PIVOT JOINT SYSTEM AND REAR VIEW DEVICE THEREWITH

Abstract

A pivot joint system of a rear view device includes a base to be fixed to a vehicle and a head rotatable relative to the base, the pivot joint system acting between two components that rotate with respect to one another around an axis to control rotation from a first set position to at least one second set position, with each of the two components including a cylindrical section and a resilient means being arranged within a cylindrical space between said cylindrical sections to act between the two components.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A pivot joint system of a rear view device, comprising: a base to be fixed to a vehicle; a head rotatable relative to the base; two components that rotate with respect to one another around an axis to control rotation of the pivot joint system from a first set position to at least one second set position, each of said two components comprising a cylindrical section and a resilient means being arranged within a cylindrical space between the cylindrical sections to act between said two components, the first component being part of or fixedly connected to the head, the second component being part of or fixedly connected to the base, and the resilient means comprising a torsion spring arranged concentrically around the pivot axis, a detent means for securing the first set position of the first component relative to the second component until a predetermined torsional load is applied rotating the first component relative the second component; and a bolt that has a longitudinal axis falling together with the pivot axis, the bolt providing a support extension for a first end of the spring, and a second end of the spring abuts against a shoulder of the second component cylindrical section, wherein the torsion spring has a first tail at a first end which is attached to the first component, and a second tail at the second end which is attached to the second component so that a torsional load applied onto the spring when rotating the first component out of the first set position relative to the second component into the at least one second set position relative to the second component forces the first component back into the first set position relative to the second component with the first set position being defined by the driving position of the head and the at least one second set position comprising the knocked out position of the head, wherein the detent means lifts the first component relative to the second component when rotating in the at least one second set position resulting in a compression of the spring so that relaxation of the spring assists in forcing the first component back into the first set position relative to the second component, and wherein at least one of the first component cylindrical section is provided with a step against which the second component cylindrical section is forced by the spring, or the pivot joint system further comprises a washer that is arranged between the support extension and the spring as well as the first component cylindrical section with the first component cylindrical section being concentrically arranged around the bolt, the spring being concentrically arranged around the first component cylindrical section, and the second component cylindrical section being concentrically arranged around the spring.

22. The pivot joint system of claim 21, wherein at least one of a spacer is arranged concentrically around the first component cylindrical section below the spring, or the second component cylindrical section has its longitudinal axis shifted relative to the pivot axis.

23. The pivot joint system of claim 21, wherein the first component comprises the case frame and a bayonet means comprising a bayonet tower.

24. The pivot joint system of claim 23, wherein one or more detents of the case frame, extending from the cylindrical section of the case frame or being part of the detent means, are arranged concentrically at least one of around the cylindrical section of the bayonet means or concentrically within the cylindrical section of the case frame at least one of between detents of the detent means of the case frame or above the spring.

25. The pivot joint system of claim 23, wherein a recess is provided in each of one or more detents of the detent means of the base frame for engaging with a locking projection of the detent means of the bayonet means projecting from the cylindrical section of the bayonet tower.

26. The pivot joint system of claim 23, wherein the spring is adapted to be compressed between an extension or rim of the bayonet means and a shoulder or rim of the base frame provided by the detent means of the base frame.

27. The pivot joint system of claim 21, wherein the tails of the spring are attached via locking means to the first component cylindrical section and the second component cylindrical section, respectively.

28. The pivot joint system of claim 27, further comprising a spacer arranged concentrically around the first component cylindrical section below the spring, wherein at least one of the locking means is rotationally displaced relative to each other, the first locking means extends between the first component cylindrical section and the spacer and the second locking means extends between the spacer and the second component cylindrical section, or the first locking means ensures a locking of a first tail of the spring internal into the first component cylindrical section and the second locking means ensures a locking of the second tail of the spring external to the second component cylindrical section.

29. The pivot joint system of claim 21, wherein the washer is attached to at least one of the first component cylindrical section or the first end of the spring.

30. The pivot joint system of claim 21, wherein the detent means extends into a recess of the first component cylindrical section with the recess being defined within a cylindrical extension of the first component cylindrical section.

31. The pivot joint system of claim 21, wherein the detent means comprises at least one of: at least one detent acting on an inner surface of the cylindrical extension; a guide face in form of a flat or inclined guide ramp along which the cylindrical extension of the case frame that can travel during rotation of the first component relative to the second component, the recess having a shape complementary to the guide ramp; at least one further detent forming a stop against which the cylindrical extension is abutting to define a second set position, or a top provided by the stop to abut against the recess.

32. The pivot joint system of claim 21, wherein at least two head movement stops are provided by the case frame between two detents of the detent means.

33. The pivot joint system of claim 21, further comprising sealing means comprising at least one seal element between the case frame and the base frame and clipped to the case frame.

34. A rear view device, comprising: a base to be fixed to a vehicle; a head rotatable relative to the base; and a pivot joint system according to claim 21, wherein the first component is part of or fixedly connected to the head in form of a case frame or a part fixedly connected to a case frame like a bayonet tower, wherein the second component is part of or fixedly connected to base in form of a base frame, wherein the first set position is defined by the driving position of the head, and wherein the second set position comprises the knocked out position of the head.

35. The rear view device of claim 34, wherein the head comprises one or more of at least one reflective element and a camera which is attached to the case frame via an articulation system.

36. The rear view device of claim 35, wherein each detent of the detent means of the case frame is provided with a lip at least along a part of its outer perimeter for a smooth interface with a motor cradle of the articulation system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The invention may be best understood with reference to the following description of embodiments taken together with the accompanying schematic drawings:

[0031] FIG. 1a is a bottom view of a first pivot joint system of the invention between a head and a base of a rear view device;

[0032] FIG. 1b is a section view along line A-A of FIG. a;

[0033] FIG. 2a is a part section view of a second pivot joint system of the invention;

[0034] FIG. 2b is a top view of the second pivot joint system;

[0035] FIG. 2c is a section view along line B-B of FIG. 2b;

[0036] FIG. 2d is an enlarged section view of the second pivot joint system;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rear view device of the invention, in the drive condition and the fold condition,

[0038] FIG. 4 is an explosion view of a third pivot joint system of the invention between a head and a base of a rear view device;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a case frame of the pivot joint system of FIG. 4;

[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective top view of a base frame of the pivot joint system of FIG. 4;

[0041] FIG. 7a is a perspective top view of the case frame attached to a bayonet tower of the pivot joint system of FIG. 4;

[0042] FIG. 7b is a perspective top view of the base frame attached to the bayonet tower of the pivot joint system of FIG. 4;

[0043] FIG. 7c is a top view of the base frame with a spring of the pivot joint system of FIG. 4;

[0044] FIGS. 8a and 8b are different perspective views of the bayonet tower with the spring of the pivot joint system of FIG. 4; and

[0045] FIG. 9 is a cross section through a part of the assembled pivot joint system of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] A pivot joint system of the invention is suited for a rear view device, namely between a base to be fixed at a vehicle and a head or case which can be moved relative to the base. Such a rear view device is e.g. described in EP 3321132 A1. In the following two embodiments of the pivot joint system are described with respect to FIGS. 1a to 2d, while FIG. 3 shows a rear view device of the invention with one of said joint systems, illustrating a drive condition of the head 60 as well as a knocked forward or fold condition of the head 60 relative to a base 50. The shown fold condition is at a first predefined angle outboard from the drive condition and there might be, in addition, a not shown park condition at a second predefined angle inboard from the drive condition. The fold condition is achieved manually and, thus, without influence of a not shown actuator device. The head carries at least one not shown reflective element and/or camera.

[0047] In a first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the pivot joint system comprises a case frame 10 belonging to or being provided by the head 60 of a rear view device, a base frame 11 belonging to or being provided by the base 50 of the rear view device, a spacer 12 between the case frame 10 and the base frame 11, and a torsion spring 13 attached via a first locking means 14a to the case frame 10 and via a second locking means 14b to the base frame 11. In other words, the torsion spring 13 is provided with two tails for the two locking means 14a, 14b.

[0048] The case frame 10 is provided with a step 10a against which a cylindrical section 11a of the base frame 11 acting as a spring case is resting. Below the step 10a the case frame 10 is provided with a cylindrical section 10b being arranged concentrically around a pivot axis 15. The spring 13 is arranged around at lease a part of the cylindrical section 10b. The spring case cylindrical section 11a is spaced from the cylindrical section 10b by the spacer 12 leaving a mounting space for the spring 13.

[0049] The longitudinal axis of the spring case cylindrical section 11a is shifted parallel to the axis 15 such that it abuts on the spacer 12 in a first section and leaves space for the second locking means 14b in a second section. The second locking means 14b is rotated relative to the first locking means 14a around the axis 15. Further, the first locking means 14a extends between the case frame 10 and the spacer 12, and the second locking 14b extends between the spacer 12 and the base frame 11, both in a horizontal plane. Still further, the first locking means 14a ensures a locking of a first tail of the spring 13 internal into the case frame 10, whereas the second locking means 14b ensures a locking of the second tail of the spring 13 external to the base frame 11.

[0050] The torsion spring 13 is preloaded in a normal position of the head 60 relative to the base 50, with said normal position being shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b. As the torsion spring 13 is locked to both components, namely the case frame 10 and the base frame 11, it is allowed to act under torsion when the head 60 is broken out into the fold condition. It is the action of applying torsional load into the spring 13 that forces the head 60 back to the drive condition after having been broken outboard. Thus, the joint system of the invention provides a simple structure for automatically returning the head 60 from a fold condition back to a drive condition.

[0051] In a second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2a to 2d, the pivot joint system comprises a case frame 20 with a step 20a, a base frame 21 with a shoulder 21a and a torsion spring 23. The torsion spring 23 functions in principal in analogy to the torsion spring 13 of the first embodiment to return the head 60 from the fold condition to the drive condition shown in FIG. 2b from the top.

[0052] In addition FIG. 2a shows a bolt 22 arranged in the center, through which the pivot axis 25 extends. The bolt 22 is providing a support extension 22a for the lower end of the spring 23, the upper end of which abuts against the shoulder 21a of the base frame 21. A washer 27 is arranged between the support extension 22a, on the one side, and the spring 23 as well as a cylindrical section 20b of the case frame 20 provided below the step 20a, on the other side. The cylindrical section 20b is concentrically arranged around the bolt 22, the spring 23 is concentrically arranged around the cylindrical section 20b, and the base frame 21 is concentrically arranged around the spring 23. The washer 27 is attached to the cylindrical section 20b such that a lift or upward movement of the case fame 20a will lead to a compression of the spring 23. The washer 27 is also attached to the lower tail of the spring 23 to ensure the self return function of the spring 23 after applying a torsional force.

[0053] A nut 26 is screwed on the upper end of the bolt 22 to secure the pivot joint system and is arranged within a shoulder 20c of the case frame 20.

[0054] A detent engagement secures the drive condition and comprises a detent means 24 between the shoulder 21a of the base frame 21 and the step 20a of the case frame 20. The detent engagement can be broken when folding the head by applying a predetermine torque. The detent means 24 will be explained with respect to FIGS. 2c and 2c in detail.

[0055] FIGS. 2c and 2d show details of the detent means 24 which is attached to the base frame 21 and extends into a recess 20e of the case frame 20, leaving a cylindrical extension 20d embracing the detent means 24. The detent means 24 provides [0056] two detents 24a, 24b acting on inner surfaces of the cylindrical extension 20d, [0057] a guide ramp 24c along which the cylindrical extension 20d can travel, [0058] a third detent forming a stop 24d against which the cylindrical extension 20d is abutting at the end of the guide ramp 24, and [0059] a top 24e provided by the stop 24d to abut against the recess 20e, with the recess 20e following the contour of the guide ramp 24c.

[0060] In case the head 60 is knocked out from its drive condition into the fold condition the case frame cylindrical extension 20d is forced to move along the guide ramp 24c to the stop 24d. During this movement of the cylindrical extension 20d along the guide ramp 24c the case frame 20 is lifted and, thus, the spring 23 is compressed. The relaxation of the compressed spring 23 encourages the self-return function of the pivot joint system of the invention in conjunction with the torsional load applied when knocking out the head 60 from its drive condition to the fold condition.

[0061] In a third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, the pivot joint system comprises a case frame 100, a base frame 110, a bayonet tower 120 and spring 130 as best seen in FIG. 4.

[0062] The case frame 100 is shown in more detail in FIG. 5 and is provided with three detents 102 each formed with a recess or step 101 at its inner side and a lip 102a around its outer periphery. The lips 102a ensure an interface with a not shown motor cradle of an articulation system, which is suited for moving a not shown reflective element and is attached to the base frame 100 in the assembled rear view device. Still further, the case frame 100 is provided with two head movement stop elements 103.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows further details of the base frame 110 in form of a cylindrical section 111 from which three detents 113 extend, with each detent 113 being provided with a recess 114.

[0064] FIG. 7a shows a sub assembly provided by the case frame 100 and the bayonet tower 120. In fact, those two parts are fixedly secured to each other by locking projections 121 of the bayonet tower 120 engaging the recesses or steps 101 of the case frame 100. This locks the bayonet tower 120 and the case frame 100 together with the compressional force of the spring 130 as soon as the spring 130 is attached to the bayonet tower 120 as described with respect to FIGS. 8a and 8b.

[0065] FIG. 7b shows a sub assembly of the base frame 110 and the bayonet tower 120. The locking projection 121 of the bayonet tower 120 engage the recesses 114 of the detents 113. This sub assembly is existent before the bayonet tower 120 is finally located into the case frame 100 as explained with respect to FIG. 7a, with the interim position initially loading the spring 130 in compression and in torsion prior to the final assembly to the case frame 100.

[0066] FIG. 7c shows the arrangement of the spring 130 within the base frame 110 with one end 132 of the spring 130 being received within a locking receiver 115 of the base frame 110 in order to lock the same. The other end 131 of the spring 130 is locked to the bayonet tower 120 as shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b. The bayonet tower 120 is provided with a cylindrical section 125 and a locking receiver 124 for the spring end 131, actually been introduced into a recess 123 of the locking receiver 124.

[0067] In the assembled configuration, the spring 130 is compressed between a rim 122 of the bayonet tower 120 and a rim 112 of the base frame 110, as shown in FIG. 9. The rim 122 is angled to follow the compressed state of the spring 130 maximizing clearance to the cosmetic base covers (not shown). Thus, the spring 130 is arranged around the cylindrical section 125 of the bayonet tower 120 and within the cylindrical section 111 of the base frame 110, with the base frame 110 being attached to the case frame 100 as well as the bayonet tower 120 via a detent system. The detent system comprises the detents 113 of the base frame 110 engaging the detents 102 standing from the cylindrical section 105 of the case frame 100, there between, and the locking projections 121 of the bayonet tower 120 engaging the recesses 114 provided by the detents 113.

[0068] The attachment of the spring 130 between the sub assembly composed of the case frame 100 and the bayonet tower 120 on the one hand and the base frame 110 on the other hand allows for a self-return of the case frame 110 after having been knocked out upon an impact of an external force as the spring 130 not only ensures the connection between the bayonet tower 120, the base frame 110 and the case frame 100 by compression forces, but also acts as a torsion spring.

[0069] Applying a force to the case frame 100 leads to lifting and rotating the same. This results in compressing the spring 130 due to lifting also the bayonet tower 120 with its rim 122. In addition, said force applied to the spring 130 results in a torsion of the spring. The compression and torsion energy stored within the spring 130 results in forcing the case frame 100 back in its original position as soon as said force is no longer applied thereto.

[0070] Thus, the pivot joint system of the invention makes usage of a spring mechanism created to provide torsional and compressive forces to automatically return the head 60 from the knocked out position to the drive condition following a rotational impact.

[0071] Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the application to embody within the patent warranted here on all changes and modifications as reasonably and probably come within the scope of this contribution to the art. The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth in detail in the appended claims. The features disclosed in the description, the figures as well as the claims could be essential alone or in every combination for the realization of the invention in its different embodiments.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0072] 10 case frame [0073] 10a step [0074] 10b cylindrical section [0075] 11 base frame [0076] 11a cylindrical section [0077] 12 spacer [0078] 13 torsion spring [0079] 14a first locking means [0080] 14b second locking means [0081] 15 pivot axis [0082] 20 case frame [0083] 20a step [0084] 20b cylindrical section [0085] 20c shoulder [0086] 20d cylindrical extension [0087] 20e recess [0088] 21 base frame [0089] 21a shoulder [0090] 21b cylindrical section [0091] 22 bolt [0092] 22a support extension [0093] 23 torsion spring [0094] 24 detent means [0095] 24a first detent [0096] 24b second detent [0097] 24c guide ramp [0098] 24d stop [0099] 24e top [0100] 25 pivot axis [0101] 26 nut [0102] 27 washer [0103] 28 axis [0104] 50 base [0105] 60 head in driving position [0106] 60 head in knocked out position [0107] 100 case frame [0108] 101 step [0109] 102 detent [0110] 102a lip [0111] 103 stop element [0112] 105 cylindrical section [0113] 110 base frame [0114] 111 cylindrical section [0115] 112 rim [0116] 113 detent [0117] 114 recess [0118] 115 locking receiver [0119] 120 bayonet tower [0120] 121 locking projection [0121] 122 rim [0122] 123 recess [0123] 124 locking receiver [0124] 125 cylindrical section [0125] 130 torsion spring [0126] 131 first end [0127] 132 second end