초록 ▼

A pivot assembly for a vehicle external mirror having a mirror head mounted to a mirror base, the assembly comprising a first member (20), a second member (30), the first and second members (20, 30) mounted in or being part of the mirror base and the mirror head respectively, the first and second me

A pivot assembly for a vehicle external mirror having a mirror head mounted to a mirror base, the assembly comprising a first member (20), a second member (30), the first and second members (20, 30) mounted in or being part of the mirror base and the mirror head respectively, the first and second members (20, 30) having respectively first and second detent sides (24, 34), inner sides (26, 36) and apertures (28, 38) extending from the detent side (24, 34) to the inner sides (26, 36) respectively, detent means (56, 59), a spigot (50), a spring (60), means (56, 72) for applying a pre-load to the spring (60), the initial relative rotation between the second member (30) and the first member (20) in a first direction causes loading of the spring (60), the pre-load is maintained during subsequent relative rotations between the second (30) and the first member (20).

대표청구항 ▼

What claimed is: 1. A vehicle external mirror comprising: a mirror head; a mirror base mounted to the mirror head; and a pivot assembly operably associated with the mirror head and the mirror base, wherein the pivot assembly comprises: a first member having a first detent side, a first inner side a

What claimed is: 1. A vehicle external mirror comprising: a mirror head; a mirror base mounted to the mirror head; and a pivot assembly operably associated with the mirror head and the mirror base, wherein the pivot assembly comprises: a first member having a first detent side, a first inner side and a first aperture extending from the first detent side to the first inner side; a second member having a second detent side, a second inner side and a second aperture extending from the second detent side to the second inner side, the second member positioned with respect to the first member such that the second detent side is facing the first detent side and the first and second apertures are aligned, the first and second members mountable in, or part of, either the mirror base and the mirror head respectively or the mirror head and the mirror base respectively; a detent arrangement between the first detent side and the second detent side, the detent arrangement operable to hold the mirror head in a deployed position with respect to the mirror base; a spigot having a shaft and a head depending from the shaft, the shaft passing through the first and second apertures thereby providing a pivot axis about which the second member can rotate with respect to the first member; a spring adapted and positioned around the spigot to bias the first and second inner sides towards each other and therefore to hold the detent arrangement engaged, thereby restraining movement of the mirror head with respect to the mirror base; and a structure for applying a pre-load to the spring, whereby initial relative rotation between the second member and the first member in a first direction causes loading of the spring and whereby the load is retained as a pre-load during subsequent relative rotations between the second member and the first member; wherein the structure for applying a pre-load to the spring comprises: a structure for locking the spigot against rotation with respect to the first member before the spring is pre-loaded; an arm projecting radially from an exterior surface of the head of the spigot; a spigot guide on or adjacent the second inner side, the spigot guide including a ramped surface formed on an interior surface thereof adapted to receive the radially projecting arm so as to cause the spigot head to move axially away from the first member before the spring is fully pre-loaded as the second member rotates in the first direction with respect to the spigot and the first member; and an arrangement for locking the spigot against rotation with respect to the second member after the spring is pre-loaded. 2. The vehicle external mirror of claim 1 wherein the arrangement for locking the spigot against rotation with respect to the second member comprises: a seat within the spigot guide arranged and positioned to lockably receive the arm projecting from the spigot at the end of the initial rotation. 3. The vehicle external mirror of claim 2 wherein the arrangement for locking the spigot against rotation with respect to the first member comprises: a projection extending from the shaft of the spigot, wherein the projection and the first member are mutually shaped so as to prevent relative rotation in one direction during said initial rotation. 4. The vehicle external mirror of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of arms projecting radially from the head of the spigot. 5. The vehicle external mirror of claim 1, wherein the arrangement for locking the spigot against rotation with respect to the second member comprises: a locking member located adjacent the spigot guide on the opposite side to the first member and biased in a direction substantially parallel to the spigot shaft's longitudinal axis and towards the guide, the locking member defining an aperture for receiving the radially projecting arm, the aperture and radially projecting arm mutually shaped to prevent relative rotation. 6. The vehicle external mirror of claim 5 further comprising a third member positioned adjacent the inner side of the first member and fixed to the first member, the third member and the spigot mutually shaped so as to prevent relative rotation in one direction during said initial rotation. 7. The vehicle external mirror of claim 6 wherein the third member is a cap adapted to seal the inner side of the first member against the ingress of foam. 8. The vehicle external mirror of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of arms projecting radially from the head of the spigot. 9. The vehicle external mirror of claim 1, wherein the arrangement for locking the spigot against rotation with respect to the second member comprises: a locking arm biased radially inwards towards the spigot head for engagement with the radially projecting arm, the locking arm and radial arm mutually shaped to prevent relative rotation once the radial arm has reached a pre-determined angular position with respect to the spigot guide. 10. The vehicle external mirror of claim 9 further comprising a third member positioned adjacent the inner side of the first member and fixed to the first member, the third member and the spigot mutually shaped so as to prevent relative rotation in one direction during said initial rotation. 11. The vehicle external mirror of claim 10 wherein the third member is a cap adapted to seal the inner side of the first member against the ingress of foam. 12. The vehicle external mirror of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of arms projecting radially from the head of the spigot.