Lateral-view mirror assembly for a vehicle

• US 20050185308A1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lowell Martinson
• Original Assignee: Lowell Martinson
• Inventors: Martinson, Lowell
• Application Number:
  US11/081,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20050185308A1
• 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 having at least one indicator light integrated with a vehicle indicator light system and 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 while at the same time indicating to others a braking and/or turning signal.

Claims

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

at least one housing dimensioned to be coupled to at least one of a driver'"'"'s side of a rear portion of a vehicle and a passenger'"'"'s side of said rear portion of a said vehicle;

at least one lateral-view mirror, each said at least one lateral-view mirror coupled to said at least one housing, said lateral-view mirror dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to one of said driver'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle and said passenger'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said lateral-view mirror to a vehicle side-view mirror to said driver; and

at least one indicator light coupled to an exterior surface of said at least one housing, said at least one indicator light integrated with a vehicle indicator light system in order to allow said indicator light to indicate at least one of a braking signal and a turning signal.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said lateral-view mirror is coupled to said driver'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle during a manufacturing stage of said vehicle.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one side-view mirror coupled to a front side portion of a vehicle and dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned behind and to a side of said vehicle, said at least one lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with said at least one side-view mirror so that a driver being capable of viewing objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said at least one lateral-view mirror to said at least one side-view mirror to said driver.

4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising:

a first housing dimensioned to be coupled to said passenger'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle;

a first lateral-view mirror coupled to said first housing, said first lateral-view mirror is positioned in a line of sight with a passenger'"'"'s side side-view mirror, said first lateral-view mirror being dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to said passenger'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said first lateral-view mirror to said passenger'"'"'s side side-view mirror to said driver;

a second housing dimensioned to be coupled to said driver'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle; and

a second lateral-view mirror coupled to said second housing, said second lateral-view mirror is positioned in a line of sight with a driver'"'"'s side side-view mirror, said second lateral-view mirror being dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to said driver'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said second lateral-view mirror to said driver'"'"'s side side-view mirror to said driver.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a first indicator light being coupled to a top surface of said housing and a second indicator light being coupled to a rear surface of said housing facing towards said rear portion of said vehicle.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing having a substantially triangular shape.

7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a remote controlled system coupled to said vehicle and having:

a remote control coupled to an interior portion of said vehicle proximate said driver'"'"'s side of said vehicle; and

at least one actuation device coupled to said at least one housing and dimensioned to adjust said at least one lateral-view mirror relative to a rear portion of said vehicle when said remote control transmits an actuation signal to said at least one actuation device.

8. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one antenna coupled to an interior surface of said at least one housing, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to receive at least one data signal, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to transmit said at least one data signal to an electronic device coupled to said vehicle.

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

a housing coupled to a substantially center portion of a top surface of a rear portion of a vehicle;

a first lateral-view mirror coupled to said housing, said first lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with a rear-view mirror of a vehicle, said first lateral-view mirror being dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of a rear portion of a vehicle by looking at a reflection of objects reflected from said first lateral-view mirror to a rear-view mirror to a driver;

a second lateral-view mirror coupled to said housing, said second lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with a rear-view mirror of a vehicle, said second lateral-view mirror being dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a driver'"'"'s side of a rear portion of a vehicle by looking at a reflection of objects reflected from said second lateral-view mirror to a rear-view mirror to a driver;

at least one indicator light coupled to an exterior surface of said housing, said at least one indicator light integrated with a vehicle indicator light system in order to allow said indicator light to indicate at least one of a braking signal and a turning signal.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said first lateral-view mirror and said second lateral-view mirror being flexibly coupled to said housing so that said first lateral-view mirror and said second lateral-view mirror being adjustable relative to said housing.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said lateral-view mirror assembly being coupled to said rear center portion of said vehicle during a manufacturing stage of said vehicle.

12. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a remote controlled system coupled to said vehicle and having:

a remote control coupled to an interior portion of said vehicle proximate a driver'"'"'s side of said vehicle; and

at least one actuation device coupled to said housing and dimensioned to adjust at least one of said first lateral-view mirror and said second lateral-view mirror relative to said top surface of said vehicle when said remote control transmits an actuation signal to said at least one actuation device.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said remote control comprises at least one pre-set position activator dimensioned to transmit a signal to said at least one actuation device to adjust said at least one of said first lateral-view mirror and said second lateral-view mirror to at least one pre-set position.

14. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising at least one antenna coupled to an interior surface of said housing, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to receive at least one signal from at least one of satellite radio, GPS navigation, AM radio and FM radio, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to transmit said at least one signal to an electronic device proximate a driver of said vehicle.

15. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a rear-view mirror coupled to a front interior portion of a vehicle and positioned in a line of sight with said at least one lateral-view mirror so that a driver being able to view objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said at least one lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to said driver.

16. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said housing being coupled to a substantially center portion of a spoiler coupled to a top surface of a rear portion of a vehicle.

17. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said first lateral-view mirror being dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned in a blind spot by looking at a reflection of objects in said blind spot reflected from said first lateral-view mirror to a rear-view mirror to a driver.

18. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said at least one indicator light being coupled to a rear portion of said housing facing towards a rear end of said vehicle.

19. The assembly of claim 9 wherein a first indicator light being coupled to a rear portion of said housing facing towards a rear end of said vehicle and a second indicator light being coupled to a rear portion of said housing facing towards a rear end of said vehicle.

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

a first housing dimensioned to be coupled to a top surface of a rear portion of a vehicle;

a first lateral-view mirror coupled to said first housing, said first lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with a rear-view mirror of a vehicle, said first lateral-view mirror being dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of a rear portion of a vehicle by looking at a reflection of objects reflected from said first lateral-view mirror to a rear-view mirror to a driver;

at least one indicator light coupled to an exterior surface of said first housing, said at least one indicator light integrated with a vehicle indicator light system in order to allow said indicator light to indicate at least one of a braking signal and a turning signal;

a second housing dimensioned to be coupled to a top surface of a rear portion of a vehicle;

a second lateral-view mirror coupled to said second housing, said second lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with a rear-view mirror of a vehicle, said second lateral-view mirror being dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a driver'"'"'s side of a rear portion of a vehicle by looking at a reflection of objects reflected from said first lateral-view mirror to a rear-view mirror to a driver; and

at least one indicator light coupled to an exterior surface of said second housing, said at least one indicator light integrated with a vehicle indicator light system in order to allow said indicator light to indicate at least one of a braking signal and a turning signal.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said first housing and said second housing are coupled to said top surface of said rear portion of said vehicle during a manufacturing stage of said vehicle.

22. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said first lateral-view mirror being flexibly coupled to said first housing and said second lateral-view mirror being flexibly coupled to said second housing so that said first lateral-view mirror being adjustable relative to said first housing and said second lateral-view mirror being adjustable relative to said second housing.

23. The assembly of claim 20 further comprising a remote controlled system coupled to said vehicle and having:

a remote control coupled to an interior portion of said vehicle proximate a driver'"'"'s side of said vehicle; and

at least one actuation device coupled to said first housing and dimensioned to adjust said first lateral-view mirror relative to said top surface of said vehicle when said remote control transmits an actuation signal to said at least one actuation device of said first housing; and

at least one actuation device coupled to said second housing and dimensioned to adjust said second lateral-view mirror relative to said top surface of said vehicle when said remote control transmits an actuation signal to said at least one actuation device of said second housing.

24. The assembly of claim 23 wherein said remote control comprises at least one pre-set position activator dimensioned to transmit a signal to said at least one actuation device of said first housing to adjust said first lateral-view mirror to at least one pre-set position and said at least one pre-set position activator dimensioned to transmit a signal to said at least one actuation device of said second housing to adjust said second lateral-view mirror to at least one pre-set position.

25. The assembly of claim 20 further comprising at least one antenna coupled to an interior surface of at least one said first housing and said second housing, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to receive at least one data signal, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to transmit said at least one data signal to an electronic device coupled to said vehicle.

26. The assembly of claim 20 further comprising a rear-view mirror coupled to a front interior portion of a vehicle, wherein at least one of said first lateral-view mirror and said second lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with said rear-view mirror to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of a vehicle by looking at a reflection of objects reflected from at least one of said first lateral-view mirror and said second lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to a driver.

27. The assembly of claim 20 wherein a first indicator light being coupled to a rear portion of said first housing facing towards a rear end of said vehicle and wherein a second indicator light being coupled to a rear portion of said first housing facing towards a rear end of said vehicle and wherein a third indicator light being coupled to a rear portion of said second housing facing towards a rear end of said vehicle and wherein a fourth indicator light being coupled to a rear portion of said second housing facing towards a rear end of said vehicle.

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

a spoiler having a top surface and a bottom surface and coupled to a top area of a rear portion of a vehicle;

a first housing dimensioned to be attached to said spoiler proximate a passenger'"'"'s side portion of said vehicle;

a first lateral-view mirror coupled to said first housing, said first lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with a rear view mirror of said vehicle, said first lateral-view mirror being 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 first lateral view mirror to said rear-view mirror to said driver;

at least one indicator light coupled to an exterior surface of said first housing, said at least one indicator light integrated with a vehicle indicator light system in order to allow said indicator light to indicate at least one of a braking signal and a turning signal;

a second housing dimensioned to be attached to said spoiler proximate a driver'"'"'s side portion of said vehicle;

a second lateral-view mirror coupled to said second housing, said second lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with a rear-view mirror, said second lateral-view mirror being dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a driver'"'"'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; and

at least one indicator light coupled to an exterior surface of said second housing and facing towards a rear portion of said vehicle, said at least one indicator light integrated with a vehicle indicator light system in order to allow said indicator light to indicate at least one of a braking signal and a turning signal.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said first housing coupled to said top surface of said spoiler proximate a passenger'"'"'s side portion of said vehicle and said second housing coupled to said top surface of said spoiler proximate a driver'"'"'s side portion of said vehicle.

30. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said first housing coupled to said bottom surface of said spoiler proximate a passenger'"'"'s side portion of said vehicle and said second housing coupled to said bottom surface of said spoiler proximate a driver'"'"'s side portion of said vehicle.

31. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said first housing being integrated into a first vertical support of said spoiler and wherein said second housing being integrated into a second vertical support of said spoiler.

32. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said first housing and said second housing are coupled to said top surface of said rear portion of said vehicle during a manufacturing stage of said vehicle.

33. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said first lateral-view mirror being flexibly coupled to said first housing and said second lateral-view mirror being flexibly coupled to said second housing so that said first lateral-view mirror being adjustable relative to said first housing and said second lateral-view mirror being adjustable relative to said second housing.

34. The assembly of claim 28 further comprising a remote controlled system coupled to said vehicle and having:

a remote control coupled to an interior portion of said vehicle proximate a driver'"'"'s side of said vehicle; and

at least one actuation device coupled to said first housing and dimensioned to adjust said first lateral-view mirror relative to said top surface of said vehicle when said remote control transmits an actuation signal to said at least one actuation device of said first housing; and

at least one actuation device coupled to said second housing and dimensioned to adjust said second lateral-view mirror relative to said top surface of said vehicle when said remote control transmits an actuation signal to said at least one actuation device of said second housing.

35. The assembly of claim 34 wherein said remote control comprises at least one pre-set position activator dimensioned to transmit a signal to said at least one actuation device of said first housing to adjust said first lateral-view mirror to at least one pre-set position and said at least one pre-set position activator dimensioned to transmit a signal to said at least one actuation device of said second housing to adjust said second lateral-view mirror to at least one pre-set position.

36. The assembly of claim 28 further comprising at least one antenna coupled to an interior surface of at least one said first housing and said second housing, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to receive at least one data signal, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to transmit said at least one data signal to an electronic device coupled to said vehicle.

37. The assembly of claim 28 further comprising a rear-view mirror coupled to a front interior portion of a vehicle, wherein at least one of said first lateral-view mirror and said second lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with said rear-view mirror to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of a vehicle by looking at a reflection of objects reflected from at least one of said first lateral-view mirror and said second lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to a driver.

38. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said at least one indicator light being coupled to a rear portion of said first housing facing towards a rear end of said vehicle and wherein said at least one indicator light being coupled to a rear portion of said second housing facing towards a rear end of said vehicle.

39. A method for indicating driver behavior comprising, in combination, the steps of:

providing at least one housing coupled to a rear portion of a vehicle;

providing at least one lateral-view mirror coupled to said at least one housing, said at least one lateral-view mirror dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said at least one lateral-view mirror to one of a rear-view mirror and a side-view mirror to a driver;

providing at least one indicator light coupled to an exterior surface of said at least one housing and facing towards a rear portion of said vehicle, said at least one indicator light integrated with a vehicle indicator light system in order to allow said indicator light to indicate at least one of a braking signal and a turning signal; and

a driver indicating at least one of a braking signal and a turning signal on said at least one indicator light by at least one of applying brakes and activating a turn signal.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising the step of providing at least one antenna coupled to an interior surface of said at least one housing, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to receive at least one data signal, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to transmit said at least one data signal to an electronic device coupled to said vehicle.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said data signal being at least one of an Internet signal, a GPS signal, a radio signal, a satellite signal, and a Doppler radar signal.

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

at least one housing dimensioned to be coupled to at least one of a driver'"'"'s side rear side portion of a vehicle and a passenger'"'"'s side rear side portion of a vehicle;

at least one lateral-view mirror, each said at least one lateral-view mirror coupled to said at least one housing, said mirror dimensioned to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to one of said driver'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle and said passenger'"'"'s side of a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said objects reflected from said lateral-view mirror to a vehicle side-view mirror to said driver; and

at least one antenna coupled to an interior surface of said at least one housing, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to receive at least one data signal, said at least one antenna being dimensioned to transmit said at least one data signal to an electronic device coupled to said vehicle.

43. A method for viewing other vehicles while driving comprising the steps of:

providing a lateral-view mirror assembly comprising, in combination;

at least one housing coupled to a rear portion of a vehicle; and

at least one lateral-view mirror coupled to said at least one housing, said at least one lateral-view mirror dimensioned to allow a driver to view at least one other vehicle positioned lateral to a rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said at least one other vehicle reflected from said at least one lateral-view mirror to one of a rear-view mirror and a side-view mirror to a driver;

looking at said reflection of said at least one other vehicle reflected from said at least one lateral-view mirror to said one of a rear-view mirror and a side-view mirror.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said lateral-view mirror assembly comprising, in combination:

a housing coupled to a center portion of a top surface of a rear portion of a vehicle;

a first lateral-view mirror coupled to said housing, said first lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with said rear-view mirror of a vehicle, said first lateral-view mirror being dimensioned to allow said driver to view said at least one other vehicle positioned lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle by looking at said reflection of said at least one other vehicle reflected from said first lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to said driver;

a second lateral-view mirror coupled to said housing, said second lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with said rear-view mirror of a vehicle, said second lateral-view mirror being dimensioned to allow said driver to view said at least one other vehicle positioned lateral to a driver'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle by looking at said reflection of said at least one other vehicle reflected from said second lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to said driver;

at least one indicator light coupled to an exterior surface of said housing, said at least one indicator light integrated with a vehicle indicator light system in order to allow said indicator light to indicate at least one of a braking signal and a turning signal.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein said lateral-view mirror assembly comprising, in combination:

a first housing coupled to a driver'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle;

a first lateral-view mirror coupled to said first housing and dimensioned to allow said driver to view said at least one other vehicle positioned lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said at least one other vehicle reflected from said first lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to said driver;

a second housing coupled to said passenger'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle; and

a second lateral-view mirror coupled to said second housing and dimensioned to allow said driver to view said at least one other vehicle positioned lateral to said driver'"'"'s side of said rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of said at least one other vehicle reflected from said second lateral-view mirror to said rear-view mirror to said driver.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein said vehicle being one of a sport utility vehicle, a van, and a minivan.