GB2096956A - External rear view mirror for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

An external rear-view mirror for a vehicle having a front portion (5) and a rear portion (12), the front portion (5) having a mirror body (3) supported thereon and also having means for supporting adjustment levers and pivotal axes for tilting the mirror body (3) from a lever (4) within the vehicle. The adjustment levers and pivotal axles are housed within the rear portion (12) to which the front portion (5) is secured by push-button-type fastenings (14, 15). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION External rear view mirror for motor vehicles The present invention relates to an external rear view mirror for motor vehicles, preferably a mirror which is adjustable from inside and is accordingly provided with adjusting elements within the housing. The levers and hinged axles which permit the portion of the mirror protruding laterally from the vehicle to be tilted in the direction of travel and/or opposite to the direction of travel are also located in this housing.

The invention is based upon the recognition that, with these prerequisites, it is advantageous to divide the housing and to construct the rear portion of the housing, remote from the mirror body, as a cover and to mount the abovementioned parts, which are to be disposed within the mirror body, on the front portion of the housing.

According to the present invention there is provided an external rear view mirror for motor vehicles including a dish-shaped housing for accommodating a mirror body adjustably located therein, the mirror body being adjustable from the vehicle interior and the outer, protruding portion of the mirror being tiltable, wherein the rear closed portion of the housing is connected to the front portion of the housing, which surrounds the mirror body with its free edge by means of a pushbutton fastening.

A connection of this type can not only be produced rapidly and securely, but, irrespective of this, externally recognisable mounting means may also be provided, e.g. bores with mounting screws.

Push-button connections are also preferably envisaged for this purpose, the mounting elements thereof (button and accommodating member) being designed as elements moulded onto the associated housing portions. These mounting elements are therefore produced during the moulding process for producing the two housing portions. Further, three or four push-button connections are preferably provided to achieve a positive hold.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of an external rear view mirror for a passenger vehicle or private motor car; and Fig. 2 is a view of the mirror according to Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of travel of the associated vehicle.

The rear view mirror comprises a base 1 by means of which the mirror is secured on the body 2 of the vehicle. The mirror body 3 is adjusted from inside the vehicle by means of the adjustment lever 4.

The mirror body 3 is located in the somewhat dish-shaped housing, which has a front portion 5 being a front edge 6, which portion 5 covers the recess formed in the housing. By means of ribs 7 or the like, portion 5 serves to support the various elements of the mirror which are required to pivot the mirror body 3 (ball joint cup 8), and also serves for the attachment and support of levers and pivotal axles, by means of which the outer, protruding portion of the mirror is tiltable in the direction of travel (arrow 9) and opposite to the direction of travel (arrow 10). The tiit axles are indicated at 11.

The rear, closed portion 1 2 of the housing serves to cover these parts and to achieve a streamlined housing shape and comprises four moulded-on push-buttons 1 3 (tapered projections 14 which contain longitudinal slots and are therefore insertable into an aperture of smaller diameter). The associated openings 1 5 are located in the structural elements fixedly connected to the front portion 5. The other push-button connections, which are not shown in the drawings, are disposed substantially behind the corners of the mirror body 3 which is basically rectangular, as can be seen from Fig. 2, and it is therefore self-evident that only three buttons may possibly be required if the mirror body has a different shape.

It may also be noted that the space between the portions 5 and 12, on the one hand, and the base 1, on the other hand, is spanned by a deformable, apron-like rubber seal 1 6.

1. An external rear view mirror for motor vehicles including a dish-shaped housing for accommodating a mirror body adjustably located therein, the mirror body being adjustable from the vehicle interior and the outer, protruding portion of the mirror being tiltable, wherein the rear, closed portion of the housing is connected to the front portion of the housing, which surrounds the mirror body with its free edge by means of a push-button fastening.

2. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which apertures serve to receive the buttons and are associated with the front portion of the housing, while the buttons are internally located projections which are fixedly moulded onto the rear portion of the housing.

3. A mirror as claimed in claims 1 and 2, in which the buttons are projections which have longitudinal slots formed therein and which are tapered or are provided with a thickened head, and the sections of the projections formed by the slots may deviate elastically resiliently relative to the centre of the button.

4. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the push-buttons are located substantially behind the corners of the mirror body in the case of a mirror body which is basically rectangular in appearance.

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION External rear view mirror for motor vehicles The present invention relates to an external rear view mirror for motor vehicles, preferably a mirror which is adjustable from inside and is accordingly provided with adjusting elements within the housing. The levers and hinged axles which permit the portion of the mirror protruding laterally from the vehicle to be tilted in the direction of travel and/or opposite to the direction of travel are also located in this housing. The invention is based upon the recognition that, with these prerequisites, it is advantageous to divide the housing and to construct the rear portion of the housing, remote from the mirror body, as a cover and to mount the abovementioned parts, which are to be disposed within the mirror body, on the front portion of the housing. According to the present invention there is provided an external rear view mirror for motor vehicles including a dish-shaped housing for accommodating a mirror body adjustably located therein, the mirror body being adjustable from the vehicle interior and the outer, protruding portion of the mirror being tiltable, wherein the rear closed portion of the housing is connected to the front portion of the housing, which surrounds the mirror body with its free edge by means of a pushbutton fastening. A connection of this type can not only be produced rapidly and securely, but, irrespective of this, externally recognisable mounting means may also be provided, e.g. bores with mounting screws. Push-button connections are also preferably envisaged for this purpose, the mounting elements thereof (button and accommodating member) being designed as elements moulded onto the associated housing portions. These mounting elements are therefore produced during the moulding process for producing the two housing portions. Further, three or four push-button connections are preferably provided to achieve a positive hold. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of an external rear view mirror for a passenger vehicle or private motor car; and Fig. 2 is a view of the mirror according to Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of travel of the associated vehicle. The rear view mirror comprises a base 1 by means of which the mirror is secured on the body 2 of the vehicle. The mirror body 3 is adjusted from inside the vehicle by means of the adjustment lever 4. The mirror body 3 is located in the somewhat dish-shaped housing, which has a front portion 5 being a front edge 6, which portion 5 covers the recess formed in the housing. By means of ribs 7 or the like, portion 5 serves to support the various elements of the mirror which are required to pivot the mirror body 3 (ball joint cup 8), and also serves for the attachment and support of levers and pivotal axles, by means of which the outer, protruding portion of the mirror is tiltable in the direction of travel (arrow 9) and opposite to the direction of travel (arrow 10). The tiit axles are indicated at 11. The rear, closed portion 1 2 of the housing serves to cover these parts and to achieve a streamlined housing shape and comprises four moulded-on push-buttons 1 3 (tapered projections 14 which contain longitudinal slots and are therefore insertable into an aperture of smaller diameter). The associated openings 1 5 are located in the structural elements fixedly connected to the front portion 5. The other push-button connections, which are not shown in the drawings, are disposed substantially behind the corners of the mirror body 3 which is basically rectangular, as can be seen from Fig. 2, and it is therefore self-evident that only three buttons may possibly be required if the mirror body has a different shape. It may also be noted that the space between the portions 5 and 12, on the one hand, and the base 1, on the other hand, is spanned by a deformable, apron-like rubber seal 1 6. CLAIMS

1. An external rear view mirror for motor vehicles including a dish-shaped housing for accommodating a mirror body adjustably located therein, the mirror body being adjustable from the vehicle interior and the outer, protruding portion of the mirror being tiltable, wherein the rear, closed portion of the housing is connected to the front portion of the housing, which surrounds the mirror body with its free edge by means of a push-button fastening.

2. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which apertures serve to receive the buttons and are associated with the front portion of the housing, while the buttons are internally located projections which are fixedly moulded onto the rear portion of the housing.

3. A mirror as claimed in claims 1 and 2, in which the buttons are projections which have longitudinal slots formed therein and which are tapered or are provided with a thickened head, and the sections of the projections formed by the slots may deviate elastically resiliently relative to the centre of the button.

4. A mirror as claimed in claim 1, in which the push-buttons are located substantially behind the corners of the mirror body in the case of a mirror body which is basically rectangular in appearance.

5. A mirror as claimed in claim 2, in which the projections are spaced from the edge on the inside surface of the portion.

6. An external rear-view mirror substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.