Supports – Mirror or picture type – Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-18
2004-03-30
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Mirror or picture type
Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
active
06712329
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mirror device assembly and a method for assembling a mirror device for a vehicle, for example, a door mirror device of an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
A door mirror device for a vehicle is equipped with, for example, a door mirror stay. The door mirror stay is fixed to a door of a vehicle. A retracting mechanism is mounted to the door mirror stay, and is mounted to a metal frame. A mirror surface adjusting mechanism is fixed to the frame, and a mirror for visual confirmation of the region substantially toward the rear of the vehicle is mounted to the mirror surface adjusting mechanism. A resin door mirror visor is assembled to the frame. The door mirror visor covers the vehicle front side of the mirror. The retracting mechanism, the frame, and the mirror surface adjusting mechanism are accommodated at the interior of the door mirror visor.
The door mirror device is equipped with the mirror for visual confirmation of the region substantially toward the rear of the vehicle, and is mounted to the outer side of a front door via the door mirror stay. The angle of the mirror can be adjusted by the mirror surface adjusting mechanism, and the mirror can be collapsed by the retracting mechanism.
By operating the retracting mechanism, the mirror is either retracted or extended. By operating the mirror surface adjusting mechanism, the angle of the mirror surface of the mirror is adjusted.
Development continues of door mirror visors which are structured such that the visor cover at the vehicle front side and a visor rim at the vehicle rear side are assembled together. In a door mirror visor of such a structure, the visor cover and the visor rim are respectively fixed to a frame so as to be assembled to the frame.
However, in this door mirror device for a vehicle, the visor rim is fastened to the frame by four screws. The visor cover is fixed to the frame by using three so-called fasteners (clips) which are separate parts.
Thus, a total of seven fastening parts, which are the four screws and the three fasteners, are required. Not only are the costs high, but also, there are the problems that tools for assembly are needed, the number of assembly processes is large, and the assembly work is complex.
Further, there are door mirror devices for vehicles in which elastic engaging claws are provided at the visor rim. In such door mirror devices for vehicles, the visor rim is fixed to the frame by the engaging claws engaging the frame.
However, in such a door mirror device for a vehicle, the resin engaging claws of the visor rim are engaged in a state in which they apply elastic force, toward the front of the vehicle or toward the rear of the vehicle, to the metal frame. In such a structure, there is the problem that the engaging claws break as they apply stress to the frame if the frame gradually corrodes.
Further, the mirror frame is metal, and the visor rim and the visor cover are formed from a synthetic resin. In particular, there is the concern that the fastening by using the screws will apply excessive stress to the visor. Moreover, the need for the separate fastening parts and the need for the tools therefor impede facilitation of the work.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned, an object of the present invention is to provide a mirror device assembly for a vehicle in which breakage of a mirror visor can be prevented and which aims for lower costs and easier assembly work, and to provide a mirror device assembly for a vehicle which aims for lower costs and easier assembly work.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for assembling a mirror device for a vehicle which aims for a mitigation of the stress load applied to a mirror visor, a reduction in the number of parts, and a reduction in the number of assembly processes.
A first aspect of the present invention is a mirror device assembly for a vehicle, the mirror device assembly comprising: a mirror and a mirror visor which covers a vehicle front side of the mirror for visual confirmation of a region substantially toward a rear of the vehicle; a frame disposed in an inner portion of the mirror visor and connected to the mirror and connected to the vehicle for fixing the mirror visor and the mirror to the vehicle body; an elastic hook provided at the mirror visor, which applies to the frame elastic force in a direction substantially orthogonal to a vehicle longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a rigid hook provided at the mirror visor in correspondence with the elastic hook, and which is rigid, which receives elastic force applied to the frame by the elastic hook; and a first impeding device provided at at least one of the mirror visor and the frame, which impedes relative movement, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, of the mirror visor and the frame without applying elastic force to the frame.
In the structure for assembling a mirror device for a vehicle of the first aspect of the present invention, the elastic hook which is provided at the mirror visor applies, to the frame, elastic force in a direction substantially orthogonal to the vehicle longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the rigid hook, which is provided at the mirror visor in correspondence with the elastic hook, receives the elastic force applied to the frame by the elastic hook. Moreover, the first impeding device, which is provided at at least one of the mirror visor and the frame, impedes relative movement, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, between the mirror visor and the frame. In this way, the frame is assembled to the interior of the mirror visor.
Here, at the time when the first impeding device impedes the relative movement, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, between the mirror visor and the frame, elastic force is not applied to the frame. Thus, even if the frame is made of metal, it is possible to prevent the mirror visor from receiving the stress from the frame and breaking as was the case in the conventional art.
Moreover, because the mirror visor and the frame are assembled together by the elastic hook, the rigid hook and the first impeding device, there is no need for fastening parts as in the conventional art. In this way, costs can be reduced, tools for assembly are unnecessary, the number of assembly processes can be reduced, and the assembly work can be facilitated.
A second aspect of the present invention is a mirror device assembly for a vehicle, the mirror device assembly comprising: a mirror and a mirror visor, the mirror visor including a vehicle front side visor cover and a vehicle rear side visor rim assembled to one another, and which covers a vehicle front side of the mirror for visual confirmation of a region substantially toward a rear of the vehicle; a projecting hook provided at one of the visor cover and the visor rim, the projecting hook including a distal end which projects and a widened portion which widens toward both sides of the distal end; an engaging hook which corresponding to the projecting hook, the engaging hook comprising a pair of elastic nipping claws, and which is provided at another of the visor cover and the visor rim, and which engages with the widened portion due to the pair of nipping claws nipping the widened portion; and an impeding device provided at at least one of the visor cover and the visor rim, and which impedes relative movement, in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the visor cover and the visor rim when mounted to the vehicle.
In the structure for assembling a mirror device for a vehicle of the second aspect of the present invention, the pair of nipping claws of the engaging hook, which is provided at one of the visor cover and the visor rim of the mirror visor, engage with the widened portion by nipping, from the widening directions, the widened portion at the distal end of the projecting hook provided at the other of the visor cover and the visor rim. Further, the impeding device, which is provided at at least one of the visor cover and the
Hayakawa Eiichi
Ishigami Narumi
Braun Leslie A.
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Wujciak, III A. Joseph
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