GB2229981A

GB2229981A - Rearview mirror

Info

Publication number: GB2229981A
Application number: GB9006196A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giuseppe Valde
Original assignee: Gilardini SpA
Current assignee: Marelli Europe SpA
Priority date: 1989-03-20
Filing date: 1990-03-20
Publication date: 1990-10-10
Also published as: PT93500B; ES1013608Y; PT93500A; GB9006196D0; SE9000951L; IT216986Z2; SE9000951D0; IT8952954V0; FR2644415A1; BE1005563A3; ES1013608U; DE4008589A1; NL9000650A

Description

"HINGE ASSEMBLY FOR A SUPPORTING ELEMENT OF AN EXTERNAL REARVIEW MIRROR

ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE" The present invention relates to a hinge assembly for a supporting element of an external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle and particularly but not exclusively to an external assembly for an industrial vehicle Known external rearview mirror industrial vehicles normally substantially C-shaped supporting adapted to be hinged at its ends vehicle body, and a mirror rearview mirror assemblies for comprise a element which is to a wing of the housed in an external container joined to a central part of the supporting element; at least one of the points at which the supporting element is joined to the vehicle body consists of a hinge adapted to define at least one preferential stable position for the supporting element in relation to the vehicle body.

This hinge normally comprises various components, some of which are welded together, and this leads to manufacturing difficulties and a consequent increase in production costs.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hinge assembly for an external rearview mirror - 1 assembly for an industrial vehicle, on which the aforesaid drawback has been overcome, thus making it possible to produce said rotating assembly, suitable for mass production, in a relatively simple and economical way.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hinge assembly for a supporting element of an external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a first element joined at an angle, by fitting together first parts, to a part of said supporting element, and-a second element joined at an angle, by fitting together second parts, to a part fixed to said vehicle, said first and second elements having at least one pair of preferential angular joining parts.

The present invention will be explained by way of a preferred embodiment, to be taken as a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of an external rearview mirror assembly for an industrial vehicle, equipped with the hinge assembly for rotating the supporting element, in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a partial and partially sectional view 2 - 1 i 1 of the hinge assembly constituting the present invention, applied to the external rearview mirror assembly shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view along a line IIIIII of the hinge assembly shown in FIGURE 2; and FIGURE 4 is a perspective and exploded view of the hinge assembly shown in FIGURE 2.

In reference to FIGURE 1, numeral 1 indicates, in its entirety, an external rearvieu mirror assembly adapted for application onto an industrial vehicle. Said assembly 1 comprises, in a known manner, a supporting element 3 hinged to project from the body of the vehicle by two hinge assemblies, one upper and one lower indicated by 4 and 5 respectively, and a mirror 6 housed at its outer edges in an external container 7 which is joined to said supporting element 3 which, in particular, is made of a metal tube bent to assume a substantially C shape and comprises a vertical central part 8, to which are joined, in an adjustable fashion, container 7 and a pair of approximately horizontal arms, one upper and one lower, 9 and 10 respectively, which present, at their free ends, hinge assemblies 4 and 5, respectively, which are covered by bellows 12 and 13 respectively.

3 - On supporting element 3 are set, on the sections above and below container 7, two sheaths 15 and 15', respectively, which present a crosssection of a different type from that of supporting element 3, in the area covered, and are most suitably of the type described in the Italian utility model patent application, filed on the same day by the same applicant, entitled "Covering sheath for a supporting element of an external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle", the contents of which, regarding the necessary parts, are incorporated here, for reference purposes; in particular, said sheaths 15 and 15', which are most suitably made of a plastic material, have, for example, a pear-shaped crosssection (FIGURE 3), and a first cylindrical longitudinal cavity 18, in the areas of greater cross-section of said sheaths 15 and 15', which houses supporting element 3, and a second cylindrical longitudinal cavity, with a smaller diameter, in which may housed an electrical wire 20 for supplying devices, of a known and not illustrated type, which adjust the position and/or temperature of mirror 6.

While upper hinge assembly 4 is most suitably of a conventional type, comprising a simple rotating pin inserted on the end of horizontal arm 9, and held by an element fixed to the body of the vehicle, hinge assembly 5, according to the present invention, which defines a preferential angular position for rearview mirror assembly 1 with respect to the wall of the vehicle, is illustrated in detail in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, which show a section of the end part of lower arm 10 of supporting element 3, which is partially covered by the end part of sheath 1V, and which ends with a flat section 40, flattened on the diametrical plane of said element 3.

Said flat section 40 is joined to a first ring 48, by the forced insertion of a pair of truncated cone-shaped pegs 60 protruding from the top of ring 48, in positions spaced out along a diametrical axis, into a corresponding pair of holes 61 made in section 40. Said first ring 48 has an annular collar 62 all the top and on the same axis, which passes into a corresponding hole 63 made in the flat section 40, while on the lower surface there is a diametrical cavity 65 with rounded edges, which is adapted to fit to a corresponding diametrical projection 66 made on the upper surface of a second ring 47, which has on its lower surface a pair of truncated cone-shaped pegs 68, in positions spaced out along a diametrical axis. which are forced into a corresponding pair of holes 70 made in a lower fin of a C-shaped bracket 41, which is fixed to project from the outside of the vehicle by a pair of bolts 50. Through the lower and upper fins of said bracket 41 is inserted a peg 44, which rests with its head on the upper surface of the upper fin of bracket 41, presents on the same axis a cylindrical spring 46, passes through axial holes 72 and 73 of rings 48 and 47, and protrudes from the lower fin of bracket 41 with a threaded part on which a nut 74 is screwed, pressing a washer 75 against the lower surface of the lower fin of bracket 41, at the beginning of the threaded part of pin 44. Spring 46 is closed between a pair of cups 76 set coaxially on pin 44, one of which rests on flat section 40 of supporting element 3, and the other of which rests against an annular collar 77 made in the upper part of pin 44. Both ring 47 and ring 48 are most suitably made of a sintered material.

Bracket 41 rests with its vertical part against an auxiliary wall 80 which rests against a first wall 42 of the vehicle, and said wall 80 forms two rear hollow cylindrical parts 82 (FIGURE 2), which act as spacers with respect to another part of wall 83 of - 6 r i 1 the vehicle, and allow the passage of bolts 50, inserted in holes 90 made in the vertical wall of said bracket 41, and on the threaded ends of which, in addition to a part of wall 83, nuts 84 are screwed. Bellows 13 thus fits between the edge of said auxiliary wall 80 and the end part of sheath 15'.

From said sheath 15' protrudes electrical wire 20, which passes through a central hole 85 made in bracket 41, and in walls 80, 42 and 83, thus reaching the inside of the vehicle.

By means of hinge assembly 5 constituting the present invention, supporting arm 3 which holds mirror 6 may be rotated about the axis of pin 44, and the preferential angular position of arm 3 is then re- established due to the diametrical cavity 65 fitting to the corresponding diametrical projection 66 of ring 47, these two elements being pressed together by the action of spring 46.

The advantages resulting from the hinge assembly constituting the present invention are evident from the description given, in that, among other things, it is made in a simple and economical fashion, with relatively simple components that do not require welding and that are adapted for mass production in - 7 an economical fashion, such as rings 47 and 48 which are made of a sintered material It is clear that, to the embodiment of the hinge assembly described and illustrated, modifications and variants may be made without exceeding the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly for a supporting element ok an external rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a first element joined at an angle, by fitting together first parts., to a part of said supporting element, and a second element joined--at an angle, by fitting together second parts, to a part fixed to said vehicle, said first and second elements having at least one pair of preferential angular joining parts.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said pair of preferential angular joining parts comprise a cavity and a projection made in said first and second elements.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said cavity and projection are made radially on a diametrical line of said first and second elements.

4. An assembly as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterized in that said first and second elements have the shape of annular discs.

5. An assembly as claimed in any of 9 - the previous claims, characterized in that said first and second elements are made of a sintered material.

6. An assembly as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterized in that said first and second parts of said first and second elements comprise at least one respective pair of projections -- and cavities.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said projections and cavities consist of pegs and holes.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said pegs have the shape of a truncated cone.

9. An assembly as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterized in that said part of said supporting element joined to said first element has a flat section.

10. An assembly as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterized in that said part fixed to said vehicle and joined to said second element comprises a bracket-

11. An assembly as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterized in that it compriseselastic thrusting means of said first element - 10 1 towards said second element.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim characterized in that said elastic means held coaxially by a pin held by said part fixed to said vehicle, said pin passing coaxially through said first and second elements.

13. An--assembly as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterized in that said supporting element is substantially C-shaped and comprises a central part to which are joined in an adjustable manner an external container of a mirror 11, are and a pair of arms, one upper lower. at least one of which is to the body of said vehicle by assembly.

14. An external rearview mirror assembly for an industrial vehicle, comprising a supporting element to which is joined at least an external container housing at least one mirror.

characterized in that said supporting element is joined to the body of said vehicle by at least one of said hinge assemblies, as claimed in any of the previous claims.

15. A hinge assembly for a supporting element of an and one connected said hinge external rearview mirror assembly for an industrial vehicle and relative rearview mirror assembly, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 1 12 - -1 Published 1990 at The Patent Office. State House.C671 High Eoiborn.London WC1R 4TP. Purther copies maybe obtalnedfrom The PatentOffice 1Wer, I. St Mary Cray. Orpington, Kent BUS 5RD. Printed by Multiplex tchWqu" It& St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1187