Patent Description:
Foldable camera mirror assemblies can be motorized or manually operated. With a motorized foldable camera mirror system, a drive motor must be located in a portion of assembly and are usually located adjacent a pivotable joint between a vehicle fixed housing and a pivotable housing. Conversely, manually operated foldable camera mirror systems do not include a drive motor and are generally pivoted by a user of the vehicle to place the assembly in a desired position.

<CIT> discloses a locking ring with a center axis for a rear view device which includes one or more primary detents, a first set of secondary detents positioned on the one or more primary detents, and a second set of secondary detents arranged around the locking ring.

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a vehicle arm assembly. The vehicle arm assembly includes a carrier base for attaching to a vehicle. A support arm is rotatably mounted relative to the carrier base. A first detent ring includes a plurality of first detent projections circumferentially offset by a plurality of first detent channels. A second detent ring includes a plurality of second detent projections circumferentially offset by a plurality of second detent channels. The first detent ring is fixed relative to one of the carrier base or the support arm. The second detent ring is fixed relative to the other of the carrier base or the support ring. The first detent ring is in an intermeshing arrangement when the second detent ring in a first rotational position and in a non-intermeshing arrangement when in a second rotational position. In the second rotational position a first stop surface fixed relative to the carrier base is in engagement with a stop fixed relative to the support arm.

The plurality of first projections include at least two first projections each extending a first arcuate distance around the first detent ring. A single first projection extends a second arcuate distance around the first detent ring. The second arcuate distance is greater than the first arcuate distance.

The single one of the plurality of first detent projection and one of the at least two first projections together extend an arcuate distance of at least <NUM> degrees and less than <NUM> degrees around the first detent ring.

The plurality of second detent channels may include a first set of second channels that extend for a first arcuate length. A single second channel may extend a third arcuate distance. The third arcuate distance may be greater than the first arcuate distance.

The third arcuate distance may be greater than second arcuate distance.

The one of the at least two first projections and the single first projection may be configured to intermesh with the single second channel.

The second single channel may extend an arcuate distance of at least <NUM> degrees around the second detent ring. The second single channel may extend an arcuate distance of less than <NUM> degrees around the second detent ring. The second single channel may extend an arcuate distance of at least <NUM> degrees and less than <NUM> degrees around the second detent ring.

The second detent ring may include a radially inner wall and a radially outer wall that creates recessed area for the plurality of second projections and the plurality of second channels.

Each of the plurality of first channels may include an axially outer surface and each of the plurality of first projections may include an axially outer surface. The planar surface of each of the plurality of first channels may be connected to an adjacent one of the plurality of first projections by a connecting planar surface that is transverse to the channel planar surface and the projection planar surface.

The first detent ring may be integrally formed as a unitary piece with the one of the carrier base or the support arm. The second detent ring may be integrally formed as a unitary piece with the other of the carrier base or the support arm.

The first detent ring may be separately formed and connected, mounted, fixed etc. (permanently or removably) to or with the one of the carrier base or the support arm. The second detent ring may be separately formed and connected, mounted, fixed (permanently or removably) to or with the other of the carrier base or the support arm.

The first detent ring may be removably attached to one of the carrier base or the support arm. The second detent ring may be removably attached to the other of the carrier base or the support arm.

At least one camera may be fixed relative to the support arm.

A method of operating a vehicle arm assembly is disclosed but is not part of the claimed invention. The method includes rotating a support arm including one of a first detent ring or a second detent ring relative to a carrier base having the other of the first detent ring or the second detent ring. The first detent ring is configured to intermesh with the second detent ring. Rotation of the support arm is limited relative to the carrier base in a first rotational direction with a first stop surface fixed relative to the carrier base engaging a stop fixed relative to the support arm. The first detent ring and the second detent ring are in a non-intermeshed relationship when the stop engages the first stop surface.

The first detent ring may include a plurality of first channels separating a plurality of first projections. The plurality of first projections may include at least two first projections each extending a first arcuate distance around the first detent ring. A single first projection may extend a second arcuate distance around the first detent ring. The second arcuate distance may be greater than the first arcuate distance.

The single first projection, one of the first channels, and one of the at least two first projections may extend an arcuate distance of at least <NUM> degrees around the first detent ring. The single first projection, one of the first channels, and one of the at least two first projections may extend an arcuate distance of less than <NUM> degrees around the first detent ring. The single first projection, one of the first channels, and one of the at least two first projections may extend an arcuate distance of at least <NUM> degrees and less than <NUM> degrees around the first detent ring.

The second detent ring may include a plurality of second detent channels have a first set of second detent channels that extend for the first arcuate distance. A single second detent channel may extend a third arcuate distance. The third arcuate distance may be greater than the first arcuate distance.

The single second detent channel may extend an arcuate distance of at least <NUM> degrees around the second detent ring. The single second detent channel may extend an arcuate distance of less than <NUM> degrees around the second detent ring. The single second detent channel may extend an arcuate distance of at least <NUM> degrees and less than <NUM> degrees around the second detent ring.

The method may comprise limiting rotation of the support arm relative to the carrier base in a second rotational direction with a second stop surface fixed relative to the carrier base engaging the stop fixed relative to the support arm. The first detent ring and the second detent ring may be in a non-intermeshing relationship when the stop engages the second stop surface.

Features defined in relation to one aspect may be provided in combination with any other aspect.

A schematic view of a commercial vehicle <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>. The vehicle <NUM> includes a vehicle cab <NUM> for towing a trailer <NUM>. Driver and passenger side arm assemblies <NUM> are mounted to the vehicle cab <NUM>, such as a camera arm assembly. If desired, the arm assemblies <NUM> may include conventional mirrors integrated with them as well. First and second displays <NUM> are arranged on each of the driver and passenger sides within the vehicle cab <NUM> near the A-pillars to display Class II and Class IV views on each side of the vehicle <NUM>.

A rearward facing camera <NUM> is arranged within each arm assembly <NUM>. The cameras <NUM> provide a field of view FOV1, FOV2 that includes at least one of the Class II and Class IV views. Multiple cameras also may be used on each arm assembly <NUM>, if desired. The system <NUM> may provide one or more cameras directed at the Class V and Class VI views instead or additionally.

As shown in <FIG>, the arm assembly <NUM> includes a contoured profile that contributes to a reduction in aerodynamic drag on the vehicle <NUM> during operation. The arm assembly <NUM> includes a carrier base <NUM> for attaching to the vehicle cab <NUM> and a pivoting portion <NUM> that pivots relative to the carrier base <NUM>. The pivoting portion <NUM> supports at least one of the rearward facing camera <NUM> or a conventional mirror <NUM> adjacent a distal end of the arm assembly <NUM>. Alternatively, the arm assembly <NUM> could be used with only the mirror <NUM> and not the camera <NUM>.

The pivoting portion <NUM> also includes an upper fairing <NUM> and a lower fairing <NUM> that enclose a support arm <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>). The support arm <NUM> forms a pivotable connection with the carrier base <NUM> as will be described in greater detail below. Because the arm assembly <NUM> is manually pivoted between a retracted (<FIG>) and an extended position (<FIG>), it does not include a motor to pivot the pivoting portion <NUM> relative to the carrier base <NUM>. Additionally, the arm assembly <NUM> in the vicinity of the connection between the pivoting portion <NUM> and the carrier base <NUM> (See <FIG> and <FIG>) includes a smaller vertical dimension and therefore includes a smaller leading edge area. This reduces drag on the arm assembly <NUM> and improves fuel efficiency of the vehicle <NUM>. In the illustrated example, a vertical height of the arm assembly <NUM> in the vicinity of the pivot axis P is between <NUM> and <NUM> (<NUM> inches and <NUM> inches).

As shown in <FIG>, a support detent ring <NUM> on the support arm <NUM> engages a carrier detent ring <NUM> on the carrier base <NUM> to allow the support arm <NUM> in the pivoting portion <NUM> to be selectively rotated relative to the carrier base <NUM> into one of a multiple predetermined positions. The carrier detent ring <NUM> and the support detent ring <NUM> are biased toward each other with a spring <NUM>, such as a helical spring, to encourage the carrier detent ring <NUM> to move into an intermeshing position with the support detent ring <NUM>.

To provide the biasing force, the spring <NUM> engages a retainer disk <NUM> fixed relative to the carrier base <NUM> on a first axial end and the support arm <NUM> on an opposite second axial end. The retainer disk <NUM> is secured relative to the carrier base <NUM> with a fastener <NUM> having a head engaging the carrier base <NUM> and a shaft extending through a passage on a central shaft <NUM>. The central shaft <NUM> extends from the carrier base <NUM>. A distal end of the fastener <NUM> is threaded and located outside of the passage on the central shaft <NUM>. The retainer disk <NUM> includes a central opening for accepting the fastener <NUM> and a nut <NUM> engages the threaded distal end of the fastener <NUM> and the retainer disk <NUM> to secure the retainer disk <NUM> relative to the carrier base <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the support arm <NUM> is allowed to selectively pivot or rotate relative to the carrier base <NUM> through the intermeshing of carrier detent ring <NUM> and the support detent ring <NUM>. The force generated by the spring <NUM> provides a biasing force to move the carrier detent ring <NUM> into the intermeshing arrangement with the support detent ring <NUM>. However, this force is overcome by pivoting the support arm <NUM> which compresses the spring <NUM>.

In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the carrier detent ring <NUM> includes a ring formed by a cylindrical wall that extends from a body portion of the carrier base <NUM>. The carrier detent ring <NUM> can be integrally formed with the carrier base <NUM> or the carrier detent ring <NUM> can be removably attached to the carrier base <NUM>. A distal end of the carrier detent ring <NUM> includes a plurality of projections <NUM> that are circumferentially spaced or offset from adj acent projections <NUM> by a corresponding one of a plurality of channels <NUM>. Therefore, the projections <NUM> are located at a distal end of the cylindrical wall at a greater distance from the carrier base <NUM> than the channels <NUM>.

The projections <NUM> include a first set of projections 60A extending a first arcuate distance relative to a central longitudinal axis S of the central shaft <NUM> and a second single projection 60B that extends a second arcuate distance relative to the axis S. Also, each of the channels <NUM> separating the projections 60A extend for a common or singular arcuate distance relative to the axis S. Additionally, the second singular projection 60B extends for an arcuate distance of between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees around the carrier detent ring <NUM> relative to the axis S. Furthermore, the cylindrical wall including the projections <NUM> and the channels <NUM> are spaced from the central shaft <NUM> to accommodate the spring <NUM>. In this disclosure, arcuate distances have a single or common radial distance relative to an axis unless stated otherwise.

In the illustrated example, each of the five projections <NUM> include a projection surface defining an axially outer surface of the projection <NUM> and each of the five channels <NUM> include a channel surface defining an axially outer surface of the channel <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the projection surfaces and the channel surfaces are planar. However, the projection surfaces and the channel surfaces could be curved with a varying distance from the body portion of the carrier base <NUM>. The above arcuate distance for the single projection 60B in degrees are in relation to the axially outer surface of the single projection 60B.

Adjacent projection surfaces of the projections <NUM> and channel surfaces of the channels <NUM> are connected by one of a plurality of transition surfaces <NUM>. The transition surfaces <NUM> are transverse to both the projection surfaces and the channel surfaces not perpendicular to either one. This facilitates rotational movement of the carrier detent ring <NUM> with the support detent ring <NUM> when pivoting the support arm <NUM> relative to the carrier base <NUM> because the transition surfaces <NUM> operate as ramps.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the support detent ring <NUM> extends from a bottom side of the support arm <NUM>. The support detent ring <NUM> faces towards the carrier detent ring <NUM> when assembled. The support arm <NUM> includes a proximal end having a curvature to facilitate pivoting relative to the carrier base <NUM> and a distal end for securing a camera <NUM> or mirror <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the support detent ring <NUM> is integrally formed with the support arm <NUM>. However, in another example, the support detent ring <NUM> is removably attached to the support arm <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, the support detent ring <NUM> includes radially inner and outer cylindrical walls <NUM>, <NUM> relative to an axis SR of a central opening in the support detent ring <NUM>. The axis SR is colinear with the axis P and the axis S. In the illustrated example, the radially inner and outer walls <NUM>, <NUM> at least partially surround a series of projections <NUM> and channels <NUM> located in a recessed area between the radially inner and outer walls <NUM>, <NUM>. One feature of the radially inner and outer walls <NUM>, <NUM> is to improve alignment between the support detent ring <NUM> and the carrier detent ring <NUM>.

Each of the four projections <NUM> include a projection surface defining an axially outer most surface of the projection <NUM> and each of the four channels <NUM> include an axially outer most surface of the channel <NUM>. Adjacent axially outer most surfaces of the projections <NUM> and channels <NUM> are connected by a transition surface <NUM>. The transition surfaces <NUM> are transverse to both the outer surfaces of the projections <NUM> and the channels <NUM> and the projections <NUM> and not perpendicular.

In the illustrated example, a first set of channels 78A of the channels <NUM> extend for a common or singular first arcuate distance relative the axis SR of the support detent ring <NUM>. A second channel 78B of the channels <NUM> extends for a second arcuate distance about the axis SR with the second arcuate distance extending between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees around the axis SR. In another example, the second arcuate distance extends between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees around the support detent ring <NUM>. In the above example, the above arcuate distances in degrees correspond to the axially outer most surface of the second channel 78B.

Furthermore, when the support arm <NUM> is in a normal operating position relative to the carrier base <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the second singular projection 60B and one of the projections 60A are located in the second channel 78B as shown in <FIG>. The projection 60B located in the channel 78B is immediately adjacent one of the projections <NUM>.

When the support arm <NUM> is pivoted about the carrier base <NUM> in an upstream direction or towards a leading edge of the assembly <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the projection 60B will engage the outer surface of at least one of the projections <NUM> on the carrier base. This prevents the carrier detent ring <NUM> from intermeshing with the support detent ring <NUM> because the projection 60B includes a larger circumferential distance than the channels 78A as shown in <FIG>.

When the support arm <NUM> is pivoted about the carrier base <NUM> in a downstream direction as shown in <FIG>, the projection 60B will engage the outer surface of at least one of the projections <NUM> on the carrier base <NUM>. This prevents the carrier detent ring <NUM> from intermeshing with the support detent ring <NUM> because the projection 60B includes a larger circumferential distance than the channels 78A as shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, a first stop <NUM> and a second stop <NUM> are located radially outward from the carrier detent ring <NUM> relative to axis S on the carrier base <NUM>. In the illustrated example, a stop surface 64A, 66A on the first and second projections <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, are located in a radially overlapping position relative to the axis SR. A stop projection <NUM> is located on the support arm <NUM> and positioned to contact the stop surfaces 64A when the support arm <NUM> is rotated as shown in <FIG> and the stop surface 66B when the support arm <NUM> is rotated as shown in <FIG>. The interaction between the first and second projections <NUM>, <NUM> and the stop projection <NUM> prevents over rotation of the support arm <NUM> relative to the carrier base <NUM>. The first and second stop projections <NUM>, <NUM> and the stop projection <NUM> are also positioned to prevent intermeshing of the carrier detent ring <NUM> with the support detent ring <NUM>.

Additionally, the first and second projections <NUM>, <NUM> and the stop projection <NUM> are positioned such that when the stop projection <NUM> engages either of the first or second projections <NUM>, <NUM>, the carrier detent ring <NUM> and the support detent ring <NUM> are not in an intermeshing position. In particular, the outer surface of the projections <NUM> on the carrier detent ring <NUM> and the outer surfaces of the projections <NUM> on the support detent ring <NUM> are in engagement with each other. One feature of this configuration is that when the support arm <NUM> is fully extended and at a greatest distance for the operator of the vehicle to reach, the support arm <NUM> is not restricted by the force needed to move the carrier detent ring <NUM> and the support detent ring <NUM> out of an intermeshing engagement. In particular, the force needed to move the support arm <NUM> will mostly be from the frictional forces between the outer surfaces on the projections <NUM>, <NUM>.

Although the different non-limiting examples are illustrated as having specific components, the examples of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting examples in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting examples.

Claim 1:
A vehicle arm assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a carrier base (<NUM>) for attaching to a vehicle (<NUM>);
support arm (<NUM>) rotatably mounted relative to the carrier base (<NUM>);
a first detent ring (<NUM>) including a plurality of first detent projections (<NUM>) circumferentially offset by a plurality of first detent channels (<NUM>); and
a second detent ring (<NUM>) including a plurality of second detent projections (<NUM>) circumferentially offset by a plurality of second detent channels (<NUM>);
wherein the first detent ring (<NUM>) is fixed relative to one of the carrier base (<NUM>) or the support arm (<NUM>) and the second detent ring (<NUM>) is fixed relative to the other of the carrier base (<NUM>) or the support arm (<NUM>);
wherein the first detent ring (<NUM>) is in an intermeshing arrangement when the second detent ring (<NUM>) in a first rotational position and in a non-intermeshing arrangement when in a second rotational position;
wherein in the second rotational position a first stop (<NUM>) surface fixed relative to the carrier base (<NUM>) is in engagement with a stop (<NUM>) fixed relative to the support arm (<NUM>);
wherein the plurality of first detent projections (<NUM>) include:
at least two first projections (60A) each extending a first arcuate distance around the first detent ring (<NUM>); and
a single first projection (60B) extending a second arcuate distance around the first detent ring (<NUM>) with the second arcuate distance being greater than the first arcuate distance; and
wherein the single one of the plurality of first detent projections (60B) and one of the at least two first projections (60A) together extend an arcuate distance of at least <NUM> degrees and less than <NUM> degrees around the first detent ring (<NUM>).