Side mirror device for vehicle

Abstract

To prevent malfunction of an electric storage device by preventing water entering a mirror head from entering the inside of the electric storage device.SOLUTION: The vehicle side mirror device 1 includes the frame 32 that supports the mirror 31, the support shaft 16 that rotatably supports the frame 32, the motor for an electric retracting device provided in the frame 32, and the undercover 50 that extends in the vehicle-width direction so as to cover at least a vehicle-width-direction inner portion of the frame 32 from below, has the support shaft insertion hole 50b through which the support shaft 16 is inserted, and has the protruding plate portion 50c that protrudes upward so as to surround the support shaft 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle side mirror device disposed on the side of an automobile, for example. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a vehicle side mirror device has a mirror base that is fixed to the vehicle body such as a door, and a mirror head that is attached to the mirror base, and can be switched between a stored state and a used state by rotating the mirror head relative to the mirror base using an electric storage device (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] The vehicle side mirror device of Patent Document 1 has a mirror base with a support shaft that protrudes upward. This support shaft is inserted into the mirror head, and the mirror head is rotatable around the support shaft. In the vehicle side mirror device of Patent Document 2, the support shaft of the mirror base is inserted into an insertion hole formed in the mirror head. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-241618 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-131238 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Since vehicle side mirror devices are installed outside the vehicle, they are exposed to rain and water from car washes. Rain and water from car washes fall directly on the side mirror covers, but depending on factors such as wind while driving and the direction of water spray during car washes, water may also be sprayed from the side or below near the mirror base.

[0006] Water sprayed near the mirror base can seep into the interior of the mirror head through gaps in the cover. If water seeps into the interior of the mirror head and then into the power retraction device, it could cause the power retraction device to malfunction.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such points, and its purpose is to prevent water that has entered the mirror head from entering the interior of the electric retraction device, thereby preventing malfunction of the electric retraction device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present disclosure can be premised on a vehicle side mirror device disposed on a side of a vehicle and equipped with an electric retracting device. The vehicle side mirror device includes: a mirror head having a mirror for rearview and a frame supporting the mirror; a mirror base fixed to the side of the vehicle and extending upward, having a spindle that rotatably supports an inner portion of the frame in the vehicle width direction; a motor for the electric retracting device that is provided on the frame and generates power to switch the mirror head from an in-use state to a retracted state and from the retracted state to an in-use state by rotating the frame about the spindle; a cover portion extending in the vehicle width direction so as to cover at least the inner portion of the frame from below, the cover portion having a spindle insertion hole through which the spindle is inserted; and an undercover having a protruding plate portion protruding upward from an upper surface of the cover portion so as to surround the spindle.

[0009] With this configuration, when the vehicle side mirror device is attached to the side of the vehicle, the mirror head can be switched from the use state to the retracted state and vice versa by operating the motor for the electric retracting device. When it rains or when washing the car, water may adhere to the lower part of the side mirror device or be sprayed onto the side mirror device from below. In such cases, the undercover in this aspect prevents water from entering the mirror head. Even if water does enter the mirror head through the shaft insertion hole, the protruding plate portion is positioned to surround the shaft, preventing water from flowing toward the shaft. This prevents water from splashing on the operating parts of the retracting mechanism, reducing the likelihood of malfunction of the electric retracting device.

[0010] The protruding plate portion may be configured to abut against the lower surface of the frame to position the undercover in the up-down direction, thereby enabling accurate up-down positioning of the undercover by the simple method of abutting the protruding plate portion against the lower surface of the frame.

[0011] The protruding plate portion may be provided along the periphery of the shaft insertion hole. The protruding plate portion may be provided continuously or discontinuously in the circumferential direction of the shaft insertion hole. In other words, protruding plate portions may not be provided in areas where there is little risk of water intrusion, and may be provided only in areas where there is a high possibility of water intrusion.

[0012] The protruding plate portion may be provided along the periphery of the shaft insertion hole at an inner portion in the vehicle width direction. For example, if the shaft insertion hole is circular in plan view, the protruding plate portion may be arc-shaped in plan view. By making the protruding plate portion arc-shaped, the protruding plate portion is less likely to tip over than, for example, a flat plate-shaped protruding plate portion, and rigidity can be improved.

[0013] The cover may be provided with a fastening portion that is fastened to the frame by a fastening member. In this case, the fastening portion can be integrated with the protruding plate portion. The fastening portion can be configured as a boss having a screw hole into which the fastening member screws. In this case, the base end of the boss can be integrated with the base end of the protruding plate portion. This can increase the strength of the fastening portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] As described above, a protruding plate portion that protrudes upward to surround the support shaft is provided on the under cover, so that water that has entered the mirror head can be prevented from entering the interior of the electric retracting device, thereby preventing malfunction of the electric retracting device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle side mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle side mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the base body, the electric storage device, and the frame taken along the vehicle width direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the frame and the power retraction device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the base body, the electric storage device, and the frame. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view equivalent to FIG. 5, but showing a state in which the cover member has been removed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the visor, undercover, and underpanel. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the visor, undercover, and underpanel. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the undercover. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the undercover. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a right side view of the undercover. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a portion where the undercover is assembled. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0017] 1 shows a vehicle side mirror device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This vehicle side mirror device 1 is a so-called door mirror that is fixed to the front end of a door (part of the vehicle) disposed on the side of a vehicle such as an automobile and is used primarily for rearward confirmation. In this embodiment, a vehicle side mirror device 1 disposed on the right side of the vehicle will be described, but a vehicle side mirror device disposed on the left side (not shown) will not be described because it has a symmetrical structure to that of the right side.

[0018] The vehicle side mirror device 1 includes a mirror base 10 and a mirror head 30. The mirror head 30 is rotatable relative to the mirror base 10. In the description of this embodiment, as shown in the drawings, the front side of the vehicle will be simply referred to as the "front," the rear side of the vehicle will be simply referred to as the "rear," the left side of the vehicle will be simply referred to as the "left," and the right side of the vehicle will be simply referred to as the "right." The left-right direction is the vehicle width direction.

[0019] (Mirror Base 10 configuration) The mirror base 10 is fixed to an outer panel P (shown only in phantom lines in Fig. 1) of a door that constitutes a part of the vehicle, and serves to support the mirror head 30. As shown in Fig. 2 and other figures, the mirror base 10 comprises a base main body 11, a base-side upper cover member 12, a base-side lower cover member 13, and a sealing member 14 made of an elastic material. The base main body 11 is made of, for example, a resin material, but may also be made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, other than the resin material.

[0020] The base body 11 has a fixed portion 15 fixed to the outer panel P of the door, and a support shaft 16 that is integrally molded with the fixed portion 15, extends upward, and rotatably supports an inner portion in the vehicle width direction of a frame (described later) of the mirror head 30. A sealant 14 is interposed between the fixed portion 15 and the outer panel P of the door. The fixed portion 15 is fixed to the outer panel P of the door or a reinforcement (not shown) by a fastening member such as a screw, although this is not shown.

[0021] 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along a plane that passes through the axis A of the support shaft 16 and extends in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the support shaft 16 is integrally molded with the right side portion (the outer portion in the vehicle width direction) of the fixed portion 15, and the support shaft 16 and the fixed portion 15 form a single component. The axis A of the support shaft 16 extends in the up-down direction and may extend vertically or may be inclined relative to the vertical. The mirror head 30 can be stored by rotating around the axis A of the support shaft 16.

[0022] The base end (lower end) of the support shaft 16 is provided with a large diameter portion 16a that is larger in diameter than the portion (upper portion) toward the tip end of the base end. An upper surface 16b of the large diameter portion 16a extends in a direction intersecting the axis A and also extends in an annular shape around the axis A. An annular groove 16c extending in an annular shape around the axis A is formed in the upper surface 16b of the large diameter portion 16a. The portion of the support shaft 16 toward the tip end of the large diameter portion 16a is formed as a small diameter portion 16d. An upper portion of the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 16d is formed with a recess 16e that extends continuously in the circumferential direction.

[0023] The support shaft 16 is cylindrical and hollow inside. That is, openings that open the internal space are formed on the upper and lower end faces of the support shaft 16. The internal space communicates with the outside through the opening on the upper end face, and the internal space communicates with the outside through the opening on the lower end face. By making the inside of the support shaft 16 hollow, it is possible to ensure high rigidity while reducing the weight. For example, a harness or the like can be passed through the inside of the support shaft 16.

[0024] (Configuration of mirror head 30) 2, the mirror head 30 includes a mirror 31 for rearward visibility, a frame 32 that supports the mirror 31, an angle adjustment device 33 that adjusts the angle of the mirror 31, an electric retraction device 34, and a visor 35. The mirror 31 in this embodiment has a horizontally elongated shape in which the dimension in the vehicle width direction is longer than the dimension in the vertical direction, but this is not limited to this, and the mirror may have a shape in which the dimension in the vehicle width direction and the dimension in the vertical direction are equal, or may have a vertically elongated shape in which the dimension in the vehicle width direction is shorter than the dimension in the vertical direction, and the shape is not particularly limited.

[0025] The visor 35 is a resin part formed by, for example, injection molding a resin material. The visor 35 has a frame portion 35a that houses the mirror 31, a vertical plate portion 35b that is integrally molded with the front portion of the frame portion 35a, and an extension portion 35c that extends forward from the left portion (the inner portion in the vehicle width direction) of the lower part of the frame portion 35a. The frame portion 35a is formed so as to surround the mirror 31, and therefore has a shape that is long in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] The frame portion 35a and the extension portion 35c of the visor 35 constitute the design part of the mirror head 30. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the frame portion 35a is located on the rear side of the mirror head 30 and forms the design surface of the rear portion of the mirror head 30, which is visible from the outside. The extension portion 35c is formed so as to extend from the rear to the front of the lower part of the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror head 30 and forms the design surface of the lower part of the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the mirror head 30, which is visible from the outside. In this way, the frame portion 35a and the extension portion 35c constitute part of the external shape of the mirror head 30, and the visor 35, which includes the part that constitutes part of this external shape, is an exterior component. The surfaces of the frame portion 35a and the extension portion 35c of the visor 35 may be painted or may be unpainted surfaces made of a resin material.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical plate portion 35b of the visor 35 is a portion disposed on the rear side of the frame 32. This vertical plate portion 35b has an opening 35d formed to penetrate the vertical plate portion 35b in the front-to-rear direction. The rear portion of the angle adjustment device 33 is adapted to fit into the opening 35d. The rear side (front side) of the mirror 31 is attached to the rear side of the angle adjustment device 33. The front side of the angle adjustment device 33 is attached from the rear side to the outer side of the frame 32 in the vehicle width direction. The mirror 31 is supported by the frame 32 via the angle adjustment device 33.

[0028] Although not shown, a motor and a rotation mechanism for rotating the mirror 31 about the vertical line, and a motor and a rotation mechanism for rotating the mirror 31 about the horizontal line are provided inside the angle adjustment device 33. The angle adjustment device 33 can be operated from inside the vehicle, and the angle of the mirror 31 can be adjusted by rotating the mirror 31 about the vertical line or the horizontal line. The structure of the angle adjustment device 33 is not particularly limited.

[0029] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the frame 32 is a resin part made by, for example, injection molding a resin material, and has a shape that is long in the vehicle width direction to correspond to the shape of the mirror 31. A mirror support plate 40 that extends in the up-down and vehicle width directions is formed on the outer side of the frame 32 in the vehicle width direction. The mirror support plate 40 is molded integrally with the outer side of a motor housing 41 in the vehicle width direction, which will be described later. By molding the mirror support plate 40 and the motor housing 41 integrally, the number of parts can be reduced and the rigidity of the frame 32 can be increased. An angle adjustment device 33 is attached to the mirror support plate 40.

[0030] An electric retracting device 34 is provided on the inner side of the frame 32 in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the electric retracting device 34 includes an electric retracting device motor 34a that generates power to switch the mirror head 30 from the usage state (the state shown in FIG. 1) to the storage state (not shown) and from the storage state to the usage state by rotating the frame 32 about the support shaft 16, and a drive mechanism 34b that converts the rotational force of the electric retracting device motor 34a into rotational force for the mirror head 30. The drive mechanism 34b includes a drive gear 34d fixed to an output shaft 34c of the electric retracting device motor 34a, an intermediate gear unit 34e, a ring gear 34f, a spring 34g, and a retaining ring 34h. The intermediate gear unit 34e is a gear unit that transmits the rotational force input from the drive gear 34d to the ring gear 34f.

[0031] 3, the small diameter portion 16d of the support shaft 16 is inserted into the ring gear 34f, and in this state, the ring gear 34f is positioned near the lower end of the small diameter portion 16d. The axis of the ring gear 34f and the axis A of the small diameter portion 16d are aligned. The inner peripheral surface of the ring gear 34f and the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 16d are engaged with each other, preventing relative rotation in the circumferential direction.

[0032] The spring 34g is a coil spring, and the small-diameter portion 16d of the support shaft 16 is inserted through the spring 34g. The lower end of the spring 34g abuts against the upper end surface of the ring gear 34f. The retaining ring 34h engages with a recess 16e formed in the small-diameter portion 16d of the support shaft 16. The lower surface of the retaining ring 34h abuts against the upper end of the spring 34g, causing the retaining ring 34h to apply a compressive force to the spring 34g. Therefore, the spring 34g constantly exerts a downward biasing force on the ring gear 34f, maintaining the engagement between the inner circumferential surface of the ring gear 34f and the outer circumferential surface of the small-diameter portion 16d. The spring 34g is a component used in a clutch mechanism. When a large external force acts on the mirror head 30, the ring gear 34f moves upward relative to the support shaft 16 against the biasing force of the spring 34g, thereby enabling the mirror head 30 to rotate. This clutch mechanism is a conventionally well-known mechanism, and may be provided as needed, and is not essential to the present invention.

[0033] When the electric retraction device motor 34a is rotated in one direction, the rotational force of the electric retraction device motor 34a is transmitted to the ring gear 34f via the drive gear 34d and intermediate gear unit 34e. Because the ring gear 34f is unable to rotate relative to the support shaft 16, the electric retraction device motor 34a, drive gear 34d, and intermediate gear unit 34e rotate around the ring gear 34f. This one-way rotation of the electric retraction device motor 34a switches the mirror head 30 from the usage state to the retracted state.

[0034] On the other hand, when the motor 34a for the electric retraction device is rotated in the other direction, the motor 34a for the electric retraction device, the drive gear 34d, and the intermediate gear unit 34e rotate in the opposite direction around the ring gear 34f. This rotation of the motor 34a for the electric retraction device in the other direction switches the mirror head 30 from the retracted state to the use state.

[0035] In this embodiment, the electric storage device motor 34a is provided inward in the vehicle width direction from the support shaft 16. Specifically, a motor housing 41 for housing the electric storage device motor 34a inward in the vehicle width direction from the support shaft 16 is integrally molded with the frame 32. The motor housing 41 has a recessed shape that opens upward, and the electric storage device motor 34a, drive mechanism 34b, etc. can be housed in the motor housing 41 from above. In this embodiment, the dimension of the motor housing 41 in the vehicle width direction is longer than the dimension in the front-rear direction, but this is not limited to this. The dimensions of the motor housing 41 in the vehicle width direction and the front-rear direction may be approximately the same, or the dimension of the motor housing 41 in the vehicle width direction may be shorter than the dimension in the front-rear direction.

[0036] The motor housing section 41 houses the electric storage device motor 34a as well as the drive mechanism 34b. The electric storage device motor 34a is located outboard in the vehicle width direction of the ring gear 34f, spring 34g, and snap ring 34h of the drive mechanism 34b, and correspondingly, the dimension of the motor housing section 41 in the vehicle width direction is longer than the dimension in the front-to-rear direction. The drive gear 34d of the drive mechanism 34b is located directly below the electric storage device motor 34a.

[0037] A through-hole 32a, through which the thin-diameter portion 16d of the support shaft 16 is inserted, is formed in the inner portion of the frame 32 in the vehicle width direction so as to penetrate vertically. The portion in which the through-hole 32a is formed is the bottom wall portion 41a of the motor housing portion 41. Therefore, the motor housing portion 41 also houses the portion of the support shaft 16 above the through-hole 32a (thin-diameter portion 16d). As described above, the motor housing portion 41 houses not only the electric storage device motor 34a and the drive mechanism 34b but also the thin-diameter portion 16d of the support shaft 16, and is therefore larger than a housing portion that houses only the electric storage device motor 34a. The inner portion of the motor housing portion 41 in the vehicle width direction houses the electric storage device motor 34a, and this inner portion in the vehicle width direction is positioned more inward than the support shaft 16 in the vehicle width direction. In other words, at least a portion of the motor housing portion 41 is integrally molded with the frame 32 in the portion inward than the support shaft 16 in the vehicle width direction. The motor 34a for the electric storage device and the portion of the support shaft 16 above the through-hole 32a are housed side by side in the vehicle width direction.

[0038] The electric storage device motor 34a is housed in the motor housing section 41 with its output shaft 34c extending vertically and protruding downward. Therefore, the drive gear 34d, intermediate gear unit 34e, and ring gear 34f of the drive mechanism 34b are housed in the lower part of the motor housing section 41. The spring 34g and the retaining ring 34h are housed in the motor housing section 41 on the outer side of the electric storage device motor 34a in the vehicle width direction and above the ring gear 34f.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the frame 32 has a cover member 42 that covers the open portion of the motor housing portion 41 from above. The cover member 42 is separate from the motor housing portion 41 and extends in the vehicle width direction so as to cover above the electric storage device motor 34a, above the narrow-diameter portion 16d of the support shaft 16, and above the retaining ring 34h. A bulging portion 42a that bulges upward is formed on the inner portion of the cover member 42 in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Figure 4, a plurality of locking pieces 42b are formed at the periphery of the cover member 42 at intervals in the circumferential direction, extending downward along the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion 41b of the motor housing portion 41. A locking hole 42c is formed in each locking piece 42b. Meanwhile, a protrusion 41c is formed on the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion 41b of the motor housing portion 41 in a portion corresponding to the locking hole 42c. When the cover member 42 completely covers the motor accommodating portion 41, the protrusions 41c are inserted into the locking holes 42c of the locking pieces 42b and locked, preventing the cover member 42 from coming off the motor accommodating portion 41.

[0040] An intermediate member 43 to which the electric storage device motor 34a is attached is provided inside the motor housing 41. A motor holding recess 43a is formed on the outer side of the intermediate member 43 in the vehicle width direction, and opens upward to hold the main body of the electric storage device motor 34a in a housed state. A circuit board 44 is disposed above the electric storage device motor 34a held in the motor holding recess 43a. The circuit board 44 is housed in the bulging portion 42a of the cover member 42.

[0041] An insertion hole 43b, through which the upper end of the small diameter portion 16d of the support shaft 16 is inserted, is formed in the inner portion of the intermediate member 43 in the vehicle width direction. The intermediate member 43 is fastened and fixed to a screw hole 41d formed inside the motor accommodating portion 41 with a screw B.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 2, the vehicle side mirror device 1 includes an undercover 50 that covers from below an inner portion of the frame 32 in the vehicle width direction, an underpanel 51 that covers from below at least a portion of the frame 32 that is outer in the vehicle width direction than the undercover 50, and a front cover 60 that covers the frame 32 from the front. The undercover 50, underpanel 51, and front cover 60 are made of members formed, for example, by injection molding a resin material. The front cover 60 is formed so as to be open rearward and downward. The rear edge of the front cover 60 abuts against the frame portion 35a of the visor 35 from the front.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the undercover 50 and underpanel 51 constitute the lower design portion of the mirror head 30, and therefore the lower design portion of the mirror head 30 has a two-part structure. Specifically, the undercover 50 is provided below the mirror head 30 and forms the design surface at the lower part of the inner part of the mirror head 30 in the vehicle width direction, and is the part that is visible from the outside. The underpanel 51 is provided below the mirror head 30 and extends from the outer part of the mirror head 30 in the vehicle width direction to the inner part, and forms the design surface at the lower part of the inner part of the mirror head 30 in the vehicle width direction, and is the part that is visible from the outside. In this way, the undercover 50 and underpanel 51 constitute part of the external shape of the mirror head 30 and are exterior components. The surfaces of the undercover 50 and underpanel 51 may be painted surfaces or may be unpainted surfaces made of resin material.

[0044] The undercover 50 has a cover portion 50a that extends in the vehicle width direction and the front-to-rear direction so as to cover from below at least the inner portion of the frame 32 in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Figure 9, a shaft insertion hole 50b through which the shaft 16 is inserted is formed in the middle portion of the cover portion 50a in the vehicle width direction. The shaft insertion hole 50b is circular in a plan view and has an inner diameter that allows the large diameter portion 16a of the shaft 16 to be inserted therein. The center of the shaft insertion hole 50b is located on the axis A of the shaft 16.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12 , the undercover 50 has a protruding plate portion 50c that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the cover portion 50a to surround the large-diameter portion 16a of the support shaft 16. The protruding plate portion 50c is provided along the periphery of the support shaft insertion hole 50b at a location radially outwardly spaced from the periphery of the support shaft insertion hole 50b. The number of protruding plate portions 50c may be one or more. When there is one protruding plate portion 50c, the protruding plate portion 50c may be provided in a continuous ring shape around the support shaft insertion hole 50b, or may be provided only along a portion of the periphery. When there are multiple protruding plate portions 50c, the multiple protruding plate portions 50c may be provided intermittently around the periphery of the support shaft insertion hole 50b. In this embodiment, two protruding plate portions 50c are provided intermittently around the circumferential direction of the shaft insertion hole 50b, one of the protruding plate portions 50c is provided along the peripheral edge of the inner portion of the shaft insertion hole 50b in the vehicle width direction, and the other protruding plate portion 50c is provided along the peripheral edge of the outer portion of the shaft insertion hole 50b in the vehicle width direction.

[0046] The protruding plate portions 50c correspond to the shape of the shaft insertion holes 50b, and therefore have an arc-like shape in a plan view. Specifically, each protruding plate portion 50c has an arc-like shape with the center of the shaft insertion hole 50b as its arc center. By providing the protruding plate portions 50c around the shaft insertion holes 50b in this way, the protruding plate portions 50c function like ribs, thereby increasing the rigidity of the cover portion 50a having the shaft insertion holes 50b. Furthermore, because the protruding plate portions 50c have an arc-like shape, they are less likely to tip over than, for example, flat-plate-like ones.

[0047] The cover portion 50a is provided with a fastening portion 50d that is fastened to the frame 32 by a fastening member (not shown). The fastening portion 50d is formed in a cylindrical shape that is long in the vertical direction, and is composed of a boss having a screw hole into which the fastening member is screwed. The base end (lower end) of the fastening portion 50d is integrated with the base end (lower end) of the protruding plate portion 50c.

[0048] The cover portion 50a is also provided with a locking claw 50e. The locking claw 50e is adapted to be locked to the frame 32. The locking claw 50e may be provided as needed, and may be omitted.

[0049] The protruding plate portion 50c is configured to abut against the lower surface of the frame 32 to position the undercover 50 in the up-down direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 12 , the undercover 50 is disposed so as to cover from below the motor housing portion 41, which is the inner portion of the frame 32 in the vehicle width direction, and is attached to the bottom wall portion 41a of the motor housing portion 41. At this time, the upper end portion of the protruding plate portion 50c abuts against the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 41a of the motor housing portion 41, preventing the undercover 50 from moving upward any further. That is, the undercover 50 can be easily positioned in the up-down direction simply by abutting the upper end portion of the protruding plate portion 50c against the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 41a of the motor housing portion 41. Particularly in this embodiment, the provision of multiple protruding plate portions 50c allows the undercover 50 to be positioned relative to the frame 32 at multiple locations.

[0050] The vertical position of the undercover 50 can be set as desired by adjusting the vertical dimension of the protruding plate portion 50c. In this embodiment, the vertical position of the undercover 50 can be aligned with the underpanel 51 by abutting the upper end of the protruding plate portion 50c against the underside of the bottom wall portion 41a of the motor housing portion 41. The undercover 50 is held in an assembled state on the frame 32 by fastening members and locking claws 50e.

[0051] The underpanel 51 is disposed below the front cover 60, has a shape that is elongated in the vehicle width direction, and is attached to the frame 32 with engaging claws (not shown) or screws (not shown). The upper edge of the underpanel 51 abuts the lower edge of the front cover 60. The inner portion of the underpanel 51 in the vehicle width direction extends in the vehicle width direction along the front portion of the undercover 50. Meanwhile, the extension portion 35c of the visor 35 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle along the inner portion of the undercover 50 in the vehicle width direction. The undercover 50 is disposed between the underpanel 51 and the extension portion 35c of the visor 35, and is sandwiched between the underpanel 51 and the extension portion 35c of the visor 35. The inner portion of the underpanel 51 in the vehicle width direction is bent rearward. The front end of the inner portion of the underpanel 51 in the vehicle width direction abuts against the tip of the inner portion of the extension portion 35c of the visor 35 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the undercover 50 is provided in an area surrounded by the underpanel 51 and the visor 35. The rear edge of the undercover 50 abuts against the lower part of the frame portion 35a of the visor 35 from the front.

[0052] With the vehicle side mirror device 1 attached to the side of the vehicle, operating the motor 34a for the electric retracting device enables the mirror head 30 to be switched from the use state to the retracted state and vice versa. When it rains or when washing the car, water may adhere to the lower part of the vehicle side mirror device 1 or be sprayed onto the vehicle side mirror device 1 from below. In such cases, the undercover 50 in this embodiment prevents water from entering the mirror head 30. Even if water does enter the interior through the shaft insertion hole 50b, the protruding plate portion 50c is positioned to surround the shaft 16, preventing water from flowing toward the shaft 16. This prevents water from splashing on the operating parts of the electric retracting device 34, making it less likely for the electric retracting device 34 to malfunction.

[0053] Furthermore, the undercover 50 can be easily positioned in the up-down direction by abutting the protruding plate portion 50c that protrudes upward from the inner surface of the undercover 50 against the underside of the frame 32. In this way, the undercover 50 can be accurately positioned in the up-down direction with the simple structure and method of abutting the protruding plate portion 50c against the underside of the frame 32.

[0054] Furthermore, because the support shaft 16 is integrally molded with the fixed portion 15 of the mirror base 10, the number of parts of the mirror base 10 is reduced and the overall rigidity of the base body 11 of the mirror base 10 is increased. When the support shaft 16 is integrally molded with the fixed portion 15 in this way, assembling the exterior components can be a problem, but in this embodiment, the exterior components are separated into the undercover 50 and the underpanel 51, so that the undercover 50 and the underpanel 51 are each small and can be easily assembled to the mirror head 30.

[0055] Furthermore, by separating the undercover 50 from the underpanel 51, the support shaft insertion holes 50b and the protruding plate portions 50c can be easily formed in the undercover 50.

[0056] In addition, because the motor 34a for the electric retracting device is disposed on the inner side of the support shaft 16 in the vehicle width direction, the center of gravity of the mirror head 30 can be brought closer to the support shaft 16. This makes the mirror head 30 less likely to vibrate than if the center of gravity of the mirror head 30 were located away from the support shaft 16, and as a result, vibration of the mirror 31 while driving can be reduced.

[0057] The motor housing 41, which houses the motor 34a for the electric storage device, is molded integrally with the frame 32, making the frame 32 more compact than when a separate motor bracket or the like is provided. Furthermore, by molding the motor housing 41 integrally with the frame 32, the rigidity of the frame 32 can be increased.

[0058] The above-described embodiments are merely examples in all respects and should not be construed as limiting. Furthermore, all modifications and variations within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0059] As described above, the vehicle side mirror device according to the present disclosure can be used by being attached to, for example, the door of an automobile. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1. Vehicle side mirror device 10 Mirror Base 16 Spindle 30 Mirror Head 32 frames 34 Electric storage device 34a Motor for electric storage device 35 Visor (third exterior component) 35c extension 41 Motor housing 42 Covering member 43 Intermediate parts 50 Undercover (first exterior component) 50a Cover 50b Support shaft insertion hole 50c protruding plate part 51 Under panel (second exterior component)

Claims

1. A side mirror device for a vehicle that is disposed on a side of a vehicle and has an electric storage device, a mirror head having a rearview mirror and a frame supporting the mirror; a mirror base having a support shaft fixed to a side portion of the vehicle, extending upward, and rotatably supporting an inner portion of the frame in the vehicle width direction; a motor for an electric retracting device that is provided on the frame and generates power to switch the mirror head from a use state to a retracted state and from a retracted state to a use state by rotating the frame around the support shaft; a cover portion extending in the vehicle width direction so as to cover at least the inner portion of the frame from below in the vehicle width direction and having a shaft insertion hole through which the shaft is inserted, and an undercover having a protruding plate portion protruding upward from an upper surface of the cover portion so as to surround the shaft.

2. 2. The vehicle side mirror device according to claim 1, The protruding plate portion is configured to position the undercover in the up-down direction by contacting with the lower surface of the frame.

3. 2. The vehicle side mirror device according to claim 1, The protruding plate portion is provided along a peripheral edge of the support shaft insertion hole.

4. 4. The vehicle side mirror device according to claim 3, The protruding plate portion is provided intermittently in a circumferential direction of the support shaft insertion hole.

5. 4. The vehicle side mirror device according to claim 3, The protruding plate portion is provided along a peripheral edge portion of an inner portion of the support shaft insertion hole in a vehicle width direction.

6. 4. The vehicle side mirror device according to claim 3, The support shaft insertion hole is circular in plan view, The protruding plate portion has an arc shape in a plan view.

7. 2. The vehicle side mirror device according to claim 1, The cover portion is provided with a fastening portion that is fastened to the frame by a fastening member, The fastened portion is integrated with the protruding plate portion.

8. 8. The vehicle side mirror device according to claim 7, the fastened portion is configured by a boss having a screw hole into which the fastening member is screwed, A vehicle side mirror device, wherein a base end of the boss is integrated with a base end of the protruding plate portion.

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