Rearview mirror structure

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of rearview mirror structure that can simultaneously goodly realize the mirror vibration when vehicle travels, improve the visibility when looking from cabin, including rearview mirror main part (11), mirror seat (12) is fixed in the front end portion (12b) of rearview mirror main part (11), drive unit (13) is moved between mirror using position and storage position for rearview mirror main part (11) and mirror seat (12).Drive unit (13) is equipped in side door (1).The shape of the shell (15) of rearview mirror main part (11) is such that when in mirror using position, the rearview mirror main part (11) is not in the region (R) between the first imaginary line (L1) connecting the midpoint (Im) of the driver's eyes and the vehicle width direction inner side end (11a) on the rear side (11c) of rearview mirror main part (11), and the second imaginary line (L2) connecting the midpoint (Im) and the front end portion (6a) of door glass.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to rearview mirror structures. Background Technology

[0002] In conventional rearview mirror structures, as described in Patent Document 1, a rearview mirror structure with an electrically driven rotating unit is known, which allows the rearview mirror to move automatically between a usable position and a stored position.

[0003] The rearview mirror structure includes: a rearview mirror body with a mirror; a mirror mount protruding from the side door in the vehicle width direction; and an electrically driven rotating unit housed in the rearview mirror body. The mirror mount is a part having a base end and a front end end, extending in the vehicle width direction and forming the arm portion of the rearview mirror. The base end end of the mirror mount is fixed to the side door, and the rearview mirror body is mounted on the front end end of the mirror mount in a manner that allows it to rotate about a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction.

[0004] The rearview mirror body can move between a usable position and a folded position by rotating through the front end of the mirror mount via a motorized rotating unit housed within it. The usable position refers to the position where the rearview mirror body protrudes outwards from the front end of the mirror mount in the width direction of the vehicle, and is visible to the naked eye from inside the cabin. The folded position refers to the position where the rearview mirror body extends approximately parallel to the side door.

[0005] Existing technical documents

[0006] Patent documents:

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-179680. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The technical problem that the invention aims to solve

[0009] In the above-mentioned rearview mirror structure, the interior of the rearview mirror body houses an electric retraction unit. Therefore, the vertical torque generated at the position of the electric rotating unit increases proportionally to the length of the mirror base, resulting in increased mirror vibration when the vehicle is in motion.

[0010] Furthermore, because the rearview mirror body houses the electric rotating unit, the rearview mirror body has a large front-to-back width (i.e., the width of the vehicle in the front-to-back direction), which may obstruct visibility from the cabin.

[0011] The above technical problems can be solved if the rearview mirror does not have an electric rotating unit, but then the main body of the rearview mirror must be manually stored, which reduces convenience.

[0012] In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide a rearview mirror structure that can simultaneously and effectively suppress mirror vibration during vehicle operation, improve visibility from the cabin, and has an electrically rotating unit.

[0013] Technical means to solve technical problems

[0014] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the rearview mirror structure of the present invention is a rearview mirror structure on a vehicle side door, characterized in that it includes: a rearview mirror body having a mirror for obtaining a rear view of the vehicle and a housing for mounting the mirror; a mirror base having a front end fixed to the rearview mirror body and a base end away from the front end, wherein the base end is mounted on the side door and allows the rearview mirror body and the mirror base to move between a mirror use position and a storage position, wherein the mirror use position is a position where the mirror can be seen with the naked eye from the cabin, and the storage position is a position where the mirror is located... The mirror is positioned on the inside of the vehicle width direction at the usage position; a drive unit moves the rearview mirror body and the mirror mount between the mirror usage position and the storage position; wherein the drive unit is disposed on the side door, and the shape of the housing of the rearview mirror body is such that the rearview mirror body is not located in the area between a first imaginary line and a second imaginary line at the mirror usage position, wherein the first imaginary line is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint of the driver's eyes and the inside end of the rear side of the rearview mirror body in the vehicle width direction, and the second imaginary line is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint and the front end of the door glass.

[0015] According to the above technical solution, the heavy drive unit is installed in the side door. Therefore, when the vehicle is driving, the vertical torque generated at the rearview mirror due to the input from the road surface (i.e., the vibration or external force caused by the unevenness of the road surface) will be reduced, thereby suppressing the vibration of the mirror.

[0016] Furthermore, since the drive unit is located in the side door, compared to previous rearview mirror structures where the drive unit was housed within the main body of the rearview mirror, the front-to-back width of the main body can be reduced, achieving miniaturization (or thinning). Therefore, this rearview mirror structure retains the automatic retraction function of the rearview mirror while designing the main body in a shell shape. This shape reduces the space occupied by the main body in the previous drive unit configuration, thereby improving visibility. Specifically, as described above, the shell shape of the main body is designed so that, in the mirror's usage position, the main body is not located in the area between the first and second imaginary lines, thus improving visibility. The first imaginary line is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint of the driver's eyes to the inner end of the rear side of the main body in the vehicle width direction, and the second imaginary line is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint to the front end of the door glass. This prevents the main body from entering the area between the inner end of the mirror and the front end of the door glass from the driver's perspective. This improves visibility from inside the cockpit.

[0017] Furthermore, in the aforementioned technical solution, in the rearview mirror structure comprising a rearview mirror body with a mirror and a mirror mount fixed to the front end of the rearview mirror body, the drive unit moves the mirror mount and the rearview mirror body together from the mirror usage position to the storage position. Therefore, when the rearview mirror body and mirror mount are in the storage position, the amount of protrusion of the rearview mirror body and mirror mount from the side door in the vehicle width direction can be reduced, thus minimizing the vehicle width dimension.

[0018] In the aforementioned rearview mirror structure, the drive unit is preferably disposed inside the side door. This allows the drive unit to be protected from external objects by the outer surface of the side door.

[0019] In the above-described rearview mirror structure, preferably, it further includes a rotating support shaft, which is connected to the base end of the mirror mount and supports the rearview mirror body and the mirror mount, allowing it to rotate freely between the mirror's use position and its storage position. The rotating support shaft extends from the base end into the side door and rotates by means of the drive unit.

[0020] According to the above technical solution, it also includes a rotating support shaft that supports the rearview mirror body and the mirror mount and allows them to rotate freely. Therefore, the rotating support shaft can be rotated by a drive unit inside the side door, allowing the rearview mirror body and the mirror mount to move between the mirror's usage position and its storage position while rotating around the rotating support shaft. Thus, a simple structure allows the rearview mirror body and mirror mount to move between the mirror's usage position and its storage position.

[0021] In the above-described rearview mirror structure, preferably, the drive unit is disposed on the axis of the rotating support shaft.

[0022] According to the above technical solution, the drive unit is positioned on the axis of the rotating support shaft, thus making the power transmission system that transmits power from the drive unit to the rotating support shaft simple and compact. Therefore, the drive unit can be installed within the limited space of the side door.

[0023] In the above-described rearview mirror structure, preferably, a through hole is formed in the door panel constituting the outer side of the side door for the rotation pivot to pass through, and a cover member is also provided to cover the gap between the through hole and the rotation pivot from the outside of the vehicle.

[0024] According to the above technical solution, the cover component covers the gap between the through hole and the rotating support shaft of the door panel from the outside of the vehicle, thus improving the vehicle's aesthetics and preventing water from seeping into the door panel through the gap.

[0025] In the above-mentioned rearview mirror structure, it is preferable that the drive unit is fixed on the skeleton member located inside the side door and forming the side door skeleton.

[0026] According to the above technical solution, the drive unit is fixed on the frame component that constitutes the side door frame, thus improving the support rigidity of the drive unit.

[0027] In the above-mentioned rearview mirror structure, the frame member is preferably a waistline reinforcement member that extends along the waistline of the lower edge of the side door window in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0028] According to the above technical solution, the drive unit is fixed on the waistline reinforcement commonly used in the previous door structure, so that the above rearview mirror structure can be widely used in the previous door structure.

[0029] In the above-described rearview mirror structure, the side door preferably has a door opening, the end of which is located on the front side of the mirror. Furthermore, the shape of the housing is such that, from the driver's perspective, the area occupied by the housing in the region between the inner end of the mirror in the vehicle width direction and the end of the door opening is less than 10%.

[0030] According to the above technical solution, the area occupied by the outer shell in the region between the inner end of the mirror in the vehicle width direction and the door opening end on the front side of the mirror can be reduced to less than 10%. This further improves visibility from inside the cabin.

[0031] In the above-described rearview mirror structure, it is preferable that the shape of the housing is such that, from a top-down perspective, the angle formed by the rear side of the rearview mirror body and the inner side facing the side door is an acute angle.

[0032] According to the above technical solution, the inner side of the rearview mirror body no longer obstructs the view from the cockpit, thus effectively improving the visibility from the cockpit.

[0033] In the above-described rearview mirror structure, preferably, when the rearview mirror body is in the mirror usage position, the front-to-back thickness of the rearview mirror body decreases from the middle position in the vehicle width direction toward the inner end in the vehicle width direction when viewed from above.

[0034] According to the above technical solution, when the rearview mirror body is in the mirror usage position, the thickness of the rearview mirror body in the front-to-back direction decreases from the middle position in the vehicle width direction towards the inner end in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the inner side of the rearview mirror body no longer obstructs the view from inside the cabin. This maximizes visibility from inside the cabin, further improving visibility.

[0035] Invention Effects

[0036] The rearview mirror structure of the present invention can simultaneously and effectively suppress mirror vibration during vehicle movement and improve visibility from the cabin. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the overall structure of the side door, which has a rearview mirror that incorporates the rearview mirror structure described in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 2 Looking from the cockpit Figure 1 A picture of a rearview mirror;

[0039] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A top view showing the rearview mirror in its intended position for use.

[0040] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A top view of the rearview mirror in its stowed position;

[0041] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The image seen from the front of the vehicle when the rearview mirror is in its designated use position;

[0042] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 The image shown from the front of the vehicle when the rearview mirror is in the stowed position;

[0043] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 The image shows the side door with the outer door panel removed, revealing the waistline reinforcement inside the side door.

[0044] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 An enlarged view of the rearview mirror and electric rotating unit fixed to the waistline reinforcement;

[0045] Figure 9 Is Figure 8 A diagram of the cover component has been added to the XX-line cross-sectional view;

[0046] Figure 10 yes Figure 8 XX-line cross-sectional view;

[0047] Figure 11 yes Figure 8 XI-XI line cross-sectional view;

[0048] Figure 12 Is Figure 8 A diagram of the cover component has been added to the XII-XII line cross-sectional view;

[0049] Figure 13 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the rearview mirror body is not located between the first imaginary line and the second imaginary line when the rearview mirror on the side closest to the driver's seat is in the mirror usage position, as an embodiment of the present invention. The first imaginary line is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint of the driver's eyes and the inner end of the rear side of the rearview mirror body in the vehicle width direction, and the second imaginary line is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint and the front end of the door glass.

[0050] Figure 14 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which, when the rearview mirror on the side away from the driver's seat is in the mirror usage position, the main body of the rearview mirror is not located in the area between the first imaginary line and the second imaginary line, as an embodiment of the present invention. The first imaginary line is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint of the driver's eyes to the inner end of the rear side of the rearview mirror in the vehicle width direction, and the second imaginary line is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint and the front end of the door glass.

[0051] Figure 15 (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the proportion of the housing of the rearview mirror body in the area between the inner end of the mirror in the vehicle width direction and the door opening end of the mirror on the front side of the vehicle, from the driver's perspective, as an embodiment of the present invention; (b) is a simplified diagram of the area in (a).

[0052] Figure 16 (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the proportion of the outer shell of the rearview mirror body in the area between the inner end of the mirror in the vehicle width direction and the door opening end of the mirror on the front side of the vehicle, which is wide due to the housing of the electric rotating unit, from the driver's perspective. (b) is a simplified diagram of the area in (a).

[0053] Figure 17 It is located in Figure 3The diagram illustrates the shape of the inner end of the outer shell of the rearview mirror body in the mirror usage position, which is an acute angle, and the inner side of the rearview mirror body is inclined outward relative to an imaginary line orthogonal to the surface of the mirror.

[0054] Figure 18 It is located in Figure 17 An illustration showing how visibility is improved when looking from the cockpit in a rearview mirror where the inner side of the main body of the rearview mirror is not visible from the cockpit.

[0055] Figure 19 As a comparative example of the present invention, in conventional rearview mirrors, the rearview mirror body containing the electric rotating unit has a large front-to-back width, so the inner side of the rearview mirror body can be seen from the cockpit, thus obstructing the visibility when looking from the cockpit. Detailed Implementation

[0056] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] Figures 1-2 A vehicle side door 1 in which the rearview mirror structure of the present invention is shown. In this side door 1, a rearview mirror 2 is disposed on the rear side of the A pillar 4 near the waistline BL at the upper end 3a of the door panel 3. The door opening 5, which is surrounded by the A pillar 4 and the waistline BL, is provided with a door glass 6.

[0058] like Figures 1-7 As shown, the rearview mirror structure in the vehicle side door 1 according to this embodiment is a structure in which an electrically retractable rearview mirror 2 is installed in the side door 1. Specifically, the main parts of the rearview mirror structure include: a rearview mirror body 11 and a mirror base 12, which constitute the rearview mirror 2; and an electric rotation unit 13, which serves as a drive unit for moving the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror base 12. The electric rotation unit 13 is disposed inside the side door 1.

[0059] Furthermore, the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment also includes: a rotating support shaft 24 (see reference). Figures 11-12 The rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror base 12 are supported and allowed to rotate freely; the waistline reinforcement 21 serves as the skeleton component inside the side door 1; the support component 22 fixes the electric rotating unit 13 to the waistline reinforcement 21; and the cover component 27 is located on the outside of the side door 1.

[0060] The following sections will describe the various components of the rearview mirror structure.

[0061] like Figure 2 As shown, the rearview mirror body 11 includes a mirror 14 for obtaining a rear view of the vehicle and a housing 15. The mirror 14 is an optical mirror that reflects light and is mounted on the rear side of the housing 15 (specifically, on the side of the housing 15). Figure 3 The mirror is used in position P1, facing the rear side, as described later. Figures 13-14 The rear side 11c of the rearview mirror body 11). In addition, the housing 15 of the rearview mirror body 11 houses internal machines 37 such as a mirror adjustment unit for adjusting the angle of the mirror 14 in the vertical direction Z and the vehicle width direction Y, or a defrosting unit for the mirror 14 (see reference). Figure 12 ).

[0062] Mirror mount 12 is the part that constitutes the arm of rearview mirror 2, such as Figures 3-6 As shown, it includes a front end portion 12b fixed to the rearview mirror body portion 11 and a base end portion 12a away from the front end portion 12b.

[0063] More specifically, the rearview mirror body 11 is fixed to the front end 12b of the mirror base 12, and the mirror 14 extends substantially parallel to the mirror base 12.

[0064] The base end 12a of the mirror mount 12 is installed on the side door 1, and the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror mount 12 can move between the mirror use position P1, where the mirror 14 can be seen with the naked eye from the cabin, and the storage position P2, which is located inside the mirror use position P1 in the vehicle width direction Y.

[0065] In this embodiment, Figures 9-12 The rotating support shaft 24 shown is connected to the base end 12a of the mirror mount 12. The rotating support shaft 24 supports the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror mount 12 and positions them in the mirror use position P1 (see reference). Figure 3 and Figure 5 ) and storage location P2 (refer to Figure 4 and Figure 6 They move freely between them.

[0066] The rotating support shaft 24 extends from the base end 12a into the side door 1 and rotates by means of the electric rotating unit 13.

[0067] Specifically, such as Figures 9-12 As shown, a through hole 26 is formed in the door panel 3 (outer panel) constituting the outer side of the side door 1. The rotation support shaft 24 passes through the through hole 26 in the door panel 3 and connects to the output shaft 35 (described later) of the electric rotation unit 13 disposed in the space 20 inside the side door 1. Figure 12 They are connected in a coaxial manner.

[0068] The electric rotating unit 13 has a structure that moves the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror mount 12 between the mirror use position P1 and the storage position P2. Specifically, as Figure 12As shown, the electric rotation unit 13 includes a sleeve 31, a motor 32, a reducer 33 for reducing the torque generated by the motor 32, a torque limiter 34, and an output shaft 35 for outputting rotational driving force. The sleeve 31 houses the motor 32, reducer 33, torque limiter 34, and output shaft 35. Furthermore, the sleeve 31 also houses a rotating support shaft 24 and a bearing 36 that supports the rotating support shaft 24 to allow it to rotate freely. Therefore, the main components of the electric rotation unit 13—the motor 32, reducer 33, torque limiter 34, and output shaft 35—are arranged on the axis of the rotating support shaft 24. The output shaft 35 is connected to the rotating support shaft 24 and can rotate integrally with it.

[0069] Furthermore, when the motor 32 is working, if the rotating support shaft 24 generates excessive torque, the torque limiter 34 can block the transmission of torque, thereby suppressing the load on the motor 32.

[0070] The preferred bearing 36 is a ball bearing or roller bearing that supports the rotating shaft 24 with relatively low rotational resistance.

[0071] The electric rotation unit 13 is fixed to the waistline reinforcement 21 by the support member 22.

[0072] The waistline reinforcement 21 is located inside the side door 1 and is a skeletal component constituting the frame of the side door 1. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the waistline reinforcement 21 is fixed to the interior door panel 7 inside the side door 1 (see reference). Figure 7 and Figure 12 Furthermore, the waistline BL extends in the vehicle's longitudinal direction X along the lower edge of the side door 1 window (i.e., the lower edge of the door opening 5 where the door glass 6 is located). In this embodiment, the waistline reinforcement 21 is made of extruded aluminum material.

[0073] Specifically, such as Figures 8-12 As shown, the support member 22 includes a semi-cylindrical mounting portion 22a and a pair of fixing portions 22b located on both sides of the mounting portion 22a in the vehicle longitudinal direction X. The mounting portion 22a is used to mount the sleeve 31 that houses the electric rotating unit 13 and the rotating support shaft 24. The pair of fixing portions 22b are fastened to the waistline reinforcement member 21 by bolts 28.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, such as Figures 9-12 As shown, the wiring harness 25 extends from the space 20 inside the side door 1 to the rearview mirror body 11 and is electrically connected to the internal machine 37 (such as a mirror adjustment unit) inside the rearview mirror body 11.

[0075] Specifically, such as Figures 11-12As shown, the waistline reinforcement 21 has a first opening 21a at a position opposite to the mounting portion 22a of the support member 22. Furthermore, the sleeve 31 of the electric rotation unit 13 has a second opening 31a at a position opposite to the first opening 21a. In addition, the rotation shaft 24 of this embodiment is a hollow cylindrical shape, and a third opening 24a is formed on its circumferential surface at a position opposite to the second opening 31a. Therefore, the wiring harness 25 extends from the inside of the side door 1 through the first opening 21a of the waistline reinforcement 21, the second opening 31a of the sleeve 31, and the third opening 24a of the rotation shaft 24 into the interior of the rotation shaft 24 (see reference). Figure 11 The wiring harness 25 extends upward through the interior of the rotating support shaft 24 (part 25a). Furthermore, the wiring harness 25 extends through the interior of the rotating support shaft 24 and the mirror mount 12 to the interior machine 37 inside the rearview mirror body 11, and is electrically connected to the interior machine 37.

[0076] Furthermore, in the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, the mounting portion 22a of the support member 22 is semi-cylindrical in shape. Therefore, even if the wiring harness 25 is laid as described above, the sleeve 31 can be inserted into the mounting portion 22a of the support member from above without the wiring harness 25 interfering with the mounting portion 22a.

[0077] The cover component 27 covers the gap between the through hole 26 and the rotating support shaft 24 from the outside of the vehicle. Specifically, as... Figures 9-12 As shown, the sleeve 31 housing the electric rotating unit 13 with the rotating shaft 24 and the mounting portion 22a of the support member 22 covering the sleeve 31 are exposed to the outside of the vehicle through the through hole 26 of the door panel 3. On the lower side of the base end 12a of the mirror mount 12, the cover member 27 covers the sleeve 31 housing the rotating shaft 24 and the mounting portion 22a from the outside of the vehicle, and covers the gap between the through hole 26 and the mounting portion 22a.

[0078] like Figures 13-14 As shown, in the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, in order to improve visibility from the cockpit, both the rearview mirror 2 on the driver's side (refer to...) Figure 13 ) or the rearview mirror on the side furthest from the driver's seat 2 (refer to Figure 14The shape of the outer shell 15 of the rearview mirror body 11 is such that, when the mirror is in use position P1, the rearview mirror body 11 is not located in the region R between the first imaginary line L1 and the second imaginary line L2. The first imaginary line L1 is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint Im of the driver's eyes and the inner end 11a of the rear side surface 11c of the rearview mirror body 11 in the vehicle width direction Y (i.e., the end of the inner side Y1 in the axle direction). The second imaginary line L2 is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint Im and the front end 6a of the door glass 6. This prevents the rearview mirror body 11 from entering the region R, improving visibility. Furthermore, the midpoint Im of the eyes refers to the midpoint between the driver's left eye Il and right eye Ir.

[0079] Right now, Figures 13-14 The area R shown is the area that the driver can see with his left eye Il and right eye Ir. By designing the shape of the housing 15 so that the housing 15 of the rearview mirror body 11 does not enter this area R, visibility can be improved.

[0080] Furthermore, compared to the aforementioned outer casing 15, in Figures 13-14 In the conventional rearview mirror body 51 shown with double-dotted lines, it can be seen that the housing 55, which houses the electric rotating unit, has a large front-to-back width. Therefore, the housing 55 will enter the aforementioned area R. Thus, the housing 55 is the main reason that hinders the improvement of visibility.

[0081] Next, refer to Figures 15-19 Further detailed explanation of the preferred structure of the rearview mirror body 11 and housing 15 to achieve improved visibility.

[0082] like Figure 15 As shown in (a) to (b), in this embodiment, in the structure where the side door 1 has a door opening portion 5 and the door opening end 5a of the door opening portion 5 is located on the vehicle front side X2 of the mirror 14, the shape of the outer shell 15 of the rearview mirror body portion 11 is such that, from the driver's perspective, the area S11 between the inner end 14c (i.e., the inner end in the vehicle width direction) of the mirror 14 in the vehicle width direction Y and the door opening end 5a of the vehicle front side X2 of the mirror 14, the area S12 of the outer shell 15 occupies less than 10%.

[0083] Here, region S11 is the area enclosed by the inner end 14c of mirror 14 in the vehicle width direction Y, the door opening end 5a, the waistline BL, the line LZ1 extending downward Z2 from the lower end 14a of mirror 14, and the line LX1 extending forward X2 from the upper end 14b of mirror 14. Region S12 of housing 15 refers to the portion of housing 15 located on the vehicle front side X2 of the inner end 14c of mirror 14 in the vehicle width direction Y, as seen from the driver's perspective.

[0084] In this embodiment, since the electric rotating unit 13 is not housed inside the rearview mirror body 11, the front-to-back width of the rearview mirror body 11 is small, thereby reducing the proportion of the area occupied by region S12 in the aforementioned region S11 to less than 10% (e.g., in...). Figure 15 (b) is about 7%. This reduces the entry of the rearview mirror body 11 into the area S11, thus improving visibility.

[0085] On the other hand, with the above Figure 15 The outer shells 15 of (a) to (b) are compared in Figure 16 In the conventional rearview mirror body 51 shown in (a) to (b), the front-to-back width of the housing 55 is large because the housing 55 accommodates the electric rotation unit. Therefore, as Figure 16 As shown in (a) to (b), the shape of the conventional housing 55 results in the area S21 between the inner end 54c of the mirror 54 in the vehicle width direction Y and the door opening end 5a of the mirror 54 on the vehicle front side X2, as viewed from the driver's perspective, having a ratio of the area S22 in the housing 55 much greater than 10% (e.g., in...). Figure 16 (b) is approximately 67%. Furthermore, region S21 is the area enclosed by the inner end 54c of the mirror 54 in the vehicle width direction, the door opening end 5a, the waistline BL, the line LZ2 extending downwards from the lower end 54a of the mirror 54 (Z2), and the line LX2 extending forwards from the upper end 54b of the mirror 54 (X2). Figure 16 In the comparative example shown, it can be seen that since the area ratio of region S22 in region S21 is greater than 10%, the amount of rearview mirror body 51 entering region S21 is large, thus hindering visibility.

[0086] In addition, such as Figure 17 As shown, in the rearview mirror main body 11 of this embodiment, in order to further improve visibility when viewed from the cockpit, the shape of the outer shell 15 of the rearview mirror main body 11 is such that, in a top-view perspective, the angle θ formed by the rear side surface 11c of the rearview mirror main body 11 and the inner side surface 11b facing the side door 1 is an acute angle.

[0087] In other words, when the rearview mirror body 11 of this embodiment is in the mirror usage position P1, from a top-down perspective, relative to an imaginary line L21 that is orthogonal to the surface of the mirror 14 and passes through the inner end 11a of the rearview mirror body 11 on the side of the side door 1, the inner side surface 11b of the rearview mirror body 11 facing the side door 1 is inclined outwards (i.e., inclined away from the side door 1). That is, relative to the imaginary line L21, the inner side surface 11b of the rearview mirror body 11 extends along a line L22 that extends outwards from the inner end 11a of the rearview mirror body 11.

[0088] In other words, when the rearview mirror body 11 is in the mirror use position P1, from a top-down perspective, the thickness of the rearview mirror body 11 in the front-rear direction X decreases (becomes tapered) as it moves from the middle position of the rearview mirror body 11 in the vehicle width direction Y toward the inner end 11a on the side of the upper door 1 in the vehicle width direction Y.

[0089] Through the above Figure 17 The shape of the rearview mirror body 11 shown is as follows: Figure 18 As shown, the inner side 11b of the rearview mirror body 11 no longer obstructs the view from the cockpit. As a result, the space S1 in front of the rearview mirror body 11, that is, the space S1 enclosed by the inner end 11a of the rearview mirror body 11, the A pillar 4 and the waistline BL, can be ensured to have a wide field of view, thus improving visibility.

[0090] On the other hand, as a comparative example of the present invention, such as Figure 19 The rearview mirror 50 shown has a structure in which an electric rotating unit (not shown) is housed in the main body 51. This increases the front-to-back width of the main body 51. Therefore, as the front-to-back width increases, the inner side 51b of the main body 51 will be visible in the field of view from inside the cockpit. Consequently, the field of view in the space S2 in front of the main body 51, i.e., the space enclosed by the inner end 51a of the main body 51, the A-pillar 4, and the waistline BL, narrows, resulting in reduced visibility.

[0091] (Features of this embodiment) (1)

[0093] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, the rearview mirror structure on the side door 1 of the vehicle includes: a rearview mirror body 11 having a mirror 14 for obtaining a rear view of the vehicle; a mirror mount 12 having a front end portion 12b fixed to the rearview mirror body 11 and a base end portion 12a away from the front end portion 12b, and the base end portion 12a is mounted on the side door 1, allowing the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror mount 12 to move between a mirror use position P1 and a storage position P2, wherein the mirror use position P1 is the position where the mirror 14 can be seen with the naked eye from the cabin, and the storage position P2 is the position located inside the mirror use position P1 in the vehicle width direction Y; and an electric rotation unit 13, as a drive unit, moves the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror mount 12 between the mirror use position P1 and the storage position P2. Figures 7-10 and Figure 12 As shown, the electric rotation unit 13 is disposed in the space 20 inside the side door 1.

[0094] And, as Figures 13-14 As shown, regardless of whether it is the rearview mirror 2 on the driver's side (refer to...) Figure 13 ) or the rearview mirror on the side furthest from the driver's seat 2 (refer to Figure 14 The shape of the outer shell 15 of the rearview mirror body 11 is such that when the mirror is in the use position P1, the rearview mirror body 11 is not in the area R between the first imaginary line L1 and the second imaginary line L2. The first imaginary line L1 is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint Im of the driver's eyes and the inner end 11a of the rear side surface 11c of the rearview mirror body 11 in the vehicle width direction Y. The second imaginary line L2 is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint Im and the front end of the door glass 6.

[0095] According to the above technical solution, the heavy electric rotating unit 13 is installed inside the side door 1. Therefore, when the vehicle is driving, the torque generated in the rearview mirror 2 in the vertical direction Z due to the input from the road surface (i.e., the vibration or external force caused by the unevenness of the road surface is mainly in the vertical direction Z) will be reduced, which can suppress the vibration of the mirror 14.

[0096] Furthermore, since the electric rotating unit 13 is located in the side door 1, the front-to-back width of the rearview mirror body 11 can be reduced compared to the conventional rearview mirror structure where the electric rotating unit 13 is housed in the rearview mirror body 11, achieving miniaturization (or thinning). Therefore, this rearview mirror structure retains the automatic retraction function of the rearview mirror 2, while allowing for the design of the outer shell 15 of the rearview mirror body 11, which reduces the space occupied by the rearview mirror body 11 in the case of the conventional electric rotating unit 13, thereby improving visibility. That is, as described above, by designing the shape of the outer shell 15 of the rearview mirror body 11 such that the rearview mirror body 11 is not located in the area R between the first imaginary line L1 and the second imaginary line L2 at the mirror usage position P1, visibility can be improved. The first imaginary line L1 is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint Im of the driver's eyes and the inner end 11a of the rear side surface 11c of the rearview mirror body 11 in the vehicle width direction Y. The second imaginary line L2 is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint Im and the front end of the door glass 6. This prevents the rearview mirror body 11 from entering the area R between the inner end 14c of the mirror 14 and the front end 6a of the door glass from the driver's perspective. This improves visibility from inside the cabin.

[0097] Furthermore, in the aforementioned technical solution, in the rearview mirror structure comprising a rearview mirror body 11 having a mirror 14 and a mirror mount 12 fixed to the front end 12b of the rearview mirror body 11, the electric rotating unit 13 moves the mirror mount 12 together with the rearview mirror body 11 from the mirror use position P1 to the storage position P2. Therefore, when the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror mount 12 are moved to the storage position P2, the amount of protrusion of the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror mount 12 from the side of the side door 1 in the vehicle width direction Y can be reduced, thus minimizing the vehicle width dimension. (2)

[0099] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, the electric rotation unit 13 is disposed inside the side door 1, so the electric rotation unit 13 can be protected from the influence of foreign objects outside the vehicle by the door panel 3 that constitutes the outer side of the side door 1. Alternatively, the electric rotation unit 13 can also be disposed outside the side door 1, but in this case, a large cover component or the like is required to protect the electric rotation unit 13. (3)

[0101] The rearview mirror structure of this embodiment also includes a rotating support shaft 24, which is connected to the base end 12a of the mirror base 12 and supports the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror base 12, allowing it to rotate freely between the mirror use position P1 and the storage position P2. The rotating support shaft 24 extends from the base end 12a into the side door 1 and rotates by means of the electric rotating unit 13.

[0102] According to the above technical solution, it also includes a rotating support shaft 24 that supports the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror base 12 and allows them to rotate freely. Therefore, the rotating support shaft 24 can be rotated by the electric rotating unit 13 inside the side door 1, so that the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror base 12 can move between the mirror use position P1 and the storage position P2 while rotating around the rotating support shaft 24 as the rotation center. Therefore, the movement of the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror base 12 between the mirror use position P1 and the storage position P2 can be achieved with a simple structure. (4)

[0104] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, the electric rotation unit 13 (specifically, the main components namely the motor 32, reducer 33, torque limiter 34, and output shaft 35) is arranged on the axis of the rotation support shaft 24.

[0105] According to the above technical solution, the electric rotation unit 13 is arranged on the axis of the rotation support shaft 24, thus making the power transmission system that transmits power from the electric rotation unit 13 to the rotation support shaft 24 simple and compact. Therefore, the electric rotation unit 13 can be installed within the limited space of the side door 1. (5)

[0107] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, a through hole 26 is formed on the door panel 3 constituting the outer side of the side door 1 for the rotation pivot 24 to pass through. The rearview mirror structure also has a cover member 27 that covers the gap between the through hole 26 and the rotation pivot 24 from the outside of the vehicle.

[0108] According to the above technical solution, the cover component 27 covers the gap between the through hole 26 and the rotating support shaft 24 of the door panel 3 from the outside of the vehicle, thereby improving the vehicle's aesthetics and preventing water from seeping into the door panel 3 through the gap. (6)

[0110] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, the electric rotating unit 13 is fixed on the skeleton member, namely the waistline reinforcement member 21, which is located inside the side door 1 and forms the skeleton of the side door 1.

[0111] According to the above technical solution, the electric rotation unit 13 is fixed on the waistline reinforcement member 21, which is a skeleton member constituting the side door 1 skeleton, thereby improving the support rigidity of the electric rotation unit 13. (7)

[0113] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, a waistline reinforcement member 21 extending along the waistline BL of the lower edge of the side door window in the vehicle longitudinal direction X is used as a skeleton member.

[0114] According to the above technical solution, the electric rotating unit 13 is fixed on the waistline reinforcement 21 commonly used in conventional car door structures, thereby enabling the above-mentioned rearview mirror structure to be widely used in conventional car door structures. (8)

[0116] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, the waistline reinforcement 21 is made of extruded aluminum material.

[0117] According to the above technical solution, the waistline reinforcement 21 is made of extruded aluminum material, which can simultaneously ensure the support rigidity of the electric rotation unit 13 and achieve vehicle lightweighting. (9)

[0119] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, such as Figure 15 As shown in (a) to (b), the side door 1 has a door opening portion 5, the door opening end 5a of which is located on the vehicle front side X2 of the mirror 14. The shape of the housing 15 of the rearview mirror body 11 is such that, from the driver's perspective, in the region S1 between the inner end 11a of the mirror 14 in the vehicle width direction Y and the door opening end 5a, the area 12 of the housing 15 occupies less than 10% of the area.

[0120] According to the above technical solution, the ratio of the area 12 of the outer shell 15 in the area S11 between the inner end 11a of the mirror 14 in the vehicle width direction Y and the door opening end 5a of the front side X2 of the mirror 14 can be reduced to less than 10%. In this way, the visibility when viewed from the cabin can be further improved. (10)

[0122] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, such as Figure 17 As shown, the shape of the outer shell 15 of the rearview mirror body 11 is such that, in a top view, the angle θ formed by the rear side 11c of the rearview mirror body 11 and the inner side 11b facing the side door 1 is an acute angle.

[0123] According to the above technical solution, the inner side 11b of the rearview mirror body 11 no longer obstructs the view from the cockpit, thus effectively improving the visibility from the cockpit. (11)

[0125] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, as Figure 17 As shown, when the rearview mirror body 11 is in the mirror use position P1, in a top-down view, the thickness of the rearview mirror body 11 in the front-rear direction X decreases as it moves from the middle position of the rearview mirror body 11 in the vehicle width direction Y toward the inner end 11a of the side door 1 in the vehicle width direction Y.

[0126] In the above technical solution, when the rearview mirror body 11 is in the mirror usage position P1, the thickness of the rearview mirror body 11 in the longitudinal direction X decreases from the middle position in the vehicle width direction Y toward the inner end 11a in the vehicle width direction Y. As a result, the inner side 11b of the rearview mirror body 11 no longer obstructs the view from inside the cabin. In this way, the visibility from inside the cabin can be maximized, further improving visibility. (12)

[0128] In the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment, such as Figure 13 As shown, when the rearview mirror body 11 is in the mirror use position P1, from a top-down perspective, relative to the imaginary line L1 that is orthogonal to the surface of the mirror 14 and passes through the inner end 11a of the rearview mirror body 11, the inner side 11b of the rearview mirror body 11 facing the side door 1 is inclined outwards towards the side of the vehicle.

[0129] In the above technical solution, when the rearview mirror body 11 is in the mirror usage position P1, the inner side surface 11b of the rearview mirror body 11 is inclined outward relative to the imaginary line L1 orthogonal to the surface of the mirror. Therefore, the inner side surface 11b of the rearview mirror body 11 no longer obstructs the view from inside the cabin. This maximizes visibility from inside the cabin, further improving visibility.

[0130] (Variation example)

[0131] (A)

[0132] The drive unit of the present invention only needs to enable the rearview mirror body 11 and the mirror mount 12 to move between the mirror use position P1 and the storage position P2. It can be not only the electric rotation unit mentioned above, but also other drive units. For example, the drive unit of the present invention can be a unit driven by other driving forces such as hydraulic pressure or air pressure.

[0133] (B)

[0134] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the rearview mirror body 11 and mirror base 12 are rotated around the rotation pivot 24 to move between the mirror use position P1 and the storage position P2. However, it is also possible to move between the mirror use position P1 and the storage position P2 by other movements besides rotation, such as by performing a composite movement that combines rotation and linear movement on the rearview mirror body 11 and mirror base 12.

[0135] (C)

[0136] The mirror of the present invention encompasses various methods, as long as it is used to obtain a rear view of a vehicle. For example, in addition to the optical mirror 14 in the above embodiment that reflects light from behind the vehicle to obtain a rear view, the concept of the mirror of the present invention also includes a so-called electronic mirror that has a television camera in the rearview mirror body 11 and can obtain a rear view through the television camera.

[0137] Numbering Explanation

[0138] 1 side door

[0139] 2 rearview mirrors

[0140] 3 door panels

[0141] 6 door windows

[0142] 6a front end

[0143] 11. Rearview mirror body

[0144] 11a inner end

[0145] 11b inner surface

[0146] 12 mirror base

[0147] 12a base end

[0148] 12b front end

[0149] 13 Electric Rotation Units (Drive Units)

[0150] 14 mirrors

[0151] 14c inner end

[0152] 15 casing

[0153] 21 Waistline Reinforcement Component (Skeleton Component)

[0154] 22 Supporting Components

[0155] 24 Rotating support shaft

[0156] 26 through holes

[0157] 27-piece enclosure

[0158] 31 casings

[0159] 32 motors

[0160] 33 reducer

[0161] 34 Torque limiter

[0162] 35 Output Shaft

[0163] 36 bearing

[0164] BL waistline

[0165] Im at the midpoint of both eyes

[0166] L1 First Imaginary Line

[0167] L2 Second Imaginary Line

[0168] P1 Mirror Usage Location

[0169] P2 storage location

[0170] R region

Claims

1. A mirror structure which is a mirror structure on a side door of a vehicle, characterized by An outside mirror structure for a vehicle having a side door, comprising: a mirror body portion having a mirror for obtaining a rear field of view of the vehicle and a housing in which the mirror is accommodated; a mirror stand having a front end portion fixed to the mirror body portion and a base end portion distanced from the front end portion, and the base end portion is attached to the side door and the mirror body portion and the mirror stand are movable between a mirror use position in which the mirror is visible from inside the cabin and a storage position in which the mirror body portion is positioned inward of the mirror use position in a vehicle width direction; a drive unit that moves the mirror body portion and the mirror stand between the mirror use position and the storage position; a rotation support shaft that is connected to the base end portion of the mirror stand and supports the mirror body portion and the mirror stand so as to be rotatable between the mirror use position and the storage position; wherein the drive unit is provided in the side door; the mirror stand and the mirror body portion extend substantially in parallel, the rotation support shaft extends from the base end portion to inside the side door, the drive unit is disposed on an axis of the rotation support shaft, and the rotation support shaft is rotated by the drive unit; the housing of the mirror body portion is shaped such that the mirror body portion is not positioned in a region between a first imaginary line and a second imaginary line in the mirror use position, wherein the first imaginary line is an imaginary line connecting a midpoint of both eyes of a driver and a vehicle width direction inner end portion on a rear side surface of the mirror body portion, and the second imaginary line is an imaginary line connecting the midpoint and a front end portion of a door glass.

2. The outside mirror structure according to claim 1, wherein: the drive unit is provided in the side door.

3. The outside mirror structure according to claim 1, wherein: a through hole is formed in a door panel constituting an outer side surface of the side door, through which the rotation support shaft passes; a cover member covers a gap between the through hole and the rotation support shaft from an outside of the vehicle.

4. The outside mirror structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the drive unit is fixed to a skeletal member provided in the side door and constituting a skeletal structure of the side door.

5. The outside mirror structure according to claim 4, wherein: the skeletal member is a beltline reinforcement extending in a vehicle front-rear direction along a beltline of a lower end edge of a window of the side door.

6. The outside mirror structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the side door has a door opening portion, a door opening end portion of which is positioned on a vehicle front side of the mirror; a shape of the housing is such that, in a driver's view, a ratio of an area occupied by the housing in a region between a vehicle width direction inner end portion of the mirror and the door opening end portion is 10% or less.

7. The outside mirror structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: a shape of the housing is such that, in a plan view, an angle formed by a rear side surface of the mirror body portion and an inner side surface toward the side door side is an acute angle.

8. The outside mirror structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: In a state where the mirror body portion is in the mirror use position, the front-rear direction thickness of the mirror body portion is smaller as it goes from the vehicle width direction middle position of the mirror body portion toward the vehicle width direction inner end portion in a plan view.

Images