Folding-in device for a mirror replacement system

• US 10,773,658 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2018
• Issued: 09/15/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Rohrmuller, Hans, Schonegger-Fosleitner, Erich, Schippling, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Mikeska, Neil R
• Application Number:
  US15/920,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20180265015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0617 foldable along the vehicle, e.g. in case of external force applied thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a device for folding in a camera on a motor vehicle in order to protect the device in the event of a collision with an obstacle. The device has a first housing element, in which the camera is received. The device has a second housing element, which is constructed to be connected to the motor vehicle in a positionally fixed manner. The first housing element and the second housing element are pivotably connected to each other by means of a first pivot connection, which defines a first rotation axis, and a second pivot connection, which defines a second rotation axis which is spaced apart from the first rotation axis.

Claims

1. A device for folding in a camera on a motor vehicle in order to protect the device in the event of a collision with an obstacle, comprising:

a first housing element, in which the camera is received; and

a second housing element which is constructed to be connected to the motor vehicle in a positionally fixed manner;

wherein the first housing element and the second housing element are pivotably connected to each other by means of a first pivot connection, which defines a first rotation axis, and a second pivot connection, which defines a second rotation axis which is spaced apart from the first rotation axis, wherein the first rotation axis is parallel with the second rotation axis;

further having an intermediate member, wherein the first housing element and the intermediate member are pivotably connected to each other by means of the first pivot connection or the second housing element and the intermediate member are pivotably connected to each other by means of the second pivot connection; and

the first housing element has a first connection region which is connected via the first pivot connection to the intermediate member and the intermediate member has a first guiding element which is supported on a first guiding contour of the first connection region;

or

the second housing element has a second connection region which is connected via the second pivot connection to the intermediate member and the intermediate member has a second guiding element which is supported on a second guiding contour of the second connection region.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first housing element can be pivoted relative to the second housing element out of an operating position for the camera in a first direction to a first folded-in position or in a second direction to a second folded-in position, wherein the second direction is in particular counter to the first direction.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the first housing element and the second housing element are connected to each other in such a manner that the first housing element is acted on from an intermediate position between the operating position and the first folded-in position in order to assume the operating position or the first folded-in position;

or

the first housing element and the second housing element are connected to each other in such a manner that the first housing element is acted on from an intermediate position between the operating position and the second folded-in position in order to assume the operating position or the second folded-in position.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first housing element and the second housing element are connected to each other by means of at least one top dead centre bearing.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first guiding element, is a first guiding sleeve;

or

the second guiding element is a second guiding sleeve.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the first guiding element or the second guiding element is supported so as to be able to be displaced, in particular displaced in a translational manner.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the intermediate member has a resilient component, in particular a pressure spring, which:

acts on the first guiding element for support on the first guiding contour;

or

acts on the second guiding element for support on the second guiding contour;

or supports the first guiding element and the second guiding element on each other.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

the first guiding contour and the first guiding element are constructed in such a manner that the first housing element and the intermediate member can be pivoted relative to each other between two pivot positions via a top dead centre bearing;

or

the second guiding contour and the second guiding element are constructed in such a manner that the second housing element and the intermediate member can be pivoted relative to each other between two pivot positions via a top dead centre bearing.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the first guiding element is supported in a sliding manner or via a roller on the first guiding contour;

or

the second guiding element is supported in a sliding manner or via a roller on the second guiding contour.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein an outer shell of the first housing element and an outer shell of the second housing element are in abutment with each other in a flush manner in an operating position for the camera.

11. The device according to claim 1, further having a drive unit, in particular an electric motor, for automatically pivoting the first housing element relative to the second housing element.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further has at least one bumper element which is releasably fitted to the first or second housing element in order to protect the device in the event of a collision, in particular to protect the camera and the first housing element, wherein the bumper element can in particular be plastically or resiliently deformed.

13. A motor vehicle, in particular utility vehicle, comprising:

device for folding in a camera on a motor vehicle in order to protect the device in the event of a collision with an obstacle, the device including,

a first housing element, in which the camera is received; and

a second housing element which is constructed to be connected to the motor vehicle in a positionally fixed manner;

wherein the first housing element and the second housing element are pivotably connected to each other by means of a first pivot connection, which defines a first rotation axis, and a second pivot connection, which defines a second rotation axis which is spaced apart from the first rotation axis, wherein the first rotation axis is parallel with the second rotation axis;

further having an intermediate member, wherein the first housing element and the intermediate member are pivotably connected to each other by means of the first pivot connection or the second housing element and the intermediate member are pivotably connected to each other by means of the second pivot connection; and

the first housing element has a first connection region which is connected via the first pivot connection to the intermediate member and the intermediate member has a first guiding element which is supported on a first guiding contour of the first connection region;

or

the second housing element has a second connection region which is connected via the second pivot connection to the intermediate member and the intermediate member has a second guiding element which is supported on a second guiding contour of the second connection region.