Lateral-view mirror assembly for a vehicle

• US 20020186481A1
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lowell Martinson
• Original Assignee: Lowell Martinson
• Inventors: Martinson, Lowell
• Application Number:
  US09/875,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20020186481A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/855
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10

Abstract

A lateral-view mirror assembly for a vehicle capable of providing a driver of a vehicle with the ability to view objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of the vehicle by looking at a reflection of the objects reflected from the lateral-view mirror to the driver. One embodiment requires the use of a rear-view mirror, while another requires the use of a side-view mirror. The lateral-view mirror can be coupled to the vehicle during the manufacturing stage or after manufacture with an adhesive.

Claims

1. A lateral-view mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising, in combination:

a vehicle; and

at least one lateral-view mirror coupled to one of a rear portion and a rear window of said vehicle in line of sight with at least one of a side mirror of said vehicle and a rear-view mirror of said vehicle and dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at one of said side mirror and said rear-view mirror and seeing a reflection of said objects through said lateral-view mirror.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one lateral-view mirror is coupled to said driver'"'"'s side rear side portion of said vehicle.

3. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising a second lateral-view mirror coupled to a passenger side of said vehicle proximate said rear portion of said vehicle in line of sight with a side mirror of said vehicle on said passenger side.

4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a substantially flat mirror adapted to be coupled to a surface of said side mirror on said passenger side of said vehicle.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one lateral-view mirror is adapted to be coupled to a center portion of a top surface of a rear portion of said vehicle, said lateral-view mirror is positioned in a line of sight with said rear-view mirror, said lateral-view mirror is dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to one of a driver'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle and lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle by looking in a rear-view mirror within said vehicle at a reflection of said objects reflected from said lateral-view mirror.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said lateral-view mirror is dimensioned to allow a driver to selectively view objects positioned lateral to either of a driver'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle and lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle by looking in a rear-view mirror within said vehicle at a reflection of said objects reflected from said lateral-view mirror.

7. The assembly of claim 5 further comprising a base coupled at a first end to said vehicle and at a second end to said lateral-view mirror and dimensioned to permit vertical movement of said lateral-view mirror.

8. The assembly of claim 4 further comprising a base coupled at a first end to said vehicle and at a second end to said lateral-view mirror and dimensioned to permit rotational movement of said lateral-view mirror about a horizontal axis.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said base is further dimensioned to permit rotational movement of said lateral-view mirror about a horizontal axis.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one lateral-view mirror comprises a first lateral-view mirror coupled to a top surface of a rear portion of said vehicle between a center portion of said top surface and a driver'"'"'s side of said top surface, said first lateral-view mirror is positioned in a line of sight with said rear-view mirror, said first lateral-view mirror is dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to said driver'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said first lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to said driver;

and

a second lateral-view mirror distant from said first lateral-view mirror and coupled to a top surface of a rear portion of said vehicle between a center portion of said top surface and a passenger'"'"'s side of said top surface, said second lateral-view mirror is positioned in a line of sight with said rear-view mirror, said second lateral-view mirror is dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said second lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to said driver.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one lateral-view mirror comprises a first lateral-view mirror coupled to a rear window of said vehicle between a center portion of said rear window and a driver'"'"'s side of said rear window, said first lateral-view mirror is positioned in a line of sight with said rear-view mirror, said first lateral-view mirror is dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to said driver'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said first lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to said driver;

and

a second lateral-view mirror distant from said first lateral-view mirror and coupled to said rear window of said vehicle between said center portion of said rear window and a passenger'"'"'s side of said rear window, said second lateral-view mirror is positioned in a line of sight with said rear-view mirror, said second lateral-view mirror is dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said second lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to said driver.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said at least one lateral-view mirror is coupled to said driver'"'"'s side rear side portion of said vehicle.

14. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a second lateral-view mirror coupled to a passenger side of said vehicle proximate said rear portion of said vehicle in line of sight with a side mirror of said vehicle on said passenger side.

15. The assembly of claim 14 further comprising a substantially flat mirror adapted to be coupled to a surface of said side mirror on said passenger side of said vehicle.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said lateral-view mirror is dimensioned to allow a driver to selectively view objects positioned lateral to either of a driver'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle and lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle by looking in a rear-view mirror within said vehicle at a reflection of said objects reflected from said lateral-view mirror.

18. The assembly of claim 16 further comprising a base coupled at a first end to said vehicle and at a second end to said lateral-view mirror and dimensioned to permit vertical movement of said lateral-view mirror.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein said base is further dimensioned to permit rotational movement of said lateral-view mirror about a horizontal axis.

12. A lateral-view mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising, in combination:

a vehicle; and

at least one lateral-view mirror coupled to a side rear portion of said vehicle in line of sight with a side mirror of said vehicle and dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at said side mirror and seeing a reflection of said objects through said lateral-view mirror.

16. A lateral-view mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising, in combination:

a vehicle; and

at least one lateral-view mirror coupled to a top rear portion of said vehicle in line of sight with a rear-view mirror of said vehicle and dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at said rear-view mirror and seeing a reflection of said objects through said lateral-view mirror.

20. A lateral-view assembly for a vehicle comprising, in combination:

a vehicle; and

means for capturing an image of an area rearward of and lateral to said vehicle and displaying said image to a driver of said vehicle.