptacle 21 and the power supply wire 22 to energize the heater 14, so that the heater 14 heats the mirror body 12. Here, the connecting portion between the board connecting portion 14A (see FIG. 2) and the tab terminal 18 is covered with the adhesive 24, and the waterproof property in this portion is ensured. The outer peripheral portion of the mirror body 12 is held by a mirror holder 26, and the first and second regulating wall portions 34 and 36 formed on the mirror holder 26 set the tilt range of the tab terminal 18 within a predetermined range (double arrows). (range of α, β).
[0030]
In this way, the tab terminal 18 is not tilted freely and is regulated by the wall surfaces 34A and 36A of the first and second regulating wall portions 34 and 36, so that force is applied to the tab terminal 18 when the receptacle 21 is attached to and detached from the tab terminal 18. Even when is added, it is possible to prevent the adhesive 24 from being cracked or damaged and to maintain the sealed state by the adhesive 24. Further, the tab terminal 18 is supported not at one point to restrict tilting but is supported at two separate points to prevent tilting, so that the tab terminal 18 is prevented from being broken, and the tab terminal based on the lever principle is used. The force acting on the adhesive 24 from 18 is suppressed.
[0031]
When the receptacle 21 is further tilted by the wall surfaces 34A and 36A of the first and second regulating wall portions 34 and 36 and further force is applied, the receptacle 21 is bent at the power supply wire 22 side portion. Since the tilting is restricted in the covering portion of the adhesive 24 in the tab terminal 18, the adhesive 24 can be prevented from being cracked or broken.
[0032]
Next, a second embodiment of the vehicle mirror device will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the case where the first and second restriction wall portions 34 and 36 are erected opposite to each other at the opening edge portion of the penetrating portion 32 has been described. The form is a form in which the restriction wall portion is erected only on one side in the tilting direction of the opening edge portion of the penetrating portion 32. In the configuration of the vehicle mirror device according to the second embodiment, the first and second regulating wall portions 34 and 36 are not erected and opposed to the opening edge portion of the penetrating portion 32. The other feature is that the restriction wall portion is erected only on the right side, and the other configurations are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.
[0033]
FIG. 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a state in which a mirror body is held by a mirror holder in a door mirror device as a vehicle mirror device. As shown in FIG. 5, a heater 14 is attached to the back side of the mirror body 12 with an adhesive.
[0034]
The direction of the insertion-side end 18D of the bent tab terminal 18 is determined in consideration of interference with other components and assembly. That is, if the acute angle θ with respect to the virtual extension surface of the heater board connecting portion 14A is too large, the receptacle 21 and the power supply wire 22 interfere with the inner wall of the visor rim (not shown) and the inner holder (not shown), and the power supply wire is assembled during assembly. Therefore, in this embodiment, the orientation of the insertion-side end 18D of the tab terminal 18 is about 30 ° with respect to the virtual extension surface of the heater board connecting portion 14A. Yes.
[0035]
FIG. 6 shows an enlarged perspective view of the mirror body 12 held by the mirror holder 26. As shown in FIG. 6, on the obtuse angle side formed by the receptacle 21 and the heater 14 in which the tab terminal 18 (see FIG. 5) is inserted at the opening edge of the through portion 32 on the back surface 30A side of the back wall 30, An outer regulating wall portion 38 is erected. The outer regulating wall portion 38 has an angle of about 45 ° with respect to the back wall back surface 30A substantially parallel to the heater substrate connecting portion 14A. The outer regulating wall portion 38 has a thin plate shape and includes a wall surface 38A facing one surface of the receptacle 21 as shown in FIG.
[0036]
Thereby, even when the tab terminal 18 and the receptacle 21 are tilted toward the outer regulating wall portion 38, the wall surface 38A of the outer regulating wall portion 38 supports one surface of the receptacle 21, so that the tilting is regulated. Here, the tab terminal 18 and the receptacle 21 are set so that the tilt is regulated at a maximum of about 7 to 8 ° from the initial state toward the outer regulating wall 38 (between the double arrows β).
[0037]
The back wall 30 is stepped and parallel with the penetrating part 32 in between, and the distance between the rim part 28 and the mirror body 12 is shorter on the side near the rim part 28 than on the standing side of the outer regulating wall part 38. Around the through portion 32 of the back wall back surface 30A, between the rim portion 28 and the through portion 32, a rib 40 that is substantially perpendicular to the back surface 30A is erected and extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The top portion 40A of the rib 40 has a shorter distance from the mirror body 12 than the back wall back surface 30A on the side where the outer regulating wall portion 38 is erected.
[0038]
Thereby, when the tab terminal 18 and the receptacle 21 tilt to the rib 40 side, a part of the receptacle 21 is supported by the top 40A of the rib 40 and the opening edge 32A of the through portion 32, and the tilt is restricted. Here, the tab terminal 18 and the receptacle 21 are set to be tilted at about 9 to 10 ° from the initial state toward the rib 40 (between the arrows α).
[0039]
In the second embodiment, at the opening edge of the through portion 32 on the back wall back surface 30A side, on the acute angle θ side formed by the insertion side end 18D of the tab terminal 18 and the virtual extension surface of the heater substrate connection portion 14A. The reason why the restriction wall portion that makes surface contact with the receptacle 21 in a wide range is not erected is that the angle formed by the tab terminal 18 and the back wall back surface 30A is small. That is, even if a force is further applied after the receptacle 21 is supported by the rib 40, the angle of the angle formed by the tab terminal 18 and the back wall back surface 30A is small, so that the receptacle 21 only bends and the tab terminal 18 So-called neck breakage does not occur. At this time, since the receptacle 21 is supported at two positions of the opening edge portion 32A of the penetrating portion 32 and the top portion 40A of the rib 40 at positions separated in the axial direction of the receptacle 21, the opening edge portion of the penetrating portion 32 is provided. The action of the lever principle using only 32A as a fulcrum does not work, and the peeling of the adhesive 24 can be prevented.
[0040]
In addition, in said embodiment, although the angle of each control wall part was shown and demonstrated concretely, this invention is not limited to the angle mentioned above. Further, the bending and tilting width is also regulated in accordance with the elastic range of the sealant, and is not limited to the above-described range. Furthermore, the dimension of the tab terminal is not limited to the example of the above embodiment.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the vehicle mirror device of the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the sealing state by the sealant can be maintained with a simple configuration even when the terminal is deformed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (corresponding to a cross section along line 1-1 in FIG. 4) showing a state in which a mirror body is held by a mirror holder in a vehicle mirror device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (Only the left side of the enlarged cross section is shown.)
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (corresponding to a cross section taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 4) showing a power feeding portion of the heater according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a connection portion in which a tab terminal is inserted into a receptacle. (A) It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a connection part.
(B) It is a side view which shows a connection part.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the mirror main body is held by the mirror holder in the vehicle mirror device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (corresponding to a cross section taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 6) showing a state in which a mirror body is held by a mirror holder in a vehicle mirror device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (Only the right side of the enlarged cross section is shown.)
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a mirror body is held by a mirror holder in a vehicle mirror device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Door mirror device (vehicle mirror device)
12 Mirror body (vehicle mirror)
14 Heater (Plate-shaped conductor)
14A Board connection part (plate-like conductor)
18 Tab terminal (connection terminal)
24 Adhesive (sealant)
26 Mirror holder 30 Back wall (back)
32 penetration part 32A opening edge part (contact part (regulation part))
34 First restriction wall (regulation part)
34A Wall surface (contact part)
36 Second restriction wall (regulation part)
36A Wall surface (contact part)
38 Outside regulation wall (regulation part)
38A Wall surface (contact part)
40 Rib (contact part (regulation part))

Claims (3)

A plate-like conductor provided on the back side of the vehicle mirror;
A connection terminal fixed to the plate-like conductor and connecting the plate-like conductor to a power source;
A sealing agent that covers a connection portion between the plate-like conductor and the connection terminal;
While holding the vehicle mirror, a mirror holder in which a through portion through which the connection terminal passes is formed on a back portion provided on the opposite side to the vehicle mirror via the plate-like conductor,
A regulating portion formed on the back portion and regulating the tilting range of the connection terminal to a predetermined range;
A vehicle mirror device comprising: 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion restricts a tilting range of the connection terminal to a predetermined range by using a plurality of portions along the axial direction of the connection terminal as a contact portion with the connection terminal. 3. Mirror device. 3. The vehicle mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the tilting range is within a tilting range of elastic deformation of the sealant. 4.

Images