Vehicle visual recognition device having projection unit

• US 10,351,064 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2016
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Sawada, Kazuhiro, Muto, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Bao-Luan Q
• Application Number:
  US15/257,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20170066386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/797 at the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/60 Projection of signs from lighting devices, e.g. symbols or information being projected onto the road

Abstract

A vehicle visual recognition device comprises: a rotating body disposed at a vehicle exterior and supported by a vehicle body so as to be rotatable, and including a visual recognition unit that assists visual recognition of an occupant of a vehicle; an attachment member attached to the rotating body; and a projection unit including an optical member housed in a housing body, the housing body being retained by the attachment member, and the projection unit projecting an image outside the rotating body through the optical member.

Claims

1. A vehicle visual recognition device comprising:

a rotating body disposed at a vehicle exterior and supported by a vehicle body so as to be rotatable, and including a visual recognition unit that assists visual recognition of an occupant of a vehicle, a supporting body, a visor cover, and a reinforcement member;

an attachment member attached to the supporting body of the rotating body;

a projection unit including an optical member housed in a housing body, the housing body being retained by the attachment member, and the projection unit projecting an image outside the rotating body through the optical member,

wherein the supporting body attached to the rotating body and supporting the visual recognition unit, the supporting body, visual recognition unit, and projection unit all rotate with the rotating body, and

wherein the attachment member is directly fixed to the visor cover and the reinforcement member such that the attachment member is fixed to the supporting body via the reinforcement member,

wherein the attachment member includes;

a holder section that retains the housing body,

an attachment section attached to the rotating body, and

a connecting section that connects the holder section and the attachment section to each other,

wherein a first through-hole is formed at the attachment section, a connecting member that is formed at the supporting body is inserted into the first through-hole such that the attachment section is connected to the supporting body with the attachment member being hanged down substantially in a vehicle up and down direction, and

wherein the holder section of the attachment member includes a bottom plate and a side wall, the connecting section of the attachment member is inclined with respect to the side wall at a specific angle θ

toward a width direction outer side of the attachment member and is coupled to an upper end of the side wall, and the attachment section of the attachment member includes a second through hole configuring a positioning portion.

2. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein the housing body includes a tube section that houses the optical member and that is positioned by the attachment member.

3. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein:

the housing body includes an insertion port through which a connector connected to wiring is inserted; and

the attachment member includes a covering portion that covers part of the insertion port.

4. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein:

wiring is connected to the housing body; and

an extension portion is extended out from the attachment member and is capable of being abutted by the wiring.

5. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein

the attachment member further includes a positioning portion that positions the attachment member with respect to the rotating body.

6. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein the attachment member is fixed to the rotating body and the supporting body through the first and second through-holes.

7. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein:

the connecting section of the attachment member has a substantially triangular shape;

a bottom edge of the connecting section is coupled to the upper end of the side wall; and

another edge of the connecting section is coupled to the attachment section.

8. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein the attachment member hangs down from the reinforcement member in substantially a vehicle up-down direction.

9. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 1, further comprising a covering body substantially enclosing the rotating body, the attachment member, and the supporting body.

10. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein the attachment section of the attachment member directly contacts the visor cover and the reinforcement member, respectively.

11. A vehicle visual recognition device comprising:

a rotating body disposed at a vehicle exterior and supported by a vehicle body so as to be rotatable, and including a visual recognition unit that assists visual recognition of an occupant of a vehicle, a supporting body, a visor cover, and a reinforcement member;

an attachment member attached to the supporting body of the rotating body;

a projection unit including an optical member housed in a housing body, the housing body being retained by the attachment member, and the projection unit projecting an image outside the rotating body through the optical member,

wherein the supporting body attached to the rotating body and supporting the visual recognition unit, the supporting body, visual recognition unit, and projection unit all rotate with the rotating body, and

wherein the attachment member is directly fixed to the visor cover and the reinforcement member such that the attachment member is fixed to the supporting body via the reinforcement member, and

wherein the supporting body is a visor body, and the attachment member is a holder bracket that holds the projection unit and which is attached to the visor body.

12. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 11, wherein the holder bracket includes a positioning portion connected to the visor body via the reinforcement member, the positioning portion being adjustable to align an optical axis P of the projection unit along a selected angle such that a projection image is projected from the projection unit at a desired location with respect to the vehicle.

13. The vehicle visual recognition device of claim 12, wherein the positioning portion of the holder bracket is a bendable flange that attaches the holder bracket to the visor body.