VEHICLE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR, WITH REINFORCED ACOUSTIC SEALING

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror (RE) comprises a rearview housing coupled to a fixing base (EF) coupled to a lateral element of a vehicle with the interposition of a sealing part (PE) comprising a through hole (TT) allowing the passage of a cable harness, opening onto a rear face (FR) and communicating perpendicularly with an opening (O) which extends to a lateral face (FL) substantially perpendicular to the rear face (FR) and comprises, at the level of this rear face (FR), a first part (PO1) widened in order to define a first housing (L1) housing at least a part of an insert (IEA) ensuring an acoustic seal. Figure 6

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR, WITH REINFORCED ACOUSTIC SEALING Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to vehicles comprising at least one lateral element to which an exterior rearview mirror is coupled, and more precisely to the acoustic seal at the interface between the exterior rearview mirror and the lateral element of such vehicles. State of the art

[0002] Certain vehicles, generally of the automobile type, comprise at least one lateral element (such as for example a front side door) to which an exterior rearview mirror is coupled. The latter comprises a rearview housing coupled to a fixing base which is suitable for being coupled to this lateral element with the interposition of a sealing part responsible for ensuring sealing against liquids.

[0003] In order to allow the passage of the cable harness supplying and controlling the exterior rearview mirror, the sealing part comprises a through hole opening onto a rear face and communicating perpendicularly with an opening extending to a lateral face substantially perpendicular to this rear face and intended to facilitate the installation of the cable harness.

[0004] A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the opening is never completely closed, even after tightening, and therefore air can circulate in this opening and generate noises which are audible in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, including when all the windows are fully closed. These noises can be annoying and / or disturbing for certain passengers, and therefore may be considered by them as a design or assembly defect.

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] It proposes in particular for this purpose an exterior rearview mirror comprising a rearview housing coupled to a fixing base suitable for being coupled to a lateral element of a vehicle with the interposition of a sealing part made of a first material and comprising a through hole allowing the passage of a cable bundle, opening onto a rear face and communicating perpendicularly with an opening extending to a lateral face substantially perpendicular to this rear face.

[0007] This exterior rearview mirror is characterized by the fact that the opening of the sealing part comprises, at the rear face, a first widened part in order to to define a first housing accommodating at least part of an insert providing acoustic sealing.

[0008] Thanks to this dedicated insert, the circulation of air in the area it occupies and therefore the generation of noise is prevented, so that there is no longer any risk of disturbing and / or worrying the passengers of the vehicle.

[0009] The exterior rearview mirror according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0010] - the insert may comprise at least one active part made in a second material similar or identical to the first material;

[0011] - in the presence of the first option, the first and second materials can be identical sealing foams;

[0012] - also in the presence of the first option, the opening may include, before the side face, a second part communicating with the first part and widened in order to define a second housing. In this case, the insert may comprise a support housed at least partially in the second housing and to which its active part is fixedly secured;

[0013] - in the presence of the last sub-option, the support may comprise a first sub-part housed in the second housing and a second sub-part extending substantially perpendicularly the first sub-part, to which the active part is fixedly secured, and housed in the first housing with the latter;

[0014] - also in the presence of the last sub-option, the support can be carried out in a third rigid material;

[0015] - also in the presence of the last sub-option, the second accommodation can have a rectangular parallelepiped shape;

[0016] - the first housing may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0017] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one lateral element to which is coupled an exterior rearview mirror of the type presented above. Brief description of the figures

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the side of the face rear, part of an example of a mounting base for an exterior rearview mirror according to the invention suitable for equipping a vehicle and provided with a sealing part equipped with an “anti-noise” insert,

[0020] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in another perspective view from the side of the rear face, the sealing part equipping the fixing base of [Fig.l], before receiving the insert,

[0021] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, an example of production of an insert intended to be part of the sealing part of [Fig.2],

[0022] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, the insert of [Fig.3] being installed in the opening of the sealing part of [Fig.2],

[0023] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a plane passing through the opening of the sealing part, the sealing part of figures 2 and 4 once the insert is installed in its opening, and

[0024] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates, in a front view from the rear face side, the sealing part of figures 2 and 4 once the insert is installed in its opening. Detailed description of the invention

[0025] The invention aims in particular to propose an exterior rearview mirror RE comprising a fixing base EF suitable for being coupled to a lateral element of a vehicle with the interposition of a PE sealing part with reinforced acoustic sealing.

[0026] In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle is of the automobile type. This is for example a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It in fact concerns any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising at least one lateral element (right or left) to which an exterior rearview mirror must be fixedly attached.

[0027] Furthermore, it is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the lateral element of the vehicle on which the exterior rearview mirror RE according to the invention is to be installed is a front side door. However, an exterior rearview mirror RE according to the invention can be coupled to other lateral elements of a vehicle, and in particular to a front wing of the bodywork, for example.

[0028] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates part of an example of an exterior rearview mirror RE according to the invention, suitable for equipping a side element of a vehicle.

[0029] As illustrated at least partially, an exterior rearview mirror RE, according to the invention, comprises in particular a fixing base EF which is suitable for being coupled to a lateral element of a vehicle with the interposition of a sealing part PE, and a rearview housing (not visible) coupled to this fixing base EF, directly or indirectly via a support.

[0030] It will be understood that the rearview housing comprises a rotatably mounted housing housing a mirror whose positioning is controllable (possibly in a motorized manner) as well as a possible heating device and / or a possible device direction indicator (or indicator). This rear view unit is therefore connected to a (electrical) cable harness FC which comes from the vehicle and passes through the EF mounting base (see [Fig.l]).

[0031] The PE sealing part is made of a first material and comprises a through hole TT which allows the passage of the aforementioned FC cable bundle to another through hole defined in the fixing base EF.

[0032] This through hole TT opens onto a rear face FR of the sealing part PE, intended to contact the lateral element to which the exterior rearview mirror RE must be coupled, and communicates perpendicularly with an opening O which extends to a lateral face FL of the sealing part PE, substantially perpendicular to this rear face FR (i.e. exactly at 90° or almost at 90°), and which is intended to facilitate the installation of the cable harness FC.

[0033] As illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 6, the opening O comprises, at the rear face FR, a first part PO1 which is widened in order to define a first housing L1 housing at least a part of an insert IEA which is arranged so as to ensure an acoustic seal. This widening is three-dimensional, namely in a first direction parallel to the axis of the through hole TT (and to the main plane of the lateral face FL) and in a second direction perpendicular to this first direction and parallel to the main plane of the lateral face FL, extending in the direction of the latter (FL), preferably stopping before this lateral face FL (as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 6).

[0034] By blocking with a dedicated insert IEA at least the part of the opening O which extends substantially between the through hole TT and the lateral face FL at the level of the rear face FR, the circulation of air in this zone and therefore the generation of noise are very significantly limited. Consequently, the risk of disturbing and / or worrying the passengers of the vehicle is very low, and therefore the latter are no longer likely to consider that the exterior rearview mirror RE has a design or assembly defect.

[0035] For example, the IEA insert may comprise at least one active part PA which is made of a second material which is similar or identical to the first material (of the PE sealing part).

[0036] Also for example, the first and second materials may be identical sealing foams. For example, it may be an elastomer such as EPDM rubber (“Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer”).

[0037] But this is not obligatory. Indeed, the first and second materials could be different. In particular, the second material of the active part PA could be exclusively dedicated to noise reduction (acoustic sealing foam).

[0038] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 to 5, the opening O may comprise, before the lateral face FL, a second part PO2 which communicates with the first part PO1 and is widened in order to define a second housing L2. In this case, the insert IEA comprises a support SI which is housed at least partially in the second housing L2 and to which the active part PA is fixedly secured.

[0039] This other widening is three-dimensional, namely along the first direction parallel to the axis of the through hole TT (and to the main plane of the lateral face FL), along the second direction perpendicular to this first direction and parallel to the main plane of the lateral face FL, and along a third direction perpendicular to the main plane of the lateral face FL (as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5).

[0040] By blocking with at least part of the support SI of the dedicated insert IEA the part of the opening O which is parallel to the lateral face FL (in the vicinity of the latter (FL), the circulation of air in this zone and therefore the generation of noise is prevented. Consequently, the combination of the actions of the active part PA and the support SI prevents any generation of noise at the opening O, and therefore there is no risk of disturbing and / or worrying the passengers of the vehicle.

[0041] It will be understood, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], that the free end of the support SI is introduced from the side of the rear face FR of the sealing part PE into the second housing L2, then translated substantially until it reaches the bottom of the latter (L2), opposite the rear face FR.

[0042] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 3 to 5, the support SI may comprise first SP1 and second SP2 sub-parts which extend substantially perpendicularly (i.e. exactly at 90° or almost at 90°). The first sub-part SP1 is housed in the second housing L2. The second sub-part SP2 is housed in the first housing L1 with the active part PA, and the latter (PA) is fixedly secured to it (SP2). This makes it easier to install and ensure the long-term retention of the active part PA in the first housing LL.

[0043] Also for example, the support SI can be made of a third rigid material. This makes it even easier to install it and the active part PA.

[0044] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 and 5, the second housing L2 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In this case, the first sub-part SP1 also has a rectangular parallelepiped shape homologous to that of the second housing L2.

[0045] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 and 5, the first housing L1 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In this case, the second sub-part SP2 and the active part PA together have a rectangular parallelepiped shape substantially homologous to that of the first housing L1.

Claims

Claims

1. Exterior rearview mirror (RE) comprising a rearview housing coupled to a fixing base (EF) suitable for being coupled to a lateral element of a vehicle with the interposition of a sealing part (PE) made of a first material and comprising a through hole (TT) allowing the passage of a cable harness, opening onto a rear face (FR) and communicating perpendicularly with an opening (0) extending to a lateral face (FL) substantially perpendicular to said rear face (FR), characterized in that said opening (0) comprises, at said rear face (FR), a first part (P01) widened in order to define a first housing (Ll) housing at least a part of an insert (IEA) ensuring an acoustic seal.

2. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 1, characterized in that said insert (IEA) comprises at least one active part (PA) made of a second material similar or identical to said first material.

3. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 2, characterized in that said first and second materials are identical sealing foams.

4. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said opening (0) comprises, before said lateral face (FL), a second part (P02) communicating with said first part (P01) and widened in order to define a second housing (L2), and in that said insert (IEA) comprises a support (SI) housed at least partially in said second housing (L2) and to which said active part (PA) is fixedly secured.

5. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 4, characterized in that said support (SI) comprises a first sub-part (SP1) housed in said second housing (L2) and a second sub-part (SP2) extending substantially perpendicularly said first sub-part (SP1), to which said active part (PA) is fixedly secured, and housed in said first housing (L1) with the latter (PA).

6. Exterior rearview mirror according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said support (SI) is made of a third rigid material.

7. Exterior rearview mirror according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said second housing (L2) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

8. Exterior rearview mirror according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said first housing (L1) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

9. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one lateral element to which is coupled an exterior rearview mirror (RE) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.

Images