ADJUSTING INSTRUMENT, EXTERIOR MIRROR UNIT, MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20170240115A1
• Filed: 09/21/2015
• Published: 08/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V. (Flex, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V. (Flex, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Brouwer, Stefan Frits, Hoogenboom, Rudolf Pieter, Hamming, Peter Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 10,232,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor

Abstract

Adjusting instrument for an exterior mirror of a motor vehicle, comprising a foot for attachment to the fixed world, being the motor vehicle, and a housing adjustably connected with the foot, the housing being adjustable around a rotation axis extending through the adjusting instrument, while around the rotation axis a passage opening is provided for passing through a cable tree, the housing being provided with a slot along a height thereof which provides lateral access to the passage opening and the foot being provided with a slot along a height thereof which provides lateral access to the passage opening, the housing being furthermore adjustable relative to the foot into an assembly position in which the slot of the foot aligns with the slot of the housing to provide lateral access to the passage opening for laterally introducing a cable tree into the passage opening.

Claims

1. An adjusting instrument for an exterior mirror of a motor vehicle, comprising a foot for attachment to the fixed world, being the motor vehicle, and a housing adjustably connected with the foot, the housing being adjustable around a rotation axis extending through the adjusting instrument, while around the rotation axis a passage opening is provided for passing through a cable tree, the housing being provided with a slot along a height thereof which provides lateral access to the passage opening and the foot being provided with a slot along a height thereof which provides lateral access to the passage opening, the housing being furthermore adjustable relative to the foot into an assembly position in which the slot of the foot aligns with the slot of the housing to provide lateral access to the passage opening for laterally introducing a cable tree into the passage opening.

2. The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, furthermore comprising a closing element for locking the cable tree in the passage opening.

3. The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, furthermore comprising a passage tube which is receivable in the passage opening, the passage tube having a slot for introducing the cable tree.

4. The adjusting instrument according to claim 3, wherein a passage tube is adjustable relative to the adjusting instrument for locking the cable tree after assembly.

5. The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, furthermore comprising a drive unit for adjusting the housing relative to the foot.

6. The adjusting instrument according to claim 5, wherein the drive unit has a drive wheel along which the housing is adjustable, which drive wheel is provided with a slot for providing lateral access to the passage opening.

7. The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the housing is biased towards the foot by at least one elastic element placed at a distance from the rotation axis.

8. The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the foot is provided with first cooperating elements which are translatable relative to second cooperating elements of the fixed world in one direction and which block translation in an opposite direction for connection of the foot with the fixed world.

9. The adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the passage tube is provided with a lower flange which extends in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the passage tube.

10. The adjusting instrument according to claim 9, wherein the passage tube furthermore comprises an upper flange which extends in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the passage tube for locking the adjusting instrument in axial direction between the upper and the lower flange.

12. A motor vehicle comprising an adjusting instrument according to claim 1.

13. An exterior mirror for a motor vehicle comprising an adjusting instrument according to claim 1.

11. A method for assembling a cable tree in an adjusting instrument for an exterior mirror of a motor vehicle comprising a foot for attachment to a mirror shoe of the exterior mirror and a housing adjustably connected with the foot, the housing being adjustable around a rotation axis extending through the adjusting instrument, while around the rotation axis a passage opening is provided for passing through the cable tree, the method comprising

providing a slot along a height of the housing;

providing a slot along a height of the foot;

adjusting the housing relative to the foot so that the slot of the housing aligns with the slot of the foot to thereby provide a lateral access to the passage opening;

laterally introducing the cable tree into the passage opening.