Vehicle Mirror Assembly Centering Pins and Resilient Clips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing external rear view mirror assemblies for vehicles are difficult to remove and replace due to restricted access and visibility, leading to potential breakage and injury, especially in heavy-duty vehicles where maintenance is performed at elevated heights.
Innovation Solution
A mirror assembly design featuring a casing with a rotatable receiving plate and a mirror plate secured by centering pins and resilient clips, allowing for easier engagement and disengagement through a ball-and-socket joint mechanism, facilitating secure attachment and straightforward removal without the need for excessive force or visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mirror plate is securely mounted in the housing with a tight fit, then the mirror plate is held securely and does not fall out in use, but a significant force is required to pull the mirror plate away and the operator must use both hands and significant effort to remove it
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate functional elements: centering pins that guide alignment, resilient clips that provide secure yet releasable attachment, and corresponding recesses in the receiving plate. This segmentation allows the mirror plate to be firmly held during operation while enabling simple one-handed removal by releasing the clips.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient clips change their mechanical state from a engaged/locked position during normal operation to a released/disengaged position during removal. The clips are designed to maintain strong holding force under normal conditions but can be easily actuated to change state, allowing the mirror plate to transition from securely mounted to easily removable.
2Shape
If the gap between the mirror and casing is kept narrow for aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons, then the appearance is improved and dirt ingress is prevented, but access to the interface between the rear-view mirror and housing is very restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient clips act as intermediary elements that can be actuated from the front surface of the mirror plate. These clips extend into the narrow gap and can be pressed to release the mirror plate without requiring the operator to reach deep into the restricted space behind the mirror.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is designed so that the release mechanism is accessible from the mirror's front surface, allowing the operator to initiate removal without needing to access the hidden interface behind the mirror. The resilient clips self-present for actuation, enabling easy one-handed operation.
3Reliability
If the operator must work blindly relying on touch and feel to remove the mirror plate, then the mounting interface remains secure, but the risk of breakage and injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient clips are positioned and designed to provide tactile feedback and visual indication of their state. When pressed, the clips deform and provide clear sensory feedback to the operator, eliminating the need to work blindly and reducing the risk of accidental breakage or injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient clips are pre-positioned to be accessible and ready for actuation. The design anticipates the removal operation by providing clearly locatable release points that guide the operator's fingers to the correct position, preventing blind manipulation and reducing risk of injury.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the receiving plate is made movable within the casing to allow mirror rotation, then the mirror orientation can be adjusted to suit driver requirements, but the task of locating and applying sufficient pressure to the clamps on the receiving element becomes much more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient clips are extracted from hidden positions and positioned on the accessible front surface of the mirror plate. This allows the clips to be actuated without needing to locate or access them behind the movable receiving plate, simplifying the removal operation even when the receiving plate can move within the casing.
Data Source
AI summary
A mirror assembly (1) for a vehicle, the assembly including a casing (3), a base plate (9) fixed in the casing (6) and a receiving plate (8) rotatably attached to the base plate (9); a mirror plate (2) having a mirror glass (3) secured on a mounting plate (9); the mirror assembly (1) further having attachment means interposed between said receiving plate (8) and said mirror plate (2), said attachment means having a first part provided in the mirror plate (2) and a second part provided in the receiving plate (8), said first part having at least one centering element and at least one releasable locking element, and said second part having at least one second complementary centering element configured to receive the said first centering element and at least one opening (14, 140) configured to receive the said at least one locking element (12, 120).