Assembly for the hinged connection of a rear view mirror

• US 20050168855A1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FICO Mirrors SA (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: FICO Mirrors SA (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fanelli, Philippe, Valade, Cristophe
• Application Number:
  US10/772,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168855A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/881
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0617 foldable along the vehicle, e.g. in case of external force applied thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/076 yieldable to excessive external force and provided with an indexed use position B60R1/0617, B60R1/074 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/025 characterised by having a particular shape F16F1/04, F16F1/14, F16F1/18, F16F1/32, F16F1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/377 having holes or openings F16F1/37 , F16F1/387 take precedence

Abstract

It comprises a swivel pin (1) coaxially inserted through a holed element connected to the frame of said mirror, said swivel pin having at a first end (1a) a flange (4) and at a second end (1b) at least a retaining configuration (3) adapted for being fixed on a corresponding retaining configuration of a base connected to a vehicle, an elastic member being arranged between said flange (4) and a support of said holed element. Said elastic member comprises a hollow cylinder (5) of moulded plastic material arranged as a skirt, from the peripheral edge (4) towards said second end (1b) of the swivel pin (1), coaxially to it, said hollow cylinder (5) being provided with at least one opening (6) defining at least one helical strip (7) suitable to provide the hollow cylinder (5) with an elastic property.

Claims

1. Assembly for the hinged connection of a rear view mirror comprising a swivel pin (1) coaxially inserted though a ring-shaped holed element (20) connected to a frame (21) of said mirror, said swivel pin (1) having at a first end (1a) a flange (4) and at a second end (1b) at least a retaining configuration (3) adapted for being fixed on a corresponding retaining configuration (30) of a base (31) connected to a vehicle, an elastic member being arranged between said flange (4) and a support (22) of said holed element (20) acting by compression in a direction parallel to the axis of the swivel pin (1) to secure a contact under pressure between a lower part (23) of the holed element (20) and a seat (32) of said base (31), with the possibility of turning within an angle limited by respective stops, characterized in that said elastic member comprises a hollow cylinder (5) of moulded plastic material arranged as a skirt, from the peripheral edge (4) towards said second end (1b) of the swivel pin (1), coaxially to it, said hollow cylinder (5) being provided with at least an opening (6) having a suitable configuration to provide the hollow cylinder (5) with an elastic property, and said at least one opening (6) defining in the hollow cylinder (5) at least one helical strip (7).

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow cylinder (5) comprises a plurality of openings (6) defining at least two helical strips (7).

3. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least two helical strips (7) have opposite helix directions and are crossing each other integrating each other in crossing areas (10).

4. Assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that each helical strip (7) has one end integrally connected to a top ring (8) and another end integrally connected to a lower ring (9).

5. Assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that the swivel pin (1) is hollow and defines a cylindrical wall with an external surface of revolution (2).

6. Assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that the flange (4) comprises at least two openings (11) adapted to receive a mounting tool.

7. Assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises several retaining configurations (3) distributed at even intervals around said second end (1b) of the swivel pin (1) and in that the flange (4) comprises other openings (11) diametrally opposed two by two, adapted to receive a mounting tool.

8. Assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that each opening (11) is extended along a portion of the swivel pin (1) cylindrical wall.

9. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the swivel pin (1) is of a moulded plastic material and in that said hollow cylinder (5) similar to a skirt is integral with said swivel pin (1).

10. Assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that each helical strip (7) has one end integrally connected to the peripheral edge of the flange (4) and another end integrally connected to a lower ring (9).

11. Assembly, according to claim 2, characterized in that each helical strip (7) has one end integrally connected to a top ring (8) and another end integrally connected to a lower ring (9).

12. Assembly, according to claim 3, characterized in that each helical strip (7) has one end integrally connected to a top ring (8) and another end integrally connected to a lower ring (9).

13. Assembly, according to claim 7, characterized in that each opening (11) is extended along a portion of the swivel pin (1) cylindrical wall.