Vehicle exterior mirror

Abstract: A vehicle door mirror (14) having a housing (16). The housing (16) connects to a vehicle door (10) via a stem (46). An intermediate member (22) is inserted between the housing (16) and the vehicle door (10) to effect relatively smooth abutment between the intermediate member (22) and each of the housing (16) and the vehicle door (10). The cylindrical stem (46) extends from the housing (16) through the intermediate member (22) and through a vehicle door mounting hole (36). The stem (46) includes primary engagement members (54) to engage with complementary engagement members (38) formed in the mounting hole (36) of the door (10). The engagement members (54,38) prevent removal from the mounting hole (36) when the stem (46) is in a predetermined orientation. A spring (72) is compressed between the housing (16) and the stem (46) to cause retraction of the stem (46) inward of the housing (16). Such inward movement urges the primary engagement members (54) into engagement with the complementary engagement members (38).

Description: Background This invention relates to an exterior mirror for a vehicle of the type intended for mounting on a vehicle door according to the preamble of claim 1. Summary of the Invention Conventional exterior mirrors for vehicles have commonly included a base member with an abutment face adapted to abut against a vehicle door with three studs or pillars projecting from the abutment face so as to project through holes in a structural member of the vehicle door. A screw is then inserted into the end of each stud from inside the vehicle so as to hold the bracket in place. A generic vehicle door mirror of this type is described in EP-A-0567244. If electrical connection is required to a mirror adjustment mechanism or a mirror heater, such electrical connections have to be made as a separate operation. Installation of such a mirror is relatively complicated and time consuming. It is an object of the present invention to provide an exterior mirror in which extension is simplified. According to the invention, a vehicle door mirror comprises a housing, an intermediate member having an abutment surface adapted to abut against a complementary surface of a vehicle door, a cylindrical stem mounted in the housing for axial movement relative thereto, said stem projecting through a hole in said abutment surface so as to engage in a mounting hole in said complementary surface, the stem having radially projecting bayonet formations adapted to engage with complementary bayonet formations on the periphery so as to prevent removal of the stem from the mounting hole when the stem is at a predetermined orientation therein, and a spring engaging between the housing and the stem to cause retraction of the stem inwardly of the housing and thereby to urge the bayonet formations into engagement. Preferably, the intermediate member of the housing is displaceable relative to the intermediate member thereof in the event of impact, the main body being held in its normal orientation by a detent which is biased into its engaged position by said spring. The invention also provides arrangements simplifying the establishment of connections to the mirror during installation. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: For a more complete understanding of the invention, its objects and advantages, reference should be made to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings The drawings, which form an integral part of the specification, are to be read in conjunction therewith, and like reference numerals are employed to designate identical components in the various views: Figure 1 is a side view of part of a car door fitted with an exterior mirror part of the mirror housing being shown broken away in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a partially broken-away, rear, elevational view, of the mirror shown in Figure 1 aligned for installation on the vehicle door, Figure 3 is a sectional view along on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an elevational similar to Figure 2 in partial cutaway showing the mirror after a first stage of installation on the door; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a first stage of installation; Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 4 showing a third stage of insertion; Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the mirror in a fourth stage of installation; Figure 10 is a sectional view along the line 10-10 of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the mirror fully installed on the vehicle door; Figure 12 is a sectional view along the line 12-12 of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the mirror in a preliminary state of disengagement from the vehicle door; Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the mirror in a condition in which it can be removed from the vehicle door; Figure 15 is a elevational view in partial cutaway similar to Figure 4 showing the mirror in the process of being removed from the vehicle door, Figure 16 is a perspective view of part of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 17-17 of Figure 16; Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 18-18 of Figure 17; and Figure 19 is a perspective view from below of a contact ring for the embodiment shown in Figure 16. Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1, a vehicle door 10 contains a window 12 and has a door mirror assembly 14 mounted thereon. As can be seen in Figure 2, door mirror assembly 14 comprises a housing 16 containing a mirror glass 18. Housing 16 has a downwardly projecting cylindrical foot 20 which is journaled for relative angular and axial movement in an intermediate member 22. Foot 20 has a downwardly projecting detent 24 on its bottom surface which engages in a correspondingly shaped recess 26 in intermediate member 22 so as to retain housing 16 in a predetermined orientation relative to intermediate member 22, as will be explained hereinafter. Intermediate member 22 has a bottom abutment surface 28 shaped to abut against a complementary surface of outer skin 30 of vehicle door 10 so as to cover an opening 32 therein. Door 10 also has an inner frame 34 containing a generally circular hole 36 (see Figure 3) which has three relatively long arcuate cut-outs 38 each of which has an associated shorter arcuate cut out 40 adjacent thereto. A multi-contact female electrical connector 42 is mounted in hole 36 with its contacts (not shown) on its top surface. Connector 42 has three radially projecting lugs 44 level with its top surface and dimensioned to easily pass through cut-outs 38. In Figure 3, lugs 44 are out of alignment with cut-outs 38 so as to hold electrical connector 40 in place prior to installation of mirror 14. A coupling stem 46 projects downwardly from foot 20 and has a male electrical connector 48 mounted on its bottom end. Connector 48 has pins (not shown) which are arranged to mate with the contacts of female connector 40. These pins and contacts are of conventional design. When mirror 14 is to be installed on the door 10, it is positioned so that the male connector 48 can pass through the opening 32 and into engagement with female connector 42. A pair of diametrically opposed, resiliently mounted projections 50 on the sides of the male connector 48 are a snap fit in corresponding recesses 52 in female connector 42 so as to retain the two connectors in engagement with one another, as shown in Figure 4. Following engagement of projections 50 and recesses 52, mirror 14 is turned about the axis of stem 46 so as to bring the lugs 44 on female electrical connector 42 into alignment with cut-outs 38 of mounting hole or opening 36, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Female connector 40 is now free to be moved downwardly clear of inner frame 34 of the door to the position shown in Figures 7 and 8 because lugs 54 on the sides of the stem 46 enter cut-outs 38 during this downward movement downward movement continues until bottom abutment surface 28 on intermediate member 22 comes into abutment with outer skin 30 of vehicle door 10. As can be seen in Figure 7, each lug 54 is generally L-shaped, having a vertical portion 56 and a ramped portion 58 on the outer end of its horizontal part. The next step of the assembly involves fuming mirror 14 counter-clockwise (as viewed from above) to bring the vertical portion 56 of each lug 54 into engagement with an edge of cut-out 38, as shown in Figure 9. This resists further angular movement of stem 46. Each of ramp portions 58 of L-shaped lugs 54 is now aligned with one of the shorter arcuate cut-outs 40. The top of stem 46 has an outwardly projecting flange 60 which engages between inwardly facing upper and lower flanges or ribs 64 and 66 on foot 20. Lower rib 66 is continuous. Upper rib 64 has three arcuate cut-outs 68 (Figure 10). Similarly, flange 60 on stem 46 has cut-outs leaving three projecting lugs 70 which are dimensioned to pass through cut-outs 68, in Figures 9 and 10, and to engage upper rib 64. A compression spring 72 engages between the bottom surface of flange 60 and the bottom of foot 20 to hold lugs 70 in engagement with upper rib 64. Previously, the friction due to spring 72 has caused the stem 46 and the foot 20 of the housing 16 to move simultaneously, keeping the spring 72 in its compressed condition. Because of the engagement of vertical portions 56 of the L-shaped lugs 54 with the edges of cut-outs 38 prevents further angular movement of stem 46, continued angular movement of housing 16 causes lugs 70 on flange 60 to come into alignment with cut-outs 68. This allows the compression spring 72 to displace stem 46 upwardly relative to housing 16 so that ramped portions 58 of L-shaped lugs 54 engage the shorter arcuate cut-outs 40 in inner frame 34, thus holding stem 46 against rotation in either direction, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. If housing 16 is subject to impact from the front or from the rear, detents 24 on the bottom surface of the foot 20 ride up the edges of recesses 26 in intermediate member 22, compressing the spring 72, as shown in Figure 13. Lugs 70 on the flange 60 are now just above top upper rib 64 on foot 20. Mirror housing 16 and its foot 20 are therefore free to move relative to both intermediate member 22 and stem 46, which remain stationary relative to one another. If it is desired to remove the mirror 14 from the door 10, the mirror housing 16 is first displaced forwardly or rearwardly as shown in Figure 13. Next, the interior trim of the door 10 is removed and a tool (not shown) is applied to the bottom of stem 46 to rotate it clockwise (as viewed from above) so that the ramped portions 58 on the lugs 54 ride down against the edges of the cut-outs 40 in the inner door frame 34, displacing lugs 70 on the flange 60 to between upper and lower ribs 64 and 66 on foot 20. Further angular movement of mirror housing 16 moves lugs 70 to a position in which they engage under upper rib 64. Compression spring 72 remains compressed while lugs 54 on stem 46 are moved into alignment with larger arcuate cut-outs 38 in inner door frame 34. Female connector 42 can then be disconnected manually and housing 16 is lifted off door 10, as shown in Figure 15. In a second embodiment of the invention, the female and male electrical connectors 42 and 48 are replaced by electrical contacts 86 and 88 formed on the upper surfaces of the horizontal part of each of lugs 54 between vertical portions 56 and ramped portions 58, as shown in Figures 16 to 18. Female connector 42 is replaced by a plastics ring 74 (see Figure 19) which has an opening 76 of identical shape to the opening 36 in the inner door frame 34 and which is held in place therein by resilient lugs 78. Contact pairs 82 and 84 are positioned on the bottom surface of ring 74 so as to engage with contacts 70 and 72 when stem 46 is in the position illustrated in Figure 11. Otherwise, this embodiment is identical with that described with reference to Figures 1 to 15. More electrical contacts may be provided if six are insufficient While the invention has been described in its presently preferred form, it is to be understood that there are numerous applications and implementations for the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is capable of modification and changes without departing from the definition of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims: A vehicle door mirror (14) comprising: a housing (16); an intermediate member (22) having an abutment surface (28) adapted to abut against a complementary surface (30) of a vehicle door (10); characterised by : a cylindrical stem (46) having a first end mounted to the housing (16) for axial movement relative thereto, the stem (46) having a second end projecting through a hole in the abutment surface (28) so as to engage in a mounting hole (36) in the door and having radial first primary engagement members (54) adapted to engage with first complementary engagement members (38) on the periphery of the mounting hole (36) so as to prevent removal of the stem (46) from the mounting hole (36) when the stem (46) is in a predetermined orientation with respect to the mounting hole (36); and a spring (72) compressed between the housing (16) and the stem (46) to cause retraction of the stem (46) inwardly of the housing (16), thereby urging the first primary and first complementary engagement members (54, 38) into engagement. The vehicle door mirror according to claim 1 wherein the first end of the stem (46) has second primary engagement members (70), the second primary engagement members (70) adapted to engage with second complementary engagement members (64) formed on the housing (16) to hold the stem (46) in a protracted position against the action of the spring (72), wherein angular movement of the housing (16) relative to the door (10) after engagement of the first primary and first complementary engagement members (54, 38) causes disengagement of the second primary and complementary engagement members (70, 64). The vehicle door mirror according to claims 1 or 2 further comprising: a first electrical connector (42) having interlocking formations (44) adapted to engage with the periphery of the mounting hole (36); and a second electrical connector (48) mounted on the second end of the stem (46) and adapted to engage the first electrical connector (42) to cause disengagement of the interlocking formations (44) from the periphery of the mounting hole (36) to enable the stem to be inserted therein. The vehicle door mirror according to claims 1 or 2 further comprising a first set of electrical contacts (70, 72) arranged on the first primary engagement members (54) and adapted to engage a second set of electrical contacts (82, 84) arranged on the first complementary engagement members (38). The vehicle door mirror according to any preceding claim wherein the stem (46) couples the housing (16) to the intermediate member (22), wherein a detent (24) in the housing (16) maintains the housing (16) in its normal orientation relative to the intermediate member (22), and wherein the detent (24) is biased into its engaged position by the spring (72) so that the housing (16) is displaceable relative to the intermediate member (22) in the event of impact. The vehicle door mirror according to any preceding claim wherein the first primary engagement members (54) have a bayonet shape, and the first complementary engagement members (38) are defined by a cut-out in the periphery of the mounting hole (36). The vehicle door mirror according to claim 2 wherein the second primary engagement members (70) are defined by a flange projecting from the stem (46) having cut-out sections formed therein, and the second complementary engagement members (64) are formed by a flange projecting from the housing having cut-out section formed therein.

Inventors: ASSINDER ANDREW JOHN, REHILL GRAHAM, ASSINDER, ANDREW JOHN, REHILL, GRAHAM
Applicants: SCHEFENACKER VISION SYSTEMS UK, SCHEFENACKER VISION SYSTEMS UK LIMITED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B60R1
IPC codes: B60R1