Patent Application
20220041109
This disclosure relates to side view mirrors that are mounted to a vehicle body structure of a motor vehicle.
Vehicles include side view mirrors that are typically mounted to driver and passenger doors. Vehicles that are designed for off-road use often provide for the easy removal of doors. Removal of the doors can also result in removal of the side view mirrors.
A side view mirror assembly for a vehicle according to one example disclosed embodiment includes, among other possible things, a base frame configured to couple to a bracket connected to a vehicle static structure, the base frame interfacing with the bracket through a guide at least partially received within a pocket when the base frame is coupled to the bracket and a mirror housing assembly adjustably supported by the base frame.
A further embodiment of the foregoing side view mirror assembly includes a bracket configured for attachment to the vehicle static structure, the base frame is mountable to the bracket and the bracket includes a boss extending from a flange, the boss seating directly to the vehicle static structure and spacing the flange from the vehicle static structure.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, the bracket includes the guide and the base frame includes the pocket, the pocket including inner surfaces that abut outer peripheral walls of the guide for fixing the base frame relative to vehicle static structure.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, the outer peripheral wall is a tapered wall and the inner surfaces of the pocket include a taper corresponding with the taper of the outer peripheral wall.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, at least one fastener secures the base frame to the bracket.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, at least one locator pin defines a position of the bracket relative to the vehicle static structure, the at least one locator pin extending from the flange.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, a seal assembly is attached to the bracket and disposed within a space between the flange and the vehicle static structure defined by the boss, the seal assembly including an expandable sealing material forming a seal between the vehicle static structure and the flange.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, the seal assembly includes a seal baffle and the seal material is disposed within the seal baffle, the seal baffle including at least one push pin extending through an opening in the bracket for securing the seal assembly to the bracket prior to attachment of the bracket to the vehicle static structure.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, the seal material comprises a nylon material and an expandable sealer material.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, the mirror housing assembly includes a mirror, a motor to adjust a position of the mirror and an electric conduit routed through the base frame to the motor.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, the mirror housing assembly includes at least one light and one additional electrical feature.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, the mirror housing assembly includes an arm pivotally attached to the base frame, the arm supporting the mirror and motor.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing side view mirror assemblies, the vehicle static structure comprises portions of an A-pillar.
A method of assembling a side view mirror to a vehicle according to another example embodiment of this disclosure includes, among other possible things, securing a bracket to a vehicle static structure, wherein securing the bracket includes seating a boss extending from a flange of the bracket directly onto a surface of the vehicle static structure, inserting a fastener through the boss, attaching the fastener to the vehicle static structure such that the flange is spaced apart from the vehicle static structure, attaching a base frame to the bracket and attaching a mirror housing assembly to the base frame where the mirror assembly adjustably supported on the base frame with an electric motor.
A further embodiment of the foregoing method includes attaching a seal assembly to the bracket prior to the bracket being secured to the vehicle static structure and heating the seal assembly to expand a sealing material within the space between the vehicle static structure and the flange of the bracket.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, attaching the seal assembly to the bracket comprises inserting pins through openings within the bracket.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, attaching the bracket to the vehicle static structure includes inserting at least one locating pin of the bracket into a corresponding alignment opening of the vehicle static structure.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, attaching the base frame to the bracket by receiving a guide of the bracket into a pocket defined on the base frame.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, the mirror housing assembly includes an arm that is pivotally coupled to the base frame.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods includes routing at least one electric conduit through the base frame and arm.
The various features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
Referring to
An electric conduit 32 is routed through the base frame 40 and into a dry area 36. A connector 34 attached the conduit 32 is attached to applicable power and control conduits to power and control the motor 48 for adjusting a position of the mirror 46. The arm 44 includes a pivot portion 92 pivotally mounted to a pivot 90 of the base frame 40. In the exemplary embodiment, the pivot portion 92 is an integral part of the arm 44 and the pivot 90 is an integral part of the base frame 40. It is within the contemplation of this disclosure that parts of the arm 44 and base frame 40 may be differently configured with separate parts.
In one disclosed embodiment, the mirror assembly 30 may include an electrical feature such as, for example, a light 50. In one example, the light 50 is a turn signal lamp. The light 50 is shown by way of example and other lighting features could also be included in the mirror assembly 30, such as for example a spot light or blind spot information system light may also be included and are within the contemplation and scope of this disclosure. The mirror assembly 30 may include other electrical features such as, for example, a mirror defroster, puddle lamp, turn signal and/or any other electrical feature complementing operation of the vehicle and mirror assembly 30. The mirror assembly 30 may include only the mirror without a light and such an embodiment is also within the contemplation and scope of this disclosure.
The disclosed mirror assembly 30 may be attached to the vehicle static structure 22 at a joint interface between the A-pillar 26 and the hinge pillar 18. The joint interface is sealed to prevent water from entering into the dry area 36 as well as the vehicle passenger cabin. The dry area 36, in this disclosed example, is under the mirror bracket 38 and may include components and electrical wiring that are purposely shielded from the ambient environment. The example mirror assembly 30 may be attached to other locations of the vehicle static structure 22, such as entirely on either of the A-pillar or the hinge pillar 18. Moreover, although example parts of the vehicle static structure are disclosed by way of example, the mirror assembly may be attached to any portion of the vehicle static structure.
Referring to
The seal baffle 100 is shaped to correspond with a shape of a flange 54 of the bracket 38. The flange 54 includes openings 56 for fasteners utilized to secure the bracket 38 to the vehicle structure. The flange 54 further includes openings 58 that receive push pins 70, 72 of the seal baffle 100. The push pins 70, 72 extend through corresponding ones of the openings 58 to hold the seal baffle 100 to the bracket 38 during assembly. In this example, each of the push pins 70, 72 includes a snap fit configuration that engages the top side of the flange 54 once inserted through a corresponding opening 58. In this example, the push pin 72 is shaped differently from the push pin 70. The differently shaped push pins 70, 72 provide an assurance that the seal assembly 52 will be properly orientated and assembled to the bracket 38. Identical shaped push pins 70, 72 are also within the scope and contemplation of this disclosure.
Peripheral ribs 68 extend about the outer perimeter of the seal baffle 100 as shown in
The bracket 38 includes a guide 60 that extends from the flange 54 and defines the interface for assembly of the base frame 40. Once assembled to the vehicle static structure, the bracket 38 is not removed. Accordingly, the bracket 38 may serve as a mounting location of alternate features. The guide 60 defines a mating structure to which the mirror assembly 30 is assembled. Alternatively, the mirror assembly 30 may be removed and the guide 60 utilized to mount accessory items, such as a light and/or camera, for example.
Referring to
The bracket 38 and seal assembly 52 are shown along with portions of the A-pillar 26, the hinge pillar 18, and the fender support 24. Threaded openings 76 are provided to receive fasteners 74. The example threaded openings 76 are formed with nuts 98 that are attached to an underside of the vehicle static structure. In this example, the nuts 98 are welded in place.
Locating openings 78 and 80 are also provided to receive the locator pins 66. The opening 80 is a slot that provides positive location in two directions along a common axis. The opening 78 is a round opening that corresponds to the size of the corresponding locator pin 66. The opening 78 provides for an orientation in four directions along transverse axes.
The bracket 38 is mounted to the vehicle static structure by inserting the locator pins 66 in corresponding locator openings 78, 80. The seal assembly 52 is attached to the bottom of the flange 54 and secured in place by tabs 70 and 72 prior to assembly to the vehicle static structure. The direct metal to metal contact provided by the bosses 94 around each fastener provides a rigid foundation directly attached to the vehicle static structure for the mirror assembly or other accessory devices.
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In one disclosed example, an accessory item 106 includes a pocket 108 that receives the guide 60 of the bracket 38. The mirror assembly 30 is detached from the bracket 38 and stored for later reinstallation and use.
Referring to
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Accordingly, the bracket 38 enables for permanent sealing to the vehicle static structure while the interface with the base frame 40 provides for removal of the mirror assembly 30 for replacement or maintenance. The bracket 38 further provides increased stability with the direct metal to metal contact with the vehicle static structure.
Although the different non-limiting embodiments are illustrated as having specific components or steps, the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments.
It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed and illustrated in these exemplary embodiments, other arrangements could also benefit from the teachings of this disclosure.
The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.
