Vehicular Door Mirror Folded Retention Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
In small-sized vehicular door mirrors, the space constraints make it difficult to set recessed and protrusion engagement portions for the folded storage position, leading to potential damage when external forces, like those from a car washing machine, cause unintended unfolding.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular door mirror design where a protrusion portion on the groove top face slides over and engages with a protrusion portion at the rotation regulating piece, allowing the door mirror unit to be securely retained in the folded storage position, even under external forces, with a sense of click indicating proper storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If recessed and protrusion engagement portions are provided for both deployed use position and folded storage position, then both positions can be appropriately retained, but in small sized door mirror units, it becomes difficult to set the recessed and protrusion engagement portion at the rotation position corresponding to the folded storage position due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism is segmented into two independent systems: a rotation moderation mechanism with recessed and protrusion portions for the deployed use position, and a separate rotation regulating mechanism with a rotation regulating groove and rotation regulating piece for the folded storage position. This segmentation allows each mechanism to be optimized for its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the space constraint issue in small-sized door mirrors.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention function for the folded storage position is extracted from the rotation moderation mechanism and implemented as a separate rotation regulating mechanism. The rotation regulating groove is provided on the bearing portion while the rotation regulating piece is provided on the shaft, creating an independent engagement system that does not require additional space on the already constrained shaft surface.
2Volume of moving object
If the door mirror unit is small sized, then the overall size is reduced, but it becomes difficult to set the recessed and protrusion engagement portion at the rotation position corresponding to the folded storage position
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism transitions from a two-dimensional surface arrangement (where multiple engagement portions would compete for limited shaft surface area) to a three-dimensional arrangement using the radial depth of the bearing portion. The rotation regulating groove extends radially inward from the outer circumference, allowing the engagement portions to be positioned in the radial dimension rather than competing for circumferential space on the shaft surface.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively prevents damage from external forces and ensures the door mirror unit is securely stored, providing a reliable and space-efficient solution for retaining the folded position without relying on the rotation moderation mechanism for deployed use.
Implementation Method 1
a protrusion portion of a groove top face comes into sliding contact with and rides over a protrusion portion at an upper edge of a rotation regulating piece
Implementation Method 2
these protrusion portions drop and engage
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
Provided is a vehicular door mirror capable of configuring an engagement structure for holding a folded storage position of a door mirror unit without design problems. When a door mirror unit (3) is rotated from a deployed use position (P2) to a folded storage position (P1), a protrusion portion (39) disposed on a groove upper surface of a rotation regulating groove (37) of a bearing portion (33) on the door mirror unit (3) side slidably contacts and rides over, during the rotating process, a protrusion portion (25) disposed on the upper edge of a rotation regulating piece (23) of a shaft (2) until the protrusion portions fall into a mutual engagement, whereby the folded storage position (P1) of the door mirror unit (3) is held.