Vehicle mirror device

Abstract

To reduce a vertical dimension of a mirror.SOLUTION: In a door mirror device, a covering section 22B covers a peripheral face of a mirror 20. The covering section 22B is disposed in at least a portion of a combined range of a vehicle width direction inside and a vehicle width direction outside of the mirror 20, and the covering section 22B is not disposed in at least a portion of a combined range of an upper side and a lower side of the mirror 20. This thereby enables reduction of a vertical dimension of the door mirror device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle mirror device in which a covering portion covers the peripheral surface of a mirror.

Background Art

[0002] In the mirror holding structure described in Patent Document 1 below, the peripheral edge frame portion of the holder main body covers the peripheral surface of the mirror.

[0003] Here, in this mirror holding structure, the peripheral edge frame portion is arranged over the entire circumferential direction of the mirror.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle mirror device capable of reducing the size of the mirror in the vertical direction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle mirror device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a mirror provided on a vehicle, and a covering portion that covers the peripheral surface of the mirror and is arranged at least in part of the range including the left side and the right side of the mirror, and is not arranged at least in part of the range including the upper side and the lower side of the mirror.

[0007] The vehicle mirror device according to the second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle mirror device according to the first aspect of the present invention, in which the covering portion is arranged over the entire left side and the entire right side of the mirror and is not arranged over the entire upper side and the entire lower side of the mirror.

[0008] The vehicle mirror device according to the third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle mirror device according to the first aspect or the second aspect of the present invention, and includes a surrounding body that is disposed around the mirror and protrudes to the front side of the mirror at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is not disposed.

[0009] The vehicle mirror device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle mirror device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, and includes a surrounding body that is disposed around the mirror and is recessed to the back side of the mirror at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is disposed.

[0010] The vehicle mirror device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle mirror device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, and includes a surrounding body that is disposed around the mirror, the mirror is made to be protrudable to the front side of the mirror at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is disposed, and the mirror is made to be non-protrudable to the front side of the mirror at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is not disposed.

[0011] The vehicle mirror device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle mirror device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, and an end portion of the covering portion in the circumferential direction of the mirror is gradually made smaller.

[0012] The vehicle mirror device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is the vehicle mirror device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, and includes a surrounding body that is disposed around the mirror, and at least one of the left portion and the right portion is inclined in a direction toward the outer side in the left-right direction of the mirror as it goes toward the front side of the mirror.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] In the vehicle mirror device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the covering portion covers the circumferential surface of the mirror of the vehicle. Further, the covering portion is disposed at least in a part of the range including the left side and the right side of the mirror.

[0014] Here, the covering portion is not arranged at least in part of the range including the upper and lower sides of the mirror. Therefore, the dimension in the vertical direction of the mirror can be reduced.

[0015] In the vehicle mirror device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the covering portion is arranged on the entire left and right sides of the mirror. On the other hand, the covering portion is not arranged on the entire upper and lower sides of the mirror. Therefore, the dimension in the vertical direction of the mirror can be effectively reduced.

[0016] In the vehicle mirror device according to the third aspect of the present invention, a surrounding body is arranged around the mirror, and the surrounding body protrudes to the front side of the mirror at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is not arranged. Therefore, at the circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is not arranged, contact with the corner portion between the front side surface and the circumferential surface of the mirror can be suppressed by the surrounding body.

[0017] In the vehicle mirror device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a surrounding body is arranged around the mirror, and the surrounding body is recessed on the back side of the mirror in a concave shape at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is arranged. Therefore, at the circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is arranged, the amount of glare caused by the surrounding body in the field of view by the mirror can be reduced.

[0018] In the vehicle mirror device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a surrounding body is arranged around the mirror, and the mirror can protrude to the front side of the mirror more than the surrounding body at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is arranged. On the other hand, the mirror cannot protrude to the front side of the mirror more than the surrounding body at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is not arranged. Therefore, at the circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is not arranged, contact with the corner portion between the front side surface and the circumferential surface of the mirror can be suppressed by the surrounding body.

[0019] In the vehicle mirror device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the end portion of the covering portion in the circumferential direction of the mirror is gradually reduced. Therefore, the appearance of the end portion of the covering portion in the circumferential direction of the mirror can be improved.

[0020] In the vehicle mirror device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a surrounding body is arranged around the mirror, and at least one of the left and right portions of the surrounding body is inclined in a direction toward the outside in the left-right direction of the mirror as it goes toward the front side of the mirror. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the amount of blurring caused by the surrounding body in the field of view by at least one of the left and right portions of the mirror.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] FIG. 1(A) shows a perspective view of a door mirror device 10 as a vehicle mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from the rear side and the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle. FIG. 1(B) shows a perspective view of the door mirror device 10 seen from the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Further, FIG. 2(A) shows a side view of the door mirror device 10 seen from the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and FIG. 2(B) shows a side view of the door mirror device 10 seen from the inner side in the vehicle width direction. In the drawings, the front of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow FR, the outer side in the vehicle width direction (the left side of the vehicle, the left side of the door mirror device 10) is indicated by an arrow OUT, and the upper side is indicated by an arrow UP.

[0023] The door mirror device 10 in the present embodiment is installed at the front end on the vehicle side of the middle portion in the vertical direction of the side door (front side door, not shown) of the vehicle (automobile), and is disposed on the outer side of the vehicle of the side door.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1(A) and (B) and FIGS. 2(A) and (B), the door mirror device 10 is provided with a substantially columnar stay 12 as a support body. The lower part of the stay 12 is fixed to the side door, and the door mirror device 10 is installed on the side door.

[0025] On the upper side of the stay 12, the inner side portion in the vehicle width direction of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped visor 14 (see FIGS. 3(A) and (B)) as a surrounding body (cover) is supported. The visor 14 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the stay 12. The rear side surface of the vehicle of the visor 14 is formed into a substantially rectangular opening 16, and the opening 16 opens the inside of the visor 14 to the rear side of the vehicle.

[0026] Outside the opening 16 of the visor 14, a peripheral portion 14A (visor) is provided over the entire circumferential direction of the opening 16. The outer portion of the peripheral portion 14A in the vehicle width direction is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes downward. The upper and inner portion in the vehicle width direction, the upper and outer portion in the vehicle width direction, the lower and inner portion in the vehicle width direction, and the lower and outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A are curved convexly in the circumferential direction of the peripheral portion 14A (the circumferential direction of the opening 16). The cross section of the peripheral portion 14A in the width direction (thickness direction) is substantially V-shaped and becomes smaller as it goes toward the rear side of the vehicle. The rear end surface (tip surface) of the peripheral portion 14A in the vehicle width direction is curved convexly in the width direction of the peripheral portion 14A and has a large radius of curvature (for example, 2.5 mm or more). The inner surface in the vehicle width direction (the surface on the opening 16 side) of the outer portion of the peripheral portion 14A in the vehicle width direction is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction (opposite to the opening 16) as it goes toward the rear side of the vehicle. The upper portion and the lower portion of the peripheral portion 14A protrude toward the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the inner portion and the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A. The inner portion and the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A are recessed toward the front side of the vehicle with respect to the upper portion and the lower portion of the peripheral portion 14A. The rear end surfaces of the upper and inner portion in the vehicle width direction, the upper and outer portion in the vehicle width direction, the lower and inner portion in the vehicle width direction, and the lower and outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A are inclined toward the rear side of the vehicle as they go outward in the vertical direction of the visor 14.

[0027] Inside the visor 14, an adjustment device 18 (see Fig. 3(A)) as a displacement mechanism is fixed, and the adjustment device 18 protrudes into the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14.

[0028] Inside the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14, a substantially rectangular plate-shaped mirror 20 (see (A) and (B) of FIG. 3 and (A) to (D) of FIG. 4) is arranged, and the mirror 20 is arranged on the vehicle front side from all the vehicle rear side end faces of the peripheral portion 14A (see FIG. 3(A)). The peripheral surface of the mirror 20 is arranged along the peripheral portion 14A. The peripheral surface on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes downward, and the upper and inner peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction, the upper and outer peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction, the lower and inner peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction, and the lower and outer peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 are curved convexly in the circumferential direction of the mirror 20. The front side of the mirror 20 is exposed to the vehicle rear side from the opening 16 of the visor 14. By the vehicle occupant visually recognizing the reflected light of the mirror 20 from the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20, the visual recognition of the vehicle rear side of the occupant is assisted. Further, the radius of curvature of the corner portion between the front side surface and the peripheral surface of the mirror 20 is made smaller than the radius of curvature of the vehicle rear side end face of the peripheral portion 14A.

[0029] The back side and the outer periphery of the mirror 20 are covered by a mirror holder 22 as a covering member. On the back side of the mirror 20, a substantially rectangular plate-shaped holder body 22A is provided in the mirror holder 22, and the back side surface of the mirror 20 is fixed to the holder body 22A by, for example, a double-sided tape 24.

[0030] On the outer periphery of the mirror holder 22, substantially long plate-shaped covering portions 22B are provided on the inner side and the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The covering portions 22B project to the vehicle rear side from the holder body 22A and cover the peripheral surface of the mirror 20. The vehicle rear side end portion (tip portion) of the covering portion 22B is formed in a substantially trapezoidal cross section and projects to the outside of the mirror holder 22 (the side opposite to the mirror 20). The vehicle rear side end face (tip face) of the covering portion 22B is curved convexly in the thickness direction of the covering portion 22B. The radius of curvature of the vehicle rear side end face of the covering portion 22B is made larger than the radius of curvature of the corner portion between the front side surface and the peripheral surface of the mirror 20 and is made the same (for example, 2.5 mm or more) as the radius of curvature of the vehicle rear side end face of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14. The vehicle rear side end face of the covering portion 22B is arranged at substantially the same level as the front side surface of the mirror 20.

[0031] On the upper and inner peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction, the upper and outer peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction, the lower and inner peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction, and the lower and outer peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20, the width direction (vehicle front-rear direction) dimension and the thickness dimension of the longitudinal direction (mirror 20 circumferential direction) end portion of the covering portion 22B are gradually reduced as going toward the outer side in the vertical direction of the mirror holder 22, and both end faces in the longitudinal direction (upper end face and lower end face) of the covering portion 22B are inclined in the direction toward the vehicle front side as going toward the outer side in the vertical direction of the mirror holder 22.

[0032] The front side of the vehicle of the mirror holder 22 (holder main body 22A) is attached to the adjusting device 18, and by operating the adjusting device 18, the mirror 20 and the mirror holder 22 are tilted (displaced) in the vertical direction and the vehicle width direction within a predetermined range, and the direction in which the occupant visually recognizes by the mirror 20 is adjusted. When the mirror 20 is tilted in the vertical direction, always, the upper part of the mirror 20 is arranged on the vehicle front side (inside the peripheral portion 14A) from the vehicle rear side end face of the upper part of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14, and the lower part of the mirror 20 is arranged on the vehicle front side (inside the peripheral portion 14A) from the vehicle rear side end face of the lower part of the peripheral portion 14A. When the mirror 20 is tilted in the vehicle width direction, the inner side portion in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 is arranged to be able to be on the vehicle rear side (outside the peripheral portion 14A) from the vehicle rear side end face of the inner side portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A, and the outer side portion in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 is arranged to be able to be on the vehicle rear side (outside the peripheral portion 14A) from the vehicle rear side end face of the outer side portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A (see Fig. 1(B)).

[0033] Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

[0034] In the door mirror device 10 having the above configuration, the peripheral surface of the mirror 20 is covered by the covering portion 22B of the mirror holder 22, and the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 is arranged around the mirror 20 and the mirror holder 22.

[0035] Here, while the covering portion 22B is disposed at least in part in a range that combines the inner side and the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20, the covering portion 22B is not disposed at least in part in a range that combines the upper side and the lower side of the mirror 20. For this reason, the vertical dimension of the mirror 20 and the mirror holder 22 can be reduced, and the vertical dimension of the door mirror device 10 can be reduced.

[0036] Moreover, while the covering portion 22B is disposed over the entire inner side and the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20, the covering portion 22B is not disposed over the entire upper side and the lower side of the mirror 20. For this reason, the vertical dimension of the mirror 20 and the mirror holder 22 can be effectively reduced, and the vertical dimension of the door mirror device 10 can be effectively reduced.

[0037] Also, at the circumferential position where the covering portion 22B of the mirror 20 is not disposed (the entire upper side and the lower side of the mirror 20), the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 protrudes toward the rear side of the vehicle (the front side of the mirror 20). For this reason, over the entire upper side and the lower side of the mirror 20, even if the covering portion 22B is not disposed on the mirror 20, contact of a person with the corner between the front surface and the circumferential surface of the mirror 20 can be suppressed by the rear end surface on the vehicle rear side of the peripheral portion 14A. Further, since the occupant visually observes the mirror 20 from the inner side in the vehicle width direction, over the entire upper side and the lower side of the mirror 20, even if the peripheral portion 14A protrudes toward the rear side of the vehicle, the amount of kerare by the peripheral portion 14A in the field of view of the occupant by the mirror 20 can be reduced.

[0038] Moreover, when the mirror 20 is tilted in the vertical direction by the adjusting device 18, the upper part of the mirror 20 is always disposed on the vehicle front side with respect to the rear end surface on the vehicle rear side of the upper part of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14, and the lower part of the mirror 20 is disposed on the vehicle front side with respect to the rear end surface on the vehicle rear side of the lower part of the peripheral portion 14A. For this reason, over the entire upper side and the lower side of the mirror 20, contact of a person with the corner between the front surface and the circumferential surface of the mirror 20 can be effectively suppressed by the rear end surface on the vehicle rear side of the peripheral portion 14A.

[0039] Furthermore, in the circumferential direction position where the covering portion 22B of the mirror 20 is disposed (the entire inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20), the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 is recessed in a concave shape on the front side of the vehicle (the back side of the mirror 20). Therefore, over the entire inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20, even if the peripheral portion 14A does not protrude to the rear side of the vehicle, contact of a person with the corner portion between the front surface and the circumferential surface of the mirror 20 can be suppressed by the rear end surface on the vehicle rear side of the covering portion 22B. Further, since the occupant visually observes the mirror 20 from the inner side in the vehicle width direction, the amount of obstruction by the peripheral portion 14A in the occupant's field of view by the mirror 20 is likely to be larger on the upper and lower sides of the mirror 20 than on the inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20. However, over the entire inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20, by recessing the peripheral portion 14A in a concave shape on the front side of the vehicle, the amount of obstruction by the peripheral portion 14A in the occupant's field of view by the mirror 20 can be effectively reduced.

[0040] Moreover, when the mirror 20 is tilted in the vehicle width direction by the adjusting device 18, the inner portion in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 is arranged to be able to be disposed on the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the rear end surface on the vehicle rear side of the inner portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A, and the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 is arranged to be able to be disposed on the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the rear end surface on the vehicle rear side of the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A. Therefore, over the entire inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20, even if the mirror 20 is disposed on the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the rear end surface on the vehicle rear side of the peripheral portion 14A, contact of a person with the corner portion between the front surface and the circumferential surface of the mirror 20 can be suppressed by the rear end surface on the vehicle rear side of the covering portion 22B.

[0041] Also, the inner surface in the vehicle width direction (the surface on the mirror 20 side) of the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 is inclined in a direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction (the side opposite to the mirror 20) as it goes toward the rear side of the vehicle (the front side of the mirror 20). Therefore, the amount of obstruction by the peripheral portion 14A in the occupant's field of view by the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 can be effectively reduced.

[0042] Moreover, the outer portion of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 in the vehicle width direction is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes downward, and the peripheral surface on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes downward. For this reason, the mirror 20 can be enlarged outward in the vehicle width direction, and the field of view of the occupant by the mirror 20 can be enlarged.

[0043] Furthermore, on the upper and inner peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction, the upper and outer peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction, the lower and inner peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction, and the lower and outer peripheral surface in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20, the width dimension and the thickness dimension of the longitudinal end portion of the covering portion 22B are gradually reduced as they go outward in the vertical direction of the mirror holder 22. For this reason, the generation of a boundary between the circumferential region where the covering portion 22B of the mirror 20 is arranged and the circumferential region where the covering portion 22B of the mirror 20 is not arranged can be suppressed. Moreover, the appearance of the longitudinal end portion of the covering portion 22B can be improved.

[0044] In addition, in the present embodiment, the radius of curvature of the rear end surface in the vehicle direction of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 is made the same as the radius of curvature of the rear end surface in the vehicle direction of the covering portion 22B of the mirror holder 22. However, the radius of curvature of the rear end surface in the vehicle direction of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 may be made larger than the radius of curvature of the rear end surface in the vehicle direction of the covering portion 22B of the mirror holder 22, or the radius of curvature of the rear end surface in the vehicle direction of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 may be made smaller than the radius of curvature of the rear end surface in the vehicle direction of the covering portion 22B of the mirror holder 22.

[0045] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the covering portion 22B is arranged on the entire inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 and is not arranged on the entire upper and lower sides of the mirror 20. However, the covering portion 22B may be arranged at least in a part of the range combining the inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20, and may not be arranged at least in a part of the range combining the upper and lower sides of the mirror 20.

[0046] Further, in the present embodiment, the inner surface in the vehicle width direction of the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 is inclined in the direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction as it goes toward the rear side of the vehicle. However, the outer surface in the vehicle width direction of the inner portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 may be inclined in the direction toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction as it goes toward the rear side of the vehicle.

[0047] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 is inclined in the direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction as it goes downward, and the peripheral surface on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 is inclined in the direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction as it goes downward. However, the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 may be inclined in the direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction as it goes upward, and the peripheral surface on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 may be inclined in the direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction as it goes upward. Further, the inner portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 may be inclined in the direction toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction as it goes downward, and the peripheral surface on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 may be inclined in the direction toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction as it goes downward. Also, the inner portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral portion 14A of the visor 14 may be inclined in the direction toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction as it goes upward, and the peripheral surface on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror 20 may be inclined in the direction toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction as it goes upward.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the vehicle mirror device is the door mirror device 10. However, the vehicle mirror device may be a mirror device other than the door mirror device 10 of the vehicle (for example, a fender mirror device).

Description of Reference Numerals

[0049] 10 ··· Door mirror device (vehicle mirror device), 14 ··· Visor (peripheral body), 20 ··· Mirror, 22B ··· Covering portion

Claims

1. A mirror provided on a vehicle, a covering portion that covers the peripheral surface of the mirror and is disposed at least in part in a range including the left and right sides of the mirror, and not disposed at least in part in a range including the upper and lower sides of the mirror; A vehicle mirror device comprising the above components.

2. The vehicle mirror device according to Claim 1, wherein the covering portion is disposed over the entire left and right sides of the mirror and not disposed over the entire upper and lower sides of the mirror.

3. The vehicle mirror device according to Claim 1, further comprising a peripheral body disposed around the mirror and protruding to the front side of the mirror at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is not disposed.

4. The vehicle mirror device according to Claim 1, further comprising a peripheral body disposed around the mirror and recessed to the back side of the mirror at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is disposed.

5. The vehicle mirror device according to Claim 1, further comprising a peripheral body disposed around the mirror, wherein the mirror can protrude to the front side of the mirror at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is disposed, and the mirror cannot protrude to the front side of the mirror at a circumferential position where the covering portion of the mirror is not disposed.

6. The vehicle mirror device according to Claim 1, wherein the end of the covering portion in the circumferential direction of the mirror gradually decreases.

7. The vehicle mirror device according to Claim 1, further comprising a peripheral body disposed around the mirror, wherein at least one of the left and right portions is inclined in a direction away from the mirror in the left-right direction as it goes toward the front side of the mirror.

Images