Structure for holding visor for door mirror device

• US 6,371,550 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Iwatsuki, Masakazu, Narita, Yasuhide, Inagaki, Bunji
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coletta, Lori L
• Application Number:
  US09/827,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 296/152, 248/466, 248/475.1
• US Class Current: 296/152
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device. In the present invention, a seat is integrally formed at a backside of a visor cover. A clip, which is formed separately from the visor cover, is mounted to the seat. A clip-engaging hole is formed at a frame, and, by engaging the clip with the clip engaging hole, the visor cover can be assembled to the frame.

Claims

1. A structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device, the structure including a resin visor cover that forms a front outer casing of the device and a resin visor rim that forms a rear outer casing of the device and connects to the visor cover, and for holding at least one of the visor cover and the visor rim, the structure comprising:

a seat provided at an inner side of at least one of the visor cover and the visor rim; and

a clip that is formed separately from the seat, is mounted to the seat, and elastically engages with one of the visor cover, the visor rim, and a frame disposed between the visor cover and the visor rim.

2. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 1, wherein:

the seat has a top wall in which a clip-engaging hole and an assembly notch that communicates with the clip-engaging hole are formed; and

the clip has a pair of plates that nip the top wall in a state in which the clip is mounted in the clip-engaging hole.

3. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 2, wherein the seat has a hollow, substantially cubic configuration and is structured by side walls that together form a substantially U-shaped configuration when seen in planar cross section and the top wall that joins the upper ends of the side walls.

4. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 2, wherein a distance between the pair of plates of the clip is set to be substantially equal a thickness of the top wall of the seat.

5. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 2, wherein the clip has a mounting portion that connects the pair of plates at a center of the plates.

6. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 5, wherein the mounting portion has an outer diameter substantially corresponding with an inner diameter of the clip-engaging hole formed in the top wall.

7. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 6, wherein the clip further comprises an elastically deformable claw having a substantially T-shaped configuration when seen in side view.

8. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 7, wherein the clip is formed by a material having excellent heat resistance and resistance to cracks caused by impregnation of a solvent.

9. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 8, wherein the claw of the clip may be elastically-contracted only in a fixed direction.

10. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 1, wherein a restricting portion that serves as a rotation-preventing function to the clip when the clip is mounted on the seat is provided on at least one of the seat and the clip.

11. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 2, wherein a restricting portion that serves as a rotation-preventing function to the clip when the clip is mounted on the seat is provided on at least one of the seat and the clip.

12. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 2, wherein a restricting portion that serves as a rotation-preventing function to the clip is provided at the top wall of the seat, with the restricting portion abutting sides of the plate that makes contact with an upper surface of the top wall in a state in which the clip is mounted in the clip-engaging hole.

13. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 2, wherein a stopper for preventing the clip from becoming dismounted from the seat is provided at each side of the assembly notch in the top wall of the seat.

14. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 12, wherein a stopper for preventing the clip from becoming dismounted from the seat is provided at each side of the assembly notch in the top wall of the seat.

15. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 14, wherein the restricting portion is a pair of ribs formed parallel to each other at sides of the upper surface of the top wall.

16. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 15, wherein a distance between opposing inner surfaces of the pair of ribs is substantially equal to a transverse direction dimension of the upper plate of the clip.

17. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 13, wherein a cross section of the stopper has a substantially trapezoidal configuration and the stopper has a tapered surface to serve as a guide when the clip is mounted to the seat.

18. The structure for holding a visor for a door mirror device according to claim 16, wherein a cross section of the stopper has a substantially trapezoidal configuration and the stopper has a tapered surface to serve as a guide when the clip is mounted to the seat.