U.S. patent application number 13/197230 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-09 for exterior rear view mirror and process for its assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to SMR Patents S.a.r.I.. Invention is credited to Andreas Herrmann, Istvan Szmolenszki.
Application Number | 20120033314 13/197230 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43719507 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120033314 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Szmolenszki; Istvan ; et
al. |
February 9, 2012 |
EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND PROCESS FOR ITS ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An exterior rear view mirror of an exterior rear view mirror
assembly for a motor vehicle is described. The exterior rear view
mirror includes: an exterior rear view mirror housing, a base
bracket, at least partly accommodated in the exterior rear view
mirror housing, a frame with walls, which surround an opening
arranged on the rear side of the exterior rear view mirror housing,
for a mirror glass, and an adjusting device, attached to the base
bracket, for the mirror glass. The frame is attached to the base
bracket by means of the adjusting device. In addition, a process
for assembly of an exterior rear view mirror of this type is
described.
Inventors: |
Szmolenszki; Istvan;
(Schwaikheim, DE) ; Herrmann; Andreas;
(Winnenden-Baach, DE) |
Assignee: |
SMR Patents S.a.r.I.
Luxembourg
LU
|
Family ID: |
43719507 |
Appl. No.: |
13/197230 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
359/872 ;
29/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 1/062 20130101;
Y10T 29/49826 20150115; B60R 1/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
359/872 ;
29/428 |
International
Class: |
B60R 1/06 20060101
B60R001/06; B23P 11/00 20060101 B23P011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 3, 2010 |
EP |
10171710 |
Claims
1. Exterior rear view mirror with an exterior rear view mirror
housing, a base bracket, at least partly accommodated in the
exterior rear view mirror housing, a frame with walls, which
surround an opening arranged on the rear side of the exterior rear
view mirror housing, for a mirror glass, and an adjusting device,
attached to the base bracket, for the mirror glass, wherein the
frame being attached to the base bracket by means of the adjusting
device.
2. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 1, characterized by
attachment of the frame to the base bracket by means of the
adjusting device by means of fastening means at least also provided
for the attachment of the adjusting device to the base bracket.
3. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 2, characterized in
that, for the attachment of the frame to the base bracket by means
of the adjusting device, the frame is held tightly to the base
bracket itself by the adjusting device and/or is clamped in a
friction-locked manner.
4. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 3, characterized in
that, the frame is connected to the adjusting device.
5. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 4, characterized in
that, the frame is connected to the adjusting device on the side of
the adjusting device which faces the base bracket.
6. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 5, characterized in
that, the frame is connected to the adjusting device between the
adjusting device and the base bracket.
7. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 6, characterized in
that, the frame can comprise a section provided for its attachment
to the base bracket by means of the adjusting device.
8. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 7, characterized in
that, the section of the frame provided for attachment to the base
bracket by means of the adjusting device, seen from the opening
provided on the rear side of the exterior rear view mirror housing
for the mirror glass, at least partly encompasses and/or engages
behind the adjusting device.
9. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 8, characterized in
that, in a part of the section at least partly encompassing and/or
engaging behind the adjusting device, through-openings are provided
at least for the fastening means serving for the attachment of the
adjusting device to the base bracket.
10. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 9, characterized
in that, the section is designed in a bowl shape, whereby the bowl
edge forms or includes the walls surrounding the opening provided
on the rear side of the exterior rear view mirror housing, and in
the region of the bowl base, the frame is attached to the base
bracket by means of the adjusting device.
11. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 10, characterized
in that, the bowl-shaped section can have a lattice form, at least
between the bowl edge and the bowl base.
12. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 11, characterized
in that, the frame forms a housing section surrounding the opening
for the mirror glass.
13. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 12, characterized
in that, the housing section forms at least one part of an external
contour of the exterior rear view mirror housing.
14. Exterior rear view mirror according to claim 13, characterized
in that, the frame can form or include a housing part, comprising
the opening for the mirror glass, of an exterior rear view mirror
housing formed in at least two parts, or can be formed or included
by a housing part of this type.
15. Process for assembly of an exterior rear view mirror with: an
exterior rear view mirror housing, a base bracket, at least partly
accommodated in the exterior rear view mirror housing, a frame with
walls, which surround an opening arranged on the rear side of the
exterior rear view mirror housing, for a mirror glass, and an
adjusting device, fixed on the base bracket, for the mirror glass,
wherein the following process steps: alignment of the frame and the
adjusting device in relation to one another and attachment of the
frame to the base bracket by means of the adjusting device.
Description
BACKGROUND ART
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention is based on a priority patent application EP
10171710.6 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The invention relates to an exterior rear view mirror of an
exterior rear view mirror assembly for a motor vehicle with an
exterior rear view mirror housing, a base bracket at least partly
accommodated in the exterior rear view mirror housing, a frame with
walls, which surround an opening arranged on the rear side of the
exterior rear view mirror housing, for a mirror glass, and an
adjusting device, attached to the base bracket, for the mirror
glass, wherein the frame being attached to the base bracket by
means of the adjusting device; and
[0005] a process for assembly of an exterior rear view mirror of
this type with an exterior rear view mirror housing, a base
bracket, at least partly accommodated in the exterior rear view
mirror housing, a frame with walls, which surround an opening
arranged on the rear side of the exterior rear view mirror housing,
for a mirror glass, and an adjusting device, fixed on the base
bracket, for the mirror glass, wherein the following process steps:
alignment of the frame and the adjusting device in relation to one
another and attachment of the frame to the base bracket by means of
the adjusting device.
[0006] An exterior rear view mirror assembly for a motor vehicle
consists, for example, of a mirror base arranged on the motor
vehicle, which can be covered by means of a mirror base cover, and
an exterior rear view mirror arranged on the mirror base. The
exterior rear view mirror includes an exterior rear view mirror
housing, which, inter alia, houses the base bracket assigned to the
mirror base.
[0007] The mirror base and the base bracket are hinged together, so
that the exterior rear view mirror can be pivoted about a hinge
axis in relation to the mirror base from an operating position into
a folding position and vice versa. The mirror base and base bracket
can be produced from die-casting material, for example, from the
same material.
[0008] An adjusting device for a mirror glass, driven by an
electric motor, for example, is arranged on the base bracket. The
adjusting device acts on a backing plate, on which the mirror glass
is arranged. The mirror glass can be mounted onto the backing plate
by means of an adhesive connection. The backing plate can be guided
to and/or mounted on the adjustment device and/or the base plate.
The term `backing plate` here refers to any type of bracket, which
comprises at least one bracket surface, with a plane or vaulted
design, closed or in a non-continuous grid, for example,
honeycombed, on which it is suitable to attach a mirror glass, for
example by means of an adhesive connection or by clipping e.g.
locking means, protruding behind the perimeter of the bracket
surface and arcing inwards towards the centre of the bracket
surface, seen from the perimeter.
[0009] On its rear side, facing away from the direction of movement
of the vehicle in the operating position, the exterior rear view
mirror housing comprises an opening, through which the mirror glass
is visible, or in which the mirror glass is arranged. In order to
ensure that the mirror glass is adjustable, a distance is kept on
all sides between the mirror glass or backing plate and the walls
of the exterior rear view mirror housing surrounding the opening,
so that a gap is given around the mirror glass between the walls of
the exterior rear view mirror housing surrounding the opening.
[0010] In production of motor vehicle parts, such as an exterior
rear view mirror assembly or an exterior rear view mirror, there
are many legal regulations to take into account. A legal regulation
to protect third parties from injuries, for example, provides
permissible minimum radii, which must at least be kept, at least on
unprotected, exposed points. These required minimum radii cannot be
kept, for example, in mirror glasses. In order to meet the legal
requirement, though, it is known to protect the mirror glass by a
circumferential frame. The frame surrounds the opening provided for
the mirror glass on the rear side of the exterior rear view mirror
housing, so that the edges of the mirror glass are not exposed.
Here the frame can only surround the walls surrounding the opening,
or form a housing section lying around the opening for the mirror
glass with the walls surrounding the opening. The external contour
of the frame, forming a part of the external side of the exterior
rear view mirror housing in the process, here maintains the legally
predefined minimum radii around the mirror glass, without the
mirror glass being exposed itself with immediate accessibility to
its edges.
[0011] In addition to, or instead of, an electromotive activation
for the adjustment device of the mirror glass, the exterior rear
view mirror can accommodate one or several additional electrical
components. Examples of electrical components of this type are:
[0012] a turn signal indicator, [0013] an entry light, [0014] a
heatable mirror glass, [0015] an electro-chromatically dimmable
mirror glass, [0016] a detection module and/or warning display
module for a driving assistance device, such as blind spot
monitoring, a lane departure warning, approach monitoring, or
similar, [0017] a sensor for detecting driving and/or surrounding
conditions, such as for example, temperature, brightness, degree of
pollution, lighting situation, for example, in order to
automatically heat the mirror glass, or to dim
electro-chromatically, for example.
[0018] In addition, the exterior rear view mirror can comprise one
or several combinations of the electrical components given as
examples.
[0019] The electrical components in the exterior rear view mirror
are connected to a power supply on the vehicle side, and/or to a
control device on the vehicle side, for example, by means of an
electrical connection through the mirror base, for example by a
vehicle electrical system and/or a bus system. The electrical
connection consists, for example, of a cable harness with several
cables, if necessary, each with separate plug connections to the
electrical terminal of the electrical components, in each case
individually or in groups, and at least one electrical plug
connection for continuative electrical contacting on the vehicle
side.
[0020] For example, in order to simplify the assembly of the
different components, at least partly housed in the inside of the
exterior rear view mirror housing, component groups, as well as, if
necessary, their electrical connections between each other and/or
with a control unit housed on the motor vehicle side, the exterior
rear view mirror housing can be designed in at least two parts. A
first housing part forms the housing base, for example, and a
second housing part forms the housing cover. At the same time, one
of both housing parts can include the frame with the walls
surrounding the opening, as well as, if necessary, the housing
section lying around the opening for the mirror glass.
[0021] In summary, an exterior rear view mirror of an exterior rear
view mirror assembly consists of several components connected to
each other, for example, a one-piece or multi-piece exterior rear
view mirror housing, which consists of a housing base, housing
cover and the frame, if necessary, a base bracket housed therein,
an adjustment device arranged thereon, a mirror glass and a backing
plate bearing this and attached to the adjustment assembly, as well
as, if necessary, at least one electrical component, at least
partly housed inside the exterior rear view mirror housing, for
example, an electromotive activation for the adjustment device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The object is in the development and production of motor
vehicle parts, such as perhaps an exterior rear view mirror
assembly or an exterior rear view mirror, a simple, time-saving,
and cost-effective production and assembly.
[0023] Exterior rear view mirror assemblies or exterior rear view
mirrors with assembly concepts, which include a multiplicity of
time-consuming work steps for the production of mechanical and/or
electrical connections between individual components and/or
component groups in each case, are contrary to this aim.
[0024] An exterior rear view mirror of a motor vehicle is known in
U.S. Pat. No. 7,448,589 B2. The exterior rear view mirror consists
of a base bracket, a one-piece exterior rear view mirror housing
arranged on the base bracket, with a rear-facing opening for a
mirror glass, and a frame integrated into the exterior rear view
mirror housing with the walls surrounding the opening, as well as
an electromotively activated adjusting device, arranged on the base
bracket, for a backing plate, on which the mirror glass is
arranged. For the assembly of the exterior rear view mirror,
firstly, it is necessary to connect the base bracket and the
exterior rear view mirror housing together, and following this, to
attach the electromotively activated adjusting device to the base
bracket through the rear-facing opening, which is surrounded by the
frame on the exterior rear view mirror housing.
[0025] The disadvantage of this is the complex, time-intensive and
cost-intensive assembly of the components and the electrical
components, caused by poor accessibility, as well as their
connections to one another through the rear-facing opening
surrounded by the frame.
[0026] An object of the invention is the creation of an improved
exterior rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, which allows for a
simple and cost-effective production and assembly.
[0027] The object is achieved by
[0028] an exterior rear view mirror with an exterior rear view
mirror housing, a base bracket, at least partly accommodated in the
exterior rear view mirror housing, a frame with walls, which
surround an opening arranged on the rear side of the exterior rear
view mirror housing, for a mirror glass, and an adjusting device,
attached to the base bracket, for the mirror glass, wherein the
frame being attached to the base bracket by means of the adjusting
device; and
[0029] process for assembly of an exterior rear view mirror with:
an exterior rear view mirror housing, a base bracket, at least
partly accommodated in the exterior rear view mirror housing, a
frame with walls, which surround an opening arranged on the rear
side of the exterior rear view mirror housing, for a mirror glass,
and an adjusting device, fixed on the base bracket, for the mirror
glass, wherein the following process steps: alignment of the frame
and the adjusting device in relation to one another and attachment
of the frame to the base bracket by means of the adjusting
device.
[0030] A first subject of the invention thus concerns an exterior
rear view mirror with: [0031] an exterior rear view mirror housing,
[0032] a base bracket, at least partly accommodated in the exterior
rear view mirror housing, [0033] a frame with walls, which surround
an opening, arranged on the rear side of the exterior rear view
mirror, for a mirror glass, and [0034] an adjusting device, fixed
on the base bracket, for a backing plate, on which the mirror glass
is arranged.
[0035] The exterior rear view mirror is characterized in that the
frame provided for surrounding the mirror glass is fixed on the
base bracket by means of the adjusting device.
[0036] Advantages resulting from this, in relation to the prior
art, are unrestricted accessibility to the electrical and
mechanical connections to be produced in the exterior rear view
mirror housing, through to fastening the adjusting device on the
base bracket. Inter alia, further advantages are given in that the
frame, still before fastening of the adjusting device on the base
bracket, can be aligned so that it is easily accessible in relation
to the adjusting device, and if necessary, can be fixed on and/or
attached to this.
[0037] The frame can comprise a part provided for its attachment to
the base bracket by means of the adjusting device.
[0038] The section can be formed in the shape of a bowl, whereby
the bowl edge forms the walls surrounding the opening provided on
the rear side of the exterior rear view mirror housing. In the
region of the bowl base, the frame is attached to the base bracket
by means of the adjusting device.
[0039] The bowl-shaped section can have a lattice form at least
between the bowl edge and the bowl base. This serves for both a
saving of weight, as well as a visual control and/or assembly aid
during assembly of the exterior rear view mirror, for example, in
order to see whether the mechanical and electrical connections,
provided if necessary, are produced properly, and that the
electrical connections, provided if necessary, run properly and do
not become jammed or disconnected.
[0040] The fastening of the frame to the base bracket by means of
the adjusting device can take place by means of fastening means at
least also provided for the attachment of the adjusting device to
the base bracket.
[0041] Alternatively or additionally, the attachment of the frame
to the base bracket by means of the adjusting device can be
effectuated by the frame being held tightly to the base bracket
itself, for example, by the adjusting device, and/or by being
clamped in a friction-locked manner, for example, as a section of
the frame, which is provided for attachment to the base bracket by
means of the adjusting device, is arranged between the adjusting
device and the base bracket.
[0042] Here, the section of the frame provided for attachment to
the base bracket by means of the adjusting device can at least
partly encompass and/or engage behind the adjusting device, seen
from the opening provided on the rear side of the exterior rear
view mirror housing for the mirror glass.
[0043] In a part of the section at least partly encompassing and/or
engaging behind the adjusting device, through-openings can be
provided at least for the fastening means serving for the
attachment of the adjusting device to the base bracket, these so
that the frame is attached to the base bracket by means of the
adjusting device itself, and in addition, by means of the fastening
means provided for its attachment to the base bracket.
[0044] Optionally or additionally, the frame can be connected to
the adjusting device. Preferably, this connection is situated on
the side of the adjusting device facing the base bracket,
particularly preferably, between the adjusting device and the base
bracket.
[0045] For one of the named attachments and/or for production of
one of the named connections, both interlocking and
friction-locking connection types are suitable, such as by means of
screws, bolts, shear pins, nuts, nails, staples, rivets, for
example, as well as firmly bonded connection types, such as by
means of welding, soldering, or adhesive bonding, for example.
[0046] The frame can form a housing section surrounding the opening
for the mirror glass. The housing section here forms at least one
part of an external contour of the exterior rear view mirror
housing.
[0047] The frame can form or include a housing part, comprising the
opening for the mirror glass, of an exterior rear view mirror
housing formed in at least two parts, or can be formed or included
by a housing part of this type.
[0048] The exterior rear view mirror housing can here consist of at
least a first housing part and a second housing part, both of which
can be connected to the base bracket, which is provided if
necessary. One of both housing parts can include a housing section
lying around the opening for the mirror glass, as well as, if
necessary, the frame with the walls surrounding the opening. The
first housing part and the second housing part border each other
along at least one connection joint. At least the housing part
including the frame with walls surrounding the opening, as well as,
if necessary, the housing section lying around the opening for the
mirror glass, is attached to the base bracket by means of a bolted
connection, for example, by means of the adjusting device.
[0049] It is important to emphasise that alternatively or
additionally to a bolted connection, any other force-fit and/or
interlocking and/or firmly bonded connection methods, such as, for
example, glued or welded locking connections, riveted joints or
combined plug and screw or locking connections can be used here if
necessary. As an example of this, a locking connection, alone or
suitable in combination with another connecting method, also
denoted as a clip connection or a snap connection, includes
corresponding locking elements, of which at least one is
elastically deformable, and following a deformation, hooks
detachably or inextricably with at least another to produce the
locking connection. Examples of corresponding locking elements of
this type are a rearward engagement and an elastically deformable
locking means engaging therein.
[0050] A second item of the invention relates to a process for
assembly of an exterior rear view mirror for a motor vehicle. The
exterior rear view mirror includes: [0051] an exterior rear view
mirror housing, [0052] a base bracket, at least partly accommodated
in the exterior rear view mirror housing, [0053] a frame with
walls, which surround an opening, arranged on the rear side of the
exterior rear view mirror, for a mirror glass, and [0054] an
adjusting device, fixed on the base bracket, for a backing plate,
on which the mirror glass is arranged.
[0055] The process is characterized in that the frame, provided for
bordering the mirror glass, and the adjusting device are firstly
aligned in relation to one another, as well as connected to one
another if necessary, and the frame is subsequently attached to the
base bracket by means of the adjusting device.
[0056] The process permits the advantages of a previously described
exterior rear view mirror to be used during its assembly.
Embodiments of the process result from the previously described
different options for the embodiment of the exterior rear view
mirror and its components, component groups, as well as electrical
components provided if necessary.
[0057] Further features of the invention result from the claims,
description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0058] Execution examples of the invention are subsequently
explained in more detail by means of the drawings. Identical
reference characters denote identical or identically acting
elements. In the drawings, shown schematically:
[0059] FIG. 1 shows a view of an exterior rear view mirror, seen
from its rear side, with the backing plate bearing the mirror glass
being removed.
[0060] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an attachment of an opening
provided on the rear side of the exterior rear view mirror from
FIG. 1 for a frame surrounding a mirror glass by means of an
adjusting device on a base bracket from a perspective view.
[0061] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a process for assembly of the
attachment shown in FIG. 2 of an opening provided on the rear side
of the exterior rear view mirror from FIG. 1 for the frame
surrounding the mirror glass by means of the adjusting device on
the base bracket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0062] An exterior rear view mirror 01, partly shown in FIGS. 1 and
2, of an exterior rear view mirror assembly for a motor vehicle
essentially includes an exterior rear view mirror housing, not
shown in more detail for the sake of clarity, a base bracket 02 at
least partly housed in an exterior rear view mirror housing, a
frame 03 and an adjusting device 04, for a mirror glass, attached
to the base bracket 02. The adjusting device 04 preferably has an
electromotive activation. An adjusting device 04 of this type can
thus be denoted as an actuator for the mirror glass.
[0063] The frame 03 has walls 05, which surround an opening 06
arranged on the rear side of the exterior rear view mirror housing,
for a mirror glass.
[0064] The frame 03 serves for bordering the mirror glass. The
frame 03 allows for fulfilling a legal regulation to protect third
parties from injuries, for example, which gives permissible minimum
radii, which must at least be observed, at least on unprotected,
exposed points. The frame 03 protects the edges on the borders of
the mirror glass, so that these are not exposed. This is necessary,
since the minimum radii required by the legal regulation cannot be
met in mirror glasses.
[0065] The adjusting device acts on a backing plate, on whose side
facing the opening 06 on the rear side of the exterior rear view
mirror housing 01, the mirror glass is arranged.
[0066] The frame 03 is attached to the base bracket 02 by means of
the adjusting device 04.
[0067] The attachment of the frame 03 to the base bracket 02 by
means of the adjusting device 04 takes place by means of at least
fastening means 07 also provided for fastening the adjusting device
04 to the base bracket 02. These fastening means 07 can be screws,
for example.
[0068] The frame 03 can comprise a section 08 provided for its
attachment to the base bracket 02 by means of the adjusting device
04. Seen from the opening 06 for the mirror glass, provided on the
rear side of the exterior rear view mirror housing, the section 08
surrounds and/or engages behind the adjusting device 04, at least
in parts.
[0069] In a part 09 of the section 08 at least partly surrounding
and/or engaging behind the adjusting device 04, through-openings 10
for the fastening means 07 serving for attaching the adjusting
device 04 to the base bracket 02 can be provided. In addition, in
the part 09 of the section 08 at least partly surrounding and/or
engaging behind the adjusting device 04, at least one
through-opening 11 can be provided for at least one surface of the
adjusting device 04 coming into contact with the base bracket
02.
[0070] The section 08 is preferably designed in a bowl form. The
bowl edge 12 forms or includes the walls 05 surrounding the opening
06 provided on the rear side of the exterior rear view mirror
housing. In the region of the bowl base 13, the frame 03 is
attached to the base bracket 02 by means of the adjusting device
04.
[0071] The bowl-shaped section 08 can have a lattice form at least
between the bowl edge 12 and the bowl base 13.
[0072] The frame 03, for its attachment to the base bracket 02 by
means of the adjusting device 04, is held tightly by the adjusting
device 04 and/or is clamped in a friction-locked manner. As an
example, for a secure, interlocking mounting, recesses 14 and/or
protrusions 15, for example, can be provided on the frame 03 and
related protrusions and/or recesses can be provided on the
adjusting device 04. For example, several recesses 14 and
protrusions 15 can be provided on the bowl base 13, e.g. equally
distributed over the extent, lying around the through-opening 11.
On its surface in contact with the base bracket 02 through the
through-opening 11, the adjusting device has surface portions
corresponding to the recesses 14 and protrusions 15.
[0073] Entrances 16 for the fastening means 07 are provided on the
base bracket 02. The entrances can be designed, for example, as
openings or holes e.g. in the form of blind holes, into which are
screwed fastening means implemented as tapping screws, for example.
Alternatively, the openings of the entrances 16 can be provided
with an internal thread, into which fastening means designed as
threaded screws can be screwed. In the process, the entrances 16
can have the external shape of domes standing on the base bracket,
which are equipped, in each case, with a hole running along its
axis, provided with an internal thread, if necessary.
[0074] It is important to emphasise that the entrances 16 and the
fastening means 07 can also be designed the other way round to the
way previously described. In the present execution example, this
means that the entrances 16 can be provided with threaded rods, for
example, which project through the through-passage openings 10 in
the bowl base 13 of the section 08 of the frame 03 and through the
adjusting device 04, and the fastening means 07 are designed as
nuts, for example.
[0075] It is also important to emphasise that the frame 03,
independently of the attachment to the base bracket 02 by means of
the adjusting device 04, can be separately connected to the
adjusting device 04. For this purpose, for example, one or several
connections e.g. one or several locking and/or bolted connections
between the frame 03 and the adjusting device 04 can be provided.
The frame 03 is connected here to the adjusting device 04,
preferably to the side of the adjusting device 04 facing the base
bracket 02, e.g. between the adjusting device and base bracket.
[0076] The frame 03 can form a housing section surrounding the
opening 06 for the mirror glass. The housing section here forms at
least one part 17 of an external contour of the exterior rear view
mirror housing.
[0077] In order to increase the stability of the exterior rear view
mirror 01 following the attachment to the base bracket 02 by means
of the adjusting device 04, the frame 03 can also be connected to
the base bracket 02 by means of fastening means provided for this
purpose.
[0078] A process shown schematically in its course in FIG. 3 for
assembly of an exterior rear view mirror 01 with: [0079] an
exterior rear view mirror housing, [0080] a base bracket 02, at
least partly accommodated in the exterior rear view mirror housing,
[0081] a frame 03 with walls 05, which surround an opening 06
arranged on the rear side of the exterior rear view mirror housing,
for a mirror glass, and [0082] an adjusting device 04, attached on
the base bracket 02, for a backing plate, on which the mirror glass
is arranged, essentially consists of two process steps I, II, at
least in a basic form.
[0083] The process starts in a first process step I with the frame
03 and the adjusting device 04 being aligned in relation to one
another. During the alignment in relation to one another, both the
frame 03 and the adjusting device 04 are preferably not connected
to any other component or any other component group of the exterior
rear view mirror, so that both the frame 03 as well as the
adjusting device 04 can be handled freely.
[0084] In a second process step II, the process provides an
attachment of the frame 03 to the base bracket 02 by means of the
adjusting device 04. For this purpose, the frame 03 previously
aligned to the adjusting device is thus attached to the base
bracket 02, as the adjusting device 04 is attached to the base
bracket. This therefore saves a separate work step of a separate
attachment of the frame 03 to the base bracket 02. A separate work
step of this type for attachment of the adjusting device to the
base bracket, required according to the prior art, after the frame
has already been mounted on the base bracket, is also complicated
to achieve, since accessibility through the frame is very
limited.
[0085] In an alternative arrangement of the process, indicated by
the dotted arrows A and B, a third process step III takes place
after the first process step I and before the second process step
II. This third process step III provides that the frame 03 is
attached to the adjusting device 04 before the attachment to the
base bracket by means of the adjusting device 04. In the process,
the adjusting device 04 and frame 03 are freely accessible on all
sides, so that an additional process step of this type can be
carried out easily, and in all cases, there is a saving in relation
to an attachment of the adjusting device 04 to the base bracket,
according to the prior art, which could only be implemented with
high expenditure of time, after the frame has already been attached
to the base bracket.
[0086] Inter alia, advantages of the invention are given in that
currently in the prior art, in a first work step, the frame must
first be attached to the base bracket by means of separate screws,
before e.g. electrical and/or mechanical connections must then be
produced in further steps in the inside of the exterior rear view
mirror, which has poor accessibility limited by the frame. In a
separate work step, in the prior art, the adjusting device must
then also be attached to the base bracket by means of separate
fastening means, e.g. also screws.
[0087] The present invention facilitates either the saving of or
the simplified execution of a work step, since the frame 03 is now
attached to the base bracket 02 by means of the adjusting device
04.
[0088] The invention is particularly commercially applicable in the
production of exterior rear view mirror assemblies for motor
vehicles.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0089] 01 Exterior rear view mirror [0090] 02 Base bracket [0091]
03 Frame [0092] 04 Adjusting device [0093] 05 Wall [0094] 06
Opening [0095] 07 Fastening means [0096] 08 Section of the frame
[0097] 09 Part of the section [0098] 10 Through-opening [0099] 11
Through-opening [0100] 12 Bowl edge [0101] 13 Bowl base [0102] 14
Recess [0103] 15 Protrusion [0104] 16 Entrance [0105] 17 Part of
the external contour of the exterior rear view mirror housing
[0106] I Process step [0107] II Process step [0108] III Further
process step [0109] A, B Alternative procedure
* * * * *