Patent ID: 12227131

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1and2illustrate a side view mirror assembly30for a motor vehicle20. The side view mirror assembly30is mounted to a vehicle static structure22instead of a vehicle side door. The motor vehicle20may include doors that are removable to provide an open-air driving experience. Door mounted side view mirrors are of course removed with the doors. The example side view mirror assembly30may be mounted to structural vehicle body components within a leaf screen area28. Accordingly, the side view mirror assembly30remains mounted to the vehicle20even when side doors of the vehicle20are removed.

Referring toFIG.3, with continued reference toFIGS.1and2, the vehicle static structure22may include portions of the vehicle A-pillar26and a hinge pillar18(FIG.3). A bracket38is mounted to the vehicle static structure and supports a base frame40and mirror housing assembly42of the side view mirror assembly30. The mirror housing assembly42includes an arm44that supports a motor48and mirror46.

An electric conduit32is routed through the base frame40and into a dry area36. A connector34attached the conduit32is attached to applicable power and control conduits to power and control the motor48for adjusting a position of the mirror46. The arm44includes a pivot portion92pivotally mounted to a pivot90of the base frame40. In the exemplary embodiment, the pivot portion92is an integral part of the arm44and the pivot90is an integral part of the base frame40. It is within the contemplation of this disclosure that parts of the arm44and base frame40may be differently configured with separate parts.

In one disclosed embodiment, the mirror assembly30may include an electrical feature such as, for example, a light50. In one example, the light50is a turn signal lamp. The light50is shown by way of example and other lighting features could also be included in the mirror assembly30, such as for example a spot light or blind spot information system light may also be included and are within the contemplation and scope of this disclosure. The mirror assembly30may include other electrical features such as, for example, a mirror defroster, puddle lamp, turn signal and/or any other electrical feature complementing operation of the vehicle and mirror assembly30. The mirror assembly30may include only the mirror without a light and such an embodiment is also within the contemplation and scope of this disclosure.

The disclosed mirror assembly30may be attached to the vehicle static structure22at a joint interface between the A-pillar26and the hinge pillar18. The joint interface is sealed to prevent water from entering into the dry area36as well as the vehicle passenger cabin. The dry area36, in this disclosed example, is under the mirror bracket38and may include components and electrical wiring that are purposely shielded from the ambient environment. The example mirror assembly30may be attached to other locations of the vehicle static structure22, such as entirely on either of the A-pillar or the hinge pillar18. Moreover, although example parts of the vehicle static structure are disclosed by way of example, the mirror assembly may be attached to any portion of the vehicle static structure.

Referring toFIGS.4,5and6, a seal assembly52may be assembled to the bracket38to seal over the joint interface. In the exemplary embodiment, the seal assembly52includes a seal material102supported by a seal baffle100. The seal material102is fabricated from a compliant material that conforms to the vehicle static structure22to provide sealing against the ambient environment. In one disclosed example environment, the seal material102is formed from a nylon 6-6 material. The example material may also be heat reactive and may expand upon exposure to heat. Heat may be provided by exposure in an electrocoat oven during the vehicle painting process. The expansion in the presence of heat occurs after installation such that the seal material102conforms to the unique application specific contours of the vehicle static structure. Other sealing materials may also be utilized and are within the contemplation of this disclosure.

The seal baffle100is shaped to correspond with a shape of a flange54of the bracket38. The flange54includes openings56for fasteners utilized to secure the bracket38to the vehicle structure. The flange54further includes openings58that receive push pins70,72of the seal baffle100. The push pins70,72extend through corresponding ones of the openings58to hold the seal baffle100to the bracket38during assembly. In this example, each of the push pins70,72includes a snap fit configuration that engages the top side of the flange54once inserted through a corresponding opening58. In this example, the push pin72is shaped differently from the push pin70. The differently shaped push pins70,72provide an assurance that the seal assembly52will be properly orientated and assembled to the bracket38. Identical shaped push pins70,72are also within the scope and contemplation of this disclosure.

Peripheral ribs68extend about the outer perimeter of the seal baffle100as shown inFIG.6. The bracket38includes locator pins66that extend from the underside of the flange54and through corresponding openings96in the seal baffle100. The locator pins66provide for positioning of the bracket38relative to the vehicle static structure. The pins66may be identically configured and shaped, or may be differently shaped depending on the needs for positioning on the vehicle static structure.

The bracket38includes a guide60that extends from the flange54and defines the interface for assembly of the base frame40. Once assembled to the vehicle static structure, the bracket38is not removed. Accordingly, the bracket38may serve as a mounting location of alternate features. The guide60defines a mating structure to which the mirror assembly30is assembled. Alternatively, the mirror assembly30may be removed and the guide60utilized to mount accessory items, such as a light and/or camera, for example.

Referring toFIGS.7,8and9, the flange54includes openings56for fasteners74that are utilized to secure the bracket38to a fixed vehicle static structure. Bosses94(two shown inFIG.9) extend from the flange54about the openings56and seat directly on the vehicle structure. Although only two bosses94are shown, each of the openings56for the fasteners74include a boss94to provide for direct seating contact to the vehicle structure. The direct seating of the bosses94at the location of each of the fasteners74provides a rigid metal to metal mounting contact. The seal assembly52fits around each of the bosses94to provide the desired seal without interfering with the rigid metal to metal mounting contact. The seal baffle100includes openings104through which the corresponding boss94extends to seat on the fixed vehicle structure. In this example, the vehicle structure is part of the hinge pillar18, the A-pillar26and the fender support24.

The bracket38and seal assembly52are shown along with portions of the A-pillar26, the hinge pillar18, and the fender support24. Threaded openings76are provided to receive fasteners74. The example threaded openings76are formed with nuts98that are attached to an underside of the vehicle static structure. In this example, the nuts98are welded in place.

Locating openings78and80are also provided to receive the locator pins66. The opening80is a slot that provides positive location in two directions along a common axis. The opening78is a round opening that corresponds to the size of the corresponding locator pin66. The opening78provides for an orientation in four directions along transverse axes.

The bracket38is mounted to the vehicle static structure by inserting the locator pins66in corresponding locator openings78,80. The seal assembly52is attached to the bottom of the flange54and secured in place by tabs70and72prior to assembly to the vehicle static structure. The direct metal to metal contact provided by the bosses94around each fastener provides a rigid foundation directly attached to the vehicle static structure for the mirror assembly or other accessory devices.

Referring toFIG.10with continued reference toFIGS.8and9, the guide60includes an outer peripheral wall62that is received within a pocket84defined by the base frame40. The pocket84includes inner surfaces82that abut against the outer peripheral wall62and may include a slight taper to further align and provide a rigid interface with the outer peripheral wall62of the bracket38. The outer peripheral wall62may include a taper corresponding with the taper on the inner surfaces82of the pocket84. The corresponding tapers provide a line on line abutting contact that maintains alignment and rigid fixed orientation. The abutted relationship between the surface82and the wall62orientates the base frame40to the bracket38and thereby the vehicle static structure22.FIG.10shows only a portion of the base frame40. It should be appreciated that although the disclosed guide60is provided for securement of the mirror assembly30, because the bracket38remains on the vehicle static structure, other accessory devices could be mounted to the bracket38and are within the contemplation and scope of this disclosure. Moreover, the pocket84and guide60may be reversed such that the base frame40includes a guide and the bracket38includes a pocket.

Referring toFIGS.11and12with continued reference toFIGS.9and10, the guide60includes openings64for receiving fasteners88that secure the base frame40to the bracket38. The openings64in this embodiment are not threaded, and the fasteners88are thread forming fasteners that create threads when inserted into the corresponding openings64. However, the openings64could alternatively be threaded to enable mounting of other accessory devices. The base frame40, and thereby the mirror assembly30, may be removed from the bracket38for service if needed. Accordingly, should removal of the mirror housing assembly42(FIG.3) be required for maintenance or service, the seal between the bracket38and the vehicle static structure is not disturbed. The example base frame40includes the extension86that extends from the pocket84to the pivot support portion90. The pivot portion92on the arm44of the mirror assembly42attaches to the portion90(FIG.3).

Referring toFIG.13, the guide60defined on the bracket38provides a common mounting configuration that can support an accessory item that includes a pocket configured to receive the guide60. The guide60therefore provides a mounting location for supporting accessory devices such as additional lights, cameras, cargo carriers or any other structure provided with a correspondingly configured pocket.

In one disclosed example, an accessory item106includes a pocket108that receives the guide60of the bracket38. The mirror assembly30is detached from the bracket38and stored for later reinstallation and use.

Referring toFIG.14with continued reference toFIG.13, the example accessory item106is a light that is attached to the bracket38by way of the interface between the guide60and pocket108. Fasteners88extend through the accessory item106and are received within corresponding openings in the guide60.

Referring toFIG.15, another accessory item is a mount110for a camera112. The mount110includes the mating pocket108for receiving the guide60. The example mount110could be utilized for accessory devices other than the example camera112. Moreover, any structure for a light, camera or mount may be equipped with a pocket108for mounting to the example bracket38.

Accordingly, the bracket38enables for permanent sealing to the vehicle static structure while the interface with the base frame40provides for removal of the mirror assembly30for replacement or maintenance. The bracket38further provides increased stability with the direct metal to metal contact with the vehicle static structure.

Although the different non-limiting embodiments are illustrated as having specific components or steps, the embodiments 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 embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments.

It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed and illustrated in these exemplary embodiments, other arrangements could also benefit from the teachings of this disclosure.

The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.