Patent Description:
Conventionally, there has been a base assembly configuring a periphery monitoring device for a vehicle, or a periphery monitoring device for a vehicle including a base assembly. An outside mirror device for a vehicle disclosed in <CIT> is described in the following.

The door mirror of <CIT> includes a door mirror body, a mounting stay, and stay packing. Convex strips are formed on the periphery of the mounting stay. A stay attachment portion is formed on the periphery of a side of the stay packing. The stay attachment portion is externally fitted to the periphery of the mounting stay. A lip portion consisting of two bent portions is formed on the periphery of the other side of the stay packing. The lip portion deforms elastically and adheres to the vehicle body. This ensures sealing the gap between the stay packing and the vehicle body.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.<CIT>.

In a base assembly and a periphery monitoring device for a vehicle, it is important to ensure sealing the gap between the base assembly and the vehicle body, as described in <CIT> which discloses a base assembly for a rear view mirror according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a base assembly and a periphery monitoring device for a vehicle, which is capable of establishing a seal between the vehicle body and the base assembly.

A base assembly according to the present invention includes: a base; a gasket; and a cover, wherein the base has a fixed part fixed to a vehicle body and a mounting part, a monitoring assembly being mounted to an upper portion of the mounting part, the gasket is mounted to the fixed part and disposed between the fixed part and the vehicle body, the cover is mounted to a lower portion of the fixed part and a lower portion of the mounting part and covers the lower portion of the fixed part and the lower portion of the mounting part, a rib is provided on the fixed part, the rib sealing a gap between the gasket and the vehicle body by abutting the gasket to cause the gasket to come into contact with the vehicle body, lower edge portions facing each other are provided on a lower portion of the fixed part, a lower portion of the gasket, and a lower portion of the cover, the rib has at least a lower rib corresponding to the lower edge portion of the fixed part, a portion of the fixed part above the lower rib is provided with, an upper drainage port allowing water in a first space enclosed by the base, the gasket, and the cover to flow down into a second space enclosed by the fixed part and the gasket, and a lower drainage port allowing water in the second space to flow down into a third space enclosed by the base, the gasket, and the cover and positioned below the first space, the upper drainage port and the lower drainage port being arranged vertically to each other, and a final drainage port is provided in a portion of the gasket below the lower rib and allows water in the third space to flow down to outside of the vehicle body.

In the base assembly of the present invention, it is preferred that a portion of the gasket enclosing the second space tilts from the upper drainage port to the lower drainage port.

In the base assembly of the present invention, it is preferred that a width between the base and the cover enclosing the third space is greater than a width between the base and the gasket facing each other via a lower rib.

In the base assembly of the present invention, it is preferred that a lip portion abutting the vehicle body be provided on a tip of a lower edge portion of the gasket, and the lip portion is provided with a final drainage port.

In the base assembly of the present invention, it is preferred that a portion of the gasket in contact with the vehicle body by the ribs is provided with a buffer member.

A periphery monitoring device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes the base assembly according to the present invention fixed to the vehicle body and a monitoring assembly mounted to the base assembly.

The base assembly and the periphery monitoring device for a vehicle of the present invention can establish a seal between the vehicle body and the base assembly.

Now, a base assembly and a periphery monitoring device for a vehicle according to an embodiment (example) of the present invention is described below in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that as the drawings are schematically illustrated, main components are illustrated, components other than the main components are omitted, and hatching or cross section would be partially omitted from the drawings.

In this specification, front, back, up, down, left, and right directions respectively correspond to front, back, up, down, left, and right directions when a vehicle is equipped with the periphery monitoring device for a vehicle according to the present invention. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the reference symbols "F", "B", "U", "D", "L", and "R" express "front", "back", "up", "down", "left", and "right", respectively.

The configuration of the base assembly and the periphery monitoring device for a vehicle according to the present embodiment is described below. In <FIG>, reference numeral <NUM> denotes the periphery monitoring device for a vehicle according to the embodiment.

Description of Periphery Monitoring Device <NUM> for Vehicle In this example, the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle is, for example, an outside mirror device for a vehicle or a door mirror for a vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as "door mirror <NUM>"). The door mirrors <NUM> are provided on left and right doors <NUM> for a vehicle (see the chain double-dashed lines in <FIG>).

The door mirror <NUM> provided on the right door <NUM> will be described below. Here, in the door mirror <NUM> provided on the right door <NUM>, the right side is defined as the outside of the vehicle, while the right side is defined as the inside of the vehicle. The door mirrors <NUM> provided on the left and right doors <NUM> are substantially symmetrical in shape. Accordingly, description of the door mirror provided on the left door is omitted.

The door mirror <NUM> includes a monitoring assembly <NUM> and base assembly <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. The base assembly <NUM> is fixed to panels (door panel, vehicle body panel, outer panel of vehicle body) of the door <NUM>. The monitoring assembly <NUM> is mounting to the base assembly <NUM> in a rotatable manner about a rotation center line C.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the monitoring assembly <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, a monitoring unit <NUM>, an electric retracting unit (not illustrated), and a harness H. The monitoring assembly <NUM> may have a side turn signal lamp as a vehicle light on the housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> has a hollow box shape and is open to the front side (back side of the vehicle).

In this example, the monitoring unit <NUM> is a mirror and is positioned in the opening portion of the housing <NUM>. The monitoring unit <NUM> is mounted to the housing <NUM> via a drive mechanism (power unit). A mirror surface of the monitoring unit <NUM> is adjustable by the drive mechanism in a left-right direction around a vertical axis and an up-down direction around a horizontal axis. The mirror may be equipped with a defogging heater and an EC layer for automatic antiglare.

The monitoring unit <NUM> may be a camera in place of the mirror in this example. In the case where the monitoring unit is a camera, dimension of the housing <NUM> can be significantly reduced in the up-down direction. Information about the periphery of the vehicle captured by the camera can be displayed on a display device (not illustrated) in the interior of the vehicle via an image processing device or the like (not illustrated).

The electric retracting unit causes the monitoring assembly <NUM> to rotate between a use position (the state illustrated in <FIG>) and a rear retracted position (not illustrated) with electric power (see the solid arrow in <FIG> in the clockwise direction around the rotation center line C).

The electric retracting unit includes a casing, a shaft, a motor, a switching mechanism, a speed reduction mechanism, and a clutch mechanism. The shaft, the motor, the switching mechanism, the speed reduction mechanism, and the clutch mechanism are accommodated in the casing. The casing is accommodated in the housing <NUM> and mounted to the housing <NUM>.

The shaft is mounted to the base assembly <NUM>. In this way, the monitoring assembly <NUM> is rotatably mounted to the base assembly <NUM>. A longitudinal center axis line of the shaft aligns with the rotation center line C of the monitoring assembly <NUM>.

The harness H is connected to electrical devices and electronic components of the electric retracting unit and the drive unit. The harness H is led out from the housing <NUM> of the monitoring assembly <NUM> through the base assembly <NUM> and connected to the electronic controls and power supply (battery) in the vehicle.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the base assembly <NUM> includes a base <NUM>, a gasket <NUM>, and a cover (base undercover) <NUM>. The base assembly <NUM> is fixed to the door <NUM> with a fixing means (not illustrated). Screws or the like are used as the fixing means as appropriate.

In this example, the base <NUM> is formed by die cast molding of a highly rigid resin or the like. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the base <NUM> has a fixed part <NUM> and a mounting part <NUM>.

The fixed part <NUM> and the mounting part <NUM> are integrated into a single unit. That is, the lower portion of the fixed part <NUM> is integrally connected to a left end portion of the mounting part <NUM>.

The fixed part <NUM> is provided along a substantially vertical direction. The fixed part <NUM> has a substantially right-angled triangular shape when viewed from the door <NUM> side. The fixed part <NUM> is fixed to the door <NUM>. The surface of the fixed part <NUM> facing the door <NUM> is provided with an integrated unit of a positioning protruding portion <NUM> and a mounting boss portion <NUM>, which is positioned and secured on the door <NUM>. The fixed part <NUM> is provided with a through-hole <NUM> through which the harness H in the housing <NUM> of the monitoring assembly <NUM> is drawn out of the housing <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the lower portion of the fixed part <NUM> is integrally provided with a lower edge portion <NUM> in a substantially vertical direction. Above the lower edge portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM>, a holding portion <NUM> that holds the gasket <NUM> is integrally provided. The holding portion <NUM> is provided substantially horizontally, and tilts downward from the cover <NUM> side to the gasket <NUM> side.

Between the lower edge portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM> and the holding portion <NUM>, a connecting portion <NUM> is integrally provided. The connecting portion <NUM> has a substantially L-shaped cross section and connects the lower edge portion <NUM> to the holding portion <NUM>.

The mounting part <NUM> is provided along a substantially horizontal direction. The shaft of the electric retracting unit of the monitoring assembly <NUM> is mounted to the upper portion of the mounting part <NUM>.

In this example, the gasket <NUM> is made of PE (polyethylene), EPDM (ethylene propylene rubber), POM (polyacetal, acetal resin), TEO (thermoplastic elastomer), o the like. Namely, the gasket <NUM> is made of resin-based or rubber-based flexible elastic material.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the gasket <NUM> is mounted to the fixed part <NUM> of the base <NUM> with a mounting means (not illustrated) between the fixed part <NUM> and the door <NUM>. A means such as a mating means or an elastic mating means can be employed as the assembly means as appropriate.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the gasket <NUM> has a substantially right-angled triangular shape that is slightly larger than the fixed part <NUM> when viewed from the door <NUM> side like the fixed part <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The gasket <NUM> covers the entire fixed part <NUM> of the base <NUM>.

The gasket <NUM> is provided with a through-hole <NUM>. The harness H, which is drawn from the through-hole <NUM> in the base <NUM>, is drawn from the through-hole <NUM> in the gasket <NUM> to the outside of the base assembly <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a lower edge portion <NUM> is integrally provided on the lower portion of the gasket <NUM> in a substantially vertical direction. The lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> and the lower edge portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM> face each other.

A body portion <NUM> held by the holding portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM> is provided above the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> in a substantially vertical direction. A connecting portion <NUM> is integrally provided between the lower edge portion <NUM> and the body portion <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> tilts downward from the body portion <NUM> to the lower edge portion <NUM> and connects the lower edge portion <NUM> and the body portion <NUM>.

Below the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>, i.e., at the tip of the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>, a lip portion <NUM> that contacts the door <NUM> is integrally provided. The lip portion <NUM> has an L-shaped cross section.

A portion of the gasket <NUM> in contact with the door <NUM> via a rib <NUM> is provided with a buffer member <NUM>. The buffer member <NUM> is in the form of a tape and is bonded to the gasket <NUM>. The buffer member <NUM> combines a cushioning function of a cushioning material with a waterproofing function of a waterproofing material, and is made of synthetic rubber foam.

In this example, the cover <NUM> is made of molded resin. As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> is mounted to a lower portion of the fixed part <NUM> and a lower portion of the mounting part <NUM> of the base <NUM> with a mounting means (not illustrated) to cover the lower portion of the fixed part <NUM> and the lower portion of the mounting part <NUM>. A means such as a mating means or an elastic mating means can be employed as the assembly means as appropriate.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the lower portion of the cover <NUM> is integrally provided with a lower edge portion <NUM> in a substantially vertical direction. The lower edge portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>, and the lower edge portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM> face each other. A portion of the lower edge portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> is integrally provided with an abutting protruding portion <NUM> that protrudes toward the lip portion <NUM> and abuts the lip portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the rib <NUM> protruding toward the gasket <NUM> is integrally provided at the peripheral portion of a surface of the fixed part <NUM> of the base <NUM> facing the door <NUM>. In this example, the rib <NUM> has the upper portion <NUM> cut out, as illustrated in <FIG>. The rib <NUM> may be provided integrally on the entire peripheral portion of the fixed part <NUM> without the cutout portion <NUM>.

The rib <NUM> abuts the edge of gasket <NUM> to cause the edge of gasket <NUM> to come into contact with the door <NUM> to seal the gap between the gasket <NUM> and the door <NUM>. The rib <NUM> has a lower rib <NUM> corresponding to the lower edge portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The rib <NUM> may have at least the lower rib <NUM>.

The interior of the base assembly <NUM>, i.e., the interior enclosed by the base <NUM>, the gasket <NUM>, and the cover <NUM>, forms a first space S1. The interior enclosed by the holding portion <NUM> and connecting portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the connecting portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> forms a second space S2. Furthermore, the interior enclosed by the base <NUM>, the gasket <NUM>, and the cover <NUM> and positioned below the first space S1 forms a third space S3.

The holding portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM> that encloses the first space S1 tilts downward toward an upper drainage port <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> enclosing the second space S2 tilts downward from the upper drainage port <NUM> to a lower drainage port <NUM>. The lower edge portion <NUM> of the base <NUM>, the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>, and the lower edge portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, which enclose the third space S3, hang downward from the lower drainage port <NUM> to a final drainage port <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the upper drainage port <NUM> and lower drainage port <NUM> are arranged vertically to each other above the lower rib <NUM> in the fixed part <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The final drainage port <NUM> is provided in the gasket <NUM> below the lower rib <NUM>.

The upper drainage port <NUM> is provided at the tip of the holding portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM> that is in contact with the gasket <NUM> (the downward slope tip). The upper drainage port <NUM> allows the water W in the first space S1 to flow down into the second space S2 along the slope of the holding portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM>.

The lower drainage port <NUM> is positioned in the horizontal portion of the connecting portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM> facing the holding portion <NUM>. The lower drainage port <NUM> allows the water W in the second space S2 to flow down into the third space S3 along the slope of the connecting portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>.

The final drainage port <NUM> is positioned at the vertical portion of the lip portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>. The final drainage port <NUM> allows the water W in the third space S3 to flow down to the outside of the door <NUM> along the vertical direction of the lower edge portion <NUM> of the base <NUM>, the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> and the lower edge portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM>.

In this way, the first space S1, the upper drainage port <NUM>, the second space S2, the lower drainage port <NUM>, the third space S3, and the final drainage port <NUM> constitute a path (drainage channel) through which the water W in the housing <NUM> of the monitoring assembly <NUM> is drained out of the door <NUM>.

The width T1 between the lower edge portion <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the lower edge portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> enclosing the third space S3 is greater than the width T2 between the lower edge portion <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> facing each other via the lower rib <NUM> (i.e., the protruding dimension of the lower rib <NUM>). T3 is the width of a sealing structure consisting of the lower edge portion <NUM> of the base <NUM>, the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>, the lower rib <NUM>, and the buffer member <NUM> when the sealing structure is sealing to the door <NUM>.

The base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment are configured as mentioned above, and the drainage operation thereof is described below.

First, water W, such as car wash water or rainwater, enters the housing <NUM> through the gap between the housing <NUM> and the monitoring unit <NUM> of the monitoring assembly <NUM>. The water W in the housing <NUM> travels through the harness H and enters the base assembly <NUM>, i.e., the first space S1 enclosed by the base <NUM>, the gasket <NUM>, and the cover <NUM>.

The water W, such as car wash water or rainwater, enters the base assembly <NUM>, i.e., the first space S1 enclosed by the base <NUM>, the gasket <NUM>, and the cover <NUM>, through the gap between the housing <NUM> of the monitoring assembly <NUM> and the base <NUM> of the base assembly <NUM>.

The water W entering the first space S1 is drained out of the door <NUM> through the first space S1, the upper drainage port <NUM>, the second space S2, the lower drainage port <NUM>, the third space S3, and the final drainage port <NUM>.

The base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment are configured and operates as mentioned above, and the effect thereof is described below.

The base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment are provided with the upper drainage port <NUM> and the lower drainage port <NUM> arranged vertically to each other on the fixed part <NUM> of the base <NUM> above the lower rib <NUM>, and the final drainage port <NUM> on the gasket <NUM> below the lower rib <NUM>. This allows the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment to drain the water W that has entered the base assembly <NUM>, i.e., the first space S1 enclosed by the base <NUM>, the gasket <NUM>, and the cover <NUM>, through the upper drainage port <NUM>, the lower drainage port <NUM>, and the final drainage port <NUM> to the outside of the door <NUM> without providing a cutout in the lower rib <NUM>. As a result, the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment does not require a cutout in the lower rib <NUM>, thus ensuring sealing of the gap between them and the vehicle body.

Since the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment has the holding portion <NUM> of the fixed part <NUM> of the base <NUM>, which encloses the first space S1, tilting downward toward the upper drainage port <NUM>, the water W in the first space S1 can flow down smoothly along the slope of the holding portion <NUM>, toward the upper drainage port <NUM>. As a result, the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment have good drainage efficiency.

Since the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment has the connecting portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>, which encloses the second space S2, tilting downward from the upper drainage port <NUM> to the lower drainage port <NUM>, the water W in the second space S2 can flow down smoothly along the slope of the connecting portion <NUM>, toward the lower drainage port <NUM>. As a result, the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment have good drainage efficiency.

Since the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment consist of the lower edge portion <NUM> of the base <NUM>, the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>, and the lower edge portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, which enclose the third space S3, hanging downward from the lower drainage port <NUM> to the final drainage port <NUM>, the water W in the third space S3 can flow down smoothly along the lower edge portion <NUM> of the base <NUM>, the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>, and the lower edge portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> in the vertical direction, toward the final drainage port <NUM>. As a result, the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment have good drainage efficiency.

Since in the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment, the width T1 between the lower edge portion <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the lower edge portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, which enclose the third space S3, is larger than the width T2 between the lower edge portion <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> facing each other via the lower rib <NUM>, the width T3 of the sealing structure in the sealed state can be reduced, and the width T1 of the third space S3 of the drainage channel can be wide. As a result, the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment can reduce the width T3 to the sealing surface of the sealing structure (outer surface of the door <NUM>) and maintain drainage efficiency.

Since in the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment, the lip portion <NUM> abutting the door <NUM> is provided at the tip of the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>, the lip portion <NUM> can ensure sealing of the gap between the lower edge portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> and the door <NUM>.

Moreover, since in the base assembly <NUM> and the periphery monitoring device <NUM> for a vehicle according to the present embodiment, the final drainage port <NUM> is provided on the lip portion <NUM>, sealing and drainage efficiency can be maintained.

Claim 1:
A base assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a base (<NUM>);
a gasket (<NUM>); and
a cover (<NUM>), wherein
the base (<NUM>) has a fixed part (<NUM>) fixed to a vehicle body and a mounting part (<NUM>), a monitoring assembly (<NUM>) being mounted to an upper portion of the mounting part (<NUM>),
the gasket (<NUM>) is mounted to the fixed part (<NUM>) and disposed between the fixed part (<NUM>) and the vehicle body,
the cover (<NUM>) is mounted to a lower portion of the fixed part (<NUM>) and a lower portion of the mounting part (<NUM>) and covers the lower portion of the fixed part (<NUM>) and the lower portion of the mounting part (<NUM>),
a rib (<NUM>) is provided on the fixed part (<NUM>), the rib (<NUM>) sealing a gap between the gasket (<NUM>) and the vehicle body by abutting the gasket (<NUM>) to cause the gasket (<NUM>) to come into contact with the vehicle body,
lower edge portions (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) facing each other are provided on a lower portion of the fixed part (<NUM>), a lower portion of the gasket (<NUM>), and a lower portion of the cover (<NUM>),
the rib (<NUM>) has at least a lower rib (<NUM>) corresponding to the lower edge portion (<NUM>) of the fixed part (<NUM>), characterised in that
a portion of the fixed part (<NUM>) above the lower rib (<NUM>) is provided with,
an upper drainage port (<NUM>) allowing water (W) in a first space (S1) enclosed by the base (<NUM>), the gasket (<NUM>), and the cover (<NUM>) to flow down into a second space S2) enclosed by the fixed part (<NUM>) and the gasket (<NUM>), and
a lower drainage port (<NUM>) allowing water (W) in the second space (S2) to flow down into a third space (S3) enclosed by the base (<NUM>), the gasket (<NUM>), and the cover (<NUM>) and positioned below the first space (S1), the upper drainage port (<NUM>) and the lower drainage port (<NUM>) being arranged vertically to each other, and
a final drainage port (<NUM>) is provided in a portion of the gasket (<NUM>) below the lower rib (<NUM>) and allows water (W) in the third space (S3) to flow down to outside of the vehicle body.