GB1581897A

GB1581897A - Motor vehicle having an internal courtesy mirror

Info

Publication number: GB1581897A
Application number: GB5802/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Current assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Priority date: 1977-03-11
Filing date: 1978-02-14
Publication date: 1980-12-31
Also published as: IT7820641A0; FR2383044B1; IT1093120B; DE2710569C2; DE2710569A1; FR2383044A1

Description

(54) A MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING AN IMPROVED INTERNAL COURTESY MIRROR (71) We, DR. ING. h.c.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLsCHAFr, of Porschestrasse 42;; : Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany, a -German Body Corporate, 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: The invention relates to a motor vehicle having an internal courtesy mirror which is displaceable from a rest position into an operative position.

It is known to provide vehicles with sun visors which are pivotally attached above the vehicle windscreen, with an internal courtesy mirror. This arrangement has the disadvantage that when the sun visor is in the downwardly swung, sun shielding position, the mirror glass is always located directly opposite the head of a passenger.

During an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle as might be caused by an accident, there is the danger that the head of an occupant might hit the mirror glass with resultant severe injuries.

Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle with an internal courtesy mirror such that injuries as referred to above are greatly minimised.

The present invention consists in a motor vehicle having an internal courtesy mirror mounted in a casing as a unit which is rotationally displaceable by means of hinges from a rest position to an operative position, the unit being accommodated, in its rest position, in a recess of a roof lining.

The particular advantage obtained by the invention is that the mirror is mounted in a casing which is sunk into a recess as an independent assembly, i.e. independent of sun visor. This enables the mirror to remain in its rest position when the sun visor is in the sun shading position, so that the danger of injuries is largely eliminated. Also the arrangement permits a more favourable position of the mirror relatively to the passenger.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section through a forward roof region of a vehicle according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a view in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the courtesy mirror in its inoperative position, and Fig. 4 is a view in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 3.

The roof region 1 of a vehicle illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a roof member 2 which in the forward section thereof has a reinforcement support 3. The roof member 2 and the reinforcement support 3 are assembled together at a flange 4 which, with an adhesive member 5 interposed therebetween, holds a windscreen 6 in position. The side of the roof member 2 facing the passenger compartment 7 is provided with a roof lining 8. A sun visor 10 is pivotally mounted at 9 and can be pivoted into posl- tions C and D. The sun visor 10 may alternatively be constructed as a slidable member.

A recess 11 in the roof lining 8 has mounted therein an interior courtesy mirror 12 which is pivotal by means of hinges 13 from a rest position E into an operative position F. The mirror 12 comprises a mirror glass 14 having a casing 15. The casing 15 has a trapezoidal cross-section, the mirror glass 14 and a padding 18 being attached to the oppositely disposed longer sides 16, 17 thereof in such a manner that in the rest position E of the rearview mirror 12 the padding 18 faces the passenger compartment 7.

Light exit windows 19, 20 for a light source 21 provided in its interior are arranged in the casing 15. The light exit window 19 extends in the plane of the mirror glass 14, whereas the light exit window 20 is attached on a side 22 remote from the hinges 13.

According to Fig. 2, two light exit windows 19 form the lateral limit of the mirror glass 14. In this case the light source 22 is disposed in the centre plane D-D of the mirror. The light rays of the light source 22 are conveyed to the light exit windows 19 by means of a ray deflecting device not illustrated.

The above-described arrangement of the light exit windows and the light source improves the viewing in the mirror and if it possible to use the courtesy mirror as a reading lamp or, due to its large pivotal displacement range, as a search lamp for articles in the passenger compartment.

The recess 11 is provided with a dishshaped housing 23 in which the casing 15 is retained by means of the hinges 13. The housing 23 and the casing 15 form a prefabricated constructional unit.

A latch 24 is provided between the housing 23 and the casing 15 at the side remote from the hinges 13, whereas at the side adjacent the hinges a device is provided which assists the rotary displacement of the casing 15 and which comprises a spring 25 and a plunger 26.

In order that the casing is securely adjustable in various positions, the hinges 13 are provided with a self-braking device. This is obtained by having the hinge pins 27 and the openings 28 appropriately dimensioned.

An alternative arrangement is to provide detent elements 29, 30 on the hinges.

In order to retain the prefabncated unit comprising the casing 14 and housing 23, the latter has a flange 32 and holder wedge 33 which engage behind a rim 34 of an opening 35 in which the housing 23 is inserted, in the roof lining 8. The roof lining 8 has a deformation resistance such that the casing 15 is retained and the holder wedges 33 can be pushed in.

To effect outward rotation of the mirror 12, the latch 24 is moved in the direction G to effect unlatching. The mirror is actuated automatically into the position H by the spring 25 acting on the plunger 26. Thereupon the mirror 12 may e moved manually into its desired position, e.g. F, in which it is retained by the self-braking device.

It will be appreciated that the mirror 12 may be displaced to the various positions by automatic means such as an electro-motor or electro-magnet, the mirror being retained in its operative position F only for a short period of time, e.g. 10 to 30 seconds, and is thereafter moved automatically to its rest position. This avoids the mirror remaining in its operative position unintentionally for an extended period of time.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A motor vehicle having an internal courtesy mirror mounted in a casing as a unit which is rotationally displaceable by means of hinges from a rest position to an operative position, the unit being accommodated, in its rest position, in a recess of a roof lining.

2. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein oppositely disposed surfaces of the casing have, respectively, arranged thereon a mirror glass and a padding arranged such that in the rest position of the mirror the padding faces the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

3. A motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the casing is provided with light exit windows for a light source which is accommodated therein.

4. A motor vehicle according to claim 2 and 3, wherein the light exit windows are disposed in the plane of the mirror glass and on a side of the casing remote from the hinges.

5. A motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the light exit windows disposed in the plane of the mirror glass form the respective lateral limits thereof.

6. A motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recess is formed by a dish-shaped housing in which the casing is retained by means of the hinges.

A A motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein a latch is provided between the casing and the housing.

8. A motor vehicle according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a device which assists movement of the mirror to its operative position is provided between the casing and the housing.

9. A motor vehicle according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the hinges are provided with a self-braking device.

10. A motor vehicle according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the housing and casing form a prefabricated constructional unit.

11. A motor vehicle having an internal courtesy mirror substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. window 19 extends in the plane of the mirror glass 14, whereas the light exit window 20 is attached on a side 22 remote from the hinges 13. According to Fig. 2, two light exit windows 19 form the lateral limit of the mirror glass 14. In this case the light source 22 is disposed in the centre plane D-D of the mirror. The light rays of the light source 22 are conveyed to the light exit windows 19 by means of a ray deflecting device not illustrated. The above-described arrangement of the light exit windows and the light source improves the viewing in the mirror and if it possible to use the courtesy mirror as a reading lamp or, due to its large pivotal displacement range, as a search lamp for articles in the passenger compartment. The recess 11 is provided with a dishshaped housing 23 in which the casing 15 is retained by means of the hinges 13. The housing 23 and the casing 15 form a prefabricated constructional unit. A latch 24 is provided between the housing 23 and the casing 15 at the side remote from the hinges 13, whereas at the side adjacent the hinges a device is provided which assists the rotary displacement of the casing 15 and which comprises a spring 25 and a plunger 26. In order that the casing is securely adjustable in various positions, the hinges 13 are provided with a self-braking device. This is obtained by having the hinge pins 27 and the openings 28 appropriately dimensioned. An alternative arrangement is to provide detent elements 29, 30 on the hinges. In order to retain the prefabncated unit comprising the casing 14 and housing 23, the latter has a flange 32 and holder wedge 33 which engage behind a rim 34 of an opening 35 in which the housing 23 is inserted, in the roof lining 8. The roof lining 8 has a deformation resistance such that the casing 15 is retained and the holder wedges 33 can be pushed in. To effect outward rotation of the mirror 12, the latch 24 is moved in the direction G to effect unlatching. The mirror is actuated automatically into the position H by the spring 25 acting on the plunger 26. Thereupon the mirror 12 may e moved manually into its desired position, e.g. F, in which it is retained by the self-braking device. It will be appreciated that the mirror 12 may be displaced to the various positions by automatic means such as an electro-motor or electro-magnet, the mirror being retained in its operative position F only for a short period of time, e.g. 10 to 30 seconds, and is thereafter moved automatically to its rest position. This avoids the mirror remaining in its operative position unintentionally for an extended period of time. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A motor vehicle having an internal courtesy mirror mounted in a casing as a unit which is rotationally displaceable by means of hinges from a rest position to an operative position, the unit being accommodated, in its rest position, in a recess of a roof lining.