Mirror bracket for the interior of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle with at least one mirror bracket

Abstract

Mirror bracket (1) for the interior (4) of a motor vehicle (K), wherein an interior rearview mirror (3) and a camera (2) can be attached to the mirror bracket (1) simultaneously, characterized in that the mirror bracket (1) has at least two arms (10) projecting downwards towards a windshield (W) on its front side, which are connected to each other by at least one crossbar (11), wherein the camera (2) is arranged or can be arranged between the arms (10) and at least predominantly above the interior rearview mirror (3) in its mounting state, wherein the mirror bracket (1) is frame-shaped in outline in a top view of the mirror bracket (1) and the arms (10) each transition into a side rail (13) on the rear side, towards a rear window, in the mounting state of the mirror bracket (1).wherein the side rails (13) are in turn connected to each other by at least one rear crossbar (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mirror holder for the interior of a motor vehicle having the features of the preamble of patent claim 1. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having at least one mirror holder according to patent claim 7.

[0002] Such a mirror mount is known, for example, from WO 2003 / 049 446 A1. In the mirror mount disclosed therein, a camera is attached to the mirror mount via a pivot bearing. To move the camera into a use position, it is pivoted toward the interior below the interior rearview mirror. A non-use position is achieved by pivoting the camera forward toward a windshield, specifically behind the interior rearview mirror.

[0003] However, in the use position, the camera occupies part of the field of view below the interior rearview mirror. Furthermore, an additional actuation process is required to move the camera into the use or non-use position.

[0004] US Pat. No. 6,738,088 B1 also describes a motor vehicle mirror mount that is attached to the windshield. Specifically, the camera is detachably connected to the housing of the interior rearview mirror and is positioned between the windshield and the interior rearview mirror. This impedes access to the camera.

[0005] Finally, DE 103 55 205 A1, which also has all the features of the preamble of claim 1, describes a mounting arrangement for a camera module in a motor vehicle. This comprises a camera module carrier and a camera module connected to the camera module carrier. The camera module carrier is attached to a windshield of the motor vehicle on one side and has a connecting arrangement for holding an interior rearview mirror on the other. A retaining spring can be mounted on the camera module carrier, with the aid of which the camera module carrier can be held to a fastening element adhesively attached to the windshield.

[0006] The present invention is based on the object of improving a mirror mount of the generic type in such a way that the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated. Furthermore, the mirror mount should be extremely stable and contribute to a secure, wobble-free hold of the camera.

[0007] However, it is also an object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle which is installed with a mirror holder according to the invention.

[0008] The above-mentioned objects are solved by patent claim 1 and patent claim 7.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments or further developments of the invention can be found in the respective subclaims.

[0010] The invention initially relates to a mirror holder for the interior of a motor vehicle, wherein an interior rearview mirror and a camera can be attached to the mirror holder at the same time.

[0011] According to the invention, the mirror mount has at least two arms on the front side (i.e., toward the windshield) that project downwards when the mirror mount is mounted. The arms are connected to each other by at least one cross brace, and the camera, when mounted, is arranged or can be arranged between the arms and at least predominantly above the interior rearview mirror.

[0012] This type of mirror mount allows the camera to be kept permanently in standby mode on the mirror mount without obstructing the driver's field of vision below the mirror. Furthermore, the camera is very easily accessible.

[0013] The solution according to the invention also enables the use of cameras that can be used to film both in the direction of travel towards the outside and against the direction of travel towards the rear.

[0014] The downward extension of the arms can be achieved in a variety of ways. Preferably, the arms have a slight bend or angle. Multiple angles or angles are also conceivable.

[0015] According to further features of the invention, the arms each extend into a side bar at the rear, with the side bars in turn being connected to each other by at least one rear cross brace. In a top view of the mirror mount, the outline is frame-like. This makes the mirror mount extremely stable and contributes to a secure, wobble-free hold of the camera.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the inventive concept, it has proven extremely advantageous if the interior rearview mirror has a recess on the top side into which the mirror holder partially projects.

[0017] This makes it possible to keep the driver's field of vision comparatively large, despite the downward-projecting arms of the mirror mount.

[0018] If the camera is connected or connectable to one of the arms at least indirectly by a ball joint, it can be moved extremely flexibly when attached to the mirror mount and brought into a suitable position.

[0019] However, it is also conceivable to design the mirror mount in such a way that the camera is or can be connected at least indirectly to the front cross strut.

[0020] This ensures that the camera is held securely to the mirror mount.

[0021] If, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the camera is detachably connected or connectable to an adapter, it can also be easily used outside the motor vehicle for other purposes. Furthermore, the adapter makes it possible to use commercially available cameras in the motor vehicle.

[0022] It has proven to be very useful if at least one lighting device is incorporated in the mirror holder.

[0023] If the mirror bracket is mounted in the roof area of ​​the vehicle, the vehicle interior can be well illuminated.

[0024] As already mentioned, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle with at least one mirror holder according to the invention.

[0025] The motor vehicle can be further developed in such a way that the camera can be operated via a separate operating device, which can preferably be detachably fastened in the motor vehicle.

[0026] For example, it is conceivable to attach the separate control device to the instrument panel in the center console area. The control device could, for example, be designed in the form of a tablet PC detachably attached to the instrument panel. Data or function exchange between the control device and the camera is conceivable, for example, via a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and / or infrared interface.

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. Like reference numerals refer to like, comparable, or functionally identical components, whereby corresponding or comparable properties and advantages are achieved, even if a repeated description is omitted.

[0028] They show, schematically Fig. 1 a first embodiment of the mirror holder according to the invention in a perspective view, from outside a motor vehicle Fig. 2 the mirror holder according to the invention according to view II of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a second embodiment of the mirror holder according to the invention, in perspective view, Fig. 4 an enlarged detail view according to view IV of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 a motor vehicle with a mirror holder according to the invention.

[0029] First, the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is referred to.

[0030] The figures show a motor vehicle K in the area of ​​its windshield W.

[0031] In the vehicle interior in front of the windshield W, a mirror holder 1 can be seen, to which an interior rearview mirror 3 and a camera 2 are attached.

[0032] The mirror holder 1 is attached to a roof lining 4 of the motor vehicle K and has two arms 10 on the front side, i.e. on the side of the windshield W.

[0033] The arms 10 are angled downwards in the direction of a center console of the motor vehicle, which is not shown in detail here, and are connected to one another by a front cross strut 11.

[0034] In a view from the front onto the windshield W or also in a view from a rear seat bench, the downward-pointing arms 10 together with the cross brace 11 have approximately the shape of a U. This creates free, i.e. uncovered, front and rear recording areas S1 and S2 for the camera 2.

[0035] In the present embodiment, the camera 2 is detachably connected to the front cross member 11 via an adapter 5. The camera can be easily pushed into the adapter 5 from the vehicle interior toward the windshield W and secured there with a locking mechanism. The camera 2 can also be easily removed from the vehicle interior.

[0036] Furthermore, it can be seen that the interior rearview mirror 3 has a trough-like recess 30 on the upper side, into which the mirror holder 1 projects with the front cross strut 11.

[0037] The arms 10 each merge at the rear (i.e. in the direction of a rear window) into side strips 13, which are finally connected to each other by a rear cross strut 12.

[0038] In the area of ​​the side strips 13 and the rear cross strut 12, a functional module consisting of a lighting device 6 and function buttons 7 is embedded in the mirror holder 1.

[0039] Finally, it should be noted that in the present embodiment, the camera 2 has a semi-transparent lens cover 20. This means that light can only enter the camera 2 from the outside, but not from it. This ensures that the lens of the camera 2 is not visible from the outside, resulting in a more pleasing appearance of the camera 2 mounted in the mirror mount 1.

[0040] Referring to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, a second embodiment of the mirror mount 1 according to the invention will now be described. Unlike the mirror mount explained in the previous figures, in the present mirror mount 1, the camera 2 is releasably held in a frame-like adapter 5, which in turn is connected to an arm 10 via a ball joint 8.

[0041] The ball joint 8 makes it possible to move the camera 2 very flexibly into a variety of shooting positions.

[0042] The camera 2 is attached or detached in the adapter 5 by means of an eccentric lever 50.

[0043] To remove the camera 2 from the adapter 5, the lens side of the camera 2 only needs to be turned by approximately 180° towards the interior, after which the eccentric lever 50 must be pivoted outwards (see arrow) and the camera 2 can be removed from the adapter 5.

[0044] Finally, in Fig.5 the entire motor vehicle K, which is provided with the mirror holder 1 according to the invention, shown from above.

[0045] As can be seen, both the interior rearview mirror 3 and the camera 2 are attached to the mirror holder 1.

[0046] In addition, an operating device 14 in the form of a tablet PC is indicated, which is preferably detachably attached to an instrument panel 9 in the area of ​​a center console 15.

[0047] The camera 2 can be controlled and activated at any time using the control device 14. Furthermore, easy data exchange between the camera 2 and the control device 14 is possible via Bluetooth.

[0048] It should also be mentioned that a power supply for the camera 2 is integrated into the mirror mount 1 (not shown in detail).

[0049] The invention is not limited to the above embodiment(s). These were used only to generally explain the core concept of the invention. Rather, within the scope of its protection, the invention may also assume embodiments or forms other than those described above. In particular, it may also include features that represent a combination of individual features of the respective claims. List of reference symbols 1 mirror mount 10 arms 11 front cross brace 12 rear cross brace 13 sidebars 2 cameras 20 lens cover 3 interior rearview mirrors 30 recess 4 headliner 5 adapters 50 eccentric levers 6 Lighting device 7 function keys 8 ball joint 9 Instrument panel 14 Operating device 15 Center console K Motor vehicle S1, S2 recording areas W Windshield

Claims

[1] Mirror holder (1) for the interior (4) of a motor vehicle (K), wherein an interior rearview mirror (3) and a camera (2) can be attached to the mirror holder (1) at the same time, characterized byin that the mirror holder (1) has, on the front side, towards a windshield (W), at least two arms (10) which, in the assembled state of the mirror holder (1), project downwards and which (10) are connected to one another by at least one cross strut (11), wherein the camera (2) is arranged or can be arranged between the arms (10) and at least predominantly above the interior rear-view mirror (3) in the attached state, wherein the mirror holder (1) is designed in a frame-like outline in a plan view of the mirror holder (1) and the arms (10) each merge into a side strip (13) on the rear side in the direction of a rear window in the assembled state of the mirror holder (1), wherein the side strips (13) are in turn connected to one another by at least one rear cross strut (12). [2] Mirror holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the interior rearview mirror (3) has a recess (30) on the top side into which the mirror holder (1 or 11) partially projects. [3] Mirror holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 2, characterized by that the camera (2) is or can be connected to one of the arms (10) at least indirectly (5) by a ball joint (8). [4] Mirror holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 2, characterized by that the camera (2) is or can be connected at least indirectly (5) to the front cross strut (11). [5] Mirror holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the camera (2) is detachably connected or connectable to an adapter (5). [6] Mirror holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one lighting device (6) is accommodated in the mirror holder (1). [7] Motor vehicle (K) with at least one mirror holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims. [8] Motor vehicle (K) according to claim 7, characterized by that the camera (2) can be operated via a separate operating device (14) which can be fastened in the motor vehicle (K).

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