Optical: systems and elements – Mirror – With support
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-18
2003-10-28
Chang, Audrey (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Mirror
With support
C359S871000, C359S872000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06637902
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mirror angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting a mirror surface angle of a mirror for visually observing rearward of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, as shown in
FIG. 7
, a mirror angle adjustment mechanism
100
features a case pivot
102
, with a first hemisphere portion
104
having a substantially hemisphere surface formed in the case pivot
102
. A substantially cylindrical pivot shaft
106
is formed upright in the central portion of the first hemisphere portion
104
with a self-tapping screw
110
screwed on the tip end of the pivot shaft
106
via a snap ring
108
.
A mirror holder inner
112
is disposed in the vehicle rearward side of the case pivot
102
mounted to the vehicle, with a second hemisphere portion
114
having a substantially hemisphere surface formed in the mirror holder inner
112
. A circular opening
116
is formed on the case pivot
102
side of the second hemisphere portion
114
. The second hemisphere portion
114
is fitted in the first hemisphere portion
104
with the pivot shaft
106
being inserted through the opening
116
. Moreover, a mirror for visually observing rearward of the vehicle (not shown) is mounted on the mirror holder inner
112
.
In the second hemisphere portion
114
, a support pivot
118
is disposed. In the support pivot
118
, a cylindrical pivot cylinder
120
is provided, and the pivot cylinder
120
is fitted on the pivot shaft
106
. A third hemisphere portion
122
having a substantially hemisphere surface is provided around the pivot cylinder
120
, and the third hemisphere portion
122
is fitted in the second hemisphere portion
114
.
A compression coil spring
124
is mounted between the third hemisphere portion
122
and the snap ring
108
. Thus, a pressuring force is applied to the third hemisphere portion
122
such that the second hemisphere portion
114
is held between the first hemisphere portion
104
and the third hemisphere portion
122
.
Therefore, with the mirror angle adjustment mechanism
100
, when a tilting force is applied manually to the mirror, the second hemisphere portion
114
is slid with respect to the first hemisphere portion
104
and the third hemisphere portion
122
, and the mirror holder inner
112
is tilted so as to adjust the mirror surface angle of the mirror. However, since a friction force is present between the second hemisphere portion
114
and the first hemisphere portion
104
and the third hemisphere portion
122
, resisting force can be obtained against tilting of the mirror holder inner
112
, so that undesired movements of the mirror can be prevented.
However, according to the mirror angle adjustment mechanism
100
, even in a case of providing the snap ring
108
and the self-tapping screw
110
as a single component, at least five parts, that is, the case pivot
102
, the self-tapping screw
110
, the mirror holder inner
112
, the support pivot
118
and the compression coil spring
124
are needed. Therefore, problems are involved in that the number of the parts is large and ease-of-assembly is poor.
Moreover, the pressuring force of the compression coil spring
124
urges only on a central portion of the third hemisphere portion
122
, and the pressuring force is not efficiently applied to portions away from the central portion of the second hemisphere portion
114
. Furthermore, since the second hemisphere portion
114
and the third hemisphere portion
122
are both formed in a substantially hemisphere form, they can easily be point-contacted due to a slight formation error such as a dent, so that the friction force therebetween may not be obtained sufficiently. Therefore, a problem is involved in that inconvenient (that is, undesired) tilting of the mirror cannot be prohibited since the resisting force against tilting of the mirror holder inner
112
cannot be obtained sufficiently unless the pressuring force of the compression coil spring
124
is large.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In consideration of the above-mentioned facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a mirror angle adjustment mechanism capable of reducing the number of parts and improving of ease-of-assembly.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mirror angle adjustment mechanism comprising: a case member including a first hemisphere portion in which a substantially hemispherical surface is formed; a mirror mounting member including a second hemisphere portion, on which a substantially hemispherical surface is formed which slidably fits into the first hemisphere portion and in which an opening is formed; and a lock member for holding the second hemisphere portion of the mirror mounting member between the lock member and the first hemisphere portion of the case member, the lock member including: at least one latching member inserted through the opening of the mirror mounting member and engaging with the case member when the lock member holds the second hemisphere portion of the mirror mounting member between the lock member and the first hemisphere portion of the case member; and a plurality of resilient plates which are deflected when the at least one latching member and the case member are engaged, and press the second hemisphere portion of the mirror mounting member against the first hemisphere portion of the case member.
In the mirror angle adjustment mechanism of the present invention, the latching member of the lock member is inserted through the opening provided in the second hemisphere portion of the mounting member and engaged with the case member. The plurality of elastic plates of the lock member are in a compressed state and urge against the second hemisphere portion such that the second hemisphere portion is held between the plurality of elastic plates and the first hemisphere portion of the case member. By pressuring different portions of the second hemisphere portion with the plurality of elastic plates, the entirety of the second hemisphere portion can be urged.
Therefore, when a tilting force is applied to the mirror mounted on the mounting member by a hand, or the like, the second hemisphere portion is slid against the first hemisphere portion and the plurality of elastic plates such that the mounting member is tilted so as to adjust the mirror surface angle of the mirror. However, since friction force is generated between the second hemisphere portion and both the first hemisphere portion and the plurality of elastic plates, a resisting force can be obtained against tilt of the mounting member. Thus, undesired tilting of the mirror can be inhibited.
Moreover, the mirror angle adjustment mechanism can be assembled with the case member by inserting the latching member of the lock member through the opening of the mounting member, with the second hemisphere portion of the mounting member being superimposed with the first hemisphere portion, so as to engage the latch member with the case member.
Accordingly, since the mirror angle adjustment mechanism has only three members, the case member, the mounting member and the lock member, the number of parts can be reduced and ease-of-assembly can be improved.
Furthermore, the elastic force of the plurality of elastic plates is applied directly on portions away from the central portion of the second hemisphere portion. Moreover, since the plurality of elastic plates is contacted with the second hemisphere portion, they tend to be surface-contacted. Therefore, a resisting force against tilt of the mounting member can be obtained efficiently, and thereby, inadvertent tilting of the mirror can be reliably inhibited.
According to the mirror angle adjustment mechanism of the present invention, the latching member may have rigidity. A load may be applied on the engaging portion of the latching member and the case member at a time of detaching the mirror from the mounting member or the like. By providing the latching member with rigidity, breakage of the latching member can be prevented.
M
Allen Denise S.
Chang Audrey
Cole Thomas W.
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
Nixon & Peabody LLP
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