ADJUSTING INSTRUMENT FOR AN EXTERIOR VISION UNIT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjusting instrument for an exterior vision unit of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing with a fixing element for coupling with a supporting frame of the exterior vision unit and an adjusting element which is pivotably connected with the housing for adjusting an exterior vision element, wherein a mounting construction is provided for the purpose of mounting the housing to the supporting frame, comprising an engagement body movable relative to the housing, for the engaging thereof by a fastening element for connecting the engagement body with the supporting frame, wherein the engagement body can move along with the fastening element; and a wire spring supported on a housing part. The engagement body engages the wire spring in a portion of the wire spring that is located between two spaced apart parts to realize in a mounted condition an elastic deformation of the wire spring.

Claims

1. Adjusting instrument for an exterior vision unit of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing with a fixing element for coupling with a supporting frame of the exterior vision unit and an adjusting element which is pivotably connected with the housing for adjusting an exterior vision element, wherein for the purpose of mounting the housing to the supporting frame, there are provided an engagement body movable relative to the housing, for engaging thereof by a fastening element, in particular a screw, for connecting the engagement body with the supporting frame, wherein the engagement body can move along with the fastening element in at least a mounting direction; and a wire spring which by way of two parts thereof spaced apart at an intermediate distance is supported on a housing part, wherein the engagement body engages the wire spring in a portion of the wire spring between the two parts that are spaced apart to realize in a mounted condition an elastic deformation of the wire spring.

2. Adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the wire spring extends between the two ends substantially at right angles to the mounting direction.

3. Adjusting instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the wire spring is manufactured of spring steel.

4. Adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the wire spring extends between the two ends substantially rectilinearly.

5. Adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the wire spring extends between the two ends along a curved path.

6. Adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the engagement body comprises a coupling element for coupling the engagement body with the wire spring.

7. Adjusting instrument according to claim 6, wherein the coupling element is formed by a body part proceeding from the engagement body, which body part extends in a direction, substantially, transverse to a direction of movement of the engagement body.

8. Adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the engagement body comprises a feed-through opening for receiving a screw therethrough.

9. Adjusting instrument according to claim 8, wherein the engagement body comprises a supporting surface for supporting a screwhead of the screw.

10. Adjusting instrument according to claim 8, wherein the engagement body comprises a cylindrical body part through which in axial direction the feed-through opening is provided.

11. Adjusting instrument according to claim 10, wherein the engagement body comprises a coupling element proceeding from a shell of the cylindrical body part, for engaging the wire spring.

12. Adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the engagement body is integrally formed with the housing.

13. Adjusting instrument according to claim 12, wherein the engagement body is provided movably within the housing, and wherein at least one deformable connecting arm extends between the engagement body and another part of the housing.

14. Adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the engagement body is formed separately from the housing.

15. Adjusting instrument according to claim 14, wherein the engagement body is provided in a manner translating within a guiding cavity of the housing for guiding the engagement body.

16. Adjusting instrument according to claim 14 , wherein the engagement body comprises a cylindrically shaped body part through which in axial direction a feed-through opening is provided for receiving a screw therethrough.

17. Adjusting instrument according to claim 16, wherein the engagement body comprises a coupling element proceeding from a shell of the cylindrically shaped body part, for coupling the engagement body with the wire spring, wherein the coupling piece is formed by a folded-out portion of the shell of the cylindrical body part.

18. Exterior vision unit for a vehicle, comprising a base and a supporting frame, wherein the base comprises a foot for mounting on an outer part of the body of the vehicle, and a base shaft extending from the base for receiving the supporting frame pivotably around the base shaft, and wherein the supporting frame is pivotable around the base shaft between a park position, in which the supporting frame extends substantially along the vehicle, and a folded-out drive position, in which the supporting frame extends substantially transversely to the vehicle, and wherein the supporting frame is coupled with an adjusting instrument according to claim 1.

Description

[0027] The invention will be further explained on the basis of an exemplary embodiment of an adjusting instrument which is shown in drawings. In the drawings:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an adjusting instrument;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a part of an adjusting instrument;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a cross section of an adjusting instrument;

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a cross section a part of an adjusting instrument;

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a cross section of an adjusting instrument;

[0033] FIGS. 6A, 6B show a perspective top view of a fixing case of the adjusting instrument;

[0034] FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C show a perspective detailed view, front view, and cross section, of an engagement body.

[0035] In the figures, like or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. It is noted that the figures are merely shown by way of exemplary embodiment and should not in any way be regarded as limiting.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an adjusting instrument 1 for an exterior vision unit of a motor vehicle. The adjusting instrument 1 comprises a housing 5 having a fixing element 5A for coupling with the support frame 3, and an adjusting element 5B. The adjusting element 5B is configured to support an exterior vision element, such as a mirror, while the adjusting element 5B is pivotably connected with the fixing element 5A, to maneuver the exterior vision element into a desired orientation with respect to, for example, a driver of the motor vehicle.

[0037] In the housing 5, more specifically in the fixing element 5A, drive means are provided such as a first electric motor 9A and a second electric motor 9B for pivoting the adjusting element 5B relative to the fixing element 5A about an upright and lying axis, respectively, as well as a driveline 10 including one or more gear transmissions which connect the output shafts of the electric motors with the adjusting element 5B.

[0038] The fixing element 5A of the housing 5 is formed by a bottom plate 101, a fixing case 102, and a cover plate 103. The bottom plate 101, the fixing case 102, and the cover plate 103 are each made of plastic. The adjusting element 5B is formed by two plastic bodies 201, 202, which are movable relative to each other, and relative to the fixing element 5A.

[0039] Provided integrally with the fixing case 102 of the fixing element 5A of the housing 5 is an engagement body 11 for engaging a screw 13. The engagement body 11 and the fixing case 102 may for instance be integrally injection molded. It will also be clear that bolts, pins or otherwise rod-shaped fastening means or jointing media may be understood as a screw.

[0040] Further, a wire spring 7 is provided which is here provided between the bottom plate 101 and the fixing case 102, and which extends linearly between two opposite free ends 15A, 15B.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective bottom view of a part of an adjusting instrument 1, depicting the fixing case 102 and the cover plate 103 of the fixing element 5A of the housing 5. The fixing case 102 comprises a feed-through opening 17 for receiving the screw 13 therethrough. In particular, the feed-through opening 17 is provided throughout the engagement body 11. The engagement body 11 is centrally positioned in the fixing case 102 of the housing 5 and is connected via a connecting arm 21 with a peripheral part of the fixing case 102. Here, a single connecting arm is shown, but also a plurality of connecting arms may be provided, for example two connecting arms, such as two parallel connecting arms. The connecting arm 21 comprises a dedicated deformation zone 22 which is configured to deform so as to facilitate a translation of the engagement body 11 relative to the rest of the housing 5.

[0042] The wire spring 7 may, in use, by way of its free ends 15A, 15B be supported on the housing 5, on respective supporting surfaces 51A, 51B of the fixing case 102 of the fixing element 5A of the housing 5. Here the supporting surfaces 51A, 51B are formed by a recess in het fixing case 102. The fixing case 102 further comprises coupling means, here snap means 19, which cooperate with complementary snap means 20 of the cover plate 103 for coupling the fixing case 102 and the cover plate 103. The cover plate 103 also comprises a feed-through opening 23 for receiving the screw 13 therethrough, with the feed-through opening 23 of the cover plate 103 and the feed-through opening 17 of the engagement body being aligned.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a cross section of an adjusting instrument 1. FIG. 4 shows a view corresponding to that of FIG. 3 but with the adjusting element 5B of the adjusting instrument 1 and the screw 13 omitted. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another cross section of a part of the adjusting instrument 1. FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B show a perspective top view of the fixing case 102, with the position of the wire spring 7 in the fixing case 102 represented in FIG. 6B.

[0044] The wire spring 7 is supported by its opposite free ends 15A, 15B on the supporting surfaces 51A, 51B of the fixing case 102 of the housing 5. Further, the engagement body 11 is coupled with the wire spring 7 in a central portion of the wire spring 7 between the two ends 15A, 15B. The engagement body 11 comprises a coupling element 16 for coupling with the wire spring 7. The coupling piece may comprise, for example, a hook-shaped element which engages the wire spring so as to effect the coupling of the engagement body 11 and the wire spring 7. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the engagement body 11 is supported on the wire spring 7, so that the engagement body 11 upon tightening of the screw 13 is pressed downwards, thereby deforming the wire spring 7. By deformation of the wire spring 7, a pretensioning force (bias) is imposed, where the pretensioning force is directed substantially in the longitudinal direction of the screw 13, perpendicular to the plane in which the wire spring 7 extends.

[0045] The screw 13 engages the engagement body 11, with the screwhead 14 of the screw 13 at a top of the engagement body 11. The cover plate 103 is here coupled with the fixing case 102 only via the snap means 19, 20, but it will be clear that the screw 13 can also engage the cover plate 103. The screw 13 can for instance engage the engagement body 11 via the cover plate 103, with the screwhead 14 abutting against the cover plate 103. The screw 13 also has a point of engagement 29 on the supporting frame 3, for instance via the screw thread of the screw 13.

[0046] The engagement body 11 comprises a cylindrically shaped body part 12, where in axial direction a feed-through opening is provided for feeding-through the screw 13. In the supporting frame 3, in this case, an opening is provided in which the screw 13 can be received, and in which the screw 13 can engage the supporting frame 3. By turning of the screw 13 a distance between the engagement body 11 with the central portion of the wire spring 7 coupled thereto and the supporting frame 3 can be reduced as a result of which a deformation of the wire spring 7 occurs. Due to the ends 15A, 15B of the wire spring 7 being supported on the housing 5, in this manner a pretensioning force is exerted that clamps the housing 5 and the supporting frame 3 against each other. The engagement body 11 is coupled with the wire spring 7 in a centrally located portion of the wire spring 7, which provides for a uniform force distribution of pretensioning forces.

[0047] The cylindrical body part 12 of the engagement body 11 is elongated in axial direction, such that the screwhead 14 of the screw 13 comes to lie somewhat raised in the housing 5, so that it can be simply reached, for example with a screwdriver, during mounting and demounting of the adjusting instrument 1.

[0048] The housing parts 101, 102, 103, 201, 202 have been separately manufactured here, and may be assembled to the supporting frame 3 prior to mounting of the adjusting instrument 1. Here, the bottom plate 101, the fixing case 102 and the cover plate 103 of the fixing element 5A have for instance been coupled to each other through snap connections.

[0049] The wire spring 7 may be manufactured of a steel wire, e.g. spring steel wire, wound on a roll, whereby an end of the steel wire can be simply unwound from the roll and cut off to a desired length. Prior to or after cutting off, the end to be cut off or the cut-off end, respectively, may be bent into a desired shape, for example rectilinear, as shown in the figures. In assembling the fixing element 5A of the housing 5, the wire spring 7 is provided in the fixing case 102, such that the ends 15A, 15B are supported on the respective supporting surfaces 51A, 51B of the fixing case 102. Then, the fixing case 102 may for instance be coupled with the cover plate 103, and with the bottom plate 101, for example through snap means 19. The fixing element 5A and the adjusting element 5B may also be coupled with each other prior to mounting of the adjusting instrument 1.

[0050] The adjusting instrument 1 is here mounted on the supporting frame by means of a screw 13 here, with the housing 5 comprising a central feed-through opening for receiving therethrough the screw 13. In mounting, the adjusting instrument 1 is arranged on the supporting frame 3, with the engagement point 29 on the supporting frame 3 being aligned with the feed-through opening 17 of the engagement body 11. The engagement point 29 on the supporting frame is here formed by an opening in the supporting frame 3, in which the screw thread of the screw 13 can run true to thereby engage the supporting frame. Upon tightening of the screw 13, the screw is driven further into the opening of the supporting frame 3. This provides the advantage that the adjusting instrument 1 may be mounted on the supporting frame from above alone, that is, without the adjusting instrument 1 needing to be approached from below. To facilitate alignment of the housing 5 and the supporting frame 3, the engagement point 29 on the supporting frame 3 is here at least partly formed by a tube-shaped body which proceeds from the supporting frame 3 and which can be received in a recess in the housing 5.

[0051] The housing 5 of the adjusting instrument 1 is mounted against the supporting frame 3 by means of the screw 13, with the screw being led through the feed-through opening 17 of the engagement body 11, and engaging the supporting frame 3 in the engagement point 29. The tightening of the screw 13 ensures that the screw 13 is driven in the mounting direction, with the mounting direction being directed in the longitudinal direction of the screw 13. As a result, the screwhead 14 of the screw 13 comes to lie against a side of the engagement body 11, whereby the screwhead 14 moves the engagement body 11 along in the mounting direction upon the further tightening of the screw 13. A central portion of the wire spring 7, located between the ends 15A, 15B, is engaged by the engagement body 11, such that the tightening of the screw 13, via the engagement body 11 moving along, brings about a displacement of the central portion of the wire spring 7 in the mounting direction. Because the wire spring 7 at its free ends 15A, 15B continues to be supported on a stationary part of the housing, the wire spring deforms elastically under the influence of the tightening of the screw 13. The resistance to this deformation of the wire spring 7 results in a pretension buildup in the mounting construction, which causes adjusting instrument 1 to be clamped against the supporting frame 3. The pretension (bias) also provides for compensation of occurring creep and relaxations in the synthetic-plastic material of the housing 5, as a result of which the adjusting instrument 1 durably remains mounted, free of vibrations, against the supporting frame 3. The extent of elastic deformation of the wire spring 7, i.e. the travel of the wire spring 7, can be set by tightening the screw further or less far.

[0052] FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C show a detailed view of an engagement body 11 which is manufactured separately from the rest of the housing 5. The engagement body 11 is implemented in metal here, but it may also be manufactured, for example, from a plastic. The engagement body 11 comprises a discrete rotation-symmetrical body part, here implemented as a cylindrical body part 12 through which in axial direction a feed-through opening 17 is provided for receiving therethrough a screw 13, while from the cylindrical body part 12 a lateral projection 25 proceeds, which extends in the axial direction along the outer surface of the cylindrical body part 12. The projection 25 tracks in a guide slot of the housing so that rotation of the engagement body 11 is hindered, while the engagement body 11 can freely translate relative to the housing 5. The engagement body 11 is coupled with the wire spring 7 by means of a coupling element 16 which is formed by a folded-out portion of a shell of the cylindrically shaped metal body part 12. The coupling element 16 is provided under the lateral projection 25.

[0053] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments represented here. Many variations will be clear to a person skilled in the art and are understood to be within the scope of the invention as represented in the appended claims.