GB2273480A

GB2273480A - An external rear-view mirror for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2273480A
Application number: GB9325463A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jan Schubert; Bernhard Mittelhauser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-12-18
Filing date: 1993-12-13
Publication date: 1994-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-13
Also published as: ES2084557B1; FR2699473B1; DE4242964A1; GB9325463D0; ES2084557A2; GB2273480B; ES2084557R; FR2699473A1

Description

2273480 AN EXTERNAL REAR-VIEW MIRROR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES The invention

relates to a laterally-projecting, external rear-view mirror for motor vehicles, with a foot attached to the vehicle and a casing formed at the rear open end thereof in order to receive an adjustable mirror body, the outer contour of the mirror, when the said mirror is seen from above, extending obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

In the known mirrors of this type the mirror does fit harmoniously and in a streamlined fashion to the lateral areas of the vehicle, yet with these mirrors it is not possible to pivot the mirror casing in the direction of, and against the direction of travel, when this is necessitated by lateral obstacles. Moreover, the mirrors already mentioned are so long, and extend so far comparatively over the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, that a pivoting movement about an approximately vertical axis, as is usual with mirror bodies projecting transversely to the vehicle, is not possible. These aforementioned special safety measures, which are intended to be effective both in and contrary to the direction of travel, must however nowadays be fulfilled by external rear-view mirrors.

The purpose underlying the invention, with external rear-view mirrors of the type already mentioned, is to propose safety measures which fulfil the general requirements, take account of relative movements both in and contrary to the normal direction of. travel (forward travel). and thus can come into ef f ect in both one and the other longitudinal direction.

In fulfilment of this purpose the substantially stepless, uniformlyextending outer contour of the mirror, in accordance with the invention, forms in the region of the casing for the mirror body with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle an angle of approximately 25 - 350, preferably however approximately 300P and in addition the casing is pivotable about an axis extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, or slightly obliquely thereto.

The invention is based on the realisation that it is sufficient if obstacles or the like impinging on the mirror contrary to the normal direction of travel (forward travel) are laterally deflected outwards, which occurs due to the invention at angles of incidence of approximately 25 - 350. If on the contrary obstacles or foreign forces occur which act in the normal direction of travel, i.e. upon the open side of the casing, then the mirror casing pivots about the aforementioned, preferably approximately horizontal axis, or an axis deviating slightly therefrom, downwards or if necessary upwards, in order considerably to reduce the overhang of the casing for the mirror body.

The pivoting movement of the casing is preferably brought about by known means, e.g. by the fact that the casing firstly carries out a small retarding movement, and then, after mounting a ramp, completes the pivoting movement upwards or downwards. If required, however, pressuresensitive sensors are feasible which, upon occurrence of an impact, switch on a drive, e.g,. by means of an electrical drive motor, which causes pivoting by means of a rack and pinion system.

It should be mentioned that this pivoting movement of the casing also makes it possible to effect a parked position for the external rear-view mirror, here also the effective width of the vehicle being reduced by the pivoting movement, or the extreme overhanging portions of the vehicle being retractable for the duration of parking; here also an electrical drive in the aforementioned sense proves advantageous, because, for example, it can be switched on and off from the interior of the vehicle. A further important and advantageous point is that no slot is formed between the casing and the f oot of the mirror during and after the pivoting movement of the casing.

The present invention will be further illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatically-shown external rear view mirror f or vehicles, seen in the direction of the mirror body (position of use approximately out of sight of the vehicle driver); Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a mirror according to the invention as an external mirror for motor vehicles; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the mirror according to Fig. 2, seen in the direction of the mirror body; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mirror according to Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a partial section along line V-V in Fig. 4.

The casing 1 of the external rear-view mirror, approximately funnelshaped in its entirety, is secured to a foot 2. The casing 1 is open at the end facing the vehicle driver. In the opening 3 there is located the mirror body, indicated at 4 in Fig. 4, which is pivotably mounted in a known way, and can be displaced from the vehicle's interior by known means. In the position of use, the casing 1 merges practically without a slot and without steps into the foot 2. This is particularly the case in the upward transitional areas, along line 5, for aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons, but also for reasons of safety, in order to prevent foreign bodies from entering.

The foot 2 merges harmoniously into the lateral portions of the vehicle, and is anchored at this point in a known way. Both the foot 2 and the casing 1 are extensively adapted to the streamline shape.

Whereas external rear-view mirrors with a casing projecting at approximately right angles to the vehicle permit parking positions of the external rear-view mirror by means of pivoting the casing about a perpendicular axis, and in the same way also yielding movements of the casing on encountering obstacles in the vicinity of the vehicle, this cannot be done because of the slim shape of the mirror extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle according to the invention. The invention rather provides for the casing 1 to pivot about a longitudinal axis 6, preferably downwards, as can be seen in Fig. 3. The pivotal range is indicated at 7; pivoting is effected in the direction of arrow 8. The pivoted p6sition is indicated by 11 It is important, not only during the pivoting movement of the casing 1, but also in the final position of said casing 11 that a slot-free transition is retained between the casing 1 and the foot 2; the edge of the foot 2, at 5, should under these circumstances remain practically on the outer skin of the casing 1.

In order to achieve this aim, the side of the casing 1 facing the f oot 2 is shaped in a manner of a body of revolution, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1; the run of the lines is indicated at 9.

The body of revolution substantially corresponds to a paraboloid of revolution, i.e. to a body of revolution which tapers towards its forward end, especially gradually. A body tapering thus (towards the forward end of the vehicle) has the advantage that the forward end 10 can be surrounded by a correspondinglyshaped portion of the foot 2; the surrounding portion of the f oot 2 is indicated by 11. Under these conditions the pivotal axis 6 coincides with the axis of rotation of the body of revolution.

In order to achieve the aim of the absence of slots described above, it is only necessary correspondingly to shape the portion of the casing wall 12 of casing 1 facing the foot 2; laterally externally, at 13, the casing 1 can again overhang, in order to enable correspondingly larger mirror bodies 4 to be used. If the portion 14 of the foot 2 facing the casing wall 12 is shaped to conform with the body of revolution, guidance and drive systems for the casing 1 may be provided in this area. Thus the casing 1 may be equipped internally with an electrically-driven pinion 15, meshing with a toothed rack 16 curved to conform with the body of revolution, in order thus to enable pivoting in the direction of arrow 8. This pivoting movement is provided not only in order to obtain the parked position, but also when the external mirror is stressed in the direction of the mirror body 4. The pivoting movement in this case replaces the automatic pivoting provided in the case of mirrors with casings projecting at right angles. A possible method of guiding and securing the casing 1 can be seen in Fig. 5. Attached to the casing wall 12 is a laterally-projecting bolt 17, which passes through a slot 18 extending vertically to the axis of rotation 6 in the foot 2, and engages behind the wall of the foot 2 with a widened portion 19. The length of the slot 18 in this case corresponds to the length of the pivotal path in the direction of arrow 8.

In order to dispose the casing in an aerodynamically advantageous way, the axis of rotation 6 according to Fig. 2 is inclined forward and downward. The angle of incidence should be approximately 8 - 120; this angle is indicated at 20. It is also advantageous if the axis of rotation 6 is inclined, as in Fig. 4, forward towards the centre of the vehicle; the angle 21 should come to approximately 8 - 120.

As already mentioned, in the case of forces acting in the direction of arrow 22 (longitudinal direction of the vehicle), the casing 1 is capable of pivoting about axis 6 (fig. 3); this pivoting movement can be initiated by sensors or by other means, e.g. mounting of the struck casing 1 upon a ramp. If however, the casing 1 is stressed contrary to the direction of arrow 22, e.g. when the vehicle is travelling forward and an obstacle is contacted, a special effect results from the formation of the casing 1. An external tontour is provided (when the casing 1 is seen from above - Fig. 4), which leads to deflection of the obstacle. For this reason the external contour is so selected that, approximately halfway along. the casing 1 forms with the direction of arrow 22 an angle of approximately 25 - 3501 the angle with the free edge 23 of the casing 1 reducing even to approximately 150. This effect of lateral drift is therefore of significance in connection with the mirror according to the invention, because, as Fig. 4 shows in particular, the mirror merges linearly and without steps via the foot 2 into the casing 1 and, because of its longitudinally - extended shape. affords to possibility of deflecting backwards by pivoting (against the direction of arrow 22).

Claims

Claims

A laterally-projecting, external rear-view mirror f or motor vehicles, with a f oot attached to the vehicle and a casing formed at the rear open end thereof in order to receive an adjustable mirror body. the outer contour of the mirror, when seen from above, extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, in which the substantially stepless, uniformlyextending outer contour of the mirror forms in the region of the casing with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle an angle of approximately 25 - 300, and the casing is pivotable about an axis extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, or slightly obliquely thereto.
2. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the deviation of the axis trom the horizontal is approximately 5 - 15091 in particular however approximately 100.
3. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the deviation of the axis from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is approximately 5 - 150, particularly however 100.
4. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the outer contour forms with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle an angle of approximately 300.
5. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the casing pivots through approximately 50 - 700.
6. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which, in order to achieve a parked position, the casing is pivotable, preferably by means of a circuit from the interior of the vehicle.
7. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the casing pivots automatically due to mechanical action on its rear, open region.
8. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the casing is pivotable downwards.
9. A mirror as claimed in claim 6, in which there is provided in the interior of the casing an electricallyoperated pinion which corresponds with a curved stationarily-mounted toothed rack.
10. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the foot of the mirror slightly surrounds the forward, non-open end of the casing.
11. A mirror as claimed in claim 11, in which at least the line of separation, visible from above, between the casing and its foot is practically slot-free in construction, and the portion of the casing outer surface facing the foot is in the form of the outer surface of a body of revolution tapering towards the forward end of the mirror, and the pivotal axis of the casing coincides with the axis of rotation of the body of revolution.
12. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the body of revolution is substantially in the form of a paraboloid of revolution.
13. A laterally-projecting, external rear-view mirror for motor vehicles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.