Abstract:
A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly has a holding component and clamping parts to clamp the mirror assembly to the holding component. Alternative embodiments of the holding component and clamping parts are also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/800,114, filed Mar. 6, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,352 B2 issued Dec. 14, 2004. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention concerns a rearview mirror, especially for motor vehicles. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   DE 198 40 004 AI 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. 
   A comparable mirror arrangement is described in EP 0 590 510 AI and DE 40 10 083, which each exhibit a carrier plate as the carrying element but without a honeycomb structure. 
   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 
   The present invention improves the lighter rearview mirror structure of DE 198 40 004 AI with the necessary stability. 
   In the present invention, the rearview mirror is secured to a holder in a known manner; i.e., a holding tube by means of a first and a second clamping component. The clamping bracket can be screwed to the mirror housing framing. Another possible fastening means is by riveting. 
   Since the first clamping part is the mirror housing framing and the second clamping part is the clamping bracket itself, onto which the mirror element is fastened, 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. 
   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. 
   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 fashioned 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. 
   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. 
   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. 
   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. 
   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. 
   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, engages securements in the form of projections or grooves in/on complementary, respective grooves or projections on the holding tube. In this way, not only is the slip-in clamping connection still available, but a form-fit connection to the holding part is also created. 
   In accord with yet another embodiment of the invention, the clamping bracket possesses an opening. By corresponding arrangement of the recess, when the mirror housing cover is removed, the adjustment apparatus is accessible through the opening. One advantage of this is that wiring to the position adjustment apparatus can be run through this opening. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     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: 
       FIG. 1  a side view of a first embodiment of the invention particularly showing a clamping bracket with surrounding elements shown in phantom, 
       FIG. 2  a sectional drawing along the section line A-A of  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 3  a sectional drawing along the section line B-B of  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 4  a plan view of the mirror housing framing seen from the back, 
       FIG. 5  a side view of a second embodiment of the invention particularly showing the clamping bracket with surrounding elements in phantom, and 
       FIG. 6  a sectional view such as in  FIG. 3  of a third embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   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. 
   The  FIGS. 1 to 4  show a first embodiment of the invention in various presentations.  FIG. 1  shows a side view, depicting a mirror housing  2 , which comprises a mirror housing framing  4  and a mirror housing cover  5 . In the mirror housing  2  is placed a mirror element  6 . The entire rear view mirror is fastened by means of clamping connector  8  on a holder tube, element or part  10 . The clamping connection  8  comprises a first clamping part in the form of the mirror housing framing  4  and a second clamping part in the form of a clamping bracket  12 . 
   As may be inferred from the sectional drawings in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the mirror housing framing  4  is configured forming a trough-like recess  14  within which the holder tube  10  is partially encased. The clamping bracket or part  12  is also configured forming a similar trough-like recess  16 . Thus, as a result of the double, opposed trough-like recesses  14 ,  16 , the support element or holder tube  10  is nearly completely circumferentially encased, and a large surface is made available for the transmission of forces. Extending in a first direction from the trough recesses  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 recess  16  is part  20  of the bracket  12  with extensions  48  for screw fastenings  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 4 , the part or arm  20  of the clamping bracket  12  is connected to the mirror housing framing  4  by means of four screw connections  26  which pass through extensions  48  and secure in receptor openings formed in mirror framing  4 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  show that the mirror element  6 , inclusive of a mirror pane  30 , a glass carrier plate  32  and an electric motor driven mirror positioning apparatus  34 , is connected to part or arm  20  of the clamping bracket  12 . In this way, the mirror adjustment apparatus  34  is fastened onto the part  20  of the clamping bracket  12 . To accomplish this, the mirror positioning apparatus  34  is screwed onto the receptor  47  of part or arm  20  of the clamping bracket  12  by means of four screw connections  24 . 
   The four screw connectors or connections  24 , i.e. screws, enter the part or arm  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. 
     FIG. 4  shows a view of the mirror housing framing  4  from the front 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 in its screwed-on part or arms  20  an opening  40 , which overlaps the central opening  38   b  (shown in phantom) in the mirror housing framing  4 . In the remaining 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  are four screw connectors  24  and four holding arms  47  for the screw connection of the mirror positioning adjustment apparatus  34  to the clamping bracket  12 . 
   When mounting the mirror housing  2 , first the clamping bracket  12  is pushed into the snap connections  22  of the mirror housing framing  4 . Subsequently, the holding tube  10  is clamped between the clamping bracket  12  and the mirror housing framing  4 . The clamping bracket  12  is attached to the mirror housing framing  4  from the back side of the mirror assembly forward by connectors  26  (see  FIG. 2 ). Thereafter, from the front position, 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 . 
   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). 
     FIG. 5  shows a side view of a second embodiment of the invention similar to the presentation of  FIG. 1 . This second embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment in that the holding element  10  is not a continuous holding tube, but is rather constructed as a two-piece holding component or spaced holding tubes with a first and a second holding arm  50  and  52 . In this case, the first holding arm  50  is secured by the upper edge strip  42  of the clamping bracket  12  and the second holding arm  52  is secured by the lower edge strip  44  of the clamping bracket  12 . Otherwise, the construction of the second embodiment agrees in all details with the first embodiment. 
     FIG. 6  shows a third embodiment of the invention in a drawing similar to  FIG. 3 . The third embodiment differs from the first or the second embodiment in that the connection between the holding parts  10 ,  50 ,  52  and the clamping bracket  12  are not made as auxiliaries to the clamping connection by means of a form-fit binding. In this case, in the trough—like recesses  14  and  16 , additional projections  56  are provided which fit into complementary recesses  58  in the holding parts  10 ,  50  and  52 . By this means, the mirror is secured additionally against rotational displacement on the holding parts  10 ,  50 ,  52 . Additionally or alternatively, in the holding parts  10 ,  50 ,  52 , projections can be provided that engage in corresponding recesses in the trough shaped recesses  14  and  16  (not shown). 
   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. 
   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. 
   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.