CONNECTION ARM FOR COUPLING A REAR VIEW MIRROR TO A SUPPORTING ELEMENT FIXED TO A WINDSCREEN

• US 20140175250A1
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fiat Group Automobiles S.P.A. (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Fiat Group Automobiles S.P.A. (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Chieppa, Sara, NOCERINO, ANTONIO
• Application Number:
  US14/109,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20140175250A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/475.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A connection arm has an elongated shank, which is made of plastic material and is provided with a first terminal portion having a joint to be coupled to a rear view mirror; moreover, the elongated shank is provided with a second terminal portion fixed to an interface, which is made in one piece of metallic material and comprises a plurality of elastic wings, arranged angularly apart and adapted to be coupled to respective lobes defining part of a supporting element fixed to a windscreen.

Claims

1. A connection arm (10) for coupling a rear view mirror (2) to a supporting element (4) fixed to a windscreen (3);

the connection arm being characterized by comprising;

an elongated shank (12), made of plastic material and comprising a first and a second terminal portion (14,15), opposite to each other;

said first terminal portion (15) having joint means (17) for connecting said rear view mirror (2) to said shank (12);

an interface (11), which is made in one piece of metallic material;

a plurality of elastic wings (27) fixed with respect to said interface (11), arranged angularly apart from one another about an axis (8) and adapted to be coupled to respective lobes (9) defining part of said supporting element (4);

said interface (11) comprising a portion arranged axially between said elastic wings (27) and said second terminal portion (14);

connection means (16,31,32) which fix said second terminal portion to said interface.

2. A connection arm according to claim 1, characterized in that said connection means comprise axial fastening means (16) which axially fix said second terminal portion (14) against said interface (11).

3. A connection arm according to claim 2, characterized in that said axial fastening means (16) comprise at least one screw (16).

4. A connection arm according to claim 3, characterized in that said elastic wings (27) constitute part of an elastic element (13), which is distinct from said interface (11) and is fixed to said interface (11) by means of said screw (16).

5. A connection arm according to claim 3, characterized by comprising at least one nut screw (19) made of metallic material and embedded in said second terminal portion (14);

said screw (16) having a threaded stem (21) screwed into said nut screw (19).

6. A connection arm according to claim 2, characterized in that said connection means (16,31,32) comprise angular positioning means (31,32) for arranging said interface (11) in a predetermined relative position about said axis (8) with respect to said second terminal portion (14) before fixing said interface (11) to said second terminal portion (14) by means of said axial fastening means (16).

7. A connection arm according to claim 1, characterized in that said interface (11) comprises:

a base (28) axially resting against said second terminal portion (14), and

a side wall (33), which extends in cantilever manner from the peripheral edge of said base (28) in direction substantially parallel to said axis (8) so as to surround said wings (27).

8. A connection arm according to claim 7, characterized in that said interface (11) further comprises a plurality of pins (34), which protrude from an end edge of said side wall (33) in directions substantially parallel to said axis (8).

9. A connection arm according to claim 8, characterized in that said interface (11) further comprises an angular retention tooth (36), which axially protrudes from said end edge in a direction substantially parallel to said axis (8) by a length longer than the protrusion of said pins (34).

10. A connection device (1) for connecting a rear view mirror (2) to a windscreen (3), comprising:

a supporting element (4) comprising a plate (5) adapted to be fixed to an inner surface (6) of said windscreen (3), and a pin (7), which protrudes from said plate (5) along an axis (8) substantially orthogonal to said plate (5) and has a profile comprising a plurality of lobes (9); and

a connection arm (10) made according to claim 1.