Vehicular viewing device and method of assembling vehicular viewing device

Abstract

To assemble a cover body to a support easily.SOLUTION: In a door mirror device, a base 12 is attached to a vehicle body side. Further, the base 12 supports a mirror and is covered by an inner cover 24. In a state in which an insertion tube 14 of the base 12 is inserted into an insertion hole 28 in the inner cover 24, the inner cover 24 is rotated to be locked to the base 12 in an axial direction and a circumferential direction of the insertion hole 28. For this reason, the inner cover 24 can be stably rotated, and the inner cover 24 can be easily assembled to the base 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle visualizing device in which a support for supporting a visualizing mechanism is covered by a covering body, and to a method for assembling the vehicle visualizing device. [Background technology]

[0002] In the door mirror structure described in Patent Document 1 below, a core portion is attached to the vehicle body side, and the core portion supports the mirror, and the core portion is covered by an outer covering portion.

[0003] Here, in this door mirror structure, while the outer sheath is rotated, the plate-shaped portion of the core is inserted into the holding portion of the outer sheath, and the protrusion of the plate-shaped portion is fitted into the recess of the holding portion, thereby engaging the outer sheath with the core in the axial direction of the holding portion and the circumferential direction of the holding portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 63-6953 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a visual confirmation device for a vehicle, and a method for assembling the visual confirmation device for a vehicle, which allows a cover to be easily assembled to a support body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle visibility device comprising: a visibility mechanism for assisting an occupant in visibility; a support body attached to the vehicle body and supporting the visibility mechanism; and a cover body having an insertion hole, which is rotated circumferentially around the insertion hole while the support body is inserted into the insertion hole, and which is engaged with the support body in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the insertion hole, and which covers the support body.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention is a vehicle visualizing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, which comprises a convex portion provided on one of the support body and the covering body, and a concave portion provided on the other of the support body and the covering body, into which the convex portion is inserted and which engages the covering body with the support body in the axial direction of the insertion hole and the circumferential direction of the insertion hole.

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention is a vehicle visualizing device according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the convex portion is inserted into the concave portion, and the cover is engaged with the support body in the insertion hole diameter direction.

[0009] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a vehicle visualizing device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, which is provided on the cover and has an engagement portion that engages with the support body to prevent rotation of the cover body relative to the support body in the direction of release of the engagement in the axial direction of the insertion hole and the circumferential direction of the insertion hole.

[0010] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a vehicle visualizing device in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, wherein the support body supports the covering body in the axial direction of the insertion hole and guides rotation of the covering body in the circumferential direction of the insertion hole.

[0011] A sixth aspect of the present invention is a method for assembling a vehicle viewing device comprising a viewing mechanism for assisting an occupant's visibility, a support body attached to the vehicle body and supporting the viewing mechanism, and a covering body having an insertion hole and covering the support body, wherein the supporting body is inserted into the insertion hole and the covering body is rotated circumferentially around the insertion hole to be engaged with the supporting body in the axial direction of the insertion hole and in the circumferential direction of the insertion hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In the vehicle visual confirmation device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the visual confirmation mechanism assists the occupant in visual confirmation. A support is attached to the vehicle body, and the support supports the visual confirmation mechanism, and the cover covers the support.

[0013] With the support inserted into the insertion hole of the cover, the cover is rotated in the circumferential direction of the insertion hole, and the cover is locked to the support in the axial and circumferential directions of the insertion hole, allowing the cover to be rotated stably and easily assembled to the support.

[0014] In the vehicle visualizing device of the second aspect of the present invention, the convex portion of one of the support body and the cover body is inserted into the concave portion of the other of the support body and the cover body, and the cover body is engaged with the support body in the insertion hole axial direction and the insertion hole circumferential direction, which makes it easy to engage the cover with the support body in the insertion hole axial direction and the insertion hole circumferential direction.

[0015] In the vehicle visualizing device of the third aspect of the present invention, the protrusion is inserted into the recess, and the cover is engaged with the support body in the insertion hole diameter direction. Therefore, the cover can be engaged with the support body in the insertion hole diameter direction with a simple configuration.

[0016] In the vehicle visualization device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the engaging portion of the cover engages with the support body, and rotation of the cover relative to the support body in the direction of release of the lock in the insertion hole axial direction and the insertion hole circumferential direction is locked, thereby restricting release of the lock of the cover relative to the support body in the insertion hole axial direction and the insertion hole circumferential direction.

[0017] In the vehicle visual confirmation device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the support body supports the cover in the insertion hole axial direction and guides the cover's rotation in the insertion hole circumferential direction, which allows the cover to rotate more stably in the insertion hole circumferential direction.

[0018] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, a vehicle visual confirmation device includes a visual confirmation mechanism that assists the occupant in visual confirmation. A support is attached to the vehicle body, and the support supports the visual confirmation mechanism, and the cover covers the support.

[0019] In the method for assembling a vehicle visual confirmation device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the cover is rotated in a circumferential direction of the insertion hole while the support is inserted into the insertion hole of the cover, and the cover is locked to the support in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the insertion hole, which allows the cover to be rotated stably and easily assembled to the support. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a door mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1A is a rear view seen from the front side of the vehicle, and 1B is a perspective view seen from the rear side of the vehicle and from the inside in the vehicle width direction. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the main parts of a door mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where 1A is a perspective view seen from the rear of the vehicle and from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and 1B is a perspective view seen from the front of the vehicle and from the outside in the vehicle width direction. [Figure 3] (A) and (B) are diagrams showing the base of a door mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a side view seen from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and (B) is a side view seen from the inside in the vehicle width direction. [Figure 4] (A) and (B) are diagrams showing the base of a door mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a front view seen from the front of the vehicle and (B) is a top view seen from above. [Figure 5] (A) and (B) are diagrams showing the inner cover of a door mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is an oblique view seen from the rear of the vehicle and from the inside in the vehicle width direction, and (B) is an oblique view seen from the front of the vehicle and from the outside in the vehicle width direction. [Figure 6] (A) and (B) are diagrams showing the inner cover of a door mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is an oblique view seen from the rear of the vehicle and from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and (B) is an oblique view seen from below. [Figure 7](A) and (B) are figures showing the assembly state of the inner cover to the base in a door mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a top view seen from above, and (B) is a cross-sectional view seen from the front of the vehicle (cross-sectional view along line 7B-7B in (A)). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Fig. 1(A) shows a rear view of a door mirror device 10 as a vehicle visual confirmation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the front side of the vehicle, and Fig. 1(B) shows a perspective view of the door mirror device 10 as seen from the rear side of the vehicle and the inside in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, Fig. 2(A) shows a perspective view of the main parts of the door mirror device 10 as seen from the rear side of the vehicle and the outside in the vehicle width direction, and Fig. 2(B) shows a perspective view of the main parts of the door mirror device 10 as seen from the front side of the vehicle and the outside in the vehicle width direction. In the drawings, the front side of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow FR, the outside in the vehicle width direction (left side of the vehicle) is indicated by an arrow OUT, and the upper side is indicated by an arrow UP.

[0022] The door mirror device 10 of this embodiment is installed at the front end of the vehicle in the vertical middle of the side door (front side door, not shown) on the body side of the vehicle (automobile), and is positioned on the outside of the side door.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1(A) and (B) and Figures 2(A) and (B), the door mirror device 10 is provided with a roughly columnar base 12 (see Figures 3(A) and (B) and Figures 4(A) and (B)) as a support body, and the lower part of the base 12 is inserted into the outer panel of the side door and attached to the inner panel of the side door, thereby installing the door mirror device 10 on the side door.

[0024] A substantially cylindrical insertion tube 14 is provided on the upper part of the base 12. The insertion tube 14 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction and has an axial direction that is substantially vertical. A substantially annular fixing plate 16 is integrally provided at the lower part of the insertion tube 14, and the fixing plate 16 is arranged coaxially with the insertion tube 14. A predetermined number (three in this embodiment) of substantially rectangular plate-shaped protrusions 18 are integrally provided on the lower outer periphery of the insertion tube 14, and the predetermined number of protrusions 18 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the insertion tube 14. The protrusions 18 are arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the insertion tube 14, and the predetermined number of protrusions 18 are positioned in the same position in the axial direction of the insertion tube 14. A substantially rectangular plate-shaped engagement plate 20 is integrally provided on the lower end of the outer periphery of the insertion tube 14 as an engaged part, and the engagement plate 20 is arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the insertion tube 14.

[0025] The base 12 is covered above the outer panel of the side door by a resin-made, generally cylindrical base cover 22 serving as a covering member, and the upper end of the base cover 22 forms a protrusion 22A that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction. The base cover 22 is configured by assembling an inner cover 24 (see FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIGS. 6A and 6B) serving as a covering body on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and an outer cover 26 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the inner cover 24 forms an upper portion (including the inner portion in the vehicle width direction) of the protrusion 22A, and the outer cover 26 forms a lower portion (excluding the inner portion in the vehicle width direction) of the protrusion 22A.

[0026] The inner cover 24 (base cover 22) is integrally formed with a generally annular plate-shaped upper wall. The upper wall of the inner cover 24 is disposed generally vertically in the up-down direction and has a flat lower surface. The inner peripheral edge of the upper wall of the inner cover 24 is generally cylindrical and protrudes upward, forming an insertion hole 28 within the upper wall of the inner cover 24. A predetermined number (four in this embodiment) of rectangular, flat locking surfaces 30 serving as locking portions are formed on the lower peripheral surface of the insertion hole 28. The predetermined number of locking surfaces 30 are disposed at equal intervals around the circumferential direction of the insertion hole 28 and perpendicular to the radial direction of the insertion hole 28. The insertion tube 14 of the base 12 is coaxially inserted into the insertion hole 28 from below, and each locking surface 30 abuts against the insertion tube 14. Therefore, the peripheral surface of the insertion hole 28 is locked to the insertion tube 14 in the radial direction, and the inner cover 24 is locked to the base 12 in the radial direction of the insertion hole 28.

[0027] A predetermined number (three in this embodiment) of locking pieces 32 each having an L-shaped cross section and plate-like shape are integrally provided on the lower surface of the upper wall of the inner cover 24, and the predetermined number of locking pieces 32 are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the insertion hole 28. The inside of each locking piece 32 forms a recess 32A that is open in the direction of arrow A (one circumferential side of the insertion hole 28) and toward the insertion hole 28, and the side of the locking piece 32 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction opposite to the insertion hole 28 is closed by the circumferential wall of the inner cover 24, and the side of the locking piece 32 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction opposite to the insertion hole 28 is closed by a closing wall 32B.

[0028] The protrusion 18 of the base 12 (insertion tube 14) is inserted into the locking piece 32 (recess 32A). The base end side wall (upper side wall) of the locking piece 32 abuts against the protrusion 18, so that rotation of the locking piece 32 in the direction of arrow A is locked by the protrusion 18, and the inner cover 24 is locked to the base 12 in the direction of arrow A. The tip side wall (lower side wall) of the locking piece 32 and the upper wall of the inner cover 24 abut against the protrusion 18, so that the locking piece 32 is locked to the protrusion 18 on both the up-down direction and the inner cover 24 is locked to the base 12 on both the up-down direction.

[0029] An engagement claw 34 serving as an engagement portion is integrally formed on the upper part of the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the inner cover 24, and the engagement claw 34 extends in the direction of arrow A below the locking piece 32. A claw portion 34A having a generally trapezoidal cross section is integrally formed on the tip of the engagement claw 34, and the claw portion 34A protrudes downward. The claw portion 34A engages with the engagement plate 20 of the base 12 (insertion tube 14) from above, whereby rotation of the engagement claw 34 in the direction of arrow B (the other circumferential side of the insertion hole 28) is stopped by the engagement plate 20, and the inner cover 24 is locked to the base 12 in the direction of arrow B.

[0030] A storage mechanism (not shown) serving as a support mechanism is disposed above the base 12. The lower part of the storage mechanism is inserted from above into the insertion tube 14 of the base 12, and with a predetermined number (three in this embodiment) of screws (not shown) passing through a fixing plate 16 in the insertion tube 14 from below, the lower part of the storage mechanism is fastened to the fixing plate 16 by the screws, whereby the storage mechanism (not shown) is fixed and supported above the base 12.

[0031] The portion above the lower part of the storage mechanism is inserted into the vehicle widthwise inner portion of a visor 36 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) that is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box and serves as a surrounding body, and the storage mechanism supports the visor 36 by fixing the visor 36. The vehicle rear side of the visor 36 is formed into a substantially rectangular opening 38, which opens the interior of the visor 36 to the vehicle rear side.

[0032] A mirror 40 in the shape of a substantially rectangular plate is supported within the visor 36 as a viewing mechanism, and the mirror 40 is disposed in an opening 38 of the visor 36. The front side of the mirror 40 is exposed to the rear of the vehicle through the opening 38 of the visor 36, and the vehicle occupant can view the reflected light of the mirror 40, thereby assisting the occupant in viewing the rear of the vehicle.

[0033] When the storage mechanism is operated in one direction, the visor 36 and the mirror 40 are rotated around the insertion tube 14 toward the rear of the vehicle and toward the inside in the vehicle width direction and stored. Furthermore, when the storage mechanism is operated in the other direction, the visor 36 and the mirror 40 are rotated around the insertion tube 14 toward the front of the vehicle and toward the outside in the vehicle width direction and raised (returned).

[0034] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0035] When the door mirror device 10 having the above configuration is assembled, the insertion tube 14 of the base 12 is inserted from below into the insertion hole 28 of the inner cover 24 of the base cover 22, and the inner cover 24 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, so that the protrusion 18 of the base 12 is inserted into the locking piece 32 (recess 32A) of the inner cover 24 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B). Moreover, the engagement claw 34 of the inner cover 24 is temporarily elastically deformed upward by the engagement plate 20 of the base 12, and the claw portion 34A of the engagement claw 34 is engaged with the engagement plate 20.

[0036] Then, the lower part of the storage mechanism in the visor 36 is inserted from above into the insertion tube 14 of the base 12, and the lower part of the storage mechanism is fastened to the fixing plate 16 in the insertion tube 14 from below with a predetermined number of screws, thereby supporting the visor 36 (including the storage mechanism and mirror 40) on the upper side of the base 12.

[0037] Thereafter, the outer cover 26 is assembled to the inner cover 24 to form the base cover 22, and the portion of the base 12 between the side door (outer panel) and the visor 36 is covered by the base cover 22.

[0038] Here, with the insertion tube 14 of the base 12 inserted into the insertion hole 28 of the inner cover 24, the inner cover 24 is rotated in the direction of arrow A (one circumferential side of the insertion hole 28) and the protrusion 18 of the base 12 is inserted into the locking piece 32 (recess 32A) of the inner cover 24, causing the tip side and base side of the locking piece 32 to abut against the protrusion 18, and the inner cover 24 is locked to the base 12 on the upper side (one axial side of the insertion hole 28) and in the direction of arrow A. Therefore, by inserting the insertion tube 14 into the insertion hole 28, the inner cover 24 can be stably rotated in the direction of arrow A, and the inner cover 24 can be easily assembled to the base 12. Furthermore, unlike when the elastic claws extending downward from the upper wall of the inner cover 24 engage with the base 12 and the inner cover 24 engages with the base 12 at the upper side, the elastic claws can limit the increase in the vertical dimension of the protrusion 22A of the base cover 22, thereby increasing the design freedom of the base cover 22 and limiting the elastic claws from reducing the engagement strength of the inner cover 24 at the upper side to the base 12.

[0039] Furthermore, as described above, the protrusions 18 of the base 12 are inserted into the locking pieces 32 of the inner cover 24, and the inner cover 24 is locked to the base 12 upward and in the direction of arrow A. Therefore, the inner cover 24 can be easily locked to the base 12 upward and in the direction of arrow A.

[0040] Moreover, the upper wall of the inner cover 24 is locked at its lower side (the other axial side of the insertion hole 28) to the protrusion 18 of the base 12. Therefore, the inner cover 24 can be locked to the base 12 at its lower side.

[0041] Furthermore, when the insertion tube 14 of the base 12 is inserted into the insertion hole 28 of the inner cover 24 and the locking surface 30 on the circumferential surface of the insertion hole 28 abuts against the insertion tube 14, the circumferential surface of the insertion hole 28 is locked to the insertion tube 14 in the radial direction, and the inner cover 24 is locked to the base 12 in the radial direction of the insertion hole 28. Therefore, the inner cover 24 can be locked to the base 12 in the radial direction of the insertion hole 28.

[0042] Furthermore, the claw portions 34A of the engaging claws 34 of the inner cover 24 engage with the engaging plates 20 of the base 12, preventing rotation of the inner cover 24 in the direction of arrow B (the other circumferential side of the insertion hole 28, the direction in which the inner cover 24 is released from the engagement upward relative to the base 12 and in the direction of arrow A). This prevents the inner cover 24 from being released from the engagement upward relative to the base 12 and in the direction of arrow A.

[0043] Furthermore, when the inner cover 24 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the protrusions 18 of the base 12 support the upper wall of the inner cover 24 from below (the other axial side of the insertion holes 28) and guide the rotation of the inner cover 24 in the direction of arrow A. This allows the inner cover 24 to rotate in the direction of arrow A more stably.

[0044] In this embodiment, the locking surfaces 30 on the circumferential surfaces of the insertion holes 28 of the inner cover 24 abut against the insertion tubes 14 of the base 12, thereby locking the inner cover 24 to the base 12 in the radial direction of the insertion holes 28. However, the inner cover 24 may also be locked to the base 12 in the radial direction of the insertion holes 28 by inserting the protrusions 18 of the base 12 into the locking pieces 32 of the inner cover 24 and abutting the closing portions (the circumferential walls or closing walls 32B of the inner cover 24) on the opposite side of the locking pieces 32 from the insertion holes 28 against the protrusions 18. This allows the inner cover 24 to be locked to the base 12 in the radial direction of the insertion holes 28 with a simple configuration using the locking pieces 32 and the protrusions 18.

[0045] In this embodiment, the protrusion 18 is provided on the base 12, and the recess 32A is provided on the inner cover 24. However, the recess 32A may be provided on the base 12, and the protrusion 18 may be provided on the inner cover 24.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, three convex portions 18 and three concave portions 32A are provided, but one, two, four or more convex portions 18 and three or more concave portions 32A may be provided.

[0047] In this embodiment, the viewing mechanism is the mirror 40. However, the viewing mechanism may be a camera, in which case the image captured by the camera will assist the occupant in viewing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 10 Door mirror device (vehicle visibility device), 12 Base (support), 18 Convex portion, 24 Inner cover (covering body), 28 Insertion hole, 32A Concave portion, 34 Engagement claw (engagement portion), 40 Mirror (visualization mechanism)

Claims

1. a visual recognition mechanism that assists the occupant in visual recognition; a support body attached to a vehicle body side and supporting the visual recognition mechanism; a cover that is provided with an insertion hole, that is rotated in a circumferential direction of the insertion hole with the support body inserted into the insertion hole, that is engaged with the support body in the axial direction of the insertion hole and the circumferential direction of the insertion hole, and that covers the support body; A vehicle visual confirmation device comprising:

2. a protrusion provided on one of the support body and the cover; a recess provided on the other of the support body and the covering body, the recess being inserted into the protrusion so that the covering body is engaged with the support body in the axial direction of the insertion hole and the circumferential direction of the insertion hole; The vehicle visual confirmation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

3. The visual confirmation device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is inserted into the recess, and the cover is engaged with the support body in the radial direction of the insertion hole.

4. The vehicle visual confirmation device according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging portion provided on the cover, which engages with the support body and prevents the cover body from rotating relative to the support body in the direction of releasing the engagement in the axial direction of the insertion hole and the circumferential direction of the insertion hole.

5. 2. The visual confirmation device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the support supports the cover in the axial direction of the insertion hole and guides rotation of the cover in the circumferential direction of the insertion hole.

6. a visual recognition mechanism that assists the occupant in visual recognition; a support body attached to a vehicle body side and supporting the visual recognition mechanism; a cover having an insertion hole and covering the support; A method for assembling a vehicle visual confirmation device comprising: With the support member inserted into the insertion hole, the cover member is rotated in the circumferential direction of the insertion hole and is engaged with the support member in the axial direction of the insertion hole and the circumferential direction of the insertion hole. A method for assembling a vehicle visual confirmation device.

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