Rearview mirror device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a mirror device for a motor vehicle, comprising a mirror arm carrying a mirror housing and / or a mirror element at an outer end, and a fastening section arranged on the vehicle-adjacent end of the mirror arm for fastening the mirror arm to the motor vehicle, and a cable bundle extending in a cavity of the mirror arm between its outer end and its vehicle-adjacent end, the cable bundle having a coupling element for an electrically conductive connection to a vehicle-side cable, the fastening section carrying the coupling element, the coupling element comprising a plug or a socket, the fastening section comprising a cable guide element carrying the coupling element, the cable guide element serving to unload the cable bundle from tensile forces and for this purpose providing a deflection of the cable bundle, the fastening section comprising an adapter element having a cavity open with respect to the cavity of the mirror arm and a passage opening in a wall of the adapter element, the cable bundle extending from the mirror arm through the cavity of the adapter element up to the passage opening of the adapter element and through the passage opening onto an outer surface of the adapter element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rearview mirror device for motor vehicles, particularly for motorcycles or mopeds, and a motor vehicle having such a rearview mirror device. Background Technology

[0002] Rearview mirrors for motorized vehicles typically have a mirror arm that carries the rearview mirror or its housing and is attached to the motorized vehicle at an end close to the vehicle. For example, this connection can be fixed to the handlebars or within the body of the vehicle.

[0003] Increasingly, electric rearview mirror devices are being offered, featuring integrated electrical or electronic components, such as mirror heaters, sensors, or optical display elements for a vehicle's driver assistance system. To supply current and / or signals to these components, they are connected to corresponding (control) instruments in the vehicle via cable bundles. Therefore, the cable bundles typically extend from the mirror housing deep into the vehicle's structure. To guide the cable bundles along the mirror arm into the mirror housing as discreetly as possible, the mirror arm is, for example, configured as a tube and correspondingly has a continuous cavity through which the cable bundles extend.

[0004] Especially during assembly, the telescope arm typically needs to be rotated several times around its longitudinal axis in order to screw it in and thus secure it to the corresponding receiving part on the vehicle. However, this can cause twisting or tensile loads on the corresponding cable harness, thus posing a risk of damage to the cable harness.

[0005] After the mirror arm is secured, the cable bundle must then be guided within the vehicle to establish contact. Here, due to the typically very narrow structural space, accessibility is usually only possible to a very limited extent, making the mounting of the rearview mirror on a motor vehicle quite difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to improve the rearview mirror device in an advantageous manner, particularly to simplify assembly.

[0007] This objective is achieved by a rearview mirror device as described below and a power vehicle having the features described below.

[0008] Accordingly, a rearview mirror device for motor vehicles, particularly for motorcycles or mopeds, is provided, comprising:

[0009] The telescope arm, which carries the mirror housing and / or mirror elements at its outer end; and

[0010] A fastening section, located at the end of the mirror arm near the vehicle, for fastening the mirror arm to the power unit; and

[0011] A cable bundle that extends within a cavity between the outer end of the mirror arm and the end closest to the vehicle.

[0012] The cable bundle includes a first connecting element for providing a conductive connection to a cable disposed on the vehicle side. The fastening section carries the first connecting element, and the first connecting element includes a plug or socket for providing a conductive plug-in connection.

[0013] The fastening section includes a cable guide element that carries the first connecting element, and the cable guide element is configured to unload tension on the cable bundle and thus define the deflection of the cable bundle. The fastening section includes an adapter element having a cavity open relative to the cavity of the arm and a through-hole in the wall of the adapter element. The cable bundle extends from the arm through the cavity of the adapter element to the through-hole of the adapter element and extends through the through-hole to the outer surface of the adapter element.

[0014] Therefore, the rearview mirror assembly is configured such that the mirror arm is connected to a fastening section at its end near the vehicle. This fastening section is designed to secure the entire rearview mirror assembly to the vehicle. The connection between the end near the vehicle and the fastening section can, for example, be integral, particularly made of the same material, so that the two components (mirror arm and fastening section) constitute a single unit. Alternatively, the mirror arm can also be connected to the fastening section, for example, via a threaded connection or a locking connection.

[0015] In the case of a threaded connection, the arm may have a threaded section with external threads at the end near the vehicle, which screws into a correspondingly configured receiving portion with internal threads in the fastening section. Preferably, a lock nut may be provided on the threaded section of the arm for additional locking and rotational positioning of the arm or fastening section.

[0016] Of course, this arrangement can also be reversed. In this case, the fastening section may have a threaded section with external threads, which can be screwed or screwed into a correspondingly configured receiving part with internal threads on the telescope arm. In this case, as an additional locking device, a lock nut is preferably provided on the threaded section of the fastening section to prevent accidental loosening.

[0017] In any case, the cable bundle is configured to supply current or electrical signals to electrical and / or electronic components disposed in the mirror element (e.g., the mirror glass) or in the mirror housing, such as mirror heaters, sensors, lamps, and / or other optical display elements. For this purpose, the cable bundle extends through the entire interior of the mirror arm. The mirror arm accordingly has a cavity extending from its outer end to the end of the mirror arm near the vehicle. For example, the mirror arm is configured as a tube, and the cavity is formed by the internal space created by the longitudinal extension of the tube.

[0018] The cable bundle disposed in the cavity can be further guided from the end of the mirror arm near the vehicle to the fastening section, where a connecting element is provided at the first end of the cable bundle for conductive connection with other cables that can be provided on the vehicle side and, for example, to the power unit's controller, cable bundle, or other electrical and / or electronic components.

[0019] The connecting element is disposed on or in the fastening section, or is connected to the fastening section by force locking, form locking, and / or material locking. In other words, the fastening section carries the connecting element, for example, on the outer surface or inside the fastening section.

[0020] Therefore, this embodiment specifies that the cable bundle extending from the mirror arm terminates in the fastening section area near the end of the vehicle. A connecting element located at this end connects to the fastening section. Thus, the rearview mirror assembly does not have slack cable ends that would cause damage during assembly and must be considered accordingly.

[0021] Furthermore, a conductive connection is only established by connecting the connecting element to the cable on the vehicle side. For example, this can only be done after the rearview mirror unit has been successfully assembled, when the rearview mirror unit is already in the set position. Therefore, the danger of torsional or tensile loads caused by the rotational movement of the rearview mirror unit during assembly is completely avoided.

[0022] In addition, the cables on the vehicle side can be laid inside the vehicle during vehicle assembly, so that after the powertrain (the remaining part) is completed, it is only necessary to ensure the accessibility of the cable ends to be connected to the cables on the vehicle side in order to establish contact with the cable bundle, rather than when assembling the rearview mirror device.

[0023] Therefore, this rearview mirror device offers the possibility that it can be supplied fully pre-assembled and, particularly simply, integrally fixed to the vehicle. Thus, even inexperienced individuals can easily attach the rearview mirror device to the vehicle.

[0024] For example, the connecting element can be configured as a plug or socket to provide a plug-in connection. Accordingly, the vehicle-side cable can have a second connecting element configured as a corresponding component, which is therefore configured as a socket or plug. The two connecting elements, for example, form a conductive plug-in connection.

[0025] Furthermore, the fastening section may include a cable guide element that carries the connecting elements of the cable bundle. Here, the cable guide element may be integral with other parts of the fastening section, or it may be a single component. The cable guide element is accordingly provided for guiding the cable bundle. In this way, for example, the cable bundle can be precisely laid out in the area of ​​the fastening section.

[0026] Therefore, the cable guide element can be configured to unload tension on the cable bundle, and for this purpose, in particular, the deflection of the cable bundle can be specified. To this end, the cable guide element can form a corresponding cable channel into which the cable bundle is inserted and thus follows its direction. This can be achieved, for example, by the slotted orientation of the cable channel. Alternatively, the cable guide element can form a wall that guides the cable bundle only on one side. Further restraint can be provided, for example, by another component of the fastening section.

[0027] For example, cable guide elements can deflect cable bundles up to 180°. Therefore, when properly configured, this angle of rotation of the telescope arm relative to the fastening section can be achieved without generating destructive tensile stress.

[0028] This provides the possibility that, in the event of an impact pointing in the opposite direction of travel that strikes the mirror housing or the distal end of the mirror arm while the vehicle is in motion, the mirror arm can be twisted accordingly without concern for damage to the cable bundle.

[0029] Additionally, the fastening section may include an adapter element that provides the connection to the end near the vehicle on a first side and includes a second end configured for connection to a receiving section on the vehicle side of the power unit.

[0030] Furthermore, the adapter element may have a cavity that is open and connected to the cavity of the telescope arm and also has a through-hole in the wall of the adapter element. The cable bundle may extend from the telescope arm through the cavity of the adapter element to the through-hole of the adapter element and be guided through the through-hole to the outer surface of the adapter element.

[0031] For example, the cable guiding element described herein can be configured such that it guides the cable bundle emerging from the puncture through the puncture until it reaches the connecting element.

[0032] Furthermore, the fastening section may have a cap that at least partially or completely covers the fastening section, particularly on the upper side and / or circumferential surface. The cap may, for example, be made of a resilient plastic or resilient rubber material. This can be used, depending on the specific dimensions, to seal the fastening section, thereby protecting it from moisture and dirt.

[0033] Furthermore, a motor vehicle, particularly a motorcycle or moped, is provided, which has a rearview mirror device, wherein the rearview mirror device is configured according to this specification.

[0034] In addition to the motorcycles and mopeds mentioned above, motorized vehicles should also be understood as scooters, small off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, jet skis, etc. Attached Figure Description

[0035] The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. In the drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 An exploded view of the rearview mirror assembly according to the instruction manual is shown.

[0037] Figure 2 A perspective view of the rearview mirror assembly is shown.

[0038] Figure 3 Showing according to Figure 2 Top view of the rearview mirror device.

[0039] Figure 4 A perspective view of the rearview mirror assembly without its cap is shown.

[0040] Figure 5 Showing according to Figure 4 A top view of the rearview mirror device, and

[0041] Figure 6 shows Figure 3 AA is a cross-sectional view. Detailed Implementation

[0042] Figure 1 Figures 6 to 6 illustrate an embodiment of a rearview mirror device 10 for a motor vehicle, such as a motorcycle or moped, according to this specification. Accordingly, the rearview mirror device 10 further includes a mirror arm 11 and a fastening section 14. The mirror arm carries a mirror housing 12 along with a mirror element 13 (such as a mirror glass) disposed therein at its outer end 11a. The fastening section is located at the end 11b of the mirror arm 11 near the vehicle to fasten the mirror arm 11 or the entire rearview mirror device 10 to the motor vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, the mirror arm 11 is connected to the fastening section 14 by a threaded connection. For this purpose, the mirror arm 11 has a threaded section 11c with external threads, which is screwed into a correspondingly configured receiving portion 14a with internal threads in the fastening section 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving portion 14a is formed by an adapter element 20, which will be described in more detail below.

[0043] In order to additionally lock and rotate the positioning arm 11 or the fastening section 14, a locking nut 15 is provided on the threaded section 11c of the arm 11.

[0044] Additionally, the rearview mirror device 10 includes a cable bundle 16 (the cable bundle is routed as shown in...). Figure 2 (As exemplarily shown in the diagram), the cable bundle extends in a cavity 11d between the outer end 11a of the mirror arm 11 and the end 11b near the vehicle.

[0045] A connecting element 17 is provided at the first end 16a of the cable bundle 16. This connecting element is configured for conductive connection with the cable 18 (whose free end is only shown in FIG. 6) located on the vehicle side, wherein the fastening section 14 carries the connecting element 17. This means that the connecting element 17 is fixedly connected to the outer surface of the fastening section 14. Therefore, the rearview mirror device 10 does not have any slack cable ends that must be considered during assembly.

[0046] In any case, the cable bundle 16 is configured to supply current or electrical signals to electrical and / or electronic components K disposed in the mirror element 13 or in the mirror housing 12, such as, for example, mirror heaters, sensors, lamps and / or other optical display elements. For this purpose, the cable bundle 16 extends through the entire interior of the mirror arm 11. Accordingly, the mirror arm 11 has a cavity 11d extending from the outer end 11a of the mirror arm 11 to the end 11b of the mirror arm near the vehicle.

[0047] For this purpose, the mirror arm 11 is configured as a tube, wherein the cavity 11d is formed by the internal space formed by the longitudinal extension of the tube. The cable bundle 16 is guided from the end 11b of the mirror arm 11 near the vehicle to the fastening section 14, where a connecting element 17 is provided at its first end 16a. Thus, the cable bundle 16 exiting the mirror arm 11 near the end 11b of the vehicle terminates in the region of the fastening section 14.

[0048] The connecting element 17 is exemplarily configured as a socket, and a second connecting element 19 configured as a plug for the vehicle-side cable 18 can be inserted into the socket to jointly provide a conductive plug connection.

[0049] Alternatively, and therefore not shown, the connecting element 17 of the cable bundle 16 may be configured as a plug, which may be connected to the second connecting element 19 of the vehicle-side cable 18, which is configured as a socket, in order to jointly provide an electrical plug connection.

[0050] Additionally, the fastening section 14 includes the aforementioned adapter element 20, which provides connection on a first side 20a to a threaded section 11c of the end 11b of the mirror arm 11 or near the vehicle, and includes a second side 20b configured for connection to a receiving section on the vehicle side of the power unit. The second side 20b may also have a threaded section for tightening with the receiving section on the vehicle side. A (lower) locking nut may also be provided on this threaded section to orient the entire rearview mirror assembly 10 relative to the vehicle.

[0051] Additionally, the adapter element 20 has a cavity 20c that is open relative to the cavity 11d of the arm 11 and also has a penetration opening 20d in its wall. The cable bundle 16 extends from the arm 11 through the cavity 20c to the penetration opening 20d and is also guided through the penetration opening 20d to the outer surface of the adapter element 20.

[0052] According to the illustrated embodiment, the fastening section 14 also includes a cable guide element 21 that carries the connecting element 17 of the cable bundle 16 and is configured to guide the cable bundle 16, which is exiting the through-hole 20d of the adapter element 20, from the through-hole 20d to the connecting element 17.

[0053] Therefore, the cable guide element 21 is configured to unload the tension of the cable bundle 16 and to provide deflection of the cable bundle 16 for this purpose.

[0054] As from Figure 5 As can be seen from Figures 6 and 7, the cable bundle is deflected 180° from one side of the cable guide element 21 toward the opposite side, wherein the cable bundle 16 is disposed on the side of the cable guide element 21 facing the vehicle.

[0055] This provides the possibility that, in the event of an impact S directed against the direction of travel hitting the mirror housing or the distal end 11a of the mirror arm 11 while the vehicle is in motion, the mirror arm 11 can be twisted accordingly without concern for damage to the cable bundle 16.

[0056] For this purpose, the cable guiding element 21 forms a corresponding cable channel 21b with a groove-shaped orientation on its outer surface 21a, into which the cable bundle 16 is at least partially inserted and thus follows its orientation.

[0057] Furthermore, the fastening section 14 includes a cap 22 that completely covers the fastening section 14 in the illustrated embodiment. For this purpose, the cap 22 surrounds the upper side and circumferential surface of the fastening section 14. The cap 22 may be made of, for example, a resilient plastic or resilient rubber material. This is used, depending on the specific dimensions, to seal the fastening section 14 to protect it from moisture and dirt.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror device (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising: The telescope arm (11) carries the mirror housing (12) and / or mirror element (13) at its outer end (11a); and A fastening section (14) is provided on the end (11b) of the mirror arm (11) near the vehicle to fasten the mirror arm (11) to the power vehicle; and A cable bundle (16) extends in a cavity (11d) between the outer end (11a) of the mirror arm (11) and the end (11b) near the vehicle. The cable bundle (16) includes a first connecting element (17) for providing a conductive connection to a cable (18) disposed on the vehicle side, wherein the fastening section (14) carries the first connecting element (17), and The first connecting element (17) includes a plug or socket for providing a conductive plug connection; The fastening section (14) is characterized in that it includes a cable guide element (21) that carries the first connecting element (17), and the cable guide element (21) is configured to unload tension on the cable bundle (16) and thus define the deflection of the cable bundle (16). The fastening section (14) includes an adapter element (20), and the adapter element (20) has a cavity (20c) open relative to the cavity (11d) of the arm (11) and a through-hole (20d) in the wall of the adapter element (20), wherein the cable bundle (16) extends from the arm (11) through the cavity (20c) of the adapter element (20) to the through-hole (20d) of the adapter element (20) and extends through the through-hole (20d) to the outer surface of the adapter element (20).

2. The rearview mirror device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle in question is a motorcycle.

3. The rearview mirror device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle in question is a moped.

4. The rearview mirror device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The adapter element (20) provides a connection between the fastening section (14) and the mirror arm (11) on a first side (20a) and includes a second side (20b) configured as a receiving section for connection to the vehicle side of the power vehicle.

5. The rearview mirror device (10) as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The fastening section (14) has a cap (22) that at least partially or completely covers the fastening section (14).

6. The rearview mirror device (10) as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The cap (22) covers the fastening section (14) on the upper side and / or circumferential surface.

7. A motor vehicle equipped with a rearview mirror device (10), characterized in that, The rearview mirror device (10) is configured according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The power vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that, The vehicle in question is a motorcycle.

9. The power vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that, The vehicle in question is a moped.

10. The power vehicle as described in any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, The power vehicle has a vehicle-side cable (18) which is electrically connected to the first connecting element (17) of the cable bundle (16) via a second connecting element (19).

Images