Patent Publication Number: US-2007109677-A1

Title: Mirror assembly for a towing vehicle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a mirror assembly.  
      A mirror assembly of this type is generally known in the art and is e.g. used in applications when a mirror or several mirrors positioned at a greater distance from the vehicle are required on a temporary basis. This is the case, for example, if a vehicle needs to tow a trailer, such as a caravan. The width of such trailers is often greater than that of the towing vehicle, and in such instances there is a requirement that the mirror be placed further outward in order to be able to see along the towed vehicle.  
     BACKGROUND  
      In the prior art several structures are known for the mounting of such a mirror assembly, which is also known by the expression “extension mirror” or “caravan mirror”. A simple embodiment is one comprised of a mirror mounted to one already present on the vehicle. For this purpose, hook-shaped members are provided which grip the rim between the mirror housing and the actual mirror surface. A flexible band, wire or something similar extends therebetween.  
      In general, two types of adjustments are available. A first, rough adjustment is available which functions with a bracket or something similar, which is provided between the two hook-shaped members. A fine adjustment is available with which one of the hook-shaped members is moved over a very small distance with respect to the mirror, by which it is possible to apply final tension on the flexible part which extends between the hook-shaped members.  
      Such structures are complicated in design, and provide a particularly unattractive appearance of the structure. Moreover, during driving there are occurrences where the band element or such freely protruding from the tension means begins to flutter, which is undesirable.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an aim of the present invention to provide a mirror assembly which has an attractive appearance and wherein it is possible, in a simple manner, to provide for the adaptation of various different shapes of existing mirrors with the placement of means of attachment.  
      This aim is realised with the mirror assembly comprising a mirror support with a mirror mounted thereon and mounting means for attachment to an additional mirror extending therefrom, said mounting means comprising two spaced hook-shaped members connected via a flexible part, as well as tension means for said flexible part, wherein said tension means comprise winding means accommodated in a hook-shaped member for said flexible part, said winding means being provided with a lock.  
      According to the present invention, the flexible part is brought to the desired length no longer through displacement, but rather by a winding movement, the winding means being mounted in both hook-shaped members. With the aid of a winding movement, the presence of a freely protruding tip of the flexible part is avoided. This makes the appearance of the mounting more attractive and the fluttering described above is avoided. By winding, it is possible to provide a wide adjustment range while a considerable force can also be applied, thus allowing the mirror assembly to be clamped precisely, with the appropriate clamping force, to the already present mirror.  
      The winding means can be embodied in any manner conceivable in the art. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said winding means comprises a winding roll for accommodating the flexible part. The winding roll is equipped with a drive receptacle or a drive protrusion, respectively, for receiving therewith a drive tool. Preferably, the drive tool is a tool that has been specially designed for this purpose. This allows the designer to precisely determine the maximum force with which the user carries out the winding operation, so that overloading as a result of drawing in the flexible part too tightly is avoided as much as possible.  
      According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, there are locking means present that function between the winding roll and the hook-shaped member. In a particularly simple embodiment these means comprise a toothing mounted at the head end of the winding roll and a corresponding toothing in the hook-shaped member, locking occurring on engagement of the toothings. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, this engagement of the toothings can be promoted with the aid of a spring which drives the winding roll toward the toothing on the hook-shaped member.  
      According to a further embodiment of the invention, this is realised in such a way that when the above-described drive tool is introduced and more particularly when a compressive force is exerted, the winding roll is moved counter to the resilient force, causing unlocking to occur and making it possible to remove the tension on the flexible part.  
      According to a particular embodiment of the invention, there are extensions that extend from each of the hook-shaped members, such as elongate parts, which, close to the free tips thereof, are preferably pivotly connected to each other via a connecting part. Preferably, this connecting part has been designed to telescope. Preferably, the pivot joint is a ball-and-socket joint, the ball in turn being connected to a mirror support or mirror housing. A particularly effective structure may thus be obtained using a particularly small number of components.  
      According to a further advantageous embodiment, there exists a considerable space between the inward (vehicle-side) border of the mirror support or mirror supports and the mirror originally installed on the vehicle. As a result, an optimal rear view can be obtained on the one hand, and on the other hand the aerodynamic properties of the towing vehicle are effected as little as possible by the mirror assembly according to the invention.  
      According to a further aspect the invention relates to a mirror assembly comprising a mirror support with a mirror mouned thereon and mounting means for arrachment to an additional mirror, wherein said mounting means comprise an elongated carrier, such as an extension rod, wherein said mirror support is provided with means for fixing the mirror in various positions on said rod. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows the principle of mounting the mirror assembly according to the invention on an existing mirror of a vehicle;  
       FIG. 2  shows a schematic illustration of the mirror assembly according to the present invention in a non-mounted state;  
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic illustration of the mounting of the mirror assembly according to the present invention on a vehicle;  
       FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of the locking mechanism of the mirror assembly according to the present invention; and  
       FIG. 5  shows a variation of the mirror assembly according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      In the figures, the mirror assembly according to the invention is denoted in its entirety by reference numeral  1 . The assembly comprises in the present case of two mirrors  7 , preferably with different optical properties, accommodated in a mirror housing  5  and a mirror housing  6 . Each mirror housing  5 ,  6  is connected via a ball pivot  8  to an extension rod  9  or  10  respectively, on the one hand, and to a telescoping connecting piece  23 , on the other hand.  
      Each of the extension rods  9 ,  10  is attached in a hook  11  or  12  respectively. Hook  11 ,  12  is constructed to be placed behind the rim  24  of the housing of a mirror  25  already mounted on a vehicle  21 . In this case, wires  2 ,  3  extend between the hooks  11 ,  12 . Instead of wires, narrow bands or such can also be utilised. To avoid contact between the wires  2 ,  3  and the original mirror  25 , there may be provided a protection  22 .  
      Wire  2  is secured to hook  12 , while wire  3  is secured to hook  11 . Wire  2  is displaceable with respect to hook  11 , while wire  3  is displaceable with respect to hook  12 .  
      The displacement mechanism is illustrated in detail in  FIG. 4  and comprises a winding drum  13 , on which in this case wire  3  can be wound. Winding roll  13  is operated using a specially designed tool  20  to be introduced temporarily into receptacle  19  in the roll. A rotating movement can thus be applied for the winding or unwinding, respectively, of wire  3 .  
      A spring  15  is present, which functions between hook  12  and a flange  14  attached to the winding drum  13  and seeks to drive winding drum  13  to the left, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in the direction of arrow  16 .  
      The left-most head end of winding drum  13  is provided with a toothing  17 . Hook  12  is provided in the same location with a toothing  18 . When spring  15  presses toothings  17  and  18  together, complete blocking occurs. This blocking can be cancelled by pressing the winding drum  13  to the right, counter to the direction of arrow  16 , with tool  20 , thus facilitating winding or unwinding respectively. In fact, the structure can be embodied in such a way that winding without pressing is possible, wherein the toothing  17  moves along toothing  18 . In this manner, a type of ratchet effect can be obtained.  
      The mirror described above is mounted as follows on the mirror  25  of the towing vehicle  21 ; with the tool  20 , wires  2  and  3  are brought outward as far as possible, i.e. such that said wires have as great a length as possible. Subsequently, the hooks  11  and  12  are attached in the correct position with the remaining part of the mirror assembly. For the hooks  11  and  12 , this means that they grip behind the rim  24  of the housing of the existing mirror  25  on the vehicle. Subsequently, the respective winding drums are operated one after the other, with tool  20 . It is also possible to carry this out simultaneously. Tightening thus occurs from two sides. This makes it possible to tension wire  2  at a shorter length than wire  3 , so allowance is made for the somewhat tapering shape of the mirror  25 . As a result of the fact that apparatus  20  is no longer operated, locking is automatically provided and provision can be made for particularly robust mounting of the mirror assembly to the original mirror  25  of the vehicle.  
      In the present illustrative embodiment, two mirrors are illustrated, wherein one mirror can function as a blind-spot mirror. From the drawings it is clear that there is a considerable amount of free space left between the end boundary of the mirror and the original mirror. This facilitates an unimpeded passage of air, while on the other hand particularly good visibility can be obtained as a result of the fact that the two mirrors  7  are positioned relatively far outward.  
      Optionally, it is possible to construct the extension rods  9 ,  10  so as to be displaceable and clampable with respect to the hooks  11 ,  12 , so the positioning of the mirrors  7  can be determined as a function of the conditions. The clamping of the extension rods  9 ,  10  at the hooks and at ball hinge  8  produces a particular stable entity, as a result of which vibrations in the mirror image are also prevented.  
       FIG. 5  shows a variation of the present invention. In this embodiment, the mirror housings with reflectors accommodated therein are denoted by reference numerals  35  and  36 . In contrast to the earlier embodiments, there is just one extension rod  39  present. The extension rod is mounted to the wing mirror  25  of a vehicle with the above-described mechanism. It should be understood that the extension rod can also be mounted to the vehicle in a different manner.  
      The mirror housings  35  and  36  are connected via a ball joint  37  to an open clamping bracket  38 . The internal dimensions of said clamping bracket are somewhat smaller than the external dimensions of the extension rod  39 . The mirror housings  35  and  36  can thus be placed in any position on the extension rod  39  and are fixed in this position by the clamping effect of part  38 .  
      In this application, protection is explicitly sought for this variation of one or more mirror (housings) displaceable along a rod independently of the mounting of the rod on the mirror already present on a vehicle. This rod can be straight and have an end part turned at any angle or, as illustrated in  FIG. 1-4 , be constructed so as to extend over 180°.  
      Although the invention outlined above is described on the basis of an advantageous embodiment, a person skilled in the art will immediately think of variations which are within the scope of the appended claims. It is emphasized that the subject-matter of the claims is not limited to a combination of Claim  1  and the subsequent claims, but that the subsequent claims should also be taken into consideration independently of the main claim.