Abstract:
A rearview mirror assembly for attachment to a holding tube carried by a vehicle. The assembly includes a housing framing configured to encase a portion of the holding tube and to attach with a mirror element. A clamping bracket is also configured to encase a portion of the holding tube and to attach with the housing frame. A projection formed with one of the housing framing and the clamping bracket is positioned to extend into the holding tube when encased by the clamping bracket and housing framing. Connectors are engaged with the housing framing, clamping bracket and the extension locking them in position relative to each other and the holding tube.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/941,283, filed Sep. 15, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/767,669, filed Jan. 29, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/800,114, filed Mar. 6, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,352. Priority is claimed. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention concerns a rearview mirror, especially for motor vehicles.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     DE 198 40 004 A1 discloses a rearview mirror for motor vehicles in which a mirror support element is a carrier plate with a honeycomb structure. The mirror housing with the mirror framing, the mirror element with its pane, and the adjustment apparatus are fastened to the carrier plate. The carrier plate with the honeycomb structure is secured to a holder by means of a clamping mechanism and the holder, in turn, is attached to the body of the vehicle. A mirror of this type possesses a high degree of stability, a relatively low weight, and only a small tendency toward vibration.  
         [0004]     A comparable mirror arrangement is described in EP 0 590 510 A1 and DE 40 10 083, which each exhibit a carrier plate as the carrying element but without a honeycomb structure.  
         [0005]     A disadvantage of this type of mirror arrangement is its comparatively heavy weight as found, for example, in the version of EP 0 590 510.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention improves the lighter rearview mirror structure of DE 198 40 004 A1 with the necessary stability.  
         [0007]     The present invention provides reduced structure for securing the rearview mirror with the holding member. By providing a first clamping part in the mirror housing framing and a second clamping part in the clamping bracket itself, which mounts the mirror element, a carrier plate may be dispensed with. Removing the conventional carrier plate leads to a reduction in weight. Since the carrier plate is no longer required, the number of the system parts or components is reduced compared to the state of the technology, which results in a simpler mounting procedure and also reduces the costs of manufacture.  
         [0008]     In accord with an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the clamping bracket is made out of a more rugged material than the mirror housing framing.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, the bracket becomes an important carrying component onto which the characteristic mirror pane is fastened along with a positioning apparatus. Since the entire extent of length or width of the mirror housing framing is available for the clamping connection, the clamping bracket can now be fastened essentially in a large surface mode, so that it is possible to manufacture the clamping bracket from a reinforced plastic such as glass fiber reinforced plastic. Alternatively, the clamping bracket can naturally be made of metal.  
         [0010]     In accord with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamping bracket fits into one side of the mirror framing with slip-in catches and is screwed into the mirror framing on the other side. This type of connection reduces the number of screwed connections and simplifies the mounting.  
         [0011]     Following another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mirror element includes a mirror pane, upon which a glass carrier plate is installed. The carrier plate is driven by a motor, preferably electric, for positioning adjustment. The positioning adjustment or apparatus, and thereby the entire mirror element, are screwed onto the reinforced clamping bracket, which acts as the carrying element. This, too, contributes to simplifying the mounting.  
         [0012]     In accord with yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, a rimless glass carrier plate is employed, which allows the mirror pane to extend slightly beyond the glass carrier plate and the carrier plate. Thus, the glass carrier plate possesses no border or peripherally running rim which encloses the glass pane of the mirror. By dispensing with the enclosing rim for the glass carrier plate, with an outside design of the same dimensioning, optimum use is made of the glass area.  
         [0013]     In accord with yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mirror housing includes a mirror housing cover, which is releasably bound, or can be so bound, to the mirror housing framing by means of a snap-in connection. Since the mirror housing cover plate fulfills no carrying function, it may be manufactured with very thin walls and light in weight. By means of the snap-in connection, the cover plate can be easily disconnected and can also be lacquered in a simple manner with colors specified by the customer.  
         [0014]     In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the clamping bracket, and/or the mirror framing in the area in which the holding part is located, there are provided securing members which penetrate and engage with the holding part locking the clamping bracket and/or mirror framing in position against rotation about the holding part.  
         [0015]     In accord with yet another embodiment of the invention, the framing part possesses an opening in the area of the securing members allowing a securing member access to the holding member. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     Further details, features and advantages of the invention arise from the following description of preferred embodiments with the aid of the drawings. There is shown in:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention particularly showing a clamping bracket with surrounding elements shown in phantom.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a sectional drawing along the section line A-A of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a sectional drawing along the section line B-B of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 3A  is an exploded section of the holding tube, the projection and the locking screw.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view along line B-B of  FIG. 1  showing the manner of positioning the framing member with the clamping bracket for engagement therewith.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a plane view of the mirror housing framing from the rear. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. The examples are provided by way of explanation of the invention and are not intended as limitations of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield yet a third embodiment. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations.  
         [0024]     Turning now to the drawings, the primary first embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  as a side view, depicting a mirror housing  2 , which includes a mirror housing framing element  4  and a mirror housing cover  5 . Within the mirror housing  2  is located clamping bracket  12 , housing framing element  4  and a mirror element  6  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The entire rear view mirror is fastened by means of clamping connection  8  onto a holding part or holder tube  10 . Tube  10  may be a continuous tube or it may be comprised of two tubes separated in the center. The clamping connection  8  comprises, as best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a first clamping part in the form of the mirror housing framing or framing element  4  and a second clamping part in the form of a clamping bracket  12 .  
         [0025]     As may be inferred from the sectional drawings in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the mirror housing framing  4  possesses a through-like recess  14  within which the holder tube or element  10  is partially encased. The clamping bracket  12  possesses a similar trough-like recess  16 . Recess  14  may engage with or may be spaced from or both the outer surface of tube  10 . In any case, opposed trough-like structures  14 ,  16 , completely or nearly completely circumferentially encase holder tube  10  and a large surface is made available for the transmission of forces. Extending in a first direction from the trough structure  16  of the bracket  12  are a plurality of hook elements  18  which extend in comb-like fashion. Extending from the other side of the trough structure  16  is part  20  of the brackets  12  with extensions  48  ( FIG. 2 ) which receive screw fastenings or connectors in the form of screws  26 . The hook elements  18  fit into a corresponding hook opening  22  in the mirror housing framing  4 . As one can see in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the part  20  of the clamping bracket  12  is connected to the mirror housing framing  4  by means of four screws or connectors  26  which pass through extensions  48  and secure in receptor openings  49  formed in mirror housing  4 .  
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 and 5  show the mirror element  6 , which includes mirror pane  30 , a glass carrier plate  32  and an electric motor driven mirror positioning apparatus  34 , connecting clamping bracket  12  by way of connectors or screw elements  24  and receptors  47 . More specifically, the mirror adjustment apparatus  34  is fastened onto the part  20  of the clamp bracket  12 .  
         [0027]     The four screw connectors or connections  24 , i.e. screws, enter receptors  47  of the part  20  of the clamping bracket  12  (in  FIG. 3 ) from the side proximal to the mirror pane  30 . The glass carrier plate  32 , with its attendant mirror pane  30 , is fastened onto the mirror positioning apparatus  34  by means of a detent connection  36 . The glass carrier plate  32  is without a surrounding rim construction, as discussed in EP 0 659 609 B1, and a periphery  31  of the mirror pane  30  extends slightly outward beyond a periphery  33  of the glass carrier plate  32 . To this extent, EP 0 659 609 B1 is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a view of the mirror housing framing  4  from the rear without the mirror element  6 . The mirror housing framing  4  possesses three openings  38   a,    38   b,    38   c  for internal installation purposes and for weight reduction. The somewhat rectangular clamping bracket  12  exhibits between edge strips  42 ,  44  of screwed-on part  20  an opening  40 , which overlaps the central opening  38   b  (shown in phantom) in the mirror housing framing  4 . As best seen in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  5 , the upper and lower edge strips  42 ,  44 , respectively, are provided the four extensions  48  receiving connectors or screws  26  for connecting the clamping bracket  12  with the mirror housing framing  4 . On the upper and the lower strips  42 ,  44  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  are four screw connectors  24  which pass through openings in the mirror positioning adjustment apparatus  34  and engage with four receptors  47 , carried by part  20 , for the screw connection of the mirror positioning adjustment apparatus  34  to the clamping bracket  12 .  
         [0029]     As can be seen in  FIGS. 2-4 , holding tube or member  10  is provided with spaced transverse slits  50  which are arranged opposite a pair of bores  52 . The slits and bores, which extend over approximately ¼″ of the circumference of tube  10 , are axially spaced a distance equal the spacing of strips  42 ,  44 . Along the inner surface of trough  16  there are provided a pair of projections  54  which include an inner threaded bore  56 . A pair of second bores  57  are provided through housing framing  4  at generally the apex of trough  14  and are aligned with bores  52 .  
         [0030]     Screw or fastening members  58  are provided for engaging with threaded bore  56  of projection  54 . Screw  58  including its head  60  passes through bore  57  with the screw projecting end passing through bore  52  and engaging in threaded bore  56 . Screw head  60  engages with the outer surface of tube  10  while the extreme end of projection  54  engages the inner surface of holding member  10 . The clamping bracket  12  and housing framing are now securely locked in fixed position with holding tube or member  10 .  
         [0031]     When mounting the mirror housing  2  with the vehicle as best seen in  FIG. 4 , first the framing  4  is positioned with recess or trough  14  partially encasing holding member  10  with opening  62  aligned with bore  52 . Hook element  18  of clamping bracket  12  is inserted into hook opening  22  of the element framing  4  with projection  54  positioned to penetrate slit  50  of holding tube  10 . Clamping bracket  12  is then pivoted to the right aligning threaded bore  56  of projection  54  with bore  52  of holding tube  10  and opening  57  of housing framing  4 . The end of projection  54  is now slightly spaced from the inner surface of holding tube  10  as shown in  FIG. 3A . Also, the openings in extension  48  are aligned with receptors  49  and receptors  47  are aligned with the bores in mirror adjustment apparatus  34  and housing framing. Screws  26  and  24  are engaged in receptors  49  and  47  securing mirror adjustment apparatus  34  with clamping bracket  12  and framing  4  and clamping bracket  12  together and about holding tube  10 . Also, screw or screw connector  58  is passed through opening  57 , bore  52  and secured in threaded bore  56  so that the lower surface of head  60  is positioned over the outer surface of holding tube  10  forming bore  52  as shown in  FIG. 3A . When screw  58  is tightened, head  60  draws or forces the inner surface of tube  10  into engagement with the end of projection  54 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , firmly locking clamping bracket  12  and framing element  4  against movement relative to holding tube  10 . The clamping bracket  12  is attached to the mirror housing framing  4  from the front side of the mirror housing  2  by connectors  26  (see  FIG. 2 ). Thereafter, from the back side, the mirror positioning apparatus  34  is screwed onto the openings or receptors  47  of the clamping bracket  12  by screw connectors  24 . Following this, the glass carrier plate  32  with the mirror pane  30  is fastened onto the mirror positioning apparatus  34  by means of the detent connections  36 . Finally, the mirror housing cover  5  is snapped onto the mirror housing framing  4 .  
         [0032]     In the case of the embodiment in accord with  FIGS. 1-4 , the connections, i.e., screw connectors  24  and  26 , between first, the mirror housing framing  4  and the clamping bracket  12 , and second, the mirror positioning apparatus  34  and the clamping bracket  12 , are made by means of two independent sets of connectors or screws  24  and  26  respectively. Alternatively, the mirror positioning apparatus  34 , the mirror housing framing  4  and the clamping bracket  12  can also be bound together by a screw connection common to all (not shown).  
         [0033]     The mirror housing framing  4  and the mirror housing cover  5  are preferably made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The clamping bracket  12  preferably is manufactured from glass fiber reinforced plastic, polyamide (PA 6.6) glass fiber (GF 35). For example, the glass carrier plate  32  is advantageously made of ABS with a 30% portion of glass fiber and possesses a thickness in a range between 1 and 1.5 millimeters (nun). The wall thickness of the remaining components varies between 2 and 2.5 mm. By means of these measures, weight and cost reductions are achieved. Furthermore, the vibration tendencies are also reduced.  
         [0034]     In certain cases it can also be advantageous to reinforce the trough-shaped recess  14  and the area of the screw connections  24  of the mirror housing framing  4  by means of an inlay of reinforced material (not shown) or to make these areas out of glass fiber reinforced plastic.  
         [0035]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is intended that the present invention includes such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.