Rearview mirror structure

Abstract

Provided is a rearview mirror structure comprising: a mirror body forming a mirror surface; a mirror holder that holds the mirror body; a front cover that covers the mirror holder from the opposite side of the mirror body; a mirror assembly including a mirror body, a mirror holder, and a front cover is supported on a mirror stay of a vehicle body, in which a ball stud located at the front end of the mirror stay is inserted into a space between the mirror holder and the front cover, and the ball of the ball stud is rotatably held in the space by a holder fastened to the mirror holder. The mirror holder is provided with a holder-side recess into which the ball is fitted, the holder is provided with a holder-side recess which faces the holder-side recess and into which the ball is fitted, the ball is sandwiched between the holder-side recess and the holder-side recess, and the holder and the mirror holder are fastened by a bolt and a nut, whereby the ball is held between the holder-side recess and the holder-side recess. A bolt and a nut that fasten and connect the holder and the mirror holder are screwed through a washer through which the bolt passes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a rearview mirror structure.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-036134, filed in Japan on March 8, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-85747 and Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3217217 disclose a rearview mirror structure in which the outer periphery of the mirror body is held in the outer periphery of the mirror bracket, and a ball with a ball head pin is provided at the front end of the mirror support bar. The ball is clamped and held on the side of the mirror bracket, thereby enabling the mirror bracket to tilt and move so as to adjust the angle of the mirror surface. Utility Model Content

[0004] In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-85747, although the sphere has clamping parts that are fastened to the mirror bracket on both sides, these clamping parts are cantilevered. Therefore, adjusting the holding force of the sphere during the assembly of the rearview mirror requires considerable labor and time. In Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3217217, the sphere has clamping parts that are fastened to the mirror bracket at three locations around it, but the assembly time for the rearview mirror is still relatively high.

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a rearview mirror structure that facilitates the fastening and connection of a ball used to maintain the tilt and movement of the mirror.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the rearview mirror structure of this utility model adopts the following structure.

[0007] (1) The present invention relates to a rearview mirror structure, which is a rearview mirror (10L, 10R) structure, comprising: a mirror body (11) forming a mirror surface (11a); a mirror bracket (12) holding the mirror body (11); a front cover (16) covering the mirror bracket (12) from the opposite side of the mirror body (11); and a mirror support bar (27) supporting a mirror assembly (19) including the mirror body (11), the mirror bracket (12) and the front cover (16) on the vehicle body, wherein a ball head pin (28) located at the front end of the mirror support bar (27) is inserted into a space (A1) between the mirror bracket (12) and the front cover (16), and the ball (28a) of the ball head pin (28) is fastened to the mirror bracket (12) by a retainer (2) within the space (A1). 1) To maintain the ability to rotate, the mirror support (12) has a support side recess (13) for fitting the ball (28a), and the retainer (21) has a retainer side recess (22) opposite to the support side recess (13) and fitting the ball (28a). The ball (28a) is held between the support side recess (13) and the retainer side recess (22). The retainer (21) and the mirror support (12) are fastened together by a bolt (B1) and a nut (N1), thereby holding the ball (28a) between the support side recess (13) and the retainer side recess (22). The bolt (B1) and the nut (N1) that fasten the retainer (21) and the mirror support (12) are screwed in through a washer (K1) through which the bolt (B1) passes.

[0008] According to the above scheme (1), the bolt and nut clamping the ball of the ball head pin of the mirror support bar are screwed in via a washer. The washer then bears the tightening force of the bolt and nut, and the relative position (distance) between the bracket side recess and the retainer side recess is fixed to a specified value. That is, the ball can be clamped with a specified force simply by screwing in the bolt and nut. Therefore, the tightening operation of the retainer is simplified, making the manufacture and maintenance of the rearview mirror easier.

[0009] (2) In the above-mentioned (1) scheme, when viewed from the fastening connection direction, the bolt fastening connection (25a, 25b) formed by the bolt (B1) and the nut (N1) is provided on both sides of the ball (28a) in the first direction (vehicle width direction). The first fastening connection (25b) provided on one side of the ball (28a) in the first direction screws the bolt (B1) and the nut (N1) into the ball via the washer (K1) and makes the retainer (21) abut against the mirror bracket (12). The second fastening connection (25a) provided on the other side of the ball (28a) in the first direction does not screw the bolt (B1) and the nut (N1) into the ball via the washer (K1) and creates a gap (S1) between the mirror bracket (12) and the retainer (21).

[0010] According to the above scheme (2), one of the pair of fastening connections for clamping the ball is screwed in with a bolt and nut via a washer, and the lens holder and retainer abut against each other. This avoids applying excessive fastening force to the lens holder and retainer, and fixes the recessed part of the bracket and the recessed part of the retainer to a predetermined relative position (space). The other of the pair of fastening connections is not screwed in with a bolt and nut via a washer, but the lens holder and retainer are separated from each other. This avoids the generation of excessive fastening force caused by screwing in the bolt and nut, and the force clamping the ball can be easily adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of screwing in the bolt and nut.

[0011] (3) In the above (2) scheme, the first direction is the vehicle width direction, the first fastening connection (25b) is located on the outside of the vehicle width direction, and the second fastening connection (25a) is located on the inside of the vehicle width direction.

[0012] According to the above-described (3) scheme, the fastening connection, which is securely screwed in via a washer, is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, thereby enhancing the fixing force of the mirror assembly on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, even if an external force is accidentally applied to the outer side of the mirror assembly in the vehicle width direction, tilting or rotation of the mirror assembly is unlikely to occur. On the other hand, the fastening connection, which is screwed in without gaps separated by washers, is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, thereby allowing the mirror assembly to be easily moved by forces from the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the user can easily perform angle adjustments, etc., by operating the mirror assembly from the inner side in the vehicle width direction. In other words, it is possible to suppress movement of the mirror assembly caused by external forces from the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and it is easy to perform operations such as angle adjustments of the mirror assembly based on the user.

[0013] (4) In the above (3) scheme, the rearview mirror structure is suitable for rod-end type rearview mirrors (10L, 10R) installed on the outer end (2b) of the left and right grips (2aL, 2aR) of the steering handle (2) of the straddle vehicle (1).

[0014] According to the above (4) scheme, in the mirror assembly that is suitable for pole end type, it is difficult to tilt or rotate when an external force is applied to the outside of the vehicle width direction when the mirror assembly is easy to protrude outward in the vehicle width direction, and the angle can be easily adjusted by operation from the inside of the vehicle width direction.

[0015] According to the present invention, a rearview mirror structure is provided that facilitates the fastening connection of the sphere used to tilt and move the mirror. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a front view of a straddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment of this utility model.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional view of the grip area and rearview mirror on the right side of the aforementioned motorcycle.

[0018] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Sectional view III-III.

[0019] Figure 4 This is the front view of the right-side rearview mirror of the vehicle body, viewed from the front side in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the grip.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a side view of the right-side rearview mirror of the vehicle body, viewed from the right side of the grip area along the axis.

[0021] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 Sectional view VI-VI.

[0022] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Sectional view VII-VII.

[0023] Figure 8 yes Figure 6 Sectional view of VIII-VIII.

[0024] Figure 9 This is a rear view of the mirror bracket of the aforementioned rearview mirror, viewed from the rear side in the direction of the normal.

[0025] Figure 10 This is the front view of the aforementioned mirror support as seen from the front along the normal direction.

[0026] Figure 11 This is a rear view of the front cover of the aforementioned rearview mirror, viewed from the rear side in the direction of the normal.

[0027] Figure 12 This is a three-dimensional view of the aforementioned mirror support as seen from the rear side.

[0028] Figure 13 This is a three-dimensional view of the aforementioned mirror support as seen from the front.

[0029] Figure 14 This is a perspective view of the lower part of the aforementioned front cover from below.

[0030] Symbol Explanation

[0031] 1. Motorcycle

[0032] 2. Steering handle

[0033] 2aL, 2aR gripping parts

[0034] 2b outer end

[0035] 10L and 10R rearview mirrors

[0036] 11. Lens

[0037] 11a Mirror

[0038] 12-lens support

[0039] 13. Side recess of the bracket

[0040] 13a Retainer fastening connection

[0041] 16-Front Cover

[0042] 19-lens assembly

[0043] 21 Retainer

[0044] 22 Retainer side recess

[0045] 25a Bolt fastening connection, second fastening connection

[0046] 25b Bolt fastening connection, first fastening connection

[0047] 27. Mirror support strip

[0048] 28 ball head pin

[0049] 28a sphere

[0050] A1 Space

[0051] B1 bolt

[0052] K1 Washer

[0053] N1 Nut

[0054] S1 gap Detailed Implementation

[0055] The embodiments of this utility model will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the directions (front, back, left, right, etc.) in the following description are the same as the directions of the vehicle described below. Furthermore, in the drawings used in the following description, arrows indicating the front of the vehicle (FR), left (LH), top (UP), and center lines on the left and right sides of the vehicle body (CL) are shown in appropriate positions.

[0056] In the following description, the vehicle is in a parked state with the vehicle body not tilted to the left or right and upright with a rudder angle of 0 degrees, and is in an unloaded 1G state on a horizontal plane.

[0057] In this embodiment, "middle" means not only the center between the two ends of the object, but also the range inside the two ends of the object.

[0058] Figure 1 This is a front view of a straddle-type vehicle (e.g., a motorized two-wheeler) 1 according to the implementation method.

[0059] like Figure 1 As shown, the motorcycle 1 has a lever-type steering handle 2 for steering the front wheel (steering wheel). Bar-end type rearview mirrors 10L and 10R are installed on the outer ends 2b of the left and right grip portions 2aL and 2aR in the vehicle width direction (left and right direction of the vehicle).

[0060] Figure 2 It is a 3D view of the grip area 2aR on the right side of the vehicle and the rearview mirror 10R. Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Sectional view III-III. Figure 4 This is a front view of the right-side rearview mirror 10R of the vehicle body, viewed from the front side in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the gripping part 2aR. Figure 5 This is a side view of the right-side rearview mirror 10R of the vehicle body, viewed from the right side of the grip 2aR axis.

[0061] The following explanation refers to the rearview mirror 10R on the right side of the vehicle body, but the rearview mirror 10L on the left side of the vehicle body has a structure that is symmetrical to it. In the figure, line C1 represents the central axis of the grip 2aR, and symbol 2c represents the throttle sleeve installed on the grip 2aR on the right side of the vehicle body.

[0062] Reference Figures 2-5The rearview mirror 10R is a pole-end mirror that can be mounted on the end (outer end in the vehicle width direction) 2b of the grip portion 2aR in the handlebar 2 of the motorcycle 1. The rearview mirror 10R includes: a mirror body (mirror body) 11 forming a mirror surface 11a; a mirror bracket 12 having a frame portion 12a that holds the outer periphery 11b of the mirror body 11; a mirror support bar 27 that supports a mirror assembly 19 including the mirror body 11 and the mirror bracket 12 at the front end; and a mirror fixing device 31 that supports the base end 27b of the mirror support bar 27 and fixes it in the grip portion 2aR.

[0063] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 Sectional view VI-VI. Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Sectional view VII-VII. Figure 8 yes Figure 6 Sectional view of VIII-VIII.

[0064] Refer to together Figures 6-8 The base end portion 27b of the mirror support bar 27 is formed as a bottomed cylindrical shape coaxial with the gripping portion 2aR. A bolt insertion hole is formed at the center of the bottom of the base end portion 27b, through which the support bar fixing bolt 33 passes from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The mirror support bar 27 includes: the base end portion 27b; an arm portion 27c integrally formed above the base end portion 27b and extending upward; and a ball head pin 28 for fixing the threaded shaft 28c by screwing it into the upper end of the arm portion 27c.

[0065] The cylindrical handle weight 32 included in the mirror fixing device 31 is fixed, for example, to the interior of the grip portion 2aR in the width direction by welding. The mirror fixing device 31 has an adapter 34 for fixing by screwing a threaded shaft 34a into a threaded hole 32a formed in the inner circumference of the handle weight 32. The adapter 34 is in the shape of a bolt with an expanded diameter portion (head) 34b having a hexagonal cross-section. The threaded shaft 34a of the adapter 34, which becomes the body, is fixed by screwing it into the handle weight 32 via a cylindrical spacer (washer) K1.

[0066] A cylindrical nut portion 34c is integrally formed on the outer side of the expanded diameter portion 34b in the vehicle width direction of the adapter 34. A bag-shaped nut hole 34d, which opens outward in the vehicle width direction, is coaxially formed in the range from the nut portion 34c to the expanded diameter portion 34b. A support rod fixing bolt 33, through which the base end 27b of the mirror support rod 27 passes, is screwed and fixed to the nut hole 34d from the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

[0067] The threaded shaft 34a of the adapter 34 is a right-hand thread that tightens by clockwise rotation, while the body of the support bar fixing bolt 33 is a left-hand thread (reverse thread) that tightens by counterclockwise rotation. Therefore, when an external force in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is applied to the mirror assembly 19 and a torque is applied to the center of the gripping part 2aR of the mirror support bar 27, this torque comes into play, loosening the fastening connection of either the threaded shaft 34a of the adapter 34 or the support bar fixing bolt 33.

[0068] Therefore, regardless of whether the rotational direction of the torque applied to the mirror support bar 27 is clockwise or counterclockwise, the tight connection of either the threaded shaft 34a of the adapter 34 or the support bar fixing bolt 33 is loosened, allowing the mirror support bar 27 to rotate, thus suppressing overload input to the mirror assembly 19 and the mirror support bar 27.

[0069] The mirror assembly 19 includes: a mirror bracket 12 having a frame portion 12a that holds the outer periphery 11b of the circular mirror body 11; a front cover 16 that covers the vehicle front side (opposite side of the mirror body 11) of the mirror bracket 12 in such a way as to retain a certain width of the outer periphery 12b; and a retainer 21 fixed between the mirror bracket 12 and the front cover 16.

[0070] Viewed from the normal direction of the mirror surface 11a of the mirror body 11, the mirror assembly 19 has a circular shape that is slightly larger than the mirror body 11, and is generally flattened to suppress the thickness in the normal direction. The mirror assembly 19 forms a spherical reference front surface 19a through the outer periphery 12b of the mirror bracket 12 and each front surface of the front cover 16. A lower front protrusion 17 is formed on the vehicle front side of the mirror assembly 19, so that the inner periphery near the lower part protrudes forward compared to the reference front surface 19a. The lower front protrusion 17 forms an internal space A1 between itself and the mirror bracket 12, through which the front end (upper end, ball head pin 28) of the mirror support 27 can be inserted from the lower side.

[0071] In the rearview mirror 10R in its mounted position on the vehicle body, the lower front protrusion 17 forms a generally horizontal lower end portion 17a. An opening 17b is formed in the lower end portion 17a for the shaft portion 28b of the ball joint 28 to pass through. The ball joint 28 includes: a pivot ball (sphere 28a) located at the upper end of the mirror support bar 27; a shaft portion 28b connected to the lower part of the sphere 28a; and a threaded shaft 28c protruding downward from the lower end of the shaft portion 28b and screwed to the upper end of the arm portion 27c. The ball joint 28 is separate from the mirror support bar 27, but it can also be integrated with the support bar body 27a as part of the mirror support bar 27.

[0072] In the normal operating state of the rearview mirror 10R, the mirror surface 11a of the mirror body 11 is tilted so that the normal direction is lower in the front and higher in the rear, and the ball joint 28 tilts the axis of the shaft portion 28b (pin axis) so that the lower part is closer to the front. When viewed from the side of the vehicle, the lower end portion 17a is tilted so that the front is lower and the rear is higher. As a result, the lower end portion 17a is not exposed in front of the vehicle, and when viewed from the front of the vehicle, the opening 17b and the ball joint are not visible, and rainwater and dust from the front of the vehicle are difficult to reach the interior of the mirror assembly 19. Hereinafter, the case where the pin axis is in the above-described tilted state (baseline state) will be described.

[0073] Figure 9 This is a rear view of the mirror holder 12 viewed from the rear side in the direction of the normal. Figure 10 This is a front view of the front observation mirror bracket 12 from the normal direction. Figure 11 This is a rear view of the front cover 16 viewed from the rear side in the direction of the normal. Figure 12 This is a three-dimensional view of the rear-view mirror support 12. Figure 13 This is a three-dimensional view of the front-side observation mirror bracket 12. Figure 14 This is a three-dimensional view of the lower part of the front cover 16 as seen from below.

[0074] Refer to together Figures 9-14 The mirror bracket 12 covers the inside of the mirror surface 11a (the front side of the vehicle) in the mirror body 11 and forms various structures. On the inner circumference side of the mirror bracket 12, a bracket-side recess 13 is provided at the position opposite the ball head pin 28 from above in the pin axial direction, forming a concave spherical surface that matches the upper outer surface of the ball 28a. A pair of widening portions 14a and 14b are provided on the left and right sides of the bracket-side recess 13 to widen the left and right widths of the bracket-side recess 13. The pair of widening portions 14a and 14b are arranged on the inner and outer sides of the bracket-side recess 13 in the vehicle width direction, respectively. Each widening portion 14a and 14b has a bolt insertion hole 14c through which the retainer fixing bolt B1 for fixing the retainer 21 passes.

[0075] The following description assumes that the retainer fixing bolt B1 is configured with its axial direction parallel to the aforementioned pin axis. Similarly, the axial directions of the nut N1 and the through hole 14c involved in the retainer fixing bolt B1 are also parallel to the aforementioned pin axis.

[0076] A pair of nuts N1 are disposed on the upper side of the transversely elongated wall portion (retainer fastening connection portion) 13a, which includes the bracket side recess 13 and a pair of widened portions 14a, 14b, for screwing a pair of retainer fixing bolts B1 respectively. The pair of nuts N1 are, for example, welded nuts that engage with a transversely elongated steel plate that overlaps on the upper side of the retainer fastening connection portion 13a. The pair of nuts N1 and the steel plate constitute an integral nut plate NP1.

[0077] The mirror holder 12 is, for example, a molded product made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene. The frame portion 12a of the mirror holder 12 forms a retaining groove that opens inwards. The mirror body 11 is held in the mirror holder 12 by inserting the outer peripheral edge 11b of the mirror body 11 into the retaining groove of the frame portion 12a. The outer peripheral portion 12b is connected to the front side of the frame portion 12a. A flat portion 12d is formed at a position closer to the inner peripheral side than the outer peripheral portion 12b, displaced towards the rear side of the vehicle (mirror body 11 side) via a stepped portion 12c extending towards the rear side of the vehicle. The flat portion 12d is plate-shaped and substantially parallel to the mirror body 11. The outer peripheral portion of the front cover 16 is fitted into the inner peripheral side of the stepped portion 12c.

[0078] The retainer 21 is positioned axially upwards opposite to the lower part of the bracket-side recess 13. The retainer 21 has a retainer-side recess 22 forming a concave spherical surface that matches the lower outer surface of the ball 28a, and a shaft insertion hole 22a passing through the center of the retainer-side recess 22, allowing the shaft portion 28b of the ball head pin 28 to pass through. In the retainer 21, a pair of widening portions 23a and 23b are provided on both sides of the retainer-side recess 22 in the left-right direction, widening the left-right width of the retainer 21. The pair of widening portions 23a and 23b are arranged on the inner and outer sides of the retainer-side recess in the vehicle width direction, respectively. Each widening portion 23a and 23b has a bolt insertion hole 23c for the retainer fixing bolt B1 to pass through. A pair of washers W1 for each retainer fixing bolt B1 to pass through are integrally formed to constitute a horizontally elongated washer plate WP1.

[0079] With the shaft portion 28b of the ball-head pin 28 passing through the shaft insertion hole 22a and the ball body 28a of the ball-head pin 28 sandwiched between the retainer-side recess 22 and the bracket-side recess 13, the retainer 21 is fixed to the mirror bracket 12 by a pair of retainer fixing bolts B1. At this time, the ball body 28a of the ball-head pin 28 is held between the retainer-side recess 22 and the bracket-side recess 13 with a specified holding force by the tightening force of the pair of retainer bolts B1. The inner circumferential surface 22b of the shaft insertion hole 22a is set as a conical surface that extends downward, allowing the shaft portion 28b to swing about the ball body 28a as the center.

[0080] The bolt fastening connection 25b, consisting of one of a pair of retainer fixing bolts B1 (left side in the figure, outer side in the vehicle width direction), includes a metal washer (spacer) K1 through which the body of the retainer fixing bolt B1 passes. In this bolt fastening connection 25b, the retainer fixing bolt B1 is screwed into the nut N1 via the washer K1 and the washer W1. In this bolt fastening connection 25b, the extended portion 14b of the mirror bracket 12 and the extended portion 23b of the retainer 21 are fastened together in an axially abutting state. Each extended portion 14b and 23b is made of resin, and these extended portions 14b and 23b are fastened together via the washer K1, thereby preventing excessive fastening force from being applied to each extended portion 14b and 23b and fixing the axial position of the retainer 21 in a predetermined position.

[0081] In the bolt fastening connection 25a, which is formed by the other of the pair of retainer fixing bolts B1 (right side in the figure, inside in the vehicle width direction), a predetermined gap S1 is formed between the axially opposing surfaces of the widened portion 14a of the mirror bracket 12 and the widened portion 23a of the retainer 21. A cylindrical extension 23d, extending upwardly coaxially with the bolt insertion hole 23c, is integrally formed on the upper side of the widened portion 23a of the retainer 21 (on the side of the widened portion 14a of the mirror bracket 12). The extension 23d is axially movable and fits into the bolt insertion hole 14c of the widened portion 14a of the mirror bracket 12. By adjusting the tightening strength of the retainer fixing bolt B1 using this bolt fastening connection 25a, the force required to clamp the ball 28a between the mirror bracket 12 and the retainer 21 can be increased or decreased, thus adjusting the balance between the strength of the mirror's fixation and the ease of movement.

[0082] The front cover 16 is, for example, made of aluminum alloy. Viewed from the normal direction of the mirror surface 11a, the front cover 16 has a circular shape along the stepped portion 12c of the mirror bracket 12. The front cover 16 has a bulging shape that protrudes in the normal direction towards the opposite side (front side of the vehicle) of the mirror body 11. Viewed from the normal direction, the front cover 16 has a lower front protrusion 17 formed at a position lower than the center position. The front cover 16 covers the front side of the mirror bracket 12 (the opposite side of the mirror body 11 in the normal direction).

[0083] A pair of fastening connecting bosses 16a for engaging with the mirror bracket 12 are integrally formed on the inner side (rear side, mirror bracket 12 side) of the front cover 16. The pair of fastening connecting bosses 16a are respectively arranged with their axial directions aligned with the normal direction. A fastening connecting wall portion 12e is provided on the inner circumference of the mirror bracket 12, facing the front ends of the left and right fastening connecting bosses 16a from the rear side of the vehicle. A pair of bolt insertion holes formed in the fastening connecting wall portion 12e are respectively threaded through by cover fixing bolts B2, and these bolts B2 are screwed into the pair of fastening connecting bosses 16a, thereby fixing the front cover 16 to the front side of the mirror bracket 12. For example, a transversely elongated gasket plate WP2 spanning the pair of bolt insertion holes is disposed on the rear side (mirror body 11 side) of the fastening connecting wall portion 12e.

[0084] The disassembly and assembly of the front cover 16 to the mirror bracket 12 are performed before the mirror body 11 is installed to the mirror bracket 12. That is, the cover fixing bolt B2 is disassembled and assembled through the opening on the inner side of the frame portion 12a of the mirror bracket 12, and the mirror body 11 is embedded and fixed to the frame portion 12a after the operation is completed. As a result, the fastening tools such as the cover fixing bolt B2 are not visible after the mirror is assembled.

[0085] The opening 17b formed at the lower end portion 17a of the lower front protrusion 17 is an elongated oval shape that extends in the front-rear direction, allowing the shaft portion 28b of the ball head pin 28 to swing considerably, particularly in the front-rear direction. At the lower end of the protrusion, on both the left and right sides of the opening 17b, a pair of working holes 17c for accessing tools are formed in the head of the retainer fixing bolt B1. Therefore, even after the mirror assembly 19 is assembled, the tightening strength of the retainer fixing bolt B1 can be adjusted.

[0086] The bolt fastening connection 25b on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is a fastening connection that is securely fastened using a washer K1, while the bolt fastening connection 25a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is a fastening connection that separates from the gap S1. Therefore, the tightening strength of the retainer fixing bolt B1 can be adjusted without mistaking the bolt for the object. By making the bolt fastening connection 25b on the outer side in the vehicle width direction a fastening connection that is securely fastened using a washer K1 rather than an adjustment connection, it is easier to withstand external forces from the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Especially in rearview mirrors 10R that protrude along the vehicle width direction, such as pole end mirrors, the frequency of contact between objects / body parts and the outer side of the mirror in the vehicle width direction is high, and the above-mentioned configuration of bolt fastening connections 25a and 25b is preferred. The bolt fastening connection 25a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is provided as a fastening connection that can adjust the screwing strength of the retainer fixing bolt B1, thereby making it easy to adjust the mirror angle through operation from the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[0087] As described above, the rearview mirror structure of the above embodiment is the structure of rearview mirrors 10L and 10R, which includes: a mirror body 11 forming a mirror surface 11a; a mirror bracket 12 holding the mirror body 11; a front cover 16 covering the mirror bracket 12 from the opposite side of the mirror body 11; and a mirror support bar 27 supporting a mirror assembly 19 including the mirror body 11, the mirror bracket 12, and the front cover 16 on the vehicle body. A ball joint pin 28 located at the front end of the mirror support bar 27 is inserted into a space A1 between the mirror bracket 12 and the front cover 16. The ball 28a of the ball joint pin 28 is held rotatably within the space A1 by a retainer 21 fastened to the mirror bracket 12. The retainer fastening connection 13a of the bracket 12 has a bracket side recess 13 for fitting the ball 28a. The retainer 21 has a retainer side recess 22 opposite to the bracket side recess 13 and for fitting the ball 28a. The ball 28a is clamped between the bracket side recess 13 and the retainer side recess 22. The retainer 21 is fastened to the retainer fastening connection 13a by a bolt B1 and a nut N1. Thus, the ball 28a is held between the bracket side recess 13 and the retainer side recess 22. The bolt B1 and nut N1 that fasten the retainer 21 to the retainer fastening connection 13a are screwed in through a washer K1 through which the bolt B1 passes.

[0088] According to this structure, the bolt B1 and nut N1, which clamp the ball 28a of the ball head pin 28 of the mirror support bar 27, are screwed in via the washer K1. Thus, the washer K1 bears the tightening force of the bolt B1 and nut N1, and the relative position (distance) between the bracket-side recess 13 and the retainer-side recess 22 can be fixed to a predetermined value. That is, the ball 28a can be clamped with a predetermined force simply by screwing in the bolt B1 and nut N1. Therefore, the tightening operation of the retainer 21 can be simplified, making the manufacturing and maintenance of the rearview mirrors 10L and 10R easier.

[0089] In the above-described rearview mirror structure, viewed from the fastening connection direction, bolt fastening connection portions 25a and 25b, based on the bolt B1 and the nut N1, are provided on both sides of the ball 28a in the first direction (vehicle width direction). The first fastening connection portion 25b, which is located on one side of the ball 28a in the first direction, screws the bolt B1 and the nut N1 in via the washer K1, and the retainer 21 abuts against the retainer fastening connection portion 13a. The second fastening connection portion 25a, which is located on the other side of the ball 28a in the first direction, does not screw the bolt B1 and the nut N1 in via the washer K1, and a gap S1 is separated between the retainer fastening connection portion 13a and the retainer 21.

[0090] According to this structure, one of the pair of fastening connections 25a and 25b that clamp the ball 28a is screwed in with bolt B1 and nut N1 via washer K1, and the retainer fastening connection 13a and retainer 21 are brought into contact with each other. This avoids applying excessive fastening force to the retainer fastening connection 13a and retainer 21, and allows the bracket side recess 13 and retainer side recess 22 to be fixed in a predetermined relative position (spaced). The other of the pair of fastening connections 25a and 25b is not screwed in with bolt B1 and nut N1 via washer K1, but the retainer fastening connection 13a and retainer 21 are separated from each other. This avoids the generation of excessive fastening force caused by screwing in bolt B1 and nut N1, and the force clamping the ball 28a can be easily adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of screwing in bolt B1 and nut N1.

[0091] In the above-mentioned rearview mirror structure, the first direction is the vehicle width direction, the first fastening connection part 25b is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the second fastening connection part 25a is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[0092] According to this structure, the fastening connection 25b, which is securely screwed in via washer K1, is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, thereby enhancing the fixing force of the mirror assembly 19 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, even if an external force is accidentally applied to the outer side of the mirror assembly 19 in the vehicle width direction, it is difficult for the mirror assembly 19 to tilt or rotate. On the other hand, the fastening connection 25a, which is screwed in without washer K1 but with a gap S1, is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, thereby allowing the mirror assembly 19 to be easily moved by a force from the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the user can easily operate the mirror assembly 19 from the inner side in the vehicle width direction to perform angle adjustments, etc. In other words, it is possible to suppress the movement of the mirror assembly 19 caused by external forces from the outer side in the vehicle width direction, while the user can easily perform operations such as angle adjustments of the mirror assembly 19.

[0093] In the above-mentioned rearview mirror structure, a pole-end type rearview mirror 10L, 10R is suitable for mounting on the outer end 2b of the left and right grip portions 2aL, 2aR of the steering handle 2 of the motorcycle 1.

[0094] According to this structure, it is applicable to the pole-end type rearview mirrors 10L and 10R. Thus, in the mirror assembly 19, which is prone to protruding outward in the vehicle width direction, it is difficult to produce tilting or rotation when an external force is applied outward in the vehicle width direction, and the angle can be easily adjusted by operation from the inside of the vehicle width direction.

[0095] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the rearview mirror structure of this embodiment can be applied to straddle-type vehicles other than motorized two-wheeled vehicles. The straddle-type vehicles include all vehicles in which the driver straddles the vehicle, including not only motorized two-wheeled vehicles (including bicycles and scooter-type vehicles with a prime mover), but also three-wheeled (including vehicles with two front wheels and one rear wheel, in addition to those with one front wheel and two rear wheels) or four-wheeled (four-wheeled carts, etc.) vehicles. It can also be applied to vehicles whose prime mover includes an electric motor.

[0096] Furthermore, the structure described above is an example of this utility model, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of this utility model by replacing the constituent elements of the embodiment with well-known constituent elements.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror structure comprising: a mirror body forming a mirror surface; a mirror bracket holding the mirror body; a front cover covering the mirror bracket from the opposite side of the mirror body; and a mirror strut supporting a mirror assembly including the mirror body, the mirror bracket, and the front cover to a vehicle body. Its features are, The ball-head pin located at the front end of the lens support bar is inserted into the space between the lens holder and the front cover. The ball of the ball-head pin is held in place within the space by a retainer fastened to the mirror bracket, allowing it to rotate. The mirror support has a support side recess for fitting the sphere. The retainer has a retainer side recess that faces the bracket side recess and fits the ball. The sphere is held between the recessed portion on the support side and the recessed portion on the retainer side. The retainer and the mirror support are fastened together by bolts and nuts, thereby holding the sphere between the recessed portion on the support side and the recessed portion on the retainer side. The bolts and nuts that fasten the retainer to the mirror bracket are screwed in via washers through which the bolts pass.

2. The rearview mirror structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, Viewed from the fastening connection direction, the bolt fastening connection portion, formed by the bolt and the nut, is located on both sides that clamp the sphere in the first direction. The bolt and nut are screwed into the first fastening connection on one side of the sphere in the first direction via the washer, and the retainer abuts against the mirror bracket. A second fastening connection, located on the opposite side of the sphere in the first direction, screws the bolt and nut in without passing through the washer, and creates a gap between the mirror bracket and the retainer.

3. The rearview mirror structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first direction is the vehicle width direction. The first fastening connection is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the second fastening connection is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

4. The rearview mirror structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The rearview mirror structure is suitable for rod-end type rearview mirrors installed on the outer ends of the left and right grips of the steering handle of a motorcycle.

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