Patent Publication Number: US-2023144329-A1

Title: Exterior Rear View Assembly and Vehicle Therewith

Description:
The present disclosure relates to an exterior rear view assembly which provides support and integration to a vehicle cowl. It also relates to a vehicle with a cowl and at least one such exterior rear view mirror assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     Automobiles utilize stand alone exterior rear view assemblies in form of rear view mirrors attached to the door of the vehicle to improve viewing of potential hazards. Government safety regulations require passenger cars to have an exterior and, thus, outside mirror of unit magnification. Currently, drivers cannot legally remove the doors of a vehicle and drive on government highways or roads without installing an aftermarket mirror or reconfiguring the supplied exterior mirror being a door mirror to a vehicle mounted location. Both the aftermarket and the reconfigured original vehicle mirrors take additional time for installation after removing the vehicle doors and involve basic mechanical knowledge to become compliant with government regulations. The aftermarket and the reconfigured original vehicle mirror only provides for a field of view and do not allow for additional functions to be included in the mirror assembly such as a light module for turn light, spot lights, blind spot monitor or other lighting/safety modules. These stand alone exterior mirrors also do not offer any integration with the vehicle styling which can give an unattractive appearance to the vehicle when mounted. 
     There is a growing trend for drivers to utilize removable vehicle doors for off road usage for a unique driving experience. Drivers wish to be compliant with government regulations without the inconvenience of having to add or reconfigure an external mirror. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need to have an exterior rear view assembly which would be operational when the exterior doors are removed and provide functional integration for the assembly. Thus, the removal of the vehicle door shall be enabled while maintaining the original supplied rear view device with all included functionality, eliminating the need for an aftermarket accessory to meet federal motor vehicle safety standards (like FMVSS). 
     SUMMARY 
     Generally, the present disclosure provides an exterior rear view assembly having an integrated mounting attachment for the vehicle cowl. Moving the rearview device to an integration with the vehicle cowl allows removal of the vehicle door and, in addition, desired styling and/or vehicle theme. Further, the present disclosure exterior rear view mirror assembly may provide accessory mounting connector points. 
     In detail, the present disclosure provides an exterior rear view assembly for mounting to a vehicle with a cowl, comprising: a base assembly adapted for attachment to the vehicle independent of whether the vehicle is provided with a vehicle door, wherein the base assembly is adapted for attachment to the cowl; and a head assembly coupled to the base assembly. 
     One embodiment can be further characterized in that the base assembly comprises a base frame and a base cover, with the base frame comprising a base frame upper and a base frame lower, and/or with the base cover comprising an upper cover and a lower cover. 
     The base frame upper may be adapted for attachment to the cowl, and/or the upper cover may be adapted for attachment to the cowl, in particular via at least on clip, snap and/or latch connection and/or an overlap joint. 
     The present disclosure further proposes that the base frame upper is provided with a first end for attachment with the cowl and/or a support area, in particular in form of a shoulder, for a secondary mounting location of the cowl, and/or the base frame upper connects to the base frame lower, in particular by providing at least one mounting element with a corresponding geometry to an upper end of the base frame lower. 
     The base frame lower may be provided for amounting the base frame upper, the head assembly, an accessory and/or a harness. 
     It is proposed that the accessory comprises a least one illumination device, at least one camera, at least one camera monitoring system, at least one sensor, at least one actuator, at least one heating system, at least one cooling system, at least one cleaning system for a camera and/or a windshield and/or an aftermarket accessory bracket. 
     In addition, it is proposed that the harness comprises at least one electrical cable to provide electrical power to one or more first modules, in particular comprising the accessory, a power-fold actuator, a telescoping actuator, a mirror adjustment actuator, an electrochromic mirror, and/or the harness comprises at least one fluid conduit for supplying a fluid to one or more second modules, in particular comprising the accessory, the at least one cooling system, the at least one cleaning system and/or the at least one cooling system. 
     Embodiments of the exterior rear view assembly can be further characterized in that the base frame comprises at least one connector point, preferably accessible through at least one aperture in the base frame cover, in particular the upper cover, and/or the cowl. 
     In this respect it is also proposed that the base frame upper provides the or each connector point, and/or the or each connector point is adapted for mounting an accessory. 
     Further exterior rear view assemblies according to the present disclosure may comprise a pivot joint between the base frame and the head assembly, and/or at least one mirror element provided by the head assembly. 
     The present disclosure also provides a vehicle with a cowl and at least one exterior rear view assembly of the present disclosure. 
     It is also disclosed that the cowl is assembled after the base frame upper is mounted to a base frame lower, and/or the cowl is a distinct part from the upper cover, or the cowl and the upper cover are combined to be a single integral part, and/or the cowl cooperates with the exterior rear view assembly to form a continuous cover appearance between the upper cover and the cowl. 
     Still further, it is proposed that the base frame lower is attached to an A-pillar, an A-pillar reinforcement, a cowl sheet metal upper, a cowl sheet metal lower and/or a hinge pillar. 
     A vehicle according to the present disclosure can be further described in that the upper cover and/or the cowl is/are adapted to mount at least one accessory, in particular by providing at least one aperture. 
     The vehicle of the present disclosure may further comprise at least one door, a hood and/or a side panel. 
     It should be noted that the features set out individually in the following description may be combined with each other in any technically advantageous manner and set out other forms of the present disclosure. The description further characterizes and specifies the present disclosure in particular in connection with the Figures. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a front isometric, assembled view of a mounted exterior mirror according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a front isometric, exploded view of the mounted exterior mirror according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is an isometric, exploded view of the exterior mirror assembly according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is a front isometric, partially assembled view of the exterior mirror according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is an isometric, partially assembled view of the exterior mirror according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a top isometric, partially assembled view of the exterior mirror according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is an isometric assembly view of the mounting of the base frame lower according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , an exterior rearview mirror assembly  100  is shown to be mounted on a vehicle  120  as a vehicle mirror assembly. The vehicle  120  includes an A-pillar  112 , a door  110 , a hood  116 , a cowl  114  and a side panel  118 . The exterior mirror assembly  100  shown by the dotted line includes a mirror head  102 , an upper cover  106  and a lower cover  104 .  FIG.  2    illustrates an exploded view of the upper cover  106  and the cowl  114 . The upper cover  106  and the lower cover  104  act as the exterior covering for a base frame upper  206 . 
     The exterior mirror assembly  100  may provide at least one aperture  108  for access to a mounting point for various, not shown vehicle accessories such as a spotlight, position light, a camera, a camera monitoring system, at least one sensor such as radar, LIDAR or ultrasonic, a cleaning system for the camera, a windshield, or an aftermarket accessory bracket. The at least one aperture  108  may also be integrated into the cowl  114 . The at least one aperture  108  integrated in the cowl  114  may work independently or in cooperation with the at least one aperture  108  of the mirror assembly  100  to mount a vehicle accessory. It is within the scope of this disclosure to have a cowl mounted mirror assembly with no aperture  108  for exterior mounting of accessories. In  FIG.  1   , the cowl  114  is a distinct part from the upper cover  106 . The cowl  114  in  FIG.  2    is functionally attached to the upper cover  106 . In other variations, the cowl  114  and the upper cover  106  may be combined to be a single integral part and function within the scope of this disclosure. 
     A tool (not shown) can be inserted into the or each aperture  108  for dissembling for example the cover part  106  by detaching a clip, snap and/or latch connection. The tool can also be used to attach, tighten, release, untighten and the like of any accessory. For that purpose, the tool may be in form of a screw driver, a battery drill or the like. 
     A base frame upper  206  is provided with at least one mounting connector point  202  which is accessible through the at least one apertures  108 , see  FIG.  2   . The lower cover  104  is attached to base frame upper  206  by the use of known fastener systems such as clips or screws when attaching the lower cover  104  to the base frame upper  206 . The upper cover  106  attaches to the lower cover  104  with at least one clip  204 . Known fastener systems in the art could also replace the at least one clip  204  in attaching the upper cover  106  to the lower cover  104 . The upper cover  106  may also be fastened to the base frame upper  206  to provide additional restraint for the upper cover  106 . 
     The lower cover  104  and the upper cover  106  may be made of a suitable polymer such as ABS plastic. The upper and lower covers  104 ,  106  cooperate to form a class A surface enclosing the base frame upper  206  when assembled. The upper and lower covers  104 ,  106  and the mirror head  102  may also be coated with a protective layer and/or a decorative layer such as chrome or paint. 
     The functional attachment of the cowl  114  to the upper cover  106  in line with  FIG.  2    may be a structural connection such as a clip or just an overlap joint between the cowl  114  and the upper cover  106 . In one form, the cowl  114  engages with a base frame upper first end  208 , as best seen in  FIG.  3   ) This engagement may be a structural attachment for mounting the cowl  114  such as a clip, or other fastener system known to one skilled in the art. The cowl  114  may also include a secondary mounting location to the base frame upper first end (not shown). The base frame upper  206  may also provide a support area to the cowl  114  such as a shoulder area to improve stability, reduce vibration, and assist assembly for the cowl  114  when the cowl  114  is assembled. In the form of  FIG.  3   , the cowl  114  is assembled after the base frame upper  206  is mounted to a base frame lower  304 . The cowl  114  cooperates with the mirror assembly  100  to form a continuous cover appearance between the upper cover  106  and the cowl  114 . 
     In detail,  FIG.  3    illustrates an isometric, exploded view of a mounting of the cowl mounted exterior mirror. The base frame lower  304  is provided for mounting the base frame upper  206  and the mirror assembly  100 . The base frame lower  304  is configured for engage the base frame upper  206 . The base frame lower  304  may also be configured to mount the cowl  114  and any accessories such as a camera, spotlight or tie down straps. The base frame upper  206  connects to an upper end  308  of the base frame lower  304 . The base frame upper  206  contains a mounting element  310  with a corresponding geometry to the upper end  308  of the base frame lower. In this form, a corresponding geometry of the mounting element  310  couples with a geometry at the upper end  308  of the base frame lower. Known fasteners by one skilled in the art such as screws, clips or bolts may be used attach the base frame upper  206  to the base frame lower  304 . In another form, the coupling between the base frame upper  206  and the base frame lower  304  could be a locking configuration between the matching geometries of the base frame lower  304  and the base frame upper  206 . 
     A wiring harness  302  is routed through the base frame upper  206  to the mirror head  102 , as shown in  FIG.  3   . The wiring harness  302  provides electrical power for the mirror assembly  100 . The mirror assembly  100  may include modules requiring electrical power such as a camera, a sensor, a power-fold actuator, a telescoping actuator, a mirror adjustment actuator, at least one illumination device  406  shown in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , a blind spot indicator, an electrochromic mirror assembly, and/or a heating and/or cooling system for the camera and/or mirror. The wiring harness  302  may also include a conduit for supplying a fluid to the mirror assembly  100  for cleaning of a camera or at least one mirror element  602  as indicated in  FIG.  6   . 
       FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5    illustrate one example of the mounting of the base frame lower  304  to the A-pillar  112 , and the base frame lower  304  may also be mounted to a hinge pillar  706  in line with  FIG.  7    and to a cowl sheet metal  502  in line with  FIG.  5   . The mounting of the base frame lower  304  to any combination of the A-pillar, hinge pillar, and cowl sheet metal lies within the scope of this disclosure. The base frame upper  206  and the base frame lower  304  could also be combined into a single base frame or provide rotational capability between the base frame upper  206  and the base frame lower  304  for mounting the mirror assembly  100 . 
     The mirror assembly  100  includes the at least one illumination device  406  shown in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   . The at least one illumination device  406  could be an external light module, an internal light module, a front light, a back light, a fog light, a brake light, an acceleration light, a turn signal, a logo lamp, a front area illumination light, a ground illumination light, a puddle light, a flash light, a navigation light, a position light, an emergency light, a spotlight, a green light, a red light, a warning light, a turn signal light module, an approach light, a search light, an information light, a display and/or any combination thereof. The at least one illumination device  406  can be a combination of the functions above in a single device or may be multiple illumination devices having their own function. The at least one illumination device  406  is shown on the mirror head  102  in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   . The at least one illumination device  406  may be located in any area of the mirror assembly  100  such as incorporated in a bezel  604  shown in  FIG.  6   , integrated in the base frame upper  206 , the upper cover  106 , the lower cover  104  without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The at least one illumination device  406  may also be integrated in the mirror head  102  for use behind the at least one mirror element  602  shown in  FIG.  6    as a warning indicator or to be displayed through a coating such as a partially transparent chromium or chromium based coating. An example of a partially transparent chromium based coating for polymeric substrates such as the mirror head  102  is described in US 2016/0059773, filed on Nov. 9, 2015 for COATED POLYMERIC SUBSTRATES and in US 2017/0015802, filed on Feb. 20, 2015 for DECORATIVE COATINGS FOR PLASTIC SUBSTRATES, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     The mirror head  102  has a rotational attachment at a pivot joint  404  with the base frame upper  206  and lower cover  104 , see  FIG.  4   . This rotational attachment allows the mirror head  102  to rotate in relation to the vehicle  120  and to the cowl  114  with at least one defined pivot position. The rotation of the mirror head  102  about the pivot joint  404  may be achieved manually or with the use of a power-fold actuator (not shown). One example of a rear view element folding device for a motor vehicle for approaching at least one pivot position of an element housing relative to an element foot that can be mounted on the motor vehicle, and for locking or unlocking at least one resting position of the element housing relative to the element foot as well as a method for triggering such a rear view element folding device are disclosed in US 2017/0136951A1, filed on Nov. 11, 2016 for REAR VIEW ELEMENT FOLDING DEVICE and EP 3 168 468, filed on Nov. 4, 2016 for RUCKBLICKELEMENT-KLAPPVORRICHTUNG, both claiming priority to DE 20 2015 106 118.8 filed on Nov. 12, 2015, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIG.  6    illustrates a top view of the exterior mirror assembly  100 . The at least one connector point  202  is shown in the base frame upper  206 . The or rather each connector point  202  can be used for mounting integral original manufacturer supplied accessories or aftermarket accessories to the base frame upper  206 . The connector point  202  is accessible through the at least one aperture  108  in the upper cover  106  and the cowl  114 . The at least one mirror element  602  may include a secondary reflective surface known as a spotter mirror (not shown). The spotter mirror consists of an integrated spherical convex blind zone mirror inset within a larger planar mirror. The at least one mirror element  602  may also be or comprise a camera viewing assembly for capturing and displaying images to a driver. The at least one mirror element  602  may also be an electrochromic mirror. The electrochromic mirror may be controlled by glare sensors in the mirror or elsewhere on the vehicle. The electrochromic mirror may operate in tandem with other electrochromic mirrors in the vehicle or independently. 
     In  FIG.  7   , the mounting of the base frame lower  304  is further illustrated. The base frame lower  304  is attached to an A-pillar reinforcement  704 . In this form, the mounted bracket is also fastened to the A-pillar  112 , a cowl sheet metal upper  702 , a cowl sheet metal lower  708 , and the hinge pillar  706 . The base frame lower  304  is attached to the vehicle independent of the door  110 . This allows for the vehicle door  110  to be removed while the mirror assembly  100  remains attached to the vehicle. 
     The advantages of the rear view assembly of the present disclosure in particular are as follows:
     The rear view assembly can be mounted independent of the vehicle door so that when the doors are removed the rear view assembly is still attached to the vehicle.   The upper cover of the rear view assembly cooperates with the cowl of the vehicle to form a seamless design.   The upper cover and/or the cowl has/have the ability to mount accessories.   

     The foregoing description of various preferred embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The example embodiments, as described above, were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The features of the disclosure in the foregoing description, in the drawings and in the claims can be essential both individually and in any combination for the implementation of the disclosure in its various embodiments. 
     Reference Signs 
     
         
           100  - Mirror assembly 
           102  - Mirror head 
           104  - Lower cover 
           106  - Upper cover 
           108  - Aperture 
           110  - Door 
           112  - A-pillar 
           114  - Cowl 
           116  - Hood 
           118  - Side panel 
           120  - Vehicle 
           202  - Connector point 
           204  - Clip 
           206  - Base frame upper 
           208  - Frame first end 
           302  - Wiring harness 
           304  - Base frame lower 
           308  - Upper End 
           310  - Mounting element 
           404  - Pivot joint 
           406  - Illumination device 
           502  - Cowl Sheet metal 
           602  - Mirror Element 
           604  -Bezel 
           702  - Cowl sheet metal upper 
           704  - A-pillar reinforcement 
           706  - Hinge pillar 
           708  - Cowl Sheet metal lower