Mirror apparatus for vehicle

• US 20040057139A1
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Shinohara, Teruaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,144,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/877
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Abstract

A mirror housing, a base, and a unit bracket are formed as separate components. As a result, the mirror housing and the base can be painted with different colors.

Claims

1. A mirror apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror housing;

a base;

a unit bracket; and

a mirror unit, wherein

the mirror housing, the base, and the unit bracket are formed as separate components and are fixed to a body of the vehicle,

the mirror housing has a first opening where the mirror unit is mounted, and a second opening,

the base has a base portion, a first mounting portion, and a second mounting portion, wherein the first mounting portion is provided in one side of the base portion and mounted to the body of the vehicle, and the second mounting portion is provided in another side of the base portion, and to which the unit bracket is mounted,

the unit bracket has a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, wherein the first mounting portion is mounted to the mirror housing, and to which the mirror unit is mounted, and the second mounting portion protrudes from the second opening and mounted to the second mounting portion of the base, and

the second mounting portion of the base and the second mounting portion of the unit bracket are formed in the form of a narrow neck portion between the mirror housing and the base.

2. The mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a mounting axis of the first mounting portion of the base and a mounting axis of the second mounting portion of the base coincide with each other or are near each other.

3. The mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second mounting portion of the unit bracket is mounted to the second mounting portion of the base in a suspended manner.

4. The mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plate portion is integrated into a periphery of the second opening, and the plate portion is sandwiched by the second mounting portion of the base and the second mounting portion of the unit bracket, and the plate portion is fastened together with the second mounting portion of the base and the second mounting portion of the unit bracket.

5. The mirror apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a backlash prevention unit provided in any one of between the mirror housing and the second mounting portion of the base, between the mirror housing and the second mounting portion of the unit bracket, and between the second mounting portion of the base and the second mounting portion of the unit bracket.

6. The mirror apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting unit to mount the second mounting portion of the base and the second mounting portion of the unit bracket, wherein the mounting unit is capable of rotating in two directions.

7. The mirror apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first mounting unit and a second mounting unit to mount the second mounting portion of the base and the second mounting portion of the unit bracket, wherein the first mounting unit is capable of rotating towards up and down and the second mounting unit is capable of rotating towards left and right.

8. The mirror apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising flat surfaces on an entire circumference of the second opening, and any one of the second mounting portion of the, base and the second mounting portion of the bracket, wherein the flat surfaces touch each other.

9. The mirror apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a through-hole to insert a harness that is installed between the mirror housing and the body of the vehicle in the second mounting portion of the base and the second mounting portion of the unit bracket; and

a drain unit that evacuates water that enters the body of the vehicle from the mirror housing through the through-hole.

10. The mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a power unit is mounted on the first mounting portion of the unit bracket which is mounted to the mirror housing, and the mirror unit is mounted on the power unit.

11. The mirror apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface and a part of inner surface, which is in near the first opening, of the mirror housing are painted with colors that are different from those of the base and the unit bracket.

12. A mirror apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a mirror housing;

a base;

a unit bracket;

a mirror unit;

and a power unit, wherein

the mirror housing, the base, and the unit bracket are formed as separate components and are fixed to a body of the vehicle,

the mirror housing has a first opening where the mirror unit is mounted, and a second opening,

an outer surface and a part of inner surface, which is near the first opening, of the mirror housing are painted with colors that are different from those of the base and the unit bracket,

the base has a base portion, a first mounting portion, and a second mounting portion, wherein the first mounting portion is provided in one side of the base portion and mounted to the body of the vehicle, and the second mounting portion is provided in another side of the base portion, and to which the unit bracket is mounted,

the unit bracket has a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, wherein the first mounting portion is mounted to the mirror housing, and to which the power unit is mounted, and the second mounting portion protrudes from the second opening, and mounted to the second mounting portion of the base, and

the first mounting portion of the unit bracket is mounted to the mirror housing, the power unit is mounted to the first mounting portion of the unit bracket, the mirror unit is mounted to the power unit, and the second mounting portion of the base and the second mounting portion of the unit bracket are fixed to each other, and

the second mounting portion of the base and the second mounting portion of the unit bracket form a narrow neck portion in between the mirror housing and the base.