Flip-up convex mirror attachment

• US 20070047115A1
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alison Roose
• Original Assignee: Alison Roose
• Inventors: Roose, Alison
• Granted Patent: US 7,316,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/868
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence

Abstract

A flip-up convex mirror attachment for installation onto the original equipment mirror in vehicles with either a left-side or right-side driver. The flip-up convex mirror attachment attaches to the mirror surface of the original equipment interior mirror found in most motor vehicles. The flip-up convex mirror attachment contains an angled hinge block for creating a predefined offset angle between the flip-up convex mirror and the OEM mirror such that the reflected image on the side of the mirror nearest the driver is maintained at generally the same point behind the vehicle as the original equipment mirror. The wedge-based hinge assembly may be attached to the flat mirror surface on either a left-side or right-side driver vehicle and still maintain the desired angular offset between the OEM and flip-up convex mirrors.

Claims

1. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle comprising,

a convex mirror,

a wedge block for attachment to the motor vehicle'"'"'s interior original equipment mirror surface,

a hinge connecting the wedge block to the convex mirror for rotation of the convex mirror about the upper horizontal edge of the OEM mirror thereby allowing the motor vehicle operator to select between the reflected image of the OEM mirror or the convex mirror.

2. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein,

the wedge block defines an angle between the relative surface planes defined by the OEM and convex mirror surfaces such that the OEM and convex mirrors reflect the same image in the edge of the mirror closest to the driver when either the OEM mirror or the convex mirror is in use.

3. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 2 wherein,

the hinge rotates between predefined rotational stops allowing the motor vehicle operator to easily'"'"'and consistently move the convex mirror between the UP position for viewing a reflected image using the OEM mirror or the DOWN position for viewing a wider angle reflected image using the convex mirror.

4. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 3 wherein,

the wedge block is attached to the OEM mirror surface in differing orientations for use in motor vehicles with steering on the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle while maintaining the position of the convex mirror in the predefined angle for reflecting the same image to the driver on the side of the mirror nearest the driver in both the OEM and convex mirror.

5. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 4 comprising,

a hinge pin clip attached to the upper edge of the convex mirror,

a hinge pin with a first end for attachment to the wedge block and an opposing offset second end for engagement into the hinge pin clip attached to the back of the convex mirror,

wherein the hinge pin ends define an offset parallel to the predetermined angle of rotation for the convex mirror and the upper surface of the OEM mirror frame,

wherein the hinge pin is attached into the wedge block in either the left-hand or right-hand wedge block mounting orientation creating an offset to the predefined convex mirror rotation angle for either a left-hand or right-hand driven vehicle,

6. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 3 wherein,

the predefined angle of the wedge block provides a means for the motor vehicle driver to adjust the OEM and convex mirror assembly to a desired position while viewing the reflected image from either mirror while knowing that the reflected image from the other mirror will maintain the same reflected image on the side of the mirror nearest the driver.

7. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on the motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle comprising,

a convex mirror,

a wedge block with an upper and a lower hinge socket on the front surface of the wedge block and an opposing back surface for attachment to the motor vehicle'"'"'s interior original equipment mirror surface,

a hinge pin attached to the back of the convex mirror and inserted into either the upper or lower hinge socket of the wedge block thereby creating a complete hinge for rotating the convex mirror about the upper horizontal edge of the OEM mirror thereby allowing the motor vehicle operator to select between the reflected image of the OEM mirror or the convex mirror.

8. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defmed in claim 7 wherein,

the upper and lower hinge sockets of the wedge block define an angle between the relative surface planes defined by the OEM and convex mirror surfaces such that the OEM and convex mirrors reflect the same image in the edge of the mirror closest to the driver when either the OEM mirror or the convex mirror is in use.

9. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defmed in claim 8 wherein,

the hinge rotates between predefined rotational stops allowing the motor vehicle operator to easily and consistently move the convex mirror between the UP position for viewing a reflected image using the OEM mirror or the DOWN position for viewing a wider angle reflected image using the convex mirror.

10. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 9 wherein,

the wedge block is attached to the OEM mirror surface in differing orientations for use in motor vehicles with steering on the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle while maintaining the position of the convex mirror in the predefined angle for reflecting the same image to the driver on the side of the mirror nearest the driver in both the OEM and convex mirror.

11. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on the motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle comprising,

a convex mirror,

a convex rail attached to the rear horizontal surface of the convex mirror,

a wedge block with an upper and a lower hinge socket on the front surface of the wedge block and an opposing back surface for attachment to the motor vehicle'"'"'s interior original equipment mirror surface,

a sliding hinge pin block with a first end comprising a hinge pin for engagement to either the upper or lower hinge socket of the wedge block and an opposing end comprising a means for slideably attaching to the convex rail thereby allowing the sliding hinge pin block to be positioned along the convex rail at varying positions,

whereby a hinge is created by the engagement of the first end of the sliding hinge pin block and either the upper or lower hinge socket of the wedge block allowing for the rotation of the convex mirror about the upper horizontal edge of the OEM mirror thereby allowing the motor vehicle operator to select between the reflected image of the OEM mirror or the convex mirror.

12. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 11 wherein,

the upper and lower hinge sockets of the wedge block define an angle between the relative surface planes defined by the OEM and convex mirror surfaces such that the OEM and convex mirrors reflect the same image in the edge of the mirror closest to the driver when either the OEM mirror or the convex mirror is in use.

13. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 12 wherein,

the hinge rotates between predefined rotational stops allowing the motor vehicle operator to easily and consistently move the convex mirror between the UP position for viewing a reflected image using the OEM mirror or the DOWN position for viewing a wider angle reflected image using the convex mirror.

14. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 13 wherein,

the wedge block is attached to the OEM mirror surface in differing orientations for use in motor vehicles with steering on the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle while maintaining the position of the convex mirror in the predefined angle for reflecting the same image to the driver on the side of the mirror nearest the driver in both the OEM and convex mirror.