Patent Publication Number: US-2016221504-A1

Title: Vehicle Side View Mirror with an Adjusting Device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle side view mirror and, more particularly, to a vehicle side view mirror with an adjusting device permitting easy assemblage and providing adjustable uniform frictional resistance. 
     A side view mirror is mounted to each of left and right sides of a vehicle, such that the driver can observe the road conditions behind the driver to avoid collision while the driver intends to change the lane or take a turn. A conventional side view mirror generally includes an adjusting device capable of adjusting an angular position of a mirror to a desired location to enable the driver to clearly observe the road conditions behind the vehicle. A conventional adjusting device includes a fixed seat and a movable sleeve pivotably mounted around the fixed seat. A long groove is formed in a bottom of the fixed seat and extends in a radial direction. An intermediate portion of the long groove includes an axially extending through-hole and an engagement plate having a transverse hole. The engagement plate can extend into the through-hole to align the transverse hole with the long groove. The movable sleeve is pivotably mounted to the fixed seat. Two pins on two ends of an elongated bridging member are pivotably received in pivotal grooves in opposite sidewalls of the movable sleeve. An elongated resilient plate extends through the long groove and the transverse hole of the engagement plate. A distal end of the engagement plate is engaged in an intermediate portion of the bridging member. The adjusting device is, thus, formed. The fixed seat can be fixed in the mirror housing of the side view mirror. Then, the mirror unit is mounted to the surface of the movable sleeve, accomplishing assemblage of the side view mirror. 
     During the assemblage of the adjusting device, a tool is required to change the movable sleeve into an elliptic shape, such that an enlarged opening extending along the longitudinal axis of the elliptic shape is formed between the pivotal grooves at the opposite sidewalls of the movable sleeve so as to permit the pins at two ends of the bridging member to move into the pivotal grooves. The tool is then loosened, and the movable sleeve restores its spherical shape, such that the bridging member can be pivotably mounted in the movable sleeve. The assemblage is troublesome and time-consuming, because the tool is required to form the enlarged opening in the movable sleeve for pivotal connection of the bridging member. Furthermore, after the elongated resilient plate extends through the long groove and bends, the returning force of the resilient plate presses against the engagement plate to retain the bridging member in place, and the pins on the two ends of the bridging member press against the pivotal grooves by the pivotal sections of the pins. Thus, the pressing force concentrates in the pivotal grooves, such that the frictional resistance distribution between the movable sleeve and the fixed seat is not uniform. As a result, a user cannot obtain an appropriate angular position of the side view mirror through manual adjustment. Furthermore, after the elongated resilient plate has been installed, the pressing forces of the pins on two ends of the bridging member acting on the pressing grooves are fixed, such that adjustment of the frictional resistance between the movable sleeve and the fixed seat is impossible. 
     Thus, a need exists for a novel vehicle side view mirror permitting easy assemblage and providing adjustable uniform frictional resistance. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves this need and other problems in the field of assemblage and adjustment of vehicle side view mirrors by providing a vehicle side view mirror including a mirror housing having a receiving space. A base is fixed in the receiving space of the mirror housing. The base includes a first surface and a second surface spaced from the first surface along a longitudinal axis. The base further includes a first ball joint portion defined in the first surface. The first ball joint portion includes a concave face and a peg extending from the concave face along the longitudinal axis. A mirror seat is movably coupled to the base. The mirror seat includes a first face and a second face spaced from the first face along the longitudinal axis. The mirror seat further includes a second ball joint portion protruding from the second face. The second ball joint portion includes a convex face. The second ball joint portion defines a socket in the first face and a through-hole extending from a bottom wall of the socket through the convex face of the second ball joint portion. The second ball joint portion is received in the first ball joint portion. The peg extends through the through-hole of the second ball joint portion and is received in the socket. The convex face of the second ball joint portion abuts the concave face of the first ball joint portion. A pressing member is mounted in the socket of the mirror seat. The pressing member includes a convex face and an end face. The pressing member further includes a through-hole extending from the end face through the convex face of the pressing member. The peg of the base extends through the through-hole of the pressing member. A resilient member includes at least one pressing end pressing against the end face of the pressing member. A mounting member extends through the resilient member and is in threading connection with the peg. The at least one pressing end of the resilient member biases the pressing member towards the base. The second ball joint portion of the mirror seat is held between the pressing member and the first ball joint portion. A mirror unit is mounted to the first face of the mirror seat. 
     The resilient member can be a plate having a root in a center thereof and can include a plurality of legs extending radially outwards from the root. The at least one pressing end includes a plurality of pressing ends. Each of the plurality of legs includes a distal end forming one of the plurality of pressing ends. The plurality of legs has an identical elastic coefficient and is spaced from each other at regular angular intervals, providing uniform frictional resistance between the concave face of the first ball joint portion and the convex face of the second ball joint portion. 
     The pressing member can further include a recessed portion in the end face. The recessed portion extends towards but is spaced from the convex face of the pressing member. The through-hole of the pressing member is located in the recessed portion. The peg is received in the recessed portion. The at least one pressing end of the resilient member contacts an inner face of the recessed portion. 
     The concave face of the first ball joint portion and the convex face of the second ball joint portion can have an identical curvature. 
     The mounting member can be a screw. When the screw is rotated in a tightening direction to press the resilient member against the peg, the resilient member exerts a first pressing force on the pressing member. A first frictional resistance exists between the concave face of the first ball joint portion and the convex face of the second ball joint portion. When the screw is rotated in a loosening direction to provide a first spacing between the resilient member and the peg, the resilient member exerts a second pressing force on the pressing member. A second frictional resistance exists between the concave face of the first ball joint portion and the convex face of the second ball joint portion. The second pressing force is smaller than the first pressing force, and the second frictional resistance is smaller than the first frictional resistance. 
     When the screw is rotated to provide a second spacing between the resilient member and the peg larger than the first spacing, the resilient member exerts a third pressing force on the pressing member, and a third frictional resistance exists between the concave face of the first ball joint portion and the convex face of the second ball joint portion. The third pressing force is smaller than the second pressing force, and the third frictional resistance is smaller than the second frictional resistance. 
     The base can further include two positioning rods extending outward from the first surface. The mirror seat further includes two slots extending from an inner wall face of the socket through the convex face of the second ball joint portion. Each of the two positioning rods is received in one of the two slots to prevent the mirror seat from pivoting relative to the base about the peg. 
     The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a vehicle side view mirror according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of an adjusting device of the vehicle side view mirror of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vehicle side view mirror of  FIG. 1  after assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view taken along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the vehicle side view mirror of  FIG. 1  mounted to a side of a vehicle. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along section line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , with a mirror moved to an inclined position. 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , with a mounting member loosened. 
     
    
    
     All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the illustrative embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings have been read and understood. 
     Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “inner”, “outer”, “bottom”, “side”, “end”, “portion”, “longitudinal”, “spacing”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the illustrative embodiments. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A vehicle side view mirror  10  according to the present invention is mounted to a left or right side of a vehicle and can be manually adjusted to an appropriate angular position to enable a driver to clearly observe the road conditions behind the left or right side of the vehicle. The vehicle side view mirror  10  includes a mirror housing  80  having a receiving space  81  in which a positioning board  82  is mounted. 
     The vehicle side view mirror  10  includes an adjusting device  20  mounted to the positioning board  82  and located in the receiving space  81 . The adjusting device  20  includes a base  21  having a first surface  22  and a second surface  24  spaced from the first surface  22  along a longitudinal axis. The base  21  further includes a first ball joint portion  25  defined in the first surface  22 . The first ball joint portion  25  includes a concave face  26  and a peg  28  extending from the concave face  26  along the longitudinal axis. The base  21  further includes a plurality of through-holes  32  extending from the first surface  22  through the second surface  24 . The base  21  further includes two positioning rods  30  formed on the first surface  22  and diametrically disposed on opposite sides of the peg  28 . Each positioning rod  30  has a distal end  31  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     According to the form shown, adjusting device  20  further includes a mirror seat  34  movably coupled to the base  21 . The mirror seat  34  includes a first face  36  and a second face  38  spaced from the first face  36  along the longitudinal axis. The mirror seat  34  further includes a second ball joint portion  41  protruding from the second face  38 . The second ball joint portion  41  includes a convex face  42  having a curvature identical to a curvature of the concave face  26  of the first ball joint portion  25 . The second ball joint portion  41  defines a socket  40  in the first face  36  and spaced from the convex face  42 . A through-hole  44  extends from a bottom wall of the socket  40  through the convex face  42 . The through-hole  44  has a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the peg  28 . The mirror seat  34  further includes a plurality of holes  46  extending from the first face  36  through the second face  38 . Each hole  46  is aligned with one of the through-holes  32  of the base  21 . Four lugs  48  are formed on a periphery of the mirror seat  34  and are spaced from each other by regular angular intervals. Each lug  48  has a hole  49  extending along an axis parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis. The mirror seat  34  further includes two slots  43  spaced from each other and extending from an inner wall face of the socket  40  through the convex face  42  of the second ball joint portion  41 . 
     The second ball joint portion  41  of the mirror seat  34  is received in the first ball joint portion  25 . The convex face  42  abuts the concave face  26 . Each of the two positioning rods  30  is received in one of the two slots  43 . The peg  28  extends through the through-hole  44  and is received in the socket  40 . Since the diameter of the through-hole  44  is larger than the outer diameter of the peg  28 , the convex face  42  of mirror seat  34  can pivot while abutting the convex face  26  of the base  21 . However, pivotal movement of the mirror seat  34  relative to the base  21  about the peg  28  is avoided by the arrangement of the positioning rods  30  received in the slots  43 . 
     According to the form shown, adjusting device  20  further includes a pressing member  50  mounted in the socket  40  of the mirror seat  34 . The pressing member  50  is substantially bowl-shaped and includes a convex face  52  and an end face  51 . The pressing member  50  further includes a through-hole  56  extending from the end face  51  through the convex face  52  of the pressing member  50 . The peg  28  of the base  21  extends through the through-hole  56  of the pressing member  50 . In this embodiment, the pressing member  50  further includes a recessed portion  54  in the end face  51 . The recessed portion  54  extends towards but is spaced from the convex face  52  of the pressing member  50 . The through-hole  56  of the pressing member  50  is located in the recessed portion  54 . The peg  28  is received in the recessed portion  54 . 
     According to the form shown, adjusting device  20  further includes a resilient member  58  received in the recessed portion  54  of the pressing member  50 . The resilient member  58  is a plate having a root  60  in a center thereof. The root  60  has a central hole  62 . A plurality of legs  64  extends radially outwards from the root  60 . Each leg  64  includes a distal end  66  forming a pressing end  66  spaced from the root  60 . The legs  64  are identical in shape and in size. Furthermore, the legs  64  have an identical elastic coefficient and are spaced from each other at regular angular intervals. The pressing end  66  of each leg  64  presses against the inner face of the recessed portion  54 . 
     According to the form shown, adjusting device  20  further includes a mounting member  70  in the form of a screw extending through a washer  68  and the resilient member  58  into a screw hole in an end face of the peg  28  of the base  21 . Thus, the resilient member  58  is positioned between the washer  68  and the central hole  62  of the pressing member  50 . Furthermore, the resilient member  58  is biased by the pressing ends  66  of the legs  64  towards the pressing member  50 , such that the convex face  52  of the pressing member  50  cooperates the concave face  26  of the base  21  to hold the mirror seat  34 , generating a frictional resistance for retaining the mirror seat  34  in place. 
     The adjusting device  20  is fixed to the positioning board  82  of the mirror housing  80  by extending screws  94  through the holes  46  of the mirror seat  34  and the through-holes  32  of the base  21 . Thus, the adjusting device  20  is fixed in the receiving space  81  of the mirror housing  80 . 
     According to the form shown, the vehicle side view mirror  10  further includes a mirror unit  83 . The mirror unit  83  includes a fixing board  84  and a mirror  96  mounted to the fixing board  84 . The fixing board  84  includes a bonding face  86 . Four protrusions  90  are formed on a rear face of the fixing board  84  opposite to the bonding face  86  and are spaced from each other at regular angular intervals. Two hooks  92  are provided on two sides of each protrusion  90  ( FIG. 1 ). The mirror  96  is bonded to the bonding face  86  of the fixing board  84 . Each protrusion  90  of the fixing board  84  is engaged in the hole  49  of one of the lugs  48 . Each hook  92  is engaged with the second face  38  of the mirror seat  34 . Thus, the mirror unit  83  and the mirror seat  34  are jointly moveable. 
     For the sake of explanation, it will be assumed that the mounting member  70  is tightened to make the root  60  of the resilient member  58  press against the end face of the peg  28  of the base  21  ( FIG. 6 ). In this case, the pressing member  58  has larger elastic deformation, such that the force exerted by the pressing member  58  on the pressing member  50  is larger. Thus, the frictional resistance exerted on the second ball joint portion  41  of the mirror seat  34  is larger to provide a better positioning effect for the mirror seat  34  and the mirror unit  83 . Note that the angular positions of the mirror seat  34  and the mirror unit  83  can still be adjusted (see  FIG. 7 ), although the movement of the mirror seat  34  and the mirror unit  83  are not easy due to the large frictional resistance. 
     If the mounting member  70  is rotated in a loosening direction (but still presses against the resilient member  58 ) to a location in which the root  60  of the pressing member  58  is spaced from the end face of the peg  28  of the base  21  by a spacing ( FIG. 8 ), the elastic deformation of the resilient member  58  is smaller, such that the force exerted by the resilient member  58  on the pressing member  50  is smaller than the case shown in  FIG. 6 . Thus, the frictional resistance exerted on the second ball joint portion  41  of the mirror seat  34  is smaller than the case shown in  FIG. 6 . However, the mirror seat  34  and the mirror unit  83  can still be positioned while permitting easier adjustment of the angular positions of the mirror seat  34  and the mirror unit  83  due to the smaller frictional resistance. Furthermore, the larger the spacing between the root  60  of the pressing member  58  and the end face of the peg  28 , the smaller the force exerted by the resilient member  58  on the pressing member  50 . Namely, the frictional resistance between the concave face  26  and the convex face  42  is smaller when the spacing is larger. 
     In assembly, the second ball joint portion  41  of the mirror seat  34  is received in the first ball joint portion  25  of the base  21 . The mounting member  70  extends through the resilient member  58  and the pressing member  50  and is screwed into the peg  28 , accomplishing assembly of the adjusting device  20 . In comparison with the conventional technique requiring a tool to enlarge the movable sleeve, the adjusting device  20  according to the present invention can easily be assembled with less effort to increase the yield, which is suitable to mass production in the industry. 
     Since the legs  64  of the resilient member  58  are in a radiate arrangement, have the same shape and size, and are spaced from each other at regular angular intervals, the pressing force provided by the deformed resilient member  58  can uniformly exert on the mirror seat  34 , such that a uniform forward pressing force can be created between the concave face  26  of the first ball joint portion  25  and the convex face  42  of the second ball joint portion  41 . Thus, a uniform frictional resistance is created between the concave face  26  and the convex face  42 . As a result, when the angular position of the mirror  96  is manually adjusted, the same frictional resistance is encountered regardless of the position of the mirror  96  is manually pushed. Thus, the user can manually adjust the mirror  96  to an appropriate position enabling the driver to clearly observe the road conditions behind the left or right side of the vehicle. 
     Due to the deformability of the legs  64  of the resilient member  58 , the engagement tightness between the mounting member  70  and the peg  28  can be adjusted to adjust the deformation of the legs  64  of the resilient member  58 , such that the forward abutting force between the convex face  42  and the concave face  26  can be adjusted, which, in turn, permits adjustment of the frictional resistance between the abutting portions of the mirror seat  34  and the base  21 . Accordingly, the frictional resistance can be adjusted according to the actual products. 
     Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, the first surface  22  of the base  21  does not have to include the positioning rods  30  without causing limitation to movement of the first ball joint portion  25  and the second ball joint portion  41  in a curvature. Furthermore, instead of the end face  51  with a recessed portion  54 , the end face  51  of the pressing member  50  can be plane, and the through-hole  56  directly extends from the plane end face  51  through the convex face  52  of the pressing member  50 . In this case, the pressing ends  66  of the legs  64  of the resilient member  58  press against the plane end face  51 . 
     Thus since the illustrative embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.