Fairing which folds flat independantly of its mirror

US4511214A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Daimler-Benz AG · DE

Inventors

• Wilhelm Klein · Aidlingen, DE
• Jorg-Uwe Koske · Weil der Stadt, DE
• Siegfried Herzog · Waldenbuch, DE
• Hans-Peter Jordan · Schönaich, DE
• Wilhelm Bauer · Stuttgart, DE
• Max Bausch · Sindelfingen, DE
• Christian Grabner

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 21, 1983
• Grant date: Apr 16, 1985
• Expiry date: Jan 21, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S248/90
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to an exterior mirror for vehicles, with a mirror-housing which, in normal operation, is retained in a fixed location on the vehicle and which, in the event of a collision, can fold away, forwards or backwards, until it assumes at least an approximately flat position against the vehicle. Folding occurs about a pair of pivot-axes. A mirror-shell, carrying a reflector, is retained in the interior of the mirror-housing. An aerodynamically efficient fairing is provided on the leading side of the mirror-housing. In order to be able to design the fairing with a shape which is particularly aerodynamically efficient, namely with a shape which is particularly long in the direction in which the vehicle travels and which resembles a wedge, while nevertheless being able, on the other hand, to permit the mirror to fold away effectively and with little overhang, at least one separate pivot-axis is provided for the fairing of the mirror-housing. This pivot-axis is inclined, in side view, at a pronounced angle relative to the pivot-axes of the mirror-housing. The fairing otherwise merely bears against the mirror-housing in a manner permitting detachment. The fairing is spring…