COUPLING DEVICE FOR JOINING THE MIRROR PLATE SUPPORT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE REAR-VIEW MIRROR TO THE HOUSING OF THE MIRROR DRIVE

摘要

A coupling device is disclosed for joining the mirror plate support of a motor vehicle rear-view mirror to the housing of the mirror drive. The mirror plate support can be adjusted relatively to the fixed drive housing in two mutually perpendicular directions and has a dome-shaped projection which engages by means of a dome shell a receiving cavity in the drive housing. Guides are provided in the dome-shaped components and in the receiving cavity. A connecting element whose head is retained in a recess of the mirror plate support extends through the centre of the dome-shaped components and receiving cavity and engages a spring element whose restoring force pushes the mirror plate support towards the drive housing. This coupling device should not be affected by shocks and impacts and prevent as much as possible the mirror from vibrating by increasing friction between the coupling parts. The friction should be the same in the two directions of adjustment of the mirror plate support and over the whole path of adjustment. For that purpose, the connecting element is a threaded bolt whose free end extends through at least one wall of the drive housing and is provided with a nut. Contact areas associated to the bottom side of the head of the threaded bolt are supported against the surface of the recess in the mirror plate support. The surface of the nut that faces the drive housing can be supported with a first area against the spring element and with a second area against the drive housing. The spring element is arranged in or on the drive housing.