Patent Description:
A rear view device typically includes a base assembly to be attached to a vehicle and a head assembly to be moveable relative to the base assembly. Generally the head assembly of a rear view device can be rotated between a driving position and a parking position.

The term "rear view" may refer to a view of the surrounding area, which is not in the field of view of a driver of a vehicle, i.e. the directions opposing, left, right, below and above of the viewing direction, but can also comprise the view in the direction of the viewing direction of the driver and/or any combinations of the directions. The rear view can be achieved via at least one rear view element in form of a reflective element like a mirror and/or an image acquisition means like a camera. The rear view, that is the field of view of the driver, can be adjusted by moving, in particular rotating, the reflective element and/or the image acquisition means. This in turn can be realized by moving the complete head assembly together with the reflective element and/or the image acquisition means such that the head assembly of the rear view device can be rotated also between a plurality of viewing position.

For moving the head assembly, the reflective element and/or the image acquisition means an actuator assembly is comprised by the rear view device, which can be controlled by a first control unit within the vehicle. Also the image acquisition means can be controlled via a second control unit, wherein both control units may be formed together. However, for the purpose of controlling data have to be transferred between the rear view device and the control unit within the vehicle requiring a harness.

For facilitating moving the head assembly together with the reflective element and/or the image acquisition means specific pivot joint systems have been developed, see <CIT>, as well as specific actuator assemblies, see <CIT>.

<CIT> describes a rear view mirror, including a temporary hold-down clip for holding said mirror to a vehicle body panel during vehicle assembly, comprising: a mirror housing with a mirror affixed thereto; a plurality of fastening studs secured to said housing and projecting therefrom in a direction of attachment to said vehicle body panel; a sleeve having an aperture, said sleeve projecting from said housing in the direction of attachment of said studs; and a set of elongate snap-fit fingers located around an outer periphery of said sleeve, said fingers including shanks projecting outwardly from said housing in said direction of attachment whereby said rear view mirror is temporarily held to said vehicle body by said snap-fit fingers inserted into said body panel, said body panel being a portion of said vehicle body.

<CIT> teaches a door mirror having a door mirror main body attached to a door mirror mounting portion of a vehicle body, comprising: a shared base fixed to the door mirror mounting portion to support the shared door mirror main body; a door mirror, comprising: a dedicated cover selected from a plurality of types of dedicated cover groups and covering a peripheral area of a door mirror mounting portion.

<CIT> refers to a holding device for a connector associated with an electrically controlled automotive mirror, the connector being adapted for connection to a mated connector provided in an automotive vehicle body, the device comprising: a mirror unit, adapted for connection to an automotive vehicle body, including a mirror, an electrical driving device for driving the mirror, and a housing for housing the mirror and the electrical driving device; a bracket adapted to be fixed to a side of the housing adapted for connection to the automotive vehicle body; a through hole provided in the bracket, the through hole including two engaging portions at opposing sides of the through hole; a hollow cylindrical member including a non-elastic claw and an elastic claw, the non-elastic claw being adapted to engage with one of the engaging portions, the elastic claw being adapted to engage with another one of the engaging portions; and a connector provided at an end of a wiring extending from the electrical driving device, the connector being adapted for insertion into and to be held by an inner surface of the hollow cylindrical member.

<CIT> teaches a vehicle door comprising a main glazed panel, a quarter glass and a window frame which includes a divider bar which in use extends substantially vertically between the quarter glass and the main glazed panel and a base member which in use extends substantially horizontally below the quarter glass and formed integrally with the divider bar, the quarter glass being fixed to the integral divider bar and base member.

The structure of the base assembly of an exterior rear view device is important as it provides means for connecting the device to a vehicle. <CIT> refers to a base assembly of an exterior rear view device, comprising a base frame; and a base cover housing the base frame and formed in at least two parts connected to each other, wherein the base assembly comprises a first opening at a first end of the base assembly at which the base frame is configured to be attached to a vehicle and a second opening at a second end of the base assembly at which a head assembly of the exterior rear view device is configured to be attached to the base frame, wherein at least one of a first sealing means at the first opening is provided comprising a two-component gasket with a hard component and a soft component, the hard component comprising: at least one first connection element configured to engage at least one first connection element of a first cover part; and at least one first connection element of a second cover part configured to provide a locking connection between the first cover part and the second cover part, and/or a second sealing means at the second opening is comprising a two-component gasket with a hard component and a soft component, the hard component comprising: at least one second connection element configured to engage at least one second connection element of the first cover part; and at least one second connection element of the second cover part to provide a locking connection between the first cover part and the second cover part.

The base frame fulfills a multitude of functions, in particular that of supporting the head assembly and connecting the same as well as electronic components of the exterior rear view device to the vehicle and a central control unit within the vehicle, the latter requiring a harness to be safely guided and sealed, electrically as well as with respect to moisture. As the base frame is made of metal, often aluminum, fulfilling said functions is a challenge.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling a rear view device with a retainer assembly suited to be installed between a base assembly of the rear view device and a vehicle, overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art. In particular the retainer assembly is to assist in fulfilling the tasks of guiding and sealing a harness on its path from the interior of the vehicle into the exterior rear view device attached to the vehicle.

This object is achieved with claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention are described in claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to an aspect, a retainer assembly is adapted to be installed between a base assembly of an exterior rear view device and a vehicle to which the exterior rear view device is mounted, the retainer assembly comprising a retainer means adapted to be mounted on one side to a door attachment portion of a base frame of the base assembly and on the opposite side to a door panel of the vehicle, wherein the retainer means is provided with at least one opening for allowing at least one datum structural element of the door attachment portion of the base frame to pass thereto, and at least one guiding projection and/or at least one guiding channel portion for providing at least part of a guiding channel for routing and/or guiding at least one harness from the vehicle to an electric component of the rear view device, and/or at least one sealing portion for covering at least a portion of the at least one harness.

According to one embodiment the at least one opening is provided by a holding portion, with preferably a first opening allowing a location pin of the door attachment portion to pass thereto, and/or at least one second opening allowing a T shaped location projection of the door attachment portion to pass thereto.

According to another embodiment at least one first hook and/or first clip is provided by the holding portion for attachment to the door panel, and/or at least one second hook and/or second clip is provided by the holding portion for attachment to the door attachment portion, with preferably the first and second hook(s) and/or clips(s) extending in opposite directions.

It is proposed that the first hook is adapted to hold the rear view device in Y direction to assist an assembly thereof to the door panel, preferably via screws, and/or the first clip determines the final assembly Z position of the rear view device, and/or the first clip is arranged next to the first opening, and/or the first hook provides the at least one second opening, and/or there are at least two second clips.

The retainer means may be provided with at least one datum area and/or with at least one T shaped location projection within a datum area for a base cover. The retainer means may form a single component, preferably from plastic.

The disclosure also proposes that the retainer assembly further comprises a sealing means adapted to be mounted on the retainer means, preferably by being attached to the retainer means via at least one snap and/or chip connection and/or to the door attachment portion, in particular via at least one screw, clips and/or snap connection. The sealing means may be in form of a <NUM> door gasket and/or may be provided with at least one datum area for a base cover.

According to another aspect, an exterior rear view device is provided with a base assembly for attachment to a vehicle, a head assembly with at least one reflective element and/or image acquisition means, with the head assembly being moveable relative to the base assembly, and the retainer assembly, wherein the sub-assembly of the base frame, the sealing means and the retainer means forms a channel for positioning a glass run seal, in particular allocated to a cheater panel.

According to one embodiment the base frame is provided at a first end with the door attachment portion and at a second end with a head attachment portion, with the major portion between theses ends being provided in form of an arm, wherein preferably the door attachment portion extends substantially perpendicularly to the arm.

It is also proposed that the door attachment portion is provided with an opening for a harness holder, wherein preferably the harness holder is provided with a fixing tie for holding the harness and a cli for engaging said opening such that the harness is firmly located to the base frame in all directions.

Further, it is proposed that a camera harness is comprised by the harness, with the camera harness preferably splitting off the harness adapted for routing and/or between the harness holder and the retainer means. The at least one guiding projection and/ or guiding channel is guiding the camera harness, and/or the sealing portion is covering the camera harness, in particular in a bending region between the door attachment portion and the arm of the base frame.

The disclosure also describes that the electric component comprises at least one camera, wherein preferably the camera is arranged in the base assembly.

According to another embodiment the base cover comprises a base cover cap and an upper base cover, wherein preferably the base cover cap and an upper base cover are attached via snap and/or clip connections, and/or the head assembly comprises a lower case with an opening dimensioned such that the base frame with its arm and door attachment portion together with the retainer means can pass.

According to a further aspect the method for assembling the rear view device comprises the following steps: clamping the retaining means on the door attachment portion of the base frame, guiding the door attachment portion with the attached retaining means through the opening of the lower case of the head assembly, and clamping the sealing means onto the door attachment portion and/or the retaining means, which preferably the sealing means and the retaining means being screwed onto the door attachment portion.

The following steps may also be comprised: attaching the harness to the door attachment portion via the harness holder, preferably prior to the clamping of the retaining means on the door attachment portion of the base frame.

Still further, the following steps may be comprised: passing the hook of the door attachment portion through a first opening in the door panel to obtain a hang connection, entering screws into the screw openings of the door panel and into the screw openings of the door attachment portion, and passing the positioning pin of the door attachment portion through a second opening in the door panel and clamping the clip of the retainer means to the door panel by passing through said second opening.

Also the following steps may be comprised: the T shaped location projection of the door attachment portion engages the door panel by passing with its arms through openings provided by the hook, and/or the clip is arranged between the positioning pin and the hook, and/or the clip and the positioning pin engage opposite regions of the second opening of the door panel.

With the present disclosure it is also proposed that the sub-assembly of the base frame, the sealing means and the retainer means forms a channel, and the cheater panel pushes the glass run seal at least partly into the channel.

It is also proposed that the base cover cap and the upper base cover are assembled by rotating into clip connecting, and/or the gap between the base cover cap and the upper base cover on the one side and the door on the other side is sealed by the glass run seal being pushed against and/or into the channel as well as the cheater panel during the assembling the base cover cap and the upper base cover.

The present disclosure also provides according to a still further aspect a vehicle with the rear view device assembled according to the method of the present disclosure such that the base assembly merges out of the glass run seal and/or a door waist finisher.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, certain examples of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of system, apparatuses, and methods consistent with the present disclosure and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain advantages and principles consistent with the present disclosure, wherein:.

<FIG> show a retainer means <NUM> of a retainer assembly <NUM> to be arranged between a base frame <NUM> of a base assembly <NUM> of an exterior rear view device <NUM> and a door panel <NUM> of a door <NUM> of a vehicle <NUM>. The retainer means <NUM> may be manufactured from a plastic material, whereas the base frame <NUM> is metallic and may be manufactured from aluminum.

The <FIG> also show a harness <NUM> for electrically connecting in particular a power source and a control unit within the vehicle (not shown) with electric components of the exterior rear view device. Such electric components may comprise, as e.g. shown in <FIG>, an actuator assembly <NUM> suitable for moving a head assembly <NUM> together with a reflective element (not shown) relative to the base frame <NUM> supporting the head assembly <NUM>, and a camera <NUM> as well as an indicator means like a turn signal indicator <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Said harness <NUM> may comprise a camera harness <NUM>.

The retainer means <NUM> is a multi-function component. The different functions will be described with respect to the other components of the exterior rear view device <NUM> as well as the vehicle <NUM> in the following.

An important function of the retainer means <NUM> is harness sealing, managing harness routing and accommodating variation in the camera harness <NUM> and cleaning systems (not shown), as described in the following:
The base frame <NUM> has a door attachment portion <NUM> at one end, with said door attachment portion <NUM> being provided with an opening <NUM> for a harness holder <NUM> at its lower, free end, as best seen in <FIG>. Said harness holder <NUM> is formed with a fixing tie <NUM> for holding the harness <NUM> and a clip <NUM> for connecting the holder <NUM> to said door attachment portion <NUM> by passing through the opening <NUM>.

The base frame harness locator opening feature governs harness position length the door side and the rear view device side, and provides a strong retention eliminating risk of the harness <NUM> being misplaced e.g. by being pulled through during handling. Further, the locating feature leads to reduced tolerance of fit-to-door. In other words, the harness <NUM> is firmly located to the base frame <NUM> in all directions allowing a solid datum strategy for harness lengths and provides the ability to hold as well as transport the exterior rear view device <NUM> whilst holding on to the harness <NUM>.

The harness <NUM> as well as the camera harness <NUM> divided therefrom above the harness holder <NUM> extend between the door attachment portion <NUM> of the base frame <NUM> and a holding portion <NUM> of the retainer means <NUM> to an upper end of the door attachment portion <NUM>, which turns into a main portion of the base frame <NUM> extending away from the door panel <NUM> towards the head assembly <NUM>, being provided in form of an arm <NUM>, with a head assembly attachment portion <NUM> of the base frame <NUM> being provided at the second end of the base frame <NUM> opposite the first end, see e.g. <FIG>.

The retainer means <NUM> is provided with a guiding projection <NUM> for guiding the camera harness <NUM> to a sealing portion <NUM> of the retainer means <NUM> extending substantially perpendicularly to the holding portion <NUM> to cover the camera harness <NUM> at its bending region at the transition between the door attachment portion <NUM> and the arm <NUM>.

While the base frame <NUM> is provided with a harness guiding channel portion <NUM> for guiding the harness <NUM> and a camera harness guiding channel portion <NUM> for guiding the camera harness <NUM>, the holding portion <NUM> of the retainer means <NUM> also provides a camera harness guiding channel portion <NUM> to substantially close a channel <NUM> for the camera harness <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

As the retainer means <NUM> is not metallic, the sealing of the harness <NUM>, together with the camera harness <NUM>, as well as the attachment of the metallic base frame <NUM> to the door panel <NUM> becomes safer. The design of the retainer means <NUM> allows to accommodate different sets of harness and cleaning system for all variations of mirror trim level. Further, the retainer means <NUM> ensures an easy assembly to seal in particular the camera harness <NUM> after being mounted and to manage its routing along the base frame door attachment portion <NUM>, without departing from the commonly used datum system between the base frame <NUM> and the door panel <NUM>, further illustrated in the following:
The base frame <NUM> is provided with a location pin <NUM> as well as a T shaped location projection <NUM> belonging to the datum system ensuring a correct assembly of the components of the exterior rear view device <NUM> and a correct attachment of the exterior rear view device <NUM> to the vehicle <NUM>. The location pin <NUM> and the T shaped location projection <NUM> extend substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the door panel <NUM>, as can be best seen in <FIG>. The retainer means <NUM> is provided with an opening <NUM> for the location pin <NUM> and a hook <NUM> with openings <NUM> for the arms of T shaped location projection <NUM>, as can be best seen in <FIG> illustrates that the location pin <NUM> as well as the T shaped location projection <NUM> pass through the respective openings <NUM>, <NUM> of the retainer means <NUM> to also pass respective openings <NUM>, <NUM> within the door panel <NUM> to engage the same, with the hook <NUM> of the retainer means <NUM> ensuring the respective engagement.

The base frame T shaped location projection <NUM> and the location pin <NUM> provide the primary and secondary datum strategy to the door datum system in X + Z directions, while the Y direction is controlled using three screw bosses. The door panel <NUM> in <FIG> shows two screw openings <NUM> and <NUM> aligned to two screw openings <NUM> and <NUM> of the base frame <NUM>, respectively, which in turn pass openings <NUM> and <NUM> of the retainer means <NUM>.

Thus, the corresponding locating features of the base frame <NUM> and the retainer means <NUM> allow base frame datum features to interface with the door <NUM> minimizing tolerance of datum strategy.

Further location projections <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are provided by the door attachment portion <NUM>.

The retainer means <NUM> along with the location pin <NUM> and the T shaped location projection <NUM> not only provides an accurate assembly to the door panel datum system, but also facilitates the assembly as it provides a robust 3rd hand clip/hanger function, as further illustrated in the following:
The retainer means <NUM> provides attachment features to support assembly to the base frame <NUM> as well as the door, by being formed with the hook <NUM> and clips <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Two clips <NUM> and <NUM> serve the attachment to the base frame <NUM> as best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>. The hook <NUM> primarily serves to hold the exterior rear view device <NUM> in Y direction to assist assembly of the screws (not shown), while the third clip <NUM> is on secondary location keyway to highlight when the exterior rear view device <NUM> is in its final assembly Z position, as best seen in <FIG>.

The retainer assembly <NUM> comprises, in addition to the retainer means <NUM>, a sealing means <NUM> in form of a <NUM> door gasket. Before describing the structure and function of the sealing means <NUM> in detail, in the following further assembly steps via simple clip connections are described with reference to <FIG>:
The slim design of the base frame <NUM> allows a case lower or lower case <NUM> of the head assembly <NUM> to be assembled over the door attachment portion <NUM> and the arm <NUM> of the base frame <NUM> to reach the region of the head assembly <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> together with figures 4a to 4f. In this respect it is to be noted that it is critical to assemble high gloss components like the lower case <NUM> late in the assembly sequence to minimize risk of damage. For that purpose the lower case <NUM> is provided with an opening <NUM>, preferably being substantially circular, through which the base frame <NUM> together with the retainer means <NUM> can pass.

The sealing means <NUM> is mounted after the lower case <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The sealing means location strategy is critical as it dictates the datum strategy for the corresponding base cover components discussed with respect to <FIG> below.

Thus, the smaller base frame geometry and the provision of a separate <NUM> door gasket provided by the sealing means <NUM> permit the lower case <NUM> to be assembled over the base frame <NUM>, and a T section support structure for the base cover permits a simple clip together assembly.

In to following the attachment of the sealing means <NUM> is described with reference to <FIG>:
Four clips <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> allow to attach the sealing means <NUM> to the base frame <NUM>, with the base frame <NUM> comprising complementary steps <NUM> and <NUM> as well as openings <NUM> and <NUM>.

The two screw positions determined by the openings <NUM>, <NUM> allow to secure the sealing means <NUM> and retainer means <NUM> to the base frame <NUM>. These are package protections only if more strength is required.

A datum area <NUM> for a base cover and a T-slot built into both the retainer means <NUM> and the sealing means <NUM>, see the T shaped location projection <NUM> and the T-slots <NUM>, <NUM> serve to maximize and gain strength from the base frame <NUM> into the area for base cover assembly.

The sub-assembly of the base frame <NUM>, the retainer means <NUM> and the sealing means <NUM> forms a channel <NUM>, see <FIG>, for positioning / locating a glass run seal <NUM> in particular allocated to a cheater panel <NUM> as shown e.g. in <FIG>. In the following the attachment of a base cover cap <NUM> and a base cover upper or upper base cover <NUM> are described with reference to <FIG>:
The combination the base frame <NUM>, the retainer means <NUM> and the sealing means <NUM> forms the channel <NUM> which locates the glass run seal <NUM> on to the exterior rear view device <NUM>. The glass run seal <NUM> runs along the cheater panel <NUM> and is an extension of the glass run seal running along the window <NUM> and being covered by a door trim <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The base cover cap <NUM> clips to the base frame <NUM>, see <FIG>, and also the upper base cover <NUM> is attached by clip connection, see <FIG>. The clip connection may be located behind a chrome wait finisher (not shown).

The cheater panel <NUM> pushes the glass run seal <NUM> into the correct position inside the channel <NUM> while being assembled. The base cover cap <NUM> and the upper base cover <NUM> assemble in such a way that when rotating into their position a sealing lip of the glass run seal <NUM> is pushed against the cheater panel <NUM> sealing the gap between the base cover cap <NUM> and the upper base cover <NUM> on the one side and the cheater panel <NUM> on the other side, see <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A method for assembling an exterior rear view device (<NUM>) with a base assembly (<NUM>) for attachment to a vehicle (<NUM>), a head assembly (<NUM>) with at least one reflective element and/or image acquisition means, with the head assembly (<NUM>) being moveable relative to the base assembly (<NUM>), and a retainer assembly (<NUM>), wherein
the retainer assembly (<NUM>) is adapted to be installed between the base assembly (<NUM>) of the exterior rear view device (<NUM>) and the vehicle (<NUM>) to which the exterior rear view device (<NUM>) is mounted, the retainer assembly (<NUM>) comprising a retainer means (<NUM>) adapted to be mounted on one side to a door attachment portion (<NUM>) of a base frame (<NUM>) of the base assembly (<NUM>) and on the opposite side to a door panel (<NUM>) of the vehicle (<NUM>), wherein the retainer means (<NUM>) is provided with
• at least one opening (<NUM>, <NUM>) for allowing at least one datum structural element of the door attachment portion (<NUM>) of the base frame (<NUM>) to pass thereto, and
• at least one guiding projection and/or at least one guiding channel portion (<NUM>) for providing at least part of a guiding channel (<NUM>) for routing and/or guiding at least one harness (<NUM>, <NUM>) from the vehicle to an electric component ( <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the rear view device (<NUM>), and/or
• at least one sealing portion (<NUM>) for covering at least a portion of the at least one harness (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a sealing means (<NUM>) is adapted to be mounted on the retainer means (<NUM>),
the sub-assembly of the base frame (<NUM>), the sealing means (<NUM>) and the retainer means (<NUM>) forms a channel (<NUM>) for positioning a glass run seal (<NUM>), in particular allocated to a cheater panel (<NUM>),
the method comprising the following steps:
• clamping the retaining means (<NUM>) on the door attachment portion (<NUM>) of the base frame (<NUM>),
• guiding the door attachment portion (<NUM>) with the attached retaining means (<NUM>) through the opening (<NUM>) of the lower case (<NUM>) of the head assembly (<NUM>), and
• clamping the sealing means (<NUM>) onto the door attachment portion (<NUM>) and/or the retaining means (<NUM>), with preferably the sealing means (<NUM>) and the retaining means (<NUM>) being screwed together onto the door attachment portion (<NUM>).