This invention relates to a mirror adjustment device for a motor vehicle. Mirror adjustment devices are generally used for adjusting a mirror glass of, for example, an inside mirror unit or an outside mirror unit of a motor vehicle. Mirror adjustment devices are usually provided with an actuator for electrically adjusting the mirror glass. However, mirror adjustment devices may also be designed to be adjusted by hand. The user then pushes a hand against the mirror glass to cause the mirror glass to change orientation and thus to bring the mirror glass in the desired position. Mirror adjustment devices may also be designed to permit of remote adjustment with the aid of cables. Then, usually, there is an operating element, for example, an operating arm, within reach of the driver of the motor vehicle. By moving the operating arm, the mirror glass can then be adjusted accordingly.

An outside mirror unit and/or an inside mirror unit may be designed as desired with an electric mirror adjustment device, a manual mirror

adjustment device or a remotely controllable adjustment device. For these three possibilities, usually three different mirror adjustment devices are designed and manufactured, as a result of which the mirror adjustment device may be relatively costly, due to inter alia relatively high costs of storage, transport and/or manufacture.

An object of the invention is to provide a mirror adjustment device that obviates at least one of the foregoing disadvantages.

To this end, the invention provides a mirror adjustment device for a motor vehicle comprising a mirror supporting plate element arranged for coupling with a mirror supporting plate and a mirror housing, wherein the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing are movably mountable with respect to each other in a first position and a second position for adjustment of the mirror supporting plate with respect to the mirror housing, wherein in the first position the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing are pulled towards each other under a bias and in the second position the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing are pushed apart under a bias, wherein upon mounting of the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing in the first position the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing cooperate via first cooperation surfaces and upon mounting of the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing in the second position the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing cooperate via second cooperation surfaces.

By providing a mirror supporting plate element and a mirror housing that are mountable with respect to each other in two positions, depending on the position chosen the mirror adjustment device can be mounted to be remotely adjustable with the aid of cables or the mirror adjustment device can be mounted to be manually adjustable.

As in the first position the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing are pulled towards each other under a bias, the mirror adjustment device in the first position is arranged for adjusting the mirror supporting plate remotely with the aid of cables. As in the second position the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing are pushed apart under a bias, the mirror adjustment device in the second position is arranged for adjusting the mirror supporting plate manually.

As in the first position the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing cooperate via first cooperation surfaces and in the second position the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing cooperate via second cooperation surfaces, in a simple manner, by utilizing a same mirror supporting plate element and mirror housing the mirror adjustment device can be mounted as a manually adjustable mirror adjustment device or as a remotely cable -adjustable mirror adjustment device. As a result, costs of production, assembly, storage and/or transport can become lower. Both the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing are provided with first and second cooperation surfaces. Thus, the mirror supporting plate element is provided with a first cooperation surface which cooperates with a first cooperation surface on the mirror housing. Also, the mirror supporting plate element is provided with a second cooperation surface which cooperates with a second cooperation surface on the mirror housing. The first cooperation surfaces are preferably different from the second cooperation surfaces.

By ₁ in the first position, pulling the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing towards each other under a bias, the first cooperation surfaces are going to cooperate with each other. For example, the first cooperation surfaces can get to abut against each other.

By, in the second position, pushing the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing apart under a bias, the second cooperation surfaces are going to cooperate with each other by, for example, coming into contact with each other and getting to abut against each other.

By arranging the first and second cooperation surfaces for cooperation under the influence of friction, adjustment of the mirror supporting plate element with respect to the mirror housing can take place in a controlled manner.

Advantageously, the bias in the first position is designed as a spring element for placing the cables under tension. The spring element may be arranged, for example, at the end of the cables near the operating element, or may be arranged around the mirror adjustment device as, for example, a clamp-shaped spring for pulling the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing towards each other. Also, the spring element may be arranged in the mirror adjustment device as, for example, a draw spring which on one side is coupled to the mirror supporting plate element and on the other side is coupled to the mirror housing to pull them towards each other under spring action. The bias in the second position may be designed as a spring element between the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing, for example, as a spiral-shaped compression spring.

By providing the mirror housing with an upstanding wall that comprises the first and second cooperation surfaces, the mirror housing can be

manufactured in a relatively simple and relatively inexpensive manner, while it can be suitable for mounting both in the first position and in the second position.

Preferably, the first cooperation surface of the mirror housing is arranged on one side of the upstanding wall and the second cooperation surface of the mirror housing is arranged on an opposite side of the upstanding wall. By, in the first position, pulling the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing towards each other, the first cooperation surface can be coupled and by, in the second position, pushing the mirror supporting plate element and the mirror housing away from each other, the second cooperation surface can be coupled.

By designing the mirror supporting plate element from at least two mutually couplable parts, where, preferably, a first part is provided with the first cooperation surface and a second part is provided with the second cooperation surface, the mirror supporting plate element can be manufactured and processed relatively inexpensively.

Further advantageous embodiments are represented in the subclaims.

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary

embodiment which is represented in a drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a first exemplary

embodiment of a mirror adjustment device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a second exemplary

embodiment of a mirror adjustment device according to the invention. It is noted that the figures are only schematic representations of preferred embodiments of the invention which are described by way of non-limiting exemplary embodiments. In the figures, like or corresponding parts are represented with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a mirror adjustment device 1 comprising a mirror supporting plate element 2 and a mirror housing 3. The mirror supporting plate element 2 is here designed in two parts: a first part 2a and a second part 2b. The two parts 2a and 2b are couplable with each other via the coupling means 4. The coupling means 4 are here designed as a pin capable of snapping into a groove. Other designs of the coupling means are also possible.

The mirror supporting plate element 2 is arranged for coupling with a mirror supporting plate (not shown). Particularly the first part 2a in this exemplary embodiment is designed for coupling with a relatively flat mirror supporting plate.

The mirror supporting plate element 2 is mountable with respect to the mirror housing 3, such that the mirror supporting plate element 2 is movable with respect to the mirror housing 3 to enable adjustment of the mirror supporting plate. The mirror supporting plate element 2 is mountable with respect to the mirror housing 3 in a first position and in a second position.

The mirror supporting plate element 2 can be mounted with respect to the mirror housing 3 in a first position, as shown in Fig. 2. In the first position the mirror supporting plate element 2 and the mirror housing 3 are pulled towards each other under a bias. In the first position the mirror adjustment device 1 is arranged for remote adjustment of the mirror supporting plate with the aid of cables. The cables (not shown) may be, for example, Bowden cables and may be arranged, for example, in cable receiving openings and/or grooves 6. The bias may be provided, for example, by a spring which may be at this and/or at another end of the cable to place the cables under tension and/or to keep them so. At the other end of the cables there is usually an operating element, for example, an operating arm, in the form of a small handle or stick, to operate the mirror supporting plate via the cables.

In the first position, first cooperation surfaces 7 cooperate, preferably under the influence of friction to enable a controlled and relatively accurate adjustment of the mirror supporting plate. The first cooperation surfaces 7 are provided on the mirror supporting plate element 2, the first cooperation surface 7a, and on the mirror housing 3, the first cooperation surface 7b. By movement of the first cooperation surfaces 7 with respect to each other, the mirror supporting plate can be adjusted with respect to the mirror housing 3.

Upon mounting of the mirror supporting plate element 2 with respect to the mirror housing 3 in the second position, the mirror supporting plate element 2 and the mirror housing 3 are pushed apart under a bias. The bias may be provided, for example, by a spring element (not shown), such as a spiral spring or a leaf spring. The spring element may be arranged, for example, between the mirror housing 3 and the mirror supporting plate element 2, for example, in the grooves 9a, 9b of the mirror supporting plate element 2 and the mirror housing 3, respectively. In the second position, the mirror supporting plate can be adjusted by hand by pressing the hand and/or fingers against it from outside.

As the mirror supporting plate element 2 and the mirror housing 3 are pushed apart, the second cooperation surfaces 8 enter into cooperation. The second cooperation surfaces 8 are provided on the mirror supporting plate element 2, the second cooperation surface 8a, and on the mirror housing 3, the second cooperation surface 8b. The mirror supporting plate element 2 is provided with an upstanding wall 10, an inner side of which is provided with the second cooperation surface 8a.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the first and second cooperation surface 7b and 8b are arranged on an upstanding wall 5 of the mirror housing 3. The two cooperation surfaces 7b and 8b are arranged each on an opposite side of the upstanding wall 5.

In this exemplary embodiment, the first part 2a of the mirror supporting plate element 2 is provided with the second cooperation surface 8a and the second part 2b of the mirror supporting plate element 2 is provided with the first cooperation surface 7a.

In the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 3 the first cooperation surfaces 7 are provided in a bowl-shaped cavity of the mirror housing 3 and a spherical projection of the mirror supporting plate element 2. The first cooperation surface 7a is designed as an outer side of the spherical projection. The first cooperation surface 7b is designed as an inner wall of the bowl-shaped cavity.

The second cooperation surfaces 8 are designed, as in the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, on, on one hand, an outer side of an upstanding wall 5 of the mirror housing 3 (second cooperation surface 8b) and an inner side of an upstanding wall 10 of the mirror supporting plate element 2.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment represented here. Many variants are possible. Such variants are understood to be within the scope of the invention as represented in the following claims.