WO1992003309A1

WO1992003309A1 - Improvements relating to rear view mirrors

Info

Publication number: WO1992003309A1
Application number: PCT/GB1991/001395
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timothy Hugh Norman
Original assignee: Spafax International Limited
Priority date: 1990-08-21
Filing date: 1991-08-16
Publication date: 1992-03-05
Also published as: AU8426491A; GB9018343D0

Abstract

An adjusting mechanism for a rear view mirror (10) for a motor road vehicle comprising means (14) to fix the mirror to the vehicle, means for angularly adjusting the mirror with respect to the vehicle and operating means (32) adapted to operate retaining means for retaining the mirror in the required angular position. The operative means can be in the form of a handle (32) having a shaft (33) with a cam (34, 35) whose rotation causes the relative movement of two relatively slidable sleeves (18, 31) which in turn bias two co-operating convex and concave surfaces (23, 24) into engagement with one another in such way that the mirror is retained in position.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO REAR VIEW MIRRORS

This invention relates to a rear view mirror for a motor road vehicle and is more particularly concerned with an adjusting mechanism for such a mirror.

Such rear view mirrors comprise various forms and the present one is more particularly concerned for use with commercial vehicles or lorries. In such vehicles the mirrors are mounted both internally and externally, but the driver tends to rely almost wholly on the externally mounted mirrors and it has been found that these can present a problem when being adjusted and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of adjusting such a mirror.

An adjusting mechanism for a rear view mirror for a motor road vehicle according to the present invention comprises means for fixing the mirror to the vehicle, means for angularly adjusting the mirror witn respect to the vehicle, and operating means adapted to operate retaining means for retaining the mirror in the required angular position.

The retaining means preferably cause co-operating convex and concave surfaces to be biased into engagement with one another.

The retaining means may include two relatively slidable sleeves. In this case relative movement of the sleeves by means of the operating means may cause the sleeves to biase the surfaces into engagement with one another.

In one convenient arrangement the operating means is in the form of a handle, and in this case the handle is preferably rotatable from a position in which adjustment can take place to a position in which the mirror is retained in position. In this case rotation of the handle may act on the sleeves to cause relative movement thereof, and to this end is provided with a shaft attached thereto which causes relative movement of the sleeves by means of a camming action. The handle may be rotatable through 270°.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 - is a view partly_. in cross-section of a rear view mirror incorporating an adjusting mechanism according to the invention

Figure la - is an enlarged view of the centre of Figure 1

Figure 2 - is a plan view of the mirror shown in Figure 1 also partly in cross-section

Figure 3 - is an end view again partly in cross- section through the mirror

Figure 4 - is an elevation of an operating handle

Figure 5 - is an end view of Figure 3 and

Figure 6 - is a section on the line C-C of Figure 3

Figure 1 shows a rear view mirror indicated generally at 10 with a front convex reflecting face 11 and a generally curved rear 12. The rear is provided with a semicircular slot 13 extending laterally across it and through which is arranged to extend a vertically positioned bar 14 to which the mirror is adapted to be fixed on the outside of the vehicle. The mirror is movable along the bar so as to locate it at the required height and can be secured thereto by a fixing arrangement shown more clearly in Figure 3. This consists of two spaced apart through threaded inserts 15, only one of which is shown, located in bosses 16 with open ends 17 of smaller diameter. These are part of an outer sleeve arrangement 18. The mirror can be clamped to the bar by means of a clamp 20 acted upon by two clamp screws 21 which when tightened firmly locate the mirror in position by clamping it against the edges of a part spherical opening 22 in the sleeve 18 through which the bar passes, as shown more clearly in Figure 1.

The outer sleeve has a convex end 23 adapted to slide with respect to a correspondingly concave surface 24 formed integrally with the body of the mirror. The surface 24 has an opening 25 to permit movement of a fixing bolt 26 with respect thereto. The fixing bolt 26 has on it a spring 27 which bears against a cup washer 28. The other end of the bolt 26 carries a nut 29 which is held in a housing 30 at the end of an inner sleeve arrangement 31. The inner sleeve is slidable with respect to the outer sleeve and movement of the two sleeves with respect to one another by means of an operating handle moves them from a position in which the angle of the mirror can be easily adjusted as the spring is relatively slack to a position in which the compression in the spring is increased and locks them in position.

The handle is shown in more detail in Figure 4. It has an operating arm 32 secured to a centre shaft 33 and provided with a major cam 34 at its inner end and a minor cam 35 at its outer end. The cams act on bearings 36, 37 respectively (Figures la and 2 ) in the outer sleeve, and since the outer sleeve is immovable then cause by rotation of the handle the shaft 33 of which bears against the inner sleeve, the inner sleeve to move outwardly (downwardly in Figure 1) which causes increased compression in the spring and thus effectively locks and retains the surfaces 23 and 24 against one another. Thus with the handle in the unlocked position the compression pressure exerted by the spring is relatively light and the angular position of the mirror can be adjusted. When the required position has been obtained the handle can be rotated to the retaining position to lock it in this position.

The handle is also provided with protuberances 40 as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 6. These have a stop 41 on the end which is arranged to abut against a stop on the inner sleeve to prevent rotation beyond a certain point. They are also provided with a flat 38 which prevents them being rotated back too far and avoids damage.

Moreover although not shown the handle can only be inserted in one position and can not be readily removed. This serves to assist assembly, retain the handle in position and avoid access to the retaining clamp 20 so as to resist theft.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. An adjusting mechanism for a rear view mirror for a motor road vehicle comprising means for fixing the mirror to the vehicle, means for angularly adjusting the mirror with respect to the vehicle, and operating means adapted to operate retaining means for retaining the mirror in the required angular position.

2. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 1, in which the retaining means cause co-operating convex and concave surfaces to be biased into engagement with one another.

3. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the retaining means include two relatively slidable sleeves.

4. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 3, in which relative movements of the sleeves by means of the operating means cause the sleeves to bias the surfaces into engagement with one another.

5. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the operating means is in the form of a handle.

6. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 5, in which the handle is rotatable from a position in which adjustment can take place to a position in which the mirror is retained in position.

7. A mechanism as claimed in any one of Claims 3, 4, 5 or 6 , in which rotation of the handle acts on the sleeves to cause relative movement thereof.

8. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 7 , in which the handle has a shaft attached thereto which causes relative movement of the sleeves by means of a camming action.

9. An adjusting mechanism for a rear view mirror substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. A rear view incorporating an adjusting mechanism as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9.