The present invention relates to external vehicle mirrors such as vehicle door mirrors.

Conventionally door mirrors have a substantially flat base which is attached to the vehicle body, for example at the front -of the door, by means of a number of screws. Such arrangements generally suffer from the disadvantage that it is time consuming to fit the mirror to the vehicle, and also that the sealing arrangements required can be somewhat complicated.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a mirror assembly which can be fitted quickly and simply to a vehicle.

Accordingly the present invention provides a vehicle having an external mirror assembly mounted thereon wherein the mirror assembly includes mounting means, and the vehicle includes supporting means which defines an aperture for receiving the mounting means, characterized in that engaging means are provided on the mounting means and on the supporting means which are arranged to interengage on rotation of the mounting means relative to the supporting means to secure the mounting means to the supporting means.

Such a mirror assembly can be attached to a vehicle by a simple one step operation without the need for any tools.

Preferably the support means further comprises locating means for locating the mirror assembly relative to the vehicle, the locating means being spaced from the engaging means of the supporting means. This helps to provide stable support for the mirror assembly. Either of the engaging means and the locating means may comprise part of a vehicle body panel, or part of a separate supporting member.

The supporting means preferably includes inner and outer panels which are spaced apart, each defining an aperture through which the mounting means extends.

This helps to ensure that sufficient support for the mirror is provided.

A tubular member may be provided between the panels. The tubular member may be attached directly to at least one of the panels, for example by welding.

The engaging means on the body are preferably formed as part of the body panel, for example by piercing.

Preferably locking means are provided to prevent the engaging means from becoming disengaged by rotation of the mounting means.

The present invention further provides a vehicle mirror assembly including mounting means and a mirror, characterized in that the mounting means has engaging means thereon which are arranged to engage with engaging means on

the supporting means on rotation of the mounting means relative to the supporting means to secure the mounting means to the body.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is section through a mirror assembly and part of a body panel of a vehicle according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows part of one of the body panels of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section through part of a mirror assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a section on line V-V of Figure 4.

A mirror assembly 10 comprises a head 12 which is attached to a mounting member 14 by a stem 16. The mounting member is tubular having an outer end 18 which is sealed and attached to the stem 16, and an inner end 20 which is open. A radially extending flange 22 is provided at the outer end 18. Engaging means 24 are provided on the inner end 20 of the mounting member 14 in the form of four legs 26. Each leg 26 has an axial part 28 extending axially from the inner end 20 of the mounting member 14,

and a radial part 30 extending radially outwardly therefrom thus defining a radially outward facing groove 32.

A door 34 forming part of a vehicle body has an inner panel 36 and an outer panel 38 which are spaced apart. The outer panel 38 has a circular aperture 40 through it, and the inner panel 36 has an aperture 42 through it as shown in Figure 2. This aperture is essentially circular but with four part annular projections 44 extending radially inwards from its edge 46 leaving part-annular gaps 45 between them. The aperture 40 in the outer panel has a greater diameter than that in the inner panel and a tubular support member 48, of circular cross section, extends between the two panels having one end 50 welded to the outer panel around the edge of the aperture 40, and the other end 52 welded to the inner panel 36 around the aperture 42 but radially outwards of its edge 46. This gives support to the door structure and prevents the ingress of dirt or moisture into the gap between the inner and outer panels 36, 38.

A first annular seal 54 is fitted round the mounting member 14 against the flange 22. A second annular seal 56 is attached to the inner end 20 of the mounting member 14.

To attach the mirror to the door 34 the mounting member

14 is inserted from the outside until the radial parts 30 on the legs 26 have passed through the aperture 42 in the inner panel 36, the flange 22 presses the first seal 54

against the outer panel 38, and, together with the seal, provides axial location for the mirror assembly relative to the door 34. The second seal 56 is pressed against the inner panel 36, and also helps to provide axial location. The mirror assembly 10 is then rotated so that the radial parts 30 of the legs 26 engage behind the projections 44 on the inner panel to retain the mirror in position.

As shown in Figure 3, each of the radial parts 30 of the legs 26 is formed with a ramp 56 on its leading end 58 to guide the leg 26 behind the projection 44 so that the projection fits into the groove 32, and a stop 60 at its trailing end 62 to stop rotation of the mirror when it is fully engaged. Locking means in the form of a claw 64 is also provided on each of the radial parts 30 to hold the projection 44 against the stop 60 and prevent the mirror from being rotated out of its fully engaged position. During rotation of the mirror assembly each of the projections 44 rides up the ramp 56 and over the claw 64. It then snaps into the gap between the claw 64 and the stop 60, which then prevent rotation in either direction.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a second embodiment of the invention comprises a mirror mounting member 114, and a mirror head (not shown) , the mounting member being mounted on a moulded plastics supporting member (not shown) which is in turn mounted on the vehicle. The supporting member has a pair of small panels corresponding to the inner and outer vehicle body panels 36 38 in the first embodiment of

the invention. The mounting member 114 has a tubular section 114a with an outer end 118 having a locating flange 122, and an inner end 120 having two engaging mechanisms 124 thereon for engaging with two engaging projections on the supporting member corresponding to those 44 in the first embodiment of the invention. Each engaging mechanism includes a ramp 156, and a catch 164 supported on a flexible arm 165-. On rotation of the mounting member relative to the supporting member, the engaging projection rides up the ramp 156, and over the catch 164 pushing it inwards. When the engaging projection has passed right over the catch 164 the catch springs outwards thereby preventing the rotation from being reversed and locking the mounting member in position. Further rotation of the mounting member is prevented by a stop mechanism (not shown) acting between the mounting member and the support member.