U.S. patent application number 09/827240 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-18 for structure for holding visor for door mirror device.
Invention is credited to Inagaki, Bunji, Iwatsuki, Masakazu, Narita, Yasuhide.
Application Number | 20010030445 09/827240 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18625604 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010030445 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Iwatsuki, Masakazu ; et
al. |
October 18, 2001 |
Structure for holding visor for door mirror device
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.
Inventors: |
Iwatsuki, Masakazu;
(Niwa-gun, JP) ; Narita, Yasuhide; (Niwa-gun,
JP) ; Inagaki, Bunji; (Niwa-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON PEABODY, LLP
8180 GREENSBORO DRIVE
SUITE 800
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Family ID: |
18625604 |
Appl. No.: |
09/827240 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/152 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 1/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/152 |
International
Class: |
B60J 001/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 14, 2000 |
JP |
2000-113678 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
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 cover 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.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a structure for holding a
visor for a door mirror device which holds one or both of a resin
visor cover and a resin visor rim that form an outer casing of the
door mirror device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional door mirror device 100 for confirming the
rear field of vision is illustrated in FIG. 8 in a schematic
perspective view. As shown in FIG. 8, an outer casing of the door
mirror device 100 is formed by a door mirror visor 102. The door
mirror visor 102 comprises a visor cover 104, which forms a front
outer casing of the device, and a visor rim 106, which forms a rear
outer casing of the device. Accordingly, the door mirror visor 102
formed by two components is used in the door mirror device 100.
[0005] In assembling the door mirror device 100, the following
method has mainly been employed. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, a
resin claw 108 is integrally formed at the backside of the visor
cover 104 and a claw-engaging hole 112 is formed at a frame 110 (or
at the visor rim 106) disposed between the visor cover 104 and the
visor rim 106. A mounting seat 116 with a screw insertion hole 114
formed at a central portion thereof is formed integrally with the
visor rim 106. A screw insertion hole 117 is also formed at the
frame 110. The visor rim 106 is first fixed to the frame 110 by a
screw 118, then the resin claw 108 of the visor cover 104 is
elastically engaged with the claw-engaging hole 112 of the frame
110.
[0006] However, when a low-cost resin material is used in the
aforementioned structure, because the resin claw 108 is formed
integrally at the time the visor cover 104 is formed, there is the
possibility that the resin claw 108 may be deformed by, for
example, the effect of heat or deterioration of the resin material
due to age, so that the holding power of the visor cover 104 is
lowered. Furthermore, when the holding power of the visor cover 104
is lowered, there is also the potential for chattering to arise
between the frame 110 and the visor cover 104 and visor rim 106. In
order to prevent heat and deterioration due to age from effecting
the resin claw 108, considerable man hours and costs must be
expended for dimensional tuning and maintenance of the product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the aforementioned facts, it is an object of the
present invention to provide a structure for holding a visor for a
door mirror device with which sufficient holding power can be
obtained over a long period of time.
[0008] A first aspect of the present invention is 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 cover 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.
[0009] In a case in which the seat is provided at the visor cover,
since the seat is provided at an inner side of the resin visor
cover which forms the front outer casing of the device, a clip
which is formed as a separate part is first mounted to the seat.
Then, the clip is elastically engaged with the resin visor rim
which forms the rear outer casing of the device or with the frame
which is disposed between the visor rim and the visor cover. The
visor cover is held in this manner.
[0010] In the present invention, since the clip with which the
visor cover is assembled to the visor rim or to the frame is formed
as a separate part, a material can be selected arbitrarily for the
clip. That is, by selecting materials which are hardly effected by
heat or deterioration due to age, deformation of the clip can be
prevented.
[0011] In the structure for holding a visor for a door mirror
device in accordance with the present invention, it is preferable
that 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.
[0012] The present invention is also characterized in that 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.
[0013] Furthermore, in the structure for holding a visor for a door
mirror device in accordance with the present invention, it is
preferable that 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, and that the clip has a mounting portion that connects the
pair of plates at a center of the plates.
[0014] The present invention is also characterized in that the
mounting portion has an outer diameter substantially corresponding
with an inner diameter of the clip-engaging hole formed in the top
wall.
[0015] In the structure for holding a visor for a door mirror
device of the present invention, it is preferable that the clip
further comprises an elastically deformable claw having a
substantially T-shaped configuration when seen in side view, and
that the clip is formed by a material having excellent heat
resistance and resistance to cracks caused by impregnation of a
solvent. The present invention further characterized in that the
claw of the clip may be elastically-contracted only in a fixed
direction.
[0016] An assembling notch is formed at the top wall of the seat. A
mounting portion disposed between the pair of plates of the clip is
inserted toward the assembling notch. Then, the clip is pressed so
as to be mounted to the clip-engaging hole that communicates with
the assembling notch. In the manner, the clip is assembled to the
seat in a state in which the top wall is nipped between the pair of
plates of the clip.
[0017] In the structure for holding a visor for a door mirror
device in accordance with the present invention, it is preferable
that 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.
[0018] Since restricting portions that prevent the clip, which is
mounted to the seat, from rotating are provided to at least one of
the seat and the clip, rotation of the clip when the visor cover is
assembled to the visor rim or to the frame can be prevented.
[0019] In the structure for holding a visor for a door mirror
device in accordance with the present invention, it is preferable
that 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.
[0020] When the clip is mounted to the seat, the restricting
portions provided on the upper surface of the top wall of the seat
abut both sides of a plate (the plate which abuts the upper surface
of the top wall). Therefore, the clip is prevented from rotating.
Consequently, rotation of the clip when the visor cover is
assembled to the visor rim or to the frame can be prevented.
Further, in the present invention, since the restricting portions
are provided at the upper surface of the top wall of the seat,
neither is it necessary to form undercuts at the part of the seat
in the mold of the visor cover, nor is it necessary to give special
consideration to removal of the mold.
[0021] Further, in the present invention, since the restricting
portions are provided at the upper surface of the top wall of the
seat, neither is it necessary to form undercuts in the mold of the
visor cover, nor is it necessary to give special consideration to
removal of the mold.
[0022] In the structure for holding a visor for a door mirror
device in accordance with the present invention, it is preferable
that 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.
[0023] The present invention is further characterized in that the
restricting portion is a pair of ribs formed parallel to each other
at sides of the upper surface of the top wall, and that 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.
[0024] The present invention is still further characterized in that
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.
[0025] Since the stoppers, which prevent the clip from becoming
dismounted from the seat, are provided at each sides of the
assembling notch of the top wall of the seat, inadvertent
dismounting of the clip from the seat can be prevented after the
clip is mounted to the seat. Thus, it is unnecessary to remount the
clip to the seat at the time of assembling the visor cover to the
visor rim or the frame after mounting the clip to the seat.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of main
portions, i.e., a structure for holding a visor cover, of a door
mirror device relating to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a clip
and a seat, which are main portions of the first embodiment of the
present invention, in a state in which the clip and the seat have
been separated.
[0028] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a state
in which the clip has been mounted on the seat illustrated in FIG.
2.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a front view of an overall structure of a door
mirror device relating to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in
FIG. 4, illustrating a longitudinal sectional structure of the door
mirror device in FIG. 4.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in
FIG. 4, illustrating a transverse sectional structure of the door
mirror device in FIG. 4.
[0032] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a clip
and a seat, which are main portions of the second embodiment of the
present invention, in a state in which the clip and the seat have
been separated.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional
door mirror device.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a structure
for holding a visor cover for the door mirror device employed in
the door mirror device illustrated in FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail hereinafter. The embodiments of the present invention
include first and second embodiments. The first embodiment will be
described first, and then the second embodiment will be
described.
[0036] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, an electrically
retractable door mirror device 10 relating to a first embodiment of
the present invention will be described. Only main portions of the
present invention will be described here, since the peripheral
structure of the door mirror device 10 will be discussed in detail
in a later-described second embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 1 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of main
portions of a door mirror device 10 relating to the present
embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the door mirror device 10 comprises
a visor cover 12, a visor rim 14, and a frame 16 which is disposed
between the visor cover 12 and the visor rim 14. The visor cover 12
is formed in a substantial box-shape and forms a front outer casing
of the device 10. The visor rim 14 is formed in a substantial
frame-shape and is fitted in an open end portion of the visor cover
12 so as to form a rear outer casing of the device 10.
[0038] Each of the visor cover 12 and the visor rim 14 corresponds
to the visor for a door mirror device according to the present
invention.
[0039] The visor cover 12 and the visor rim 14 are made of resin
and the frame 16 is made of metal. The resin materials that form
the visor cover 12 and the visor rim 14 are often selected from an
ABS (an amorphous thermoplastic resin composed of acrylonitrile,
butadiene, and styrene) and a compound of ABS and PC
(polycarbonate) in view of reduced manufacturing cost.
[0040] The visor cover 12, the visor rim 14, and the frame 16 are
assembled in the following way.
[0041] The visor rim 14 is fixed to the frame 16 with a screw 18.
Specifically, a substantially cylindrical mounting seat 20 having a
base is formed integrally with the visor rim 14 at a predetermined
position thereof. A screw insertion hole 22 is formed in the center
of the base of the mounting seat 20. Correspondingly, a screw
insertion hole 24 is formed at the frame 16 so as to be coaxial
with the screw insertion hole 22. The screw 18 is screwed from the
backside of the visor rim 14 into the insertion hole 22 of the
mounting sea 20, then into the insertion hole 24 of the frame 16,
thereby fixing the visor rim 14 to the frame 16.
[0042] The visor cover 12 is mounted to the frame 16 at the end of
the process of assembling the door mirror device 10. Specifically,
as shown in expanded views in FIGS. 2 and 3, a hollow seat 26
having a substantially cubic configuration is integrally formed at
a predetermined position on an inner surface of (a back side
surface of) the visor cover 12. The seat 26 is structured by side
walls 26A that together form a substantially U-shaped configuration
when seen in planar cross section, and a top wall 26B that joins
the upper ends of the side walls 26A.
[0043] A circular clip-engaging hole 28 having a diameter of
predetermined dimension is formed in the center of the top wall
26B. A tapered assembly notch 30 that communicates with the
clip-engaging hole 28 is also formed in the top wall 26B at the
side of the top wall 26B that does not join with the upper ends of
the side walls 26A.
[0044] A resin clip 32 is mounted on the seat 26 having the
structure described above. The clip 32 comprises a pair of plates
32A and 32B, a mounting portion 32C, and a claw 32D. The plates 32A
and 32B are disposed parallel to one another and are formed in
substantially rectangular, planar shapes. The cylindrical mounting
portion 32C is interposed between the plates 32A and 32B and
connects the plates 32A and 32B at a central portion of the plates.
The claw 32D is vertically disposed with respect to a central
portion of the upper plate 32A, has a substantial T-shape when seen
in side view, and is elastically deformable.
[0045] The distance between the plates 32A and 32B (i.e., the
height of the mounting portion 32C) is set to be substantially
equal to the thickness of the top wall 26B of the seat 26. The
outer diameter of the mounting portion 32C corresponds with the
inner diameter of the clip-engaging hole 28 formed in the top wall
26B.
[0046] It should be noted that a material having excellent heat
resistance and resistance to cracks resulting from ESC
(impregnation of solvents such as wax), such as POM (polyacetal) or
PP (polypropylene), is used for the resin material forming the clip
32 described above.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, a clip-engaging hole 34, in which the
claw 32D of the clip 32 is elastically anchored, is formed at a
predetermined position of the frame 16, which position opposes the
clip 32 in a state in which the clip 32 is mounted to the seat 26.
The clip-engaging hole 34 has a substantially rectangular
shape.
[0048] The assembly process will be described hereinafter. First,
an unillustrated driving section is set to the frame 16. The screw
18 is then screwed in the screw insertion holes 22 and 24 to fix
the visor rim 14 to the frame 16. The clip 32 is mounted at the
seat 26 of the visor cover 12. Specifically, the mounting portion
32C disposed between the pair of plates 32A and 32B of the clip 32
is inserted toward the assembly notch 30 formed in the top wall 26B
of the seat 26. Then, the clip 32 is pressed so that the mounting
portion 32C is inserted in the clip-engaging hole 28 that
communicates with the assembly notch 30. In this manner, the clip
32 is assembled to the top wall 26B of the seat 26 in a state in
which the top wall 26B is nipped between the pair of plates 32A and
32B. Thereafter, the claw 32D of the clip 32 is inserted in the
clip-engaging hole 34 formed in the frame 16 so that the claw 32D
engages with the frame 16 while being elastically deformed in a
direction in which it is caused to become narrower. In this manner,
the visor cover 12 is held by the frame 16 in a state in which the
visor cover 12 is fitted in the visor rim 14.
[0049] As described above, in the present embodiment, since the
clip 32 for mounting the visor cover 12 to the frame 16 is formed
as a separate part, resin material for the clip 32 can be
optionally selected. That is, as mentioned before, the visor cover
12 itself can be made of ABS, a compound of ABS and PC, or the like
in view of reduced manufacturing cost, and the clip 32 can be made
of a resin material (such as POM, PP, or the like) that has
properties demanded of the clip 32 (excellent heat resistance and
resistance to cracks resulting from ESC), so that deformation can
be suppressed. As a result, according to the present invention, the
holding power of the visor cover 12 can be maintained over a long
period of time.
[0050] Further, because the holding power of the visor cover 12 can
be maintained over a long period of time, chattering of the visor
cover 12 following assembly can be prevented, and separation of the
visor cover 12 from the frame 16 can therefore be prevented.
Moreover, in the case of conventional structures in which the resin
claw is integrally formed with the visor cover, it has been
necessary to expend considerable man hours and costs on dimensional
tuning and dimensional management of the product in order to
prevent misalignment of the position at which the resin claw
engages with the engaging hole formed in the frame or the visor
rim, with the misalignment resulting in the resin claw-engaging
with the engaging hole in a somewhat bent state. According to the
present invention, however, such drawbacks are all eliminated.
[0051] In addition, in the present embodiment, the top wall 26B of
the seat 26 is nipped by the pair of plates 32A and 32B in a state
in which the clip 32 is mounted to the top wall 26B of the seat 26.
As a result, according to the present invention, the state in which
the clip 32 is mounted to the seat 26 can be stabilized, and
chattering of the clip 32 in the longitudinal direction with
respect to the seat 26 can be prevented.
[0052] Referring to FIGS. 4 through 7, an electrically retractable
door mirror device 10 relating to a second embodiment of the
present invention will next be described. Components of the present
embodiment which are similar to those of the first embodiment are
designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description
thereof will be omitted.
[0053] A front view of the door mirror device 10 in its assembled
state relating to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5
shows a longitudinal sectional structure of the door mirror device
10. FIG. 6 shows a transverse sectional structure of the door
mirror device 10.
[0054] An overall structure of the door mirror device 10 relating
to the second embodiment is shown in each of these figures. A
supplementary explanation of the peripheral structures of the door
mirror device 10 will be given hereinafter, since description
thereof was omitted in the above first embodiment.
[0055] The visor cover 12 forming a front outer casing of the
device 10 has a curved, substantially box-shaped contour. The visor
rim 14 which forms a rear outer casing of the device 10 is
structured by a frame 40 that forms an external contour of the
visor rim 14 (the design thereof), and a partition wall 44, which
is formed inside the frame 40 with a relatively large opening 42 in
the middle thereof. A mirror 46 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) for visually
confirming the rear field of vision of the vehicle is disposed at
the rear side of the partition wall 44 of the visor rim 14. An
unillustrated driving section comprising an electrical retracting
unit, a mirror driving unit, and the like is mounted to the frame
16. The mirror 46 is connected to the unillustrated mirror driving
unit through the opening 42 formed in the partition wall 44.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 4, four mounting points (fastening points
of the screws 18) at which the visor rim 14 is assembled to the
frame 16 are formed at the four corners of the partition wall 44.
Four mounting points of the visor cover 12 at which the visor cover
12 is assembled to the frame 16 (engaging points of the clips 32)
are formed in the vicinity of the fastening points of the screws
18.
[0057] The present embodiment is characterized in that a
rotation-preventing function and a slip-off preventing function are
provided at the seat 48. These functions will be described in
detail hereinafter.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 7, a seat 48 of the present embodiment has
a structure similar to the seat 26 of the first embodiment in that
the seat 48 is structured by side walls 48A that together form a
substantially U-shaped configuration when seen in planar cross
section, and a top wall 48B that joins with upper ends of the side
walls 48A. However, in the present embodiment, an elongated rib 50
that serves as a "restricting portion" is integrally formed at the
upper surfaces of the two side walls 48A that oppose each other.
Thus, the elongated ribs 50 form a pair of ribs which are parallel
to one another. A distance W between opposing surfaces of the pair
of ribs 50 is substantially equal to a transverse directional
dimension B of the upper plate 32A of the clip 32. Further, a
stopper 52 is integrally formed at each side of the assembly notch
30 of the top wall 48B to form a pair of stoppers. Each stopper 52
has a tapered surface 52A formed thereon so that a cross section of
each stopper 52 has a substantially trapezoidal configuration.
[0059] Since the aforementioned structure follows the structure of
the main portions of the first embodiment described previously, the
same operation and effect of the first embodiment can be achieved
with the second embodiment.
[0060] In addition, according to the present embodiment, because a
pair of ribs 50 is provided at the top wall 48B of the seat 48,
when the clip 32 is mounted to the seat 48, side surfaces of the
upper plate 32A abut the inner surfaces of the pair of ribs 50. For
this reason, after the clip 32 is mounted to the seat 48, the
rotation of the clip 32 in the direction in which the claw 32D
extends can be prevented. That is, the ribs 50 lock the clip 32.
Consequently, misalignment of the claw 32D with respect to the
clip-engaging hole 34 formed on the frame 16 due to the orientation
(there is directionality in the orientation of the claw 32D of the
clip 32 with respect to the clip-engaging hole 34) of the clip 32
being altered by rotation of the clip 32 at the time the visor
cover 12 is mounted to the frame 16, such that assembly thereof
becomes difficult, can be prevented with the present embodiment. As
a result, according to the present embodiment, assembly of the
visor cover 12 can be made faster.
[0061] To supplement this point, a rotation-preventing function is
already secured in the present embodiment by the side surfaces of
the plate 32B of the clip 32 abutting against opposing inner
surfaces of the side walls 48A of the seat 48 in a state in which
the clip 32 has been mounted on the seat 48. Thus, the present
embodiment may basically be seen as an example of an embodiment in
which a rotation-preventing portion is actively disposed at the
upper surface of the top wall 48B of the seat 48. However, there is
also another point deserving note in regard to the merit of
providing the ribs 50 on the upper surface of the top wall 48B of
the seat 48. Namely, with the present embodiment, not only can a
rotation-preventing function be obtained with respect to the lower
plate 32B of the clip 32, but a further rotation-preventing
function can be obtained with respect to the upper plate 32A of the
clip 32. This means that rotation of the clip 32 is restricted not
only at one longitudinal direction end of the claw 32D, but at the
longitudinal direction end of the claw 32D and at a vicinity
thereof. Hence, an advantageous effect is obtained with the present
embodiment in that twist deformation of the clip 32 resulting from
rotation thereof can be suppressed to the greatest extent
possible.
[0062] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the ribs 50
are provided at the upper surface of the top wall 48B of the seat
48, neither is it necessary to form undercuts at the part of the
seat 48 in the mold of the visor cover 12, nor is it necessary to
give special consideration to removal of the mold. Consequently,
according to the present embodiment, the formability of the visor
cover 12 is not impaired.
[0063] Further, because the stoppers 52 which each have the tapered
surface 52A are integrally formed at the sides of the assembly
notch 30 in the top wall 48B of the seat 48, the tapered surfaces
52A function as guides when the clip 32 is mounted on the seat 48
in the present embodiment. Thus, assembly of the clip 32 can be
improved with the present embodiment. Moreover, because back walls
52B of the stoppers 52 (see FIG. 7) abut against a side surface of
the upper plate 32A of the clip 32 after the clip 32 has been
mounted to the seat 48, the stoppers 52 function to prevent the
clip 32 from slipping. Thus, there is not the nuisance of having to
remount the clip 32 on the seat 48 if the clip 32 inadvertently
comes off of the seat 48 at the time the visor cover 12 is mounted
to the frame 16 once the clip 32 has been mounted to the seat 48.
As a result, assembly of the visor cover can be improved with the
present embodiment.
[0064] Although a case in which the visor cover 12 is held by the
frame 16 is described in the above embodiments, the present
invention is not limited to the same. For example, the present
invention may be applied to the visor rim 14 or to both the visor
cover 12 and the visor rim 14.
[0065] That is, in a case in which the seat 26 is formed integrally
with the visor cover 12 and a separate clip 32 is attached to the
seat 26 as in the above embodiments, the visor cover 12 is
assembled to the frame 16 or the visor rim 14 via the clip 32.
Alternatively, in a case in which the seat 26 is formed integrally
with the visor rim 14 and a separate clip 32 is attached to the
seat 26, the visor rim 14 is assembled to the frame 16 or the visor
cover 12. Further, when the visor cover 12 and the visor rim 14 are
both formed integrally with the seat 26 and a separate clip 32 is
mounted to each, the visor cover 12 and the visor rim 14 are
assembled to the frame 16.
[0066] Although a case in which the frame 16 is disposed between
the visor cover 12 and the visor rim 14 is described in the above
embodiments, the frame 16 may be omitted.
[0067] In the second embodiment described above, the ribs 50 are
formed as "restricting portions" at the top wall 48B of the seat
48. However, the present invention is not limited to the same, and
examples of the restricting portions include various structures.
For instance, as described in conjunction with the second
embodiment, the pair of side walls 48A that are abutted by side
surfaces of the lower plate 32B of the clip 32 is also a kind of
restricting portion. Further, a rib formed at the back side of the
upper surface of the top wall 48B (i.e., opposite the pair of
stoppers 52) may also serve as a restricting portion, since the
upper plate 32A of the clip 32 is restricted from rotating by the
rib and the stoppers 52. Moreover, the clip 32 can also be
prevented from rotating by, for example, forming at an outer
periphery of the mounting portion 32C of the clip 32 one or more
protrusions that protrude outward in a radial direction and forming
in an inner peripheral surface of the clip-insertion hole 28 of the
seat 26 or the seat 48 a slit into which the protrusion can be
inserted, so that the protrusion may fit into the slit when the
clip 32 is mounted on the seat 26 or the seat 48.
[0068] Although the resin clip 32 is used in the above embodiments,
a material other than metal may also be used for the clip as long
as quality and effects which are the same as those of the clip 32
are obtained.
[0069] As described above, a structure for holding a visor for a
door mirror device, which structure has the excellent effect of
being able to obtain sufficient holding power over a long period of
time, can be obtained with the present invention.
* * * * *