Patent Description:
Rear-view mirror systems comprise a mounting assembly or winglet pivotally attached to an outer fixed part of a motor vehicle and a reflective member mounted for angular movement to the mounting assembly.

A winglet actuator is provided including driving means that comprise an electric motor arranged for driving the winglet in rotation between a non-driving position where the mounting assembly is folded inwards when the vehicle is parked for protection purposes and a driving position where the mounting assembly is projected outwards from the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling for driving purposes.

A reflective member actuator is also provided for adjusting the orientation of the reflective member from within the vehicle.

A vehicle rear-view mirror system is known from <CIT> in which the reflective member actuator comprises first drive means for pivoting the reflective member on a first axis and second drive means for pivoting the reflective member on a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Control means comprising a single rotating drive motor device are provided for selectively actuating the first and second drive means.

<CIT> discloses a connections device of an actuator for vehicle side mirrors. Inside a rotating main body a motor and a stationary shaft fixed to the vehicle body connected through gears are provided.

So far, known rear-view mirror systems have been shown to be undesirably complex and costly. A need still exists for improved rear-view mirror systems which at least partially overcomes the above issues.

The above disadvantages are overcome by the present folding actuator cover assembly and the present rear-view mirror system for motor vehicles with which important advantages and benefits are also obtained.

The present folding actuator cover assembly comprises at least a first cover component arranged in a first plane and having a first receiving portion for receiving a first driving mechanism for rotating the first cover component with respect to a vehicle body portion, and a second cover component arranged in a second plane for attaching a mirror pane of a rear-view system, wherein the first plane is positioned at an angle of <NUM>-<NUM>° with respect to the second plane, wherein the second cover component is configured as an extension of the first cover component, and wherein the first cover component comprises an upper actuator cover and a bottom actuator cover, wherein the upper actuator cover and the bottom actuator cover may be rotated together with respect to the vehicle body portion, and wherein the upper actuator cover and the second cover component are formed integrally with each other.

Upper and bottom refers herein to positions of the actuator covers with respect to the vehicle when mounted thereto.

Further, the first plane may be inclined at an angle of ± <NUM>° to the ground when in use with the rear-view system operatively installed in the vehicle.

Preferably, the upper actuator cover is arranged projecting from a central portion of the second cover component. In particular, the upper actuator cover may be arranged extending less than <NUM> from the central portion of the second cover component. As used herein, the first cover component arranged extending from the second cover component refers to an extending length taken from an edge of the second cover component.

The second cover component may have a second receiving portion for receiving a second driving mechanism, as a mirror pane regulator, for driving the mirror pane of the rear-view system.

The second cover component may be substantially circular in shape.

A longitudinal dimension of the upper actuator cover together with the second cover component along the substantially transverse direction of the vehicle towards the outside of the vehicle is larger than a longitudinal dimension of the bottom actuator cover along the same transverse direction of the vehicle.

As used herein, a longitudinal direction of the vehicle refers to a direction of travel of the vehicle while a transverse direction of the vehicle refers to a direction extending perpendicular to the vehicle's direction of travel. As used herein, a vertical direction of the vehicle refers to a direction extending perpendicular to the ground. A longitudinal dimension of a part refers to a length of that part.

A rear-view mirror system for motor vehicles is also disclosed herein. The present rear-view mirror system comprises a foot projecting from a vehicle body portion. The rear-view mirror system further comprises a rear-view mirror head that is attached to said foot. The rear-view mirror head includes the mirror pane that is attached to the second cover component, and the folding actuator as described above. In use, both the upper actuator cover and the bottom actuator cover move together with the mirror head, that is, there is no relative movement between the upper actuator cover and the bottom actuator cover.

It is envisaged that the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism are configured to operate independently of each other.

With the above mentioned arrangement, with a first plane on which the first receiving portion lies for receiving a first driving mechanism for rotating the first cover component, arranged at an angle of ± <NUM>° to the ground when in use, with the rear-view mirror system operatively attached to the vehicle, the first driving mechanism, such as for example an electric motor, is advantageously positioned horizontal or substantially horizontal to the ground.

This results in small sized assembly, in particular, small in a dimension along a vertical axis, so a highly compact assembly obtained having the combination of the features described above.

A rear-view mirror system provided with such folding actuator is highly compact and small sized since a small number of parts are involved and the foot can be placed in a position other than under the head. Improved aerodynamics, lower coefficient of friction, and reduced overall weight are advantageously achieved resulting in reductions in fuel consumption.

The present rear-view mirror system has an integral structure that includes functional elements together with folding or regulation capabilities. Thus, the structural part of the rear-view mirror acts as chassis of the mirror pane and also as actuator part therefor. In particular, the rear-view mirror system can be electrically operated for moving the mirror pane of the rear-view mirror system vertically and horizontally together or not with the rear-view mirror head.

Due to the fact that the second cover component is configured as an extension of the first cover component for supporting a functional element, the folding actuator cover assembly acts as functional element integrator without any accessory parts. No extra frame parts are required for supporting the functional element on the peripheral function assembly. As a result, a cost effective assembly is achieved.

Additional objects, advantages and features of examples of the present folding actuator cover assembly and rear-view mirror system for motor vehicles will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the description or may be learned by practice thereof.

Particular examples of the folding actuator cover assembly and the rear-view mirror system for motor vehicles will be described in the following by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings.

The rear-view mirror system <NUM> in the example shown comprises a foot <NUM>. The foot <NUM> is arranged projecting from a portion <NUM> of the vehicle, in this example, from a door of the vehicle. The rear-view mirror system <NUM> further comprises a rear-view mirror head <NUM> that is attached to said foot <NUM>. The rear-view mirror head <NUM> in turn includes a mirror pane <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, that is attached to a second cover component <NUM> of a folding actuator cover assembly <NUM> that will be described in detail below, and a mirror housing <NUM>.

The rear-view mirror system <NUM> also comprises the above mentioned folding actuator cover assembly <NUM>. In the example shown, the folding actuator cover assembly <NUM> comprises a first cover component <NUM> and a second cover component <NUM>. The first cover component <NUM> and the second cover component <NUM> may be removably attached to each other.

The first cover component <NUM> comprises an upper actuator cover 110a and a bottom actuator cover 110b and is also attached to the second cover component <NUM>. One of the second cover component <NUM> and the first cover component <NUM> is attached to the mirror head <NUM> for rotating the mirror head <NUM> relative to the foot <NUM>. In the example of the figures, the first cover component <NUM> comprises an upper actuator cover 110a and a bottom actuator cover 110b. It may be envisaged that the upper actuator cover 110a and the second cover component <NUM> are formed integrally with each other depending on requirements.

The upper actuator cover 110a is arranged in a first plane P1 diagrammatically illustrated in <FIG> of the drawings. The upper actuator cover 110a has a first receiving portion <NUM>. The first receiving portion <NUM> of the first cover component <NUM> is configured for receiving a first driving mechanism, such as for example an electric motor, shown in <FIG>, for rotating the first cover component <NUM> with respect to a vehicle body portion <NUM>. The second cover component <NUM> is arranged in a second plane P2 diagrammatically illustrated in <FIG> of the drawings. The second cover component <NUM> is configured for attaching the mirror pane <NUM> directly or indirectly through an intermediate element as a mirror pane back plate <NUM> or a mirror pane regulator actuator <NUM> of the rear-view system <NUM>.

As shown in the figures, the first plane P1 is perpendicular to the second plane P2. In general, the first plane P1 may be positioned at an angle of <NUM>-<NUM>° with respect to the second plane P2. The first plane P1 is parallel to the ground when the mirror assembly is operatively attached to the vehicle as shown in <FIG> although it may be inclined at an angle of ± <NUM>° to the ground.

A first dimension L of the upper actuator cover 110a extends along a transverse direction x of the vehicle. The first dimension L of the upper actuator cover 110a may be <NUM>-<NUM>, preferably <NUM>.

A width T1 of the upper actuator cover 110a along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is <NUM>-<NUM>, preferably <NUM>. A second dimension H1 or thickness of the upper actuator cover 110a extends <NUM>-<NUM>, with <NUM> being preferred, along a vertical direction y of the vehicle when in use as shown in <FIG>.

A longitudinal direction refers to a direction of travel z of the vehicle. A transverse direction x of the vehicle refers to a direction x extending perpendicular to the vehicle's direction of travel z, and a vertical direction y of the vehicle refers to a direction y extending perpendicular to the ground. As a result, the rear-view system <NUM> is small in size, in particular, in the dimension along vertical axis y. A highly compact assembly is obtained.

The second cover component <NUM> in the example shown in the figures is substantially circular in shape and <NUM>-<NUM> in diameter H2, with <NUM> being preferred. Other shapes and sizes are possible, therefore, the maximum length in a vertical direction y should be <NUM>-<NUM>, with <NUM> being preferred. In any case, the second cover component <NUM> is configured as an extension of the upper actuator cover 110a. That is, the second cover component <NUM> is formed extending from the upper actuator cover 110a. The purpose of the second cover component <NUM> is supporting a functional element such as an electrical device, for example, a mirror pane (shown in <FIG>), a camera, a light, a blinker, a radar, a sensor, etc..

Therefore, the relationship between the vertical dimension of second actuator cover <NUM> and the upper actuator cover 110a should be higher than <NUM>%, and more preferably between <NUM>% and <NUM>%.

In the non-limiting example illustrated in the figures of the drawings, the upper actuator cover 110a is arranged extending less than <NUM> from the central portion of the second cover component <NUM>.

A second receiving portion <NUM> is formed in the second cover component <NUM>. The second receiving portion is configured for receiving a second driving mechanism or mirror pane regulator <NUM>, such as an electric motor, shown in <FIG>, for driving the mirror pane <NUM> of the rear-view system <NUM>. Other types of driving mechanisms are possible. In any case, the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism may be configured to operate independently of each other or synchronously.

A longitudinal dimension of the upper actuator cover 110a and the second cover component <NUM> along the transverse direction x of the vehicle is in this example larger than a longitudinal dimension of the bottom actuator cover 110b along said transverse direction x of the vehicle towards the outside of the vehicle. The longitudinal dimension of the upper or bottom actuator covers 110a, 110b refers to the length of that parts.

The longitudinal dimension of the upper actuator cover 110a and the second cover component <NUM> along this transverse direction is at least <NUM>%, more preferably <NUM>%, optimally <NUM>% the length of the bottom actuator cover 110b.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the folding actuator cover assembly <NUM> has a coupling arrangement <NUM>, for attachment of the upper actuator cover 110a and the bottom actuator cover 110b to each other.

Shown in the exploded perspective view of <FIG> of the drawings is an example of the present rear-view mirror system <NUM>. The rear-view mirror system <NUM> in the example shown comprises the mirror pane <NUM> as mentioned above and a mirror heating <NUM> adhesively attaching the mirror pane <NUM> to the mirror back plate <NUM>. The mirror back plate <NUM> is in turn intended be attached to the mirror pane regulator <NUM> associated with the second driving mechanism. A mirror frame <NUM> is arranged to be attached to the above mentioned mirror housing <NUM>. A foot cover <NUM> is also provided which may comprise a folding actuator cover. The above mentioned coupling arrangement <NUM> is also shown in this figure comprising screw holes in upper and bottom actuator covers 110a, 110b for attachment thereof to each other through any attachment means as screws. A drive arrangement <NUM> comprising a motor, gearing and other components of the first driving mechanism is also provided.

Radially stiffening elements <NUM> are provided in the second cover component <NUM> as shown in figure.

At least one of the first cover component <NUM> and the second cover component <NUM> may be made of plastic or metal such as aluminium or any suitable aluminium alloy.

Claim 1:
Folding actuator cover assembly (<NUM>) comprising at least a first cover component (<NUM>) arranged in a first plane (P1) and having a first receiving portion (<NUM>) for receiving a first driving mechanism for rotating the first cover component (<NUM>) with respect to a vehicle body portion (<NUM>), and a second cover component (<NUM>) arranged in a second plane (P2) for attaching a mirror pane (<NUM>) of a rear-view system (<NUM>), wherein the first plane (P1) is positioned at an angle of <NUM>-<NUM>° with respect to the second plane (P2), wherein the second cover component (<NUM>) is configured as an extension of the first cover component (<NUM>), and wherein the first cover component (<NUM>) comprises an upper actuator cover (110a) and a bottom actuator cover (110b), and wherein the upper actuator cover (110a) and the second cover component (<NUM>) are formed integrally with each other, characterized in that the upper actuator cover (110a) and the bottom actuator cover (110b) may be rotated together with respect to the vehicle body portion.