GB1595962A

GB1595962A - Motor vehicle rear-view mirrors

Info

Publication number: GB1595962A
Application number: GB267277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Desmo Ltd
Current assignee: Desmo Ltd
Priority date: 1977-01-22
Filing date: 1977-01-22
Publication date: 1981-08-19
Also published as: DE2802503A1; FR2377905A1; FR2377905B3

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REAR-VIEW MIRRORS (71) We. DESMO LIMITED, a British Company of North Court, Packington Park, near Meriden, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to rear view mirrors for motor vehicles of the kind comprising a housing in relation to which the reflective element is adjustable to enable the driver to obtain the required rear view. The reflective element is mounted in the housing by a central ball or equivalent adjustable joint.

The housing is usually in the form of a cowl with a rim extending over the edge of the reflective element.

With rear view mirrors of the kind described vibration of the reflective element can be a problem and it is an object of the present invention to provide means of reducing this vibration.

The present invention consists in a rear view mirror for a motor vehicle comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the vehicle and a reflective element, the housing including a cowl within which the reflective element is mounted on the housing by an adjustable joint which enables the reflective element to be adjusted in relation to the cowl to alter the rear view, wherein the housing is a moulding of foam plastics material and, over at least a major part of the range of adjusted positions of the reflective element relative to the cowl. pressure means integrally formed in the foam material of the housing bears resiliently on the reflective element remote from the adjustable joint.

The foam plastics is preferably a selfskinning polyurethane foam. This material is inherently resilient. and yet has self-damping properties which are utilised in the invention to damp vibrations of the reflective element.

The pressure means may bear resiliently on the back of the reflective element near its periphery and substantially in the direction of movement of the periphery about the adjustable joint and with counteracting effect on opposite sides of the adjustable joint.

There may be resilient projections in the form, for example, of pillars of elastic foam material extending from the housing to engage the back of the reflective element.

The pillars are preferably pre-loaded when the reflective element is assembled in the housing, to an extent sufficient to ensure contact between the pillars and the back of the reflective element in all adjusted positions of the reflective element. There could, for example, be several separate pillars of columnar form or a pair or pairs of pillars of relatively thin but elongated cross-section, the pillars of the or each pair being arranged parallel to one another on opposite sides of the adjustable joint.

Alternatively the integral pressure means may be formed by a rim of the cowl, the rim extending over the periphery of the reflective element and making frictional contact therewith, the elasticity of the foam providing the pressure necessary to maintain frictional contact during adjustment. The interior of the cowl where the periphery of the reflective element is to engage it is of generally part-spherical form centered on the adjustable joint. The inside surface of the cowl may be ribbed or given some other surface formation to assist it in keeping the reflective element in adjustment.

Whether the foam material forming the pressure means integral with the housing bears on the reflective element directly or by frictional contact, vibration damping is provided at a position where a small force will be most effective in damping vibration. The bearing contact also assists the adjustable joint in maintaining adjustment. This is particularly valuable when the adjustable joint is associated with a remote control mechanism enabling an exterior rear view mirror to be adjusted from inside the vehicle.

The bearing contact then helps to overcome any instability of the reflective element due to backlash in the remote control mechanism.

Although rear view mirrors of the kind described will usually be exterior mirrors mounted on the wing, door, or windscreen pillar or other part of the vehicle body, the invention is also applicable to such mirrors intended as interior rear view mirrors for which the foam plastics housing can be of particular advantage in affording protection against personal injury.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I is a diagrammatic plan section of one form of rear view mirror according to the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary crosssectional views of alternative pillars of the rear view mirror of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view similar to Figure 1 of a second embodiment and Figure 5 is a section on the line A A of Figure 4.

In both embodiments a reflective element I adjustable by remote control mechanism 2 about the centre of an adjustable joint 3 is mounted within a cowl 4 of a housing 5 moulded in self-skinning foam plastics. A metal plate 6 is moulded into the housing to re-inforce it and this is connected by a yieldable joint 7 to an attachment member 8 for securing the rear mirror to the vehicle body. The yieldable joint 7 may be of the kind which allows the rear view mirror to deflect when struck and then restores it to the operative position afterwards. Alternatively the yieldable joint may merely allow the rear view mirror to move out of the way when struck after which it must be put back manually.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, inside the cavity of the cowl 4, pillars 9 are formed in the foam plastics moulding of the housing 5 on opposite sides of the adjustable joint 3 and extend forwards to bear on the back 14 of the reflective element near its periphery 11. In the middle position of the adjustment shown in the drawing the pillars 9 are axially pre-loaded and will continue, for much of the range of the adjustment, to bear at 16 on the back of the reflective element when the adjacent edge of the reflective element is moved away from the back of the cowl. In the opposite direction of adjustment the pillars 9 may buckle or distort but will still maintain pressure on the reflective element.

As indicated by Figure 2 there may be two pillars 9 on each side of the adjustable joint so that the four pillars may be considered as lying at the corners of a rectangle. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 3, there may be a single pillar 9" of relatively thin elongated cross-section on each side of the adjustable joint. The two pillars 9" are parallel to one another The pillars 9' or 9" maintain pressure on the back of the reflective element tending to restore the reflective element to an equilibrium position so that any back-lash in the remote control mechanism 2 is taken up.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 the interior of the cowl 4 has a generally partspherical surface 10 centered on the adjustable joint 3. The elasticity of the foam plastics of which the housing is made causes the surface 10 to bear on the periphery 11 of the reflective element 1 imposing a friction force tending to hold it in an adjusted position.

The surface 10 may have ribs or other surface formations to assist in holding the reflective element 1 in adjustment.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A rear view mirror for a motor vehicle comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the vehicle and a reflective element, the housing including a cowl within which the reflective element is mounted on the housing by an adjustable joint which enables the reflective element to be adjusted in relation to the cowl to alter the rear view, wherein the housing is a moulding of foam plastics material and, over at least a major part of the range of adjusted positions of the reflective element relative to the cowl, pressure means integrally formed in the foam material of the housing bears resiliently on the reflective element remote from the adjustable joint.

2. A rear view mirror according to Claim 1 wherein the pressure means bears resiliently on the back of the reflective element near its periphery and substantially in the direction of movement of the periphery about the adjustable joint and with counteracting effect on opposite sides of the adjusta blejoint.

3. A rear view mirror according to Claim 2 wherein the pressure means is pre-loaded into engagement with the back of the reflective element so as to continue to bear thereon in adjusted positions of the reflective element within a major part of the range of adjustment thereof about the adjustable joint. in which positions a portion of the back of the reflective element engaged by the pressure means is remote from the wall of the housing.

4. A rear view mirror according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the housing has resilient projections which bear on the back of the reflective element on opposite sides of the adjustable joint.

5. A rear view mirror according to Claim 4 wherein the projections are pillars of resilient foam material extending from the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. mechanism enabling an exterior rear view mirror to be adjusted from inside the vehicle. The bearing contact then helps to overcome any instability of the reflective element due to backlash in the remote control mechanism. Although rear view mirrors of the kind described will usually be exterior mirrors mounted on the wing, door, or windscreen pillar or other part of the vehicle body, the invention is also applicable to such mirrors intended as interior rear view mirrors for which the foam plastics housing can be of particular advantage in affording protection against personal injury. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I is a diagrammatic plan section of one form of rear view mirror according to the invention. Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary crosssectional views of alternative pillars of the rear view mirror of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view similar to Figure 1 of a second embodiment and Figure 5 is a section on the line A A of Figure 4. In both embodiments a reflective element I adjustable by remote control mechanism 2 about the centre of an adjustable joint 3 is mounted within a cowl 4 of a housing 5 moulded in self-skinning foam plastics. A metal plate 6 is moulded into the housing to re-inforce it and this is connected by a yieldable joint 7 to an attachment member 8 for securing the rear mirror to the vehicle body. The yieldable joint 7 may be of the kind which allows the rear view mirror to deflect when struck and then restores it to the operative position afterwards. Alternatively the yieldable joint may merely allow the rear view mirror to move out of the way when struck after which it must be put back manually. In the embodiment of Figure 1, inside the cavity of the cowl 4, pillars 9 are formed in the foam plastics moulding of the housing 5 on opposite sides of the adjustable joint 3 and extend forwards to bear on the back 14 of the reflective element near its periphery 11. In the middle position of the adjustment shown in the drawing the pillars 9 are axially pre-loaded and will continue, for much of the range of the adjustment, to bear at 16 on the back of the reflective element when the adjacent edge of the reflective element is moved away from the back of the cowl. In the opposite direction of adjustment the pillars 9 may buckle or distort but will still maintain pressure on the reflective element. As indicated by Figure 2 there may be two pillars 9 on each side of the adjustable joint so that the four pillars may be considered as lying at the corners of a rectangle. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 3, there may be a single pillar 9" of relatively thin elongated cross-section on each side of the adjustable joint. The two pillars 9" are parallel to one another The pillars 9' or 9" maintain pressure on the back of the reflective element tending to restore the reflective element to an equilibrium position so that any back-lash in the remote control mechanism 2 is taken up. In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 the interior of the cowl 4 has a generally partspherical surface 10 centered on the adjustable joint 3. The elasticity of the foam plastics of which the housing is made causes the surface 10 to bear on the periphery 11 of the reflective element 1 imposing a friction force tending to hold it in an adjusted position. The surface 10 may have ribs or other surface formations to assist in holding the reflective element 1 in adjustment. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A rear view mirror for a motor vehicle comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the vehicle and a reflective element, the housing including a cowl within which the reflective element is mounted on the housing by an adjustable joint which enables the reflective element to be adjusted in relation to the cowl to alter the rear view, wherein the housing is a moulding of foam plastics material and, over at least a major part of the range of adjusted positions of the reflective element relative to the cowl, pressure means integrally formed in the foam material of the housing bears resiliently on the reflective element remote from the adjustable joint.

5. A rear view mirror according to Claim 4 wherein the projections are pillars of resilient foam material extending from the housing behind the reflective element and arranged in at least one pair the pillars of which are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the adjustable joint.

6. A rear view mirror according to Claim 5 wherein the pillars are of columnar form.

7. A rear view mirror according to Claim 5 wherein the pillars are of elongated crosssection and parallel to one another.

8. A rear view mirror according to Claim 1 wherein pressure means is formed by a rim of the cowl, the rim extending over the periphery of the reflective element and bearing on the periphery so as to make frictional contact therewith.

9. A rear view mirror according to Claim 8 wherein the rim bears at least on opposite edges of the periphery, resiliently gripping the reflective element.

10. A rear view mirror according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the interior of the rim where it makes contact with the periphery is of generally part-spherical form centered on the adjustable joint.

11. A rear view mirror according to Claim 10 wherein the interior of the rim has a surface formation which assists in retaining the reflective element in adjustment.

12. A rear view mirror according to any preceding claim wherein the foam plastics material is self-skinning polyurethane.

13. A rear view mirror substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 1 or Figure 1 as modified by Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A rear view mirror substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.