Remote control mirror apparatus for automobile

A stopper to be contacted with a moving rod before it is located at the most receded position such that the elastic engagement between a female screw and an elastic engaging nail is in the state capable of clutch slipping is provided between a housing and the moving rod. A fall-off preventing unit to be contacted with the moving rod at the time the moving rod is located at the most advanced position is provided for preventing fall-off of the moving rod from the other member between the moving rod and another member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a remote control mirror for automobiles, such as a door mirror, a fender mirror, and a rearview mirror. In the claims and the specification, the right and left or the right and left direction refers to the right and left or the right and left direction around the vertical axis with the remote control mirror mounted on an automobile. Moreover, the up and down or the up and down direction refers to the right and left or the right and left direction around the horizontal axis with the remote control mirror mounted on the automobile.

2) Description of the Related Art

Conventional remote control mirror for automobiles have been disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,555, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,321 and the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2000-118304.

A remote control mirror generally comprises a power unit and a mirror unit mounted on the power unit tiltably. The power unit comprises a housing, a motor housed in the housing, a moving rod mounted on the housing movably and interlocked with the mirror unit, a deceleration mechanism and a moving mechanism provided between the motor and the moving rod. When the motor is driven by the remote control, the moving rod is moved via the deceleration mechanism and the moving mechanism so as to tilt the mirror unit.

In the remote control mirror, it is important that the load on the motor or the deceleration mechanism can be alleviated at the time the moving rod is disposed at the most receded position, and that slip off of the moving rod from the other members can be prevented at the time the moving rod is disposed at the most advanced position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control mirror, which can alleviate the load on a motor or a deceleration mechanism at the time a moving rod is disposed at the most receded position, and can prevent slip off of the moving rod from the other members at the time the moving rod is disposed at the most advanced position.

The remote control mirror according to one aspect of the invention comprises a stopper to be contacted with the moving rod before it is located at the most receded position such that the elastic engagement between a female screw and an elastic engaging nail is in the state capable of clutch slipping, between the housing and the moving rod. As a result, according to the above aspect, since the elastic engagement between the female screw and the elastic engaging nail can be clutch slipped before the moving rod is located at the most receded position, the load on the motor or the deceleration mechanism can be alleviated at the time the moving rod is located at the most receded position.

The remote control mirror according to another aspect of the invention comprises a fall-off preventing unit to be contacted with the moving rod at the time the moving rod is located at the most advanced position for preventing fall-off of the moving rod from the other member between the moving rod and another member. As a result, according to the above aspect, since the fall-off preventing unit is contacted with the moving rod when it is located at the most advanced position, fall-off of the moving rod from the other member can be prevented at the time the moving rod is located at the most advanced position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

Embodiment(s) of the remote control mirror according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanied drawings. The remote control mirror in this embodiment is an example used for a door mirror apparatus. The present invention is not limited by this embodiment.

The remote control mirror shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a so-called door mirror apparatus 1 . The door mirror apparatus 1 comprises a base 3 fixed on a door 2 of an automobile and a mirror assembly 4 mounted tiltably around the substantially vertical axis of the base 3 . As the remote control mirror, in addition to the door mirror apparatus 1 , a fender mirror apparatus, a rearview mirror apparatus, or the like can be included.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the mirror assembly 4 comprises a mirror housing 5 , a unit bracket 7 mounted on the mirror housing 5 by a screw 6 , or the like, a power unit 9 mounted on the unit bracket 7 by a screw 8 , or the like and a mirror unit 10 mounted on the power unit 9 tiltably.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2 , the mirror unit 10 comprises a mirror body 11 , a mirror holder 12 which supports the mirror body 11 , and a mirror holder base 13 mounted on the center part of the mirror holder 12 .

As shown in FIG. 3A , the mirror holder base 13 is provided with a spherical recess portion 14 A for the right and left direction, a recess portion 14 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the spherical recess portions 14 A, 14 B), a pivot mechanism 15 and a guide mechanism 16 , respectively. The mirror holder 12 and the mirror holder base 13 are provided as individual structures such that an integral structure can be provided by assembling the mirror holder base 13 in the center part of the mirror holder 12 . In the present invention, the mirror holder 12 and the mirror holder base 13 can be provided as an integral structure.

In contrast, as shown in FIGS. 2 , 3 A and 3 B, the power unit 9 comprises a first housing 17 , a second housing 18 (hereinafter referred to as the housings 17 , 18 ), and other components described later.

The first housing 17 is provided with the pivot mechanism 15 and the guide mechanism 16 , respectively. The mirror holder base 13 is mounted on the first housing 17 of the power unit 9 via a spring 19 , the pivot mechanism 15 and the guide mechanism 16 tiltably in the right and left direction and the up and down direction. The spring 19 may be one with a cross-like shape formed integrally, or one comprising two pieces with a minus shape in a combination so as to form a cross-like shape.

The first housing 17 is provided with a round opening 20 A for the right and left direction and an opening 20 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the openings 20 A, 20 B), respectively. A round ring-like packing 21 A for the right and left direction and a packing 21 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the packings 21 A, 21 B) are mounted on the rim of the openings 20 A, 20 B, respectively.

A motor 22 A for the right and left direction and a motor 22 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the motors 22 A, 22 B) are stored in the housings 17 , 18 , respectively. Moreover, a moving rod 23 A for the right and left direction, and a moving rod 23 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the moving rods 23 A, 23 B) are mounted movably in the housings 17 , 18 , respectively. The moving rods 23 A, 23 B are inserted through the openings 20 A, 20 B. The packings 21 A, 21 B are disposed water-tightly between the outer side surface of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B and the rim of the openings 20 A, 20 B.

A deceleration mechanism for the right and left direction, a deceleration mechanism for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the deceleration mechanism), a moving mechanism for the right and left direction and a moving mechanism for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the moving mechanism) are provided between the moving rods 23 A, 23 B and the motors 22 A, 22 B, respectively.

The moving rods 23 A, 23 B are made of a resin with elasticity. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the moving rods 23 A, 23 B have a cylindrical shape with hollowness from one end to halfway at the other end. On one end of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B, four elastic engaging nails 28 A for the right and left direction and elastic engaging nails 28 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B) are provided toward the outer side by a substantially equal interval, respectively. Moreover, on the other end of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B, a spherical portion 30 A for the right and left direction and a spherical portion 30 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the spherical portions 30 A, 30 B) are provided integrally.

As shown in FIG. 3B , the deceleration mechanism comprises a worm 24 A for the right and left direction and a worm 24 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the worms 24 A, 24 B) mounted each on the rotation axes of the motors 22 A, 22 B, and a helical gear 25 A for the right and left direction and a helical gear 25 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the helical gears 25 A, 25 B) to be engaged each with the worms 24 A, 24 B.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the helical gears 25 A, 25 B comprise a hollow double cylindrical shape, that is, an outer side cylindrical portion 40 A for the right and left direction, an outer side cylindrical portion 40 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the outer side cylindrical portions 40 A, 40 B), an inner side cylindrical portion 41 A for the right and left direction, and an inner side cylindrical portion 41 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B). The axial direction lengths of the outer side cylindrical portions 40 A, 40 B is shorter than the axial direction lengths of the inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B.

A gap between one end of the outer side cylindrical portions 40 A, 40 B and one end of the inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B is interlocked integrally via an interlocking portion 39 A for the right and left direction and an interlocking portion 39 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the interlocking portions 39 A, 39 B), respectively. The outer side surface of the outer side cylindrical portions 40 A, 40 B is provided with a gear 33 A for the right and left direction of the helical gear and a gear 33 B for the up and down direction, respectively. In contrast, four long hole-like transmission holes 26 A for the right and left direction and transmission holes 26 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the transmission holes 26 A, 26 B) are provided from one end to the other end of the inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B each in the axial direction (moving direction of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B). The four transmission holes 26 A, 26 B and the four elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B correspond with each other.

As shown in FIGS. 3B , 4 and 5 , the moving mechanism comprises a female screw 27 A for the right and left direction provided in the second housing 18 , a female screw 27 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the female screws 27 A, 27 B), the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B, a spring 29 A for the right and left direction and a spring 29 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the springs 29 A, 29 B). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the female screws 27 A, 27 B are provided each on the inner side surface of a hollow cylindrical portion 34 A for the right and left direction and a hollow cylindrical portion 34 B for the up and down direction (hereinafter referred to as the hollow cylindrical portions 34 A, 34 B) provided integrally with the second housing 18 .

The inner diameter of the outer side cylindrical portions 40 A, 40 B and the outer diameter of the hollow cylindrical portions 34 A, 34 B are substantially equal. Moreover, the outer diameter of the inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B is smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical portions 34 A, 34 B, that is, the inner diameter of the screw thread of the female screws 27 A, 27 B.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the outer side cylindrical portions 40 A, 40 B of the helical gears 25 A, 25 B are supported each by the hollow cylindrical portions 34 A, 34 B rotatably. The inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B of the helical gears 25 A, 25 B are stored each in the hollow cylindrical portions 34 A, 34 B rotatably. The interlocking portions 39 A, 39 B of the helical gears 25 A, 25 B are held and mounted unmovably in the moving direction of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B between the hollow cylindrical portions 34 A, 34 B and the first housing 17 .

As a result, the helical gears 25 A, 25 B are mounted rotatably on the housings 17 , 18 and unmovably in the moving direction of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the outer diameter of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B and the inner diameter of the inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B are substantially equal. The moving rods 23 A, 23 B are supported in the inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B of the helical gears 25 A, 25 B movably in the moving direction of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B. Moreover, the springs 29 A, 29 B are disposed in the moving rods 23 A, 23 B. Furthermore, according to their own elastic function and the spring function of the springs 29 A, 29 B, the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B are always elastically engaged with the female screws 27 A, 27 B through the transmission holes 26 A, 26 B, respectively.

According to the contact of the side wall surface of the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B and the side wall surface of the transmission holes 26 A, 26 B, the moving rods 23 A, 23 B and the helical gears 25 A, 25 B are rotated synchronously. Moreover, when the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B are always elastically engaged with the female screws 27 A, 27 B according to the elastic function of the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B themselves, the springs 29 A, 29 B need not always be provided. Furthermore, the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B are movable in the moving direction of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B (axial direction of the helical gears 25 A, 25 B) in the transmission holes 26 A, 26 B.

As a result, the moving rods 23 A, 23 B are mounted on the housing 17 , 18 rotatably and movably. That is, when the motors 22 A, 22 B are driven, the moving rods 23 A, 23 B and the helical gears 25 A, 25 B are rotated synchronously. According to the rotation, by the screw feeding function of the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B and the female screws 27 A, 27 B, the moving rods 23 A, 23 B are moved while rotating with respect to the housings 17 , 18 . In contrast, since the helical gears 25 A, 25 B cannot move with respect to the housings 17 , 18 , they can only be rotated.

The moving rods 23 A, 23 B are maintained water-tightly by the packings 21 A, 21 B. Moreover, the spherical portions 30 A, 30 B of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B and the spherical recess portions 14 A, 14 B of the mirror holder base 16 are fitted with each other. Thereby, the mirror holder base 13 can be tilted in the right and left direction and the up and down direction.

A stopper is provided between the second housing 18 and the moving rods 23 A, 23 B. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the stopper comprises pins 35 A, 35 B provided concentrically and integrally with the hollow cylindrical portions 34 A, 34 B in the second housing 18 , and projection portions 36 A, 36 B integrally in the hollow parts of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B from the other end to the halfway.

The pins 35 A, 35 B are inserted into the hollow parts of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B so as to face the projection portions 36 A, 36 B with respect to the moving direction of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B. The springs 29 A, 29 B are disposed between the moving rods 23 A, 23 B and the projection portions 36 A, 36 B.

The stopper comprising the pins 35 A, 35 B and the projection portions 36 A, 36 B are contacted via the springs 29 A, 29 B before the moving rods 23 A, 23 B are located at the most receded position so that elastic engagement of the female screws 27 A, 27 B and the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B can be in the state capable of clutch slipping. The most receded position denotes the position whereat the lower end surface of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B is contacted with the bottom surface of the inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B of the helical gears 25 A, 25 B (or the bottom surface of the second housing 18 ).

A fall-off preventing unit is provided between the moving rods 23 A, 23 B and another member, in this embodiment, the helical gears 25 A, 25 B. As shown in FIGS. 3B , 4 and 5 , the fall-off preventing unit comprises step portions 37 A, 37 B provided on the upper surface of the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B, and protruding portions 38 A, 38 B provided on one end of the through holes 26 A, 26 B of the helical gears 25 A, 25 B. The protruding portions 38 A, 38 B may be provided on the first housing 17 side as well.

The fall-off preventing unit comprising the step portions 37 A, 37 B and the protruding portions 38 A, 38 B are for preventing fall-off of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B from the helical gears 25 A, 25 B (housings 17 , 18 ) by contacting with the moving rods 23 A, 23 B at the time they are located at the most advanced position.

As shown in FIG. 2 , by connecting two male connector 32 A for the right and left direction and male connector 32 B for the up and down direction each with the power unit 9 as a female connector, the power unit 9 and a harness 31 on the power source side can be connected electrically so that the motors 22 A, 22 B can be in the state capable of being energized.

An operation of the remote control mirror according to this embodiment will be explained hereinafter.

The motor 22 A for the right and left direction is energized by the remote control from the driver's seat of the automobile. Then, the motor 22 A for the right and left direction is driven so that the moving rod 23 A for the right and left direction is moved. According thereto, the mirror unit 10 is tilted with respect to the power unit 9 via the mirror holder base 13 in the right and left direction around the vertical axis (not shown) through the center of the pivot mechanism 15 . Or when the motor 22 B for the up and down direction is energized, the motor 22 B for the up and down direction is driven so that the moving rod 23 B for the up and down direction is moved. According thereto, the mirror unit 10 is tilted with respect to the power unit 9 via the mirror holder base 13 in the up and down direction around the horizontal axis (not shown) through the center of the pivot mechanism 15 .

The effects obtained by the remote control mirror according to this embodiment are as follows.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the moving rods 23 A, 23 B are receded so as to be located at a position before the most receded position. Thereby, the pins 35 A, 35 B of the stopper and the projection portions 36 A, 36 B are contacted via the springs 29 A, 29 B. As a result, the elastic engagement of the female screws 27 A, 27 B and the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B can be in the state capable of clutch slipping.

That is, in the state with the pins 35 A, 35 B of the stopper and the projection portions 36 A, 36 B contacted via the springs 29 A, 29 B, the moving rods 23 A, 23 B are to be further receded. Thereby, the driving force of the motors 22 A, 22 B is transmitted to the helical gears 25 A, 25 B via the worms 24 A, 24 B. The helical gears 25 A, 25 B and the moving rods 23 A, 23 B are to be rotated synchronously. Moreover, the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B are to be screw swirled along the female screws 27 A, 27 B.

Then, the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B are deflected in the arrow direction in FIG. 4 , resisting to their own elastic function and the spring function of the springs 29 A, 29 B so as to move over the screw threads of the female screws 27 A, 27 B. According thereto, the elastic engagement of the female screws 27 A, 27 B and the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B is released. Then, the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B restore automatically in the direction opposite to the arrow in FIG. 4 by their own elastic function and the spring function of the springs 29 A, 29 B so as to be engaged with the female screws 27 A, 27 B again.

Thereby, the load on the deceleration mechanism (worms 24 A, 24 B and the helical gears 25 A, 25 B), and the motors 22 A, 22 B can be alleviated at the time the moving rods 23 A, 23 B are located at the most receded position.

FIG. 5 shows the state with the moving rods 23 A, 23 B disposed at a position before the most advanced position, that is, the state just before contacting the step portions 37 A, 37 B of the fall-off preventing member and the protruding portions 38 A, 38 B. From the state shown in FIG. 5 , the moving rods 23 A, 23 B are further advanced so as to be located at the most advanced position. Then, the step portions 37 A, 37 B of the fall-off preventing member and the protruding portions 38 A, 38 B are contacted. As a result, fall-off of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B from the helical gears 25 A, 25 B (or the housings 17 , 18 as another member) can be prevented.

According to this embodiment, since the inner diameter of the outer side cylindrical portions 40 A, 40 B and the outer diameter of the hollow cylindrical portions 34 A, 34 B are substantially equal, the outer side cylindrical portions 40 A, 40 B of the helical gears 25 A, 25 B can be supported certainly rotatably around the hollow cylindrical portions 34 A, 34 B without backlash. In contrast, since the outer diameter of the moving rods 23 A, 23 B and the inner diameter of the inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B are substantially equal, the moving rods 23 A, 23 B can be supported certainly movably in the inner side cylindrical portions 41 A, 41 B of the helical gears 25 A, 25 B without backlash.

In this embodiment, the stopper comprises the pins 35 A, 35 B provided in the second housing 18 and the projection portions 36 A, 36 B provided in the moving rods 23 A, 23 B. However, according to the present invention, a stopper other than the pins 35 A, 35 B, and projection portions 36 A, 36 B can be used as well, as long as it is provided between the housings 17 , 18 and the moving rods 23 A, 23 B.

In this embodiment, the fall-off preventing unit comprises the step portions 37 A, 37 B provided in the elastic engaging nails 28 A, 28 B and the protruding portions 38 A, 38 B provided in the helical gears 25 A, 25 B. However, according to the present invention, a fall-off preventing unit other than the step portions 37 A, 37 B and the protruding portions 38 A, 38 B may be used as well, as long as it is provided between the moving rods 23 A, 23 B and another member.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application 2001-222238, filed Jul. 23, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.