JPH045569B2 - - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an outside mirror unit for a motor vehicle.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND It is desirable that a mirror unit attached to the side of a car be able to bend appropriately when it hits an obstacle to alleviate the impact.

Further, it is desirable that such a mirror unit can be folded so as to be in contact with the side of the vehicle, for example, when the vehicle is being transported.

Furthermore, in the event that the mirror unit hits an obstacle and becomes erroneously mounted, it is desirable to be able to correct the mounting direction from inside the vehicle.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a mirror unit that satisfies the above requirements.

Functions and Effects of the Invention That is, the mirror unit according to the present invention is an exterior mirror unit for an automobile, and includes an exterior housing that is connected by a connecting member to a base that is fixed to the vehicle body, and that has a mirror. , elastic means for elastically connecting the housing to the connecting member (in the embodiments described below, implemented by a tension spring 5, etc.), the connecting member has a spherical surface, and a base. The connecting member has an actuating lever that extends through the base from inside the vehicle body and is fixed to the connecting member, and the lever The connecting member is configured to be rotated to a desired position while maintaining the surface contact and held at that position, and the connecting member is provided with the connecting member when the housing is folded rearward with respect to the vehicle body. A ramp 6a is provided on which a contact portion of the housing that is in contact with a member is slidably guided, and the ramp 6a is provided with a ramp 6a on which the contact portion is slidably guided when the housing is folded backward with respect to the vehicle body. Locking means (implemented in the same example as a cutout 6b) are provided which engage and thereby hold the housing in that position, the housing retaining the abutment portion against the elastic It is characterized in that it returns to its normal position by being released from the locking means against the action of the means.

The mirror unit according to the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, so that if it hits some obstacle while driving a car, it will bend appropriately, and even if its mounting direction is deviated. The mirror unit can be adjusted while confirming the proper mounting direction from inside the vehicle using the operating lever, and furthermore, the mirror unit can be folded when the vehicle is being transported. The above purpose can be achieved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1-3 show mirror unit 20 in its normal use position. The mirror unit 20 has a housing 1 made of plastic (for example polypropylene). The walls of the housing can be thick and therefore made of synthetic material.
The mirror 2 is installed in the housing 1 and is supported by a support 17.
It is bonded with adhesive or bonding agent 3 and its position is maintained. The housing 1 is connected by a partially spherical connecting member 6 to a base 9 which is fixed to the body of an automobile. The base 9 has a portion 9a having a shape that complements the shape of the abutting portion of the connecting member 6. The block 11 has a compression spring washer 13 that abuts against the cover 14.
Due to its elasticity, it is pressurized to fit into the base 9. The base 9 is fixed to the body of the automobile by means of an insert member 12.

The base of the U-shaped yoke member 4 is supported within the housing 1 by a holder 16. The ends of the arms of the yoke member 4 rest against a portion 19 of the housing 1 which bears on the edge 21 of the connecting member 6. One end of the tension spring 5 is fixed to the base of the yoke member 4, and the other end is attached to a U fixed to the connecting member between the ramps 6a of the connecting member.
It is connected to the glyph link 7. The yoke member 4 thus transmits the tension of the spring 5 to the housing 1 and presses the housing 1 against the connecting member 6.

The lever 8 is located inside the vehicle, passes through the base 9, and is fitted into the connecting member 6 to adjust the direction of the housing 1. The lever 8 is connected to the connecting member 6, the block 11, and the compression spring washer 1 by two pins 10 and 15.
3 and the cover 14. Here, the connecting member 6 and the lever 8 can also be constructed as one piece. Therefore, by operating and moving the lever 8 inside the vehicle while resisting the frictional force between the block 11 and the base 9, the mounting direction of the connecting member and therefore the housing 1 including the mirror can be adjusted appropriately. I can do it.

As shown in the figure, the connecting member 6 includes a housing 1
When folded backwards with respect to base 9,
Two ramps 6b are provided for slidingly guiding the part 1 which abuts the connecting member. The ramp is also formed with a notch 6b which engages said portion 1a to hold the housing in that position when the housing is fully folded.

When the housing 1 (FIG. 4) is in a folded state, the contact surface 1a of the housing 1 has a notch 6b.
locked inside.

Similarly, the groove 1b in the housing 1
constitutes a second locking means for receiving the edge 6c of the connecting member 6 when in the folded state.

To return the housing 1 to the normal position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the contact surface 1 and the groove 1 in the housing 1 are
b to each notch 6b against the action of the spring 5.
Separate from groove 6c.

When a force is applied to the housing 1 due to a contact accident or the like, the support surface 1a of the housing 1 moves over the ramp 6a of the connecting member 6 and engages with the notch 6b, as shown in FIG. At the same time, the groove 1b in the housing 1 receives the edge 6c of the connecting member 6.
Since the ramp 6a and the edge 6c provide double locking, the housing 1 can be stably maintained in its folded state.

The housing can also be folded forward, ie in the opposite direction to that shown in FIG. This forward folding can occur as a result of a collision. In this case, the end 1c of the housing 1 moves along a ramp 6d provided on the connecting member. If necessary, a notch for fixing the housing 1 in the forward folded state to the ramp 6d may be provided, but such equipment is not essential.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of an outside mirror set according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a line A--A in FIG. 1.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mirror set in normal use taken along line B-B in Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 with the mirror set folded backwards. be. 1...Housing; 2...Mirror; 5...Elastic means; 6...Connecting member; 6a...Ramp; 6b...
... Locking means; 8... Actuation lever.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An exterior mirror unit for an automobile, comprising: an exterior housing 1 connected to a base 9 fixed to a vehicle body by a connecting member 6 and having a mirror 2; and an elastic means 5 for elastically connecting to the connecting member, the connecting member having a spherical surface and being attached so as to be in surface contact with a corresponding spherical surface provided on the base, and the connecting member has an actuating lever 8 that passes through the base from inside the vehicle body and is fixed to the connecting member, and is rotated to a desired position by the lever while maintaining the surface contact and held at that position. The connecting member has a ramp 6a on which the abutting portion of the housing that is in contact with the connecting member is slidably guided when the housing is folded backward with respect to the vehicle body. is provided, and the ramp is provided with locking means for engaging the abutment portion when the housing is folded rearward relative to the vehicle body, thereby holding the housing in that position. 6b, and the housing is adapted to return to its normal position by releasing the abutting portion from the locking means against the action of the elastic means. mirror unit. 2. The external mirror unit according to claim 1, wherein the locking means comprises a notch formed in the inclined surface of the connecting member. 3. The external mirror unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ramp is curved in an arc shape. 4. The elastic means includes a U-shaped yoke and a tension spring, the base of the yoke is connected to the inside of the housing, and the other end of the yoke is connected to a portion of the housing that abuts the connecting member. and wherein one end of the tension spring is connected to the base of the yoke, and the other end of the tension spring is fixed to attachment means fixed to the connecting member. The external mirror unit according to any one of items 1 to 3. 5. An external mirror unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the means for attaching the spring to the connecting member comprises a U-shaped link. 6. The external mirror unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connecting member has two ramps. 7. An external mirror unit according to claim 6, characterized in that means for attaching the spring to the connecting member are provided between the ramps of the connecting member.