JP3067587B2 - Vanity mirror - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vanity mirror which can be mounted inside a vehicle, and has a simplified structure and a reduced thickness.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vanity mirror is a mirror that is mounted in a vehicle interior for cosmetic purposes or the like, and is generally mounted on the back of a sun visor disposed above and in front of a driver's seat and a passenger's seat. The vanity mirror has a mirror holder in which the mirror is fixedly arranged, and a cover (lid) rotatably connected to the mirror holder and arranged to be openable and closable with respect to the mirror. The surface is exposed and the cover is closed when not in use to cover the mirror surface so that it does not interfere with the use of the sun visor. The vanity mirror has a sense of moderation when opening and closing the cover (a function to switch between the opening direction biasing force and the closing direction biasing force during the opening / closing operation to maintain the open or closed position).
In many cases, a spring is interposed between the mirror holder and the cover in order to provide the mirror.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional vanity mirror using a spring for giving a sense of moderation. The vanity mirror 10 is mounted such that the mirror body 12 is embedded in the back surface of the sun visor. Mirror body 1
A mirror (not shown) is held on the front surface of 2. A cover 14 is provided in front of the mirror. Cover 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a mirror body 1 having its upper end as a rotation center 16.
2, and can be displaced between an open position 14C that exposes the mirror surface to the outside and a closed position 14A that covers the mirror surface. A cam 20 is formed on the upper end of the cover 14 and abuts against a leaf spring 22 disposed in the mirror body 12.

When the cover 14 is at the closed position 14A,
The leaf spring 22 presses and contacts the cam surface 20a, and the cover 14
To apply a force in the closing direction to maintain the closed state. When the cover 14 is opened by hand against the urging force of the leaf spring 22, the cam top 20b is moved to the position 14B where the cam top 20b passes through the leaf spring 22.
After that, the urging force of the leaf spring 22 switches to the direction in which the cover 14 is opened, and at this time, a click feeling is obtained. In the position 14C where the cover 14 is fully opened, the leaf spring 22
C is pressed against and held in an open state.

Another example of a conventional vanity mirror using a spring for giving a sense of moderation is shown in a sectional view in FIG. The vanity mirror 24 is mounted such that the mirror body 26 is embedded in the back surface of the sun visor. A mirror (not shown) is held on the front surface of the mirror body 26.
A cover 28 is provided in front of the mirror. The cover 28 is rotatably connected to the mirror body 26 with its upper end as a rotation center 30, and is displaceable between an open position for exposing the mirror surface to the outside and a closed position for covering the mirror surface. is there. At the upper end of the cover 28, a cam 2
9 are formed. A slider 34 urged upward by a coil spring 32 is accommodated in the mirror body 26, and an inclined surface 36 formed on the upper end of the slider 34.
Is pressed against.

When the cover 28 is in the closed position, the inclined surface 36 is pressed against the cam surface 29a to apply a force in the closing direction to the cover 28 to maintain the closed state. Cover 28
Is opened by hand against the urging force of the coil spring 32,
The biasing force of the coil spring 32 switches in a direction to open the cover 28 at a position where the cam top 29b passes through the inclined surface 36, and a click feeling is obtained at this time. In the position where the cover 28 is completely opened, the inclined surface 36 is pressed against the cam surface 29C to maintain the open state.

[0007]

Since a vanity mirror is often mounted embedded in a sun visor or the like,
It is desired to be thin. However, the vanity mirror 10 shown in FIG.
4, the mirror body 12 has a drawback that the thickness of the mirror body 12 increases when the leaf spring 22 is provided. In addition, the vanity mirror 24 shown in FIG. 3 has a drawback that the mirror body 26 becomes thick because the coil spring 32 is disposed or the inclined surface 36 inclined in the thickness direction of the mirror body 26 is formed. Further, since the slider 34 is required in addition to the coil spring 32, there is a disadvantage that the configuration becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art and to provide a vanity mirror having a simplified structure and a reduced thickness.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A mirror body in which a mirror is fixedly arranged, the mirror body is arranged to be openable and closable with respect to the mirror body, and is displaceably arranged in an open position for exposing the mirror to the outside and a closed position for covering the mirror. The cover has a structure disposed substantially in a plane, and is configured by an elastic member that expands and contracts in a direction along the plane by an external force applied from a direction along the plane to generate elastic force. Arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the cover, one end is locked at a position slightly deviated from the rotation center of the cover, and the other end is locked at a predetermined position of the mirror body, It expands and contracts as the distance between the two locking ends changes in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the cover, and a switching point of the expanding and contracting operation occurs in the middle of the opening and closing operation. Close to cover And the direction of action of force, but in the open position than the switching point comprising; and a spring force of opening with respect to the cover is arranged to act.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the spring has a structure in which a substantially linear elastic member is bent in a substantially plane.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the cover is at the closed position or the open position, the plane on which the spring is disposed is substantially parallel to the surface of the mirror.
The spring is provided.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the spring has a structure arranged substantially in a plane, and expands and contracts in a direction along the plane by an external force applied from a direction along the plane. Constructed by an elastic member that generates elastic force, the plane on which the spring is arranged is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the cover, and one end of the spring is locked at a position slightly shifted from the center of rotation of the cover Then, the other end is locked in a predetermined position of the mirror body,
Since the switching point of the expansion and contraction operation of the spring occurs during the opening and closing operation of the cover, the urging force in the opening direction and the urging force in the closing direction can be switched at the switching point to give a sense of moderation. In addition, the spring is arranged substantially in a plane, and the plane is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the cover, so that the installation width of the spring in the thickness direction of the mirror body can be reduced, and the vanity can be reduced. The entire mirror can be reduced in thickness. Further, since the slider 34 as shown in FIG. 3 is not required, it is realized with a simple structure.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the spring has a structure in which a substantially linear elastic member is bent in a substantially plane, it can be easily constructed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the cover is in the closed position or the open position, the spring is disposed so that the plane on which the spring is disposed is substantially parallel to the surface of the mirror. The installation width of the spring in the thickness direction of the body can be minimized, and the thickness of the vanity mirror can be minimized.

[0015]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG.
Uses the sun visor 40 to connect the vanity mirror 38 of the present invention.
1 shows a state in which the camera is mounted on the camera. The sun visor 40 is rotatably supported by a support member 42 at a position above and in front of a driver's seat and a passenger's seat in a vehicle. The vanity mirror 38 is mounted on the back surface of the sun visor 40 (the surface hidden when the sun visor 40 is not used) so as to be embedded in the sun visor 40. Vanity mirror 38
Includes a mirror body 44 which is a part fixed to the sun visor 40 and a cover 46 which is rotatably attached to the mirror body 44. The mirror body 44 holds a mirror 48 made of glass or the like. The cover 46 is
It is manually displaceably disposed between an open position where the mirror 48 is exposed and a closed position where the mirror 48 is covered.

FIG. 1 shows a detailed configuration of the vanity mirror 38 in an exploded state. The mirror body 41 is made of a synthetic resin or the like, and has a structure divided into mirror bodies 41-1 and 42-2. The mirror body 41-1 is accommodated in the concave portion on the back surface of the sun visor, and the screw 50 is screwed into the sun visor from the hole 52, thereby fixing the mirror body 41-1 to the sun visor. The mirror 48 is the mirror body 41
-2 is fixed by the engagement of the claw 53 formed on the back surface. After fixing the mirror 48, the mirror body 41-2 is fitted into and fixed to the mirror body 41-1 by claw engagement. An opening 64 for exposing the mirror 48 to the outside is formed in the front side mirror body 41-2.
Protruding pieces 58 and 62 are formed on the upper left and right sides of the front side of the mirror body 41-1. The protruding piece 58 constitutes a rotating shaft portion of the cover 46, and has a pin hole 72 into which the pin 66 is inserted. The protruding piece 62 locks the end of the wire spring 60. As shown in FIG. 5, a single continuous spring locking portion 84 is formed by a mold division shape in which the protruding pieces 62a, 62b, 62c are alternately arranged. Is formed, and the end of the wire spring 60 is inserted into the spring locking portion 84 and locked. Note that, instead of the protruding piece 62 having the split mold shape, a protruding piece 62 'having a spring locking hole 84' as shown in FIG. 6 can be formed.

The cover 46 is made of a synthetic resin or the like.
1 is formed in a plate shape having a size to cover the entirety. Protruding pieces 74 and 76 are formed on the upper left and right sides on the back side of the cover 46. The projecting piece 74 has a pin hole 68 for inserting the pin 66 and a concave spring engaging portion 70 for engaging the end of the wire spring 60 at a position slightly eccentric (eccentric) from the pin hole 68. Is formed. The cover 46 accommodates the protruding rotating shaft portion 58 of the mirror body 41 between the protruding pieces 74 and 76, and the pin 66 is inserted into both pin holes 68 and 72.
Is inserted into the mirror body 41 so as to be freely rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 7, the wire spring 60 is formed by bending a linear elastic member such as metal or the like into a substantially M-shape in a plane 78, and both ends (ends) 80, 82 thereof. Due to an external force applied from the direction along the plane 78.
(Indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7 indicates a state shortened by an external force in the compression direction), and an elastic force is generated. The wire spring 60 is, as shown in FIG.
1 and is stored in a compressed state and compressed at one end 8.
0 is rotatably locked to the spring locking portion 70 of the cover 46,
The other end 82 is rotatably locked to the spring locking portion 84 of the mirror body 41 so as to be relatively upright between the mirror body 41 and the cover 46 (the flat surface 78 having the wire spring 60 and the mirror). (The angle between the body 41 and the mirror 48 is relatively shallow.) In this state, the wire spring 60 is arranged such that the plane 78 on which the wire spring 60 is disposed is orthogonal to the opening and closing direction of the cover 46.

FIG. 8 shows the opening / closing operation of the cover 46 having the above configuration. (A) is a state where the cover 46 is held at the closing position, (c) is a state where it is held at the opening position, and (b) is a state where the wire spring 60 in the middle of the opening and closing operation is maximally bent. The link operation of the wire spring 60 accompanying opening and closing of the cover 46 provides a sense of moderation. That is, in the closed state (a), the wire spring 60 is in a compressed state, and the position of the upper spring engaging portion 70 is different from the rotation center of the cover 46 (the position of the pin 66) and the lower spring engaging portion. Since it is on the left side of the line 86 connecting the wires 84, a clockwise force acts on the cover 46 by the extension force of the wire spring 60. Thereby, the cover 46
Is locked at a position where it is in contact with the mirror holder 41, and the closed state is maintained. In the closed position, the plane 78 on which the wire spring 60 is disposed is parallel to the mirror body 41, the mirror 48, and the cover 46, and the installation width d of the wire spring 60 in the thickness D direction of the vanity mirror 38 can be minimized. Mirror 3
8 can be minimized.

In this state, when the cover 46 is opened by hand against the urging force of the wire spring 60, the wire spring 60 is further compressed. The position of the upper spring locking portion 70 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the rotation center 66 and the lower spring locking portion 8 are formed.
4 on the line 86 (at this time, the cover 4
6, the opening angle of the wire spring 6 is about 45 °), and the wire spring 60 is in the maximum bending state (that is, in the state compressed to the shortest length). Since the position of the upper spring locking portion 70 comes to the right of the line 86 connecting the rotation center 66 and the lower spring locking portion 84 with respect to this position (switching point of the expansion / contraction operation), the wire spring 60 Due to the extension force, a counterclockwise force is applied to the cover 46, a click feeling is obtained, and the cover 46 automatically opens. Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the position where the linear spring 60 contacts the inclined surface 88 formed at the upper end of the mirror body 41-2 (or the predetermined position of the cover 46 is the mirror body 41).
Cover 46 at a predetermined position (stopper).
Is locked. In this position, the wire spring 60 is still in a compressed state, so that the cover 46 is kept open. In this way, a sense of moderation when opening and closing the cover 46 is obtained.

[0021]

Another embodiment In the above embodiment, the spring is compressed and held between the mirror body and the cover, and the spring is compressed to the shortest state at the switching point of the expansion and contraction during opening and closing of the cover. On the contrary, the spring is extended and held between the mirror body and the cover, and the spring is extended to the longest state at the switching point of the expansion / contraction operation during opening and closing of the cover. It can also be configured so that: One example is shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows the operation. The wire spring 60 is configured, for example, in the same manner as in FIG. 7 described above, and is held between the mirror body 41 and the cover 46 in an extended state. The upper end portion 80 of the wire spring 60 is the rotation center 6 of the cover 46.
6 is locked to the spring locking portion 70 at a position slightly (eccentric) from the mirror body 41.
Is locked by a spring locking portion 84 formed on the projecting piece 62 of FIG.

In the closed position shown in FIG. 10A, clockwise turning force acts on the cover 46 by the shortening force of the wire spring 60, and the closed state is maintained. When the cover 46 is opened by hand, the wire spring 60 is extended, and the wire spring 60 is in the longest extended state at the switching point of the expansion / contraction operation shown in FIG. 2B. When the switching point is exceeded, a counterclockwise rotating force acts on the cover 46. A click feeling is obtained, and the cover 46 automatically opens. Then, as shown in (C), a predetermined position of the cover 46 (for example, a tip portion)
Is locked at a position where it comes into contact with a predetermined position (stopper) of the mirror body 41, and the cover 4 is
6 is kept open.

In each of the above embodiments, a substantially M-shaped wire spring is used as the spring. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a scissor spring as shown in FIG. 11A or a ring spring as shown in FIG. 11B can be used.

[0024]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the spring has a structure arranged substantially in a plane, and the spring is provided by an external force applied from a direction along the plane. The elastic member generates an elastic force by expanding and contracting in a direction along the plane, and the plane on which the spring is disposed is disposed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the opening and closing direction of the cover, and one end of the spring is pivoted around the cover. It is locked at a position slightly deviated from the other, and the other end is locked at a predetermined position on the mirror body, so that a switching point for the expansion and contraction of the spring occurs during the opening and closing operation of the cover. By switching between the urging force in the opening direction and the urging force in the closing direction, it is possible to give a sense of moderation. In addition, the spring is arranged substantially in a plane, and the plane is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the cover, so that the installation width of the spring in the thickness direction of the mirror body can be reduced, and the vanity can be reduced. The entire mirror can be reduced in thickness. Further, since the slider 34 as shown in FIG. 3 is not required, it is realized with a simple structure.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the spring has a structure in which the substantially linear elastic member is bent in a substantially plane, the spring can be easily constructed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the cover is in the closed position or the open position, the spring is disposed so that the plane on which the spring is disposed is substantially parallel to the surface of the mirror. The installation width of the spring in the thickness direction of the body can be minimized, and the thickness of the vanity mirror can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a conventional vanity mirror.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing another conventional vanity mirror.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a sun visor on which the vanity mirror of FIG. 1 is mounted.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the protruding piece 62 of FIG. 1 viewed from another angle.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing another configuration example of the protruding piece 62 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a wire spring 60 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an opening and closing operation of a cover in the vanity mirror of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an opening and closing operation of a cover in the vanity mirror of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view showing another embodiment of the spring.

[Explanation of symbols]

 38 Vanity mirror 41 Mirror body 46 Cover 48 Mirror 60 Spring 78 Plane on which spring is disposed

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60N 3/00 A47G 1/02 B60J 3/02

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mirror body in which a mirror is fixedly arranged, a mirror body arranged to be openable and closable with respect to the mirror body, and displaceable between an open position for exposing the mirror to the outside and a closed position for covering the mirror. And a resilient member having a structure disposed substantially in a plane and having an elastic force that expands and contracts in a direction along the plane by an external force applied from a direction along the plane. The flat surface is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the cover, and one end is locked at a position slightly deviated from the rotation center of the cover, and the other end is engaged with a predetermined position of the mirror body. It stops and expands and contracts as the distance between the locking ends changes in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the cover, and a switching point of the expansion and contraction operation occurs during the opening and closing operation. In the closed position Acts force to close to over, vanity mirror formed by and a spring force of opening with respect to the cover is arranged to act in even the open position than the switching point. 2. A vanity mirror according to claim 1, wherein said spring has a structure in which a substantially linear elastic member is bent in a substantially plane. 3. The spring is arranged such that when the cover is in the closed position or the open position, the plane on which the spring is arranged is substantially parallel to the plane of the mirror. The vanity mirror according to 1 or 2.