Indirect rear viewing system with index geometry comprising an adjustment ball with overtwist indexing

Abstract

The invention relates to an indirect rear viewing system for a motor vehicle having a supporting element for fastening at least one reflective element, wherein the supporting element has a coupling region for a position variable fastening/attachment to an adjusting element, which in turn can be attached to the vehicle, wherein the coupling region contacts a counter contact regions, of the adjusting element, wherein interlocking anti rotation means are present on the supporting element and on the adjusting element, wherein the anti rotation means are forming an index geometry, which, in a first operating state, permits an adjustment of the supporting element relative to the adjusting element about two axes of rotation, which are transverse to one another, and, in at least a second operating state, permits a basic position change of the supporting element relative to the adjusting element about a third axis of rotation which is aligned transversely to the two other axes of rotation.

Claims

1. An indirect rear viewing system for a motor vehicle comprising: a supporting element for fastening at least one reflective element, wherein the supporting element has a coupling region for a position variable fastening or attachment to an adjusting element, the adjusting element being fixed with respect to the vehicle, wherein the coupling region contacts a counter contact region of the adjusting element, wherein interlocking anti rotation means are present on the supporting element and on the adjusting element, wherein the anti rotation means define an index geometry, wherein the anti rotation means, in a first operating state, permits an adjustment of the supporting element relative to the adjusting element about two axes of rotation, which are transverse to one another, and, wherein the anti rotation means, in at least a second operating state, permits a basic position change of the supporting element relative to the adjusting element about a third axis of rotation which is aligned transversely to the two other axes of rotation.

2. The indirect rear viewing system according to patent claim 1, wherein the supporting element and the adjusting element, with respect to their geometry, material thickness and material properties, are matched to each other in such a way that, if an overtorque is present, which is greater than a predetermined limit torque, a transition from the first operating state to the second operating state is enabled or forced.

3. The indirect rear viewing system according to patent claim 2, wherein the adjusting element has a crowned connection area which forms the counter contact region.

4. The indirect rear viewing system according to patent claim 3, wherein the supporting element and the adjusting element are specifically designed in such a way that restoring properties and moduli of elasticity of the supporting element and the adjusting element are matched to the contour of the anti-rotation means in such a manner that when the overtorque is present, the at least second operating state is forcibly assumed.

5. The indirect rear viewing system according to patent claim 4, wherein a first index geometry component is designed as a a groove, a slot or a furrow, and a second index geometry component is designed as a projection, a rib or a prominence.

6. The indirect rear viewing system to patent claim 5, wherein the groove, the slot or the furrow is present on the supporting element, and the projection is present on the adjusting element, or vice versa.

7. The indirect rear viewing system according to patent claim 6, wherein the predetermined limit torque is at least 10% greater than a torque, which occurs in the first operating state, which is required in order to keep the supporting element stable relative to the adjusting element.

8. The indirect rear viewing system according to patent claim 7, wherein the projection, the rib or the prominence engages into the groove, the slot or the furrow without any play.

9. The indirect rear viewing system according to patent claim 8, wherein the projection has, in a cross-section orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the groove, the slot or the furrow, a beveled side which is contoured in order to make a line contact with the material which is forming the groove, the slot or the furrow.

10. The indirect rear viewing system according to patent claim 9, wherein the projection has a conical contour or a truncated cone contour or a contour in the form of a spherical segment or a spherical or ellipsoidal contour at least in an active area.

11. The direct rear viewing system according to patent claim 10, wherein the index geometry is composed of two component parts, at least one of which is formed in an elastic manner.

12. An indirect rear viewing system for a motor vehicle comprising: a supporting element for fastening at least one reflective element, the supporting element comprising a coupling region defining a socket; an adjustment element attached to the motor vehicle independently of the supporting element, the adjustment element comprising a ball joint having a crowned connection area and a counter contact region, the ball joint being received within the socket of the coupling region, the counter contact region being in contact with the coupling region; wherein a tongue-and-groove, anti-rotation, index geometry is defined between the supporting element and the adjusting element to couple the supporting element and the adjusting element, wherein the tongue-and-groove, anti-rotation, index geometry defines a first operating state and a second operating state, wherein the first operating state permits an adjustment of the supporting element relative to the adjusting element about a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation, the first and second axes of rotation being mutually transverse, and wherein the second operating state permits a pivoting of the supporting element relative to the adjusting element about a third axis of rotation, the third axis of rotation being transverse to the first and second axes of rotation.

Description

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of several embodiments by means of a drawing. It shows:

(2) FIG. 1 an isometric view of an indirect rear viewing system according to a first embodiment of the invention for a motor vehicle, namely a truck, a bus or a van, respectively,

(3) FIG. 2 a longitudinal section along the line II of FIG. 1 through the rear viewing system of the first embodiment,

(4) FIG. 3 a rear view of the rear viewing system of FIGS. 1 and 2,

(5) FIG. 4 an enlargement of the area IV from FIG. 2,

(6) FIG. 5 a view on the area in FIG. 4 from behind, similar to the representation in FIG. 3,

(7) FIG. 6 a second embodiment in a representation comparable to FIG. 5,

(8) FIG. 7 a connection of the adjusting element which is included in both embodiments to a tube which is extending vertically in the connection area,

(9) FIG. 8 a connection of the other embodiment to a tube which is horizontally aligned in the connection area, and

(10) FIGS. 9 to 23 different embodiments in different views and sections/detailed views.

(11) The figures are merely of a schematic type, and are intended only to aid the understanding of the invention. The same elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The features of the individual embodiments can be exchanged with each other.

(12) In FIG. 1, an indirect rear viewing system is provided with the reference numeral 1. It has a supporting element 2 for fixing at least one reflective element 3. There are two reflective elements 3, namely an upper mirror glass 4 and a lower mirror glass 5.

(13) In FIG. 4, the first axis of rotation is provided with the reference numeral 25, the second axis of rotation is provided with the reference numeral 26, and the third axis of rotation is provided with the reference numeral 27.

(14) It can already be seen in FIG. 2 that an adjusting element 6 is present in the center of the supporting element 2. The adjusting element 6 has a crowned connection area 7. The crowned connection area 7 has counter contact regions 8 which correspond with a first contact region 9 and a second contact region 10 of a coupling region 11. The coupling region 11 is present in the middle/in the center of an area of transition 12 of the supporting element 2. The area of transition 12 is that area of a transition at which a main body 13 passes into the coupling region 11.

(15) In the first contact region 9 there is a trough 14 into which a spring element can be inserted. There is a pivot point 15 about which the supporting element 2 can be rotated. The connection area 7 has at least one flattening 16 between the counter contact regions 8 which are axially separated from each other. Not only the coupling region 11 but also the connection area 7 can be designed in an elastic manner, in particular it can have slots 17, as these are also shown in FIG. 3.

(16) In FIG. 4, the index geometry 18 according to the invention is shown in a larger manner. The index geometry 18 represents anti rotation means 19. In particular, it is composed of component parts which are implementing a tongue and groove principle.

(17) The imaginary parting surface is provided with the reference numeral 24 in FIG. 4.

(18) In particular, for example, the coupling region 11 has a groove/a slot/a furrow 20 which does not extend completely through the material of the coupling region 11. It also extends only over a partial segment of the coupling region 11, but at least from an open end of the adjusting element 6 which is facing the reflective element 3. The index geometry 18 also has a projection/a rib/a prominence 21 which is extending radially outward from the connection area 7 in the direction of the coupling region 11. The projection/the rib/the prominence 21 engages in the groove/the slot/the furrow with as little play as possible, in the best case even completely without play.

(19) As can also be seen clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, in which two embodiments and/or two different positions/basic positions of a single embodiment are shown, the groove/the slot/the furrow 20 has a polygonal/a trapezoidal/a parallelogram like cross-section. The protrusion/the rib/the prominence 21 itself has a truncated outer contour with an opening angle of approximately 45, 30, 20, 152.5.

(20) In FIG. 5, the supporting element 2 is shown in a first basic position relative to the adjusting element 6, and in FIG. 6 in a second basic position. Not only in the first basic position but also in the second basic position, the first operating state is present. A twisting about only two axes, which are aligned in an orthogonal manner to each other, namely the vertical axis and a first horizontal axis, remains possible in this case.

(21) If an overtorque is applied, the projection 21 jumps off the groove 20 because a link of the adjusting element 6 springs inward and/or a link of the supporting element 2 springs outward. The second operating state is now present.

(22) During this second operating state, the supporting element 2 is pivoted relative to the adjusting element 6 about a further/second horizontal axis. Then, the upper projection 21 in FIG. 5 performs a 90 rotation and engages again into another groove 20 as this is shown in FIG. 6. Only then the second basic position is assumed, and the first operating state is again present.

(23) The necessary overtorque is preset by the obliquity of the outer contour of the projection/the rib/the prominence 21 and the restoring properties of the supporting element 3 and/or the adjusting element 6 in the area of the index geometry 18.

(24) The restoring properties of not only the supporting element 2 but also of the adjusting element 6, and the opening angle of the truncated projection 21, are therefore matched to one another in such a way that they ensure a linear contact between the supporting element 2 and the projection 21 of the adjusting element 6; wherein such a choice is made in selective manner that, if the overtorque is exceeded (above the limit torque), a breakout of the projection/the rib/the prominence 21 from the groove/the slot/the furrow 20 is permitted, and a displacement of the supporting element 2 by, for example, 30, 60 or, as shown here, 90, is possible.

(25) A connection system 22, which is made possible as a result, is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 in order to implement a connection to the motor vehicle. The connection system 22 also has a tube 23.

(26) In the FIGS. 9 and 10 a further embodiment is shown, in which the supporting element 2 is closed, and formed horizontally and vertically with a groove. The adjusting element 6 is slotted and formed with a projection, and is in particular self resilient or is provided with an optional spring element. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the spring element is inside and inserted into the supporting element 2 from above.

(27) In the FIGS. 11 to 15 a further embodiment is shown, in which the supporting element 2 has a shell like design with a projection on one side. Here, the shell like adjusting element 6 is provided with a horizontal and vertical groove. There is a thrust carrying piece in order to absorb the spring force. There is a connecting element for pretensioning of the spring and for locking all component parts.

(28) In the FIGS. 16 and 17 a further embodiment is shown, in which the supporting element 2 is closed, and is provided with (each) a horizontally and vertically aligned groove. The adjusting element 6 is slotted, is formed with a projection and is, in particular, self resilient, or provided with an optional spring element. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the spring element is arranged on the inside. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 10, a joint contact region is inserted into the supporting element 2 from above, offset on one side in the edge region of the counter contact region 8.

(29) In the FIGS. 18 and 19 a further embodiment is shown, in which the supporting element 2 is closed, namely with a groove (horizontally and vertically). In this case, the adjusting element 6 is slotted with a projection, therefore designed to be self resilient or with an optional spring element. In contrast to the subject matter of FIG. 4, the spring element is arranged on the inside. In contrast to the subject matter of FIG. 10, the joint contact area is inserted into the supporting element 2 from above, offset on one side in the edge region of the counter contact region 8.

(30) In the FIGS. 20 and 21 a further embodiment is shown, in which the supporting element 2 is closed, namely with a groove (horizontally and vertically). In this case, the adjusting element 6 is slotted with a projection, therefore designed to be self resilient or with an optional spring element. In contrast to the subject matter of FIG. 4, the spring element is arranged on the inside. In contrast to the subject matter of FIG. 10, the joint contact area is inserted into the supporting element 2 from below, offset on one side in the edge region of the counter contact region 8.

(31) In the FIGS. 20 and 21 [22 and 23? Anm.d.bers] a further embodiment is shown, in which the supporting element 2 is closed, namely with a projection. The adjusting element 6 is slotted with a groove (horizontally and vertically), is designed to be self resilient or provided with an optional spring element. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the spring element is arranged on the inside and inserted into the supporting element from above. Hence, in contrast to all other embodiments of FIGS. 9 to 21, there is a reverse arrangement of projection and groove.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(32) 1 indirect rear viewing system 2 supporting element 3 reflective element 4 upper mirror glass 5 lower mirror glass 6 adjusting element 7 crowned connection area 8 counter contact region 9 first contact region 10 second contact region 11 coupling region 12 area of transition 13 main body 14 trough 15 pivot point 16 flattening 17 slot 18 index geometry 19 anti rotation means 20 groove 21 projection/rib/prominence 22 connection system 23 tube 24 imaginary parting surface 25 first axis of rotation 26 second axis of rotation 27 third axis of rotation