ASYMMETRIC MULTIPLE CONSTANT RADII OF CURVATURE CONVEX MIRRORS

• US 20090015954A1
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Inventors: ENGLANDER, Benjamin, SERER, Julian
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/868
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces

Abstract

An asymmetrical mirror lens, usable on front fenders of school buses and similar vehicles, which has a plurality of mirror sections, each having a distinct constant radius of curvature to reduce image distortion. Optional sections located between sections of the constant radius of curvature have a step-wise changing radii of curvature to smooth the image sizes as an object moves across the mirror lens.

Claims

1. An asymmetric convex mirror lens, comprising:

a convex mirror lens having a peripheral edge which defines a width-wise extending axis and an height-wise extending axis and a plurality of sections of constant radius of curvature arranged width-wise along the mirror lens, including a first section having a first constant radius of curvature, located to one side relative to the height-wise axis of the mirror lens and a second section having a second constant radius of curvature which is different from the first constant radius of curvature, located to the left of the height-wise extending axis of the mirror lens,

wherein the mirror lens comprises a plurality of height-wise extending sections, each having a respective constant radius of curvature measured along the height-wise extending axis.

2. An asymmetric convex mirror lens, comprising:

a convex mirror lens having a peripheral edge which defines a width-wise extending axis and an height-wise extending axis and a plurality of sections of constant radius of curvature arranged width-wise along the mirror lens, including a first section having a first constant radius of curvature, located to one side relative to the height-wise axis of the mirror lens and a second section having a second constant radius of curvature which is different from the first constant radius of curvature, located to the left of the height-wise extending axis of the mirror lens,

wherein the mirror lens defines a base lying in a flat plane, and a peripheral edge of the base which is neither circular, nor oval, nor elliptical in shape.

3. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 2, wherein the peripheral edge is comprised of curved sections, including a plurality thereof that have constant radii of curvature.

4. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 3, wherein the base has a shape that is more squat at the bottom of the mirror lens and more pointed at the top, where the peak of the lens is defined.

5. An asymmetric convex mirror lens, comprising:

a convex mirror lens having a peripheral edge which defines a width-wise extending axis and an height-wise extending axis and a plurality of sections of constant radius of curvature arranged width-wise along the mirror lens, including a first section having a first constant radius of curvature, located to one side relative to the height-wise axis of the mirror lens and a second section having a second constant radius of curvature which is different from the first constant radius of curvature, located to the left of the height-wise extending axis of the mirror lens,

including marking identifying a lens peak and a lens apex, for facilitating aligning the mirror lens.

6. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 5, in which the marking of at least the apex is provided by tinting of the mirror lens surface at the apex thereof.

7. An asymmetric convex mirror lens, comprising:

a convex mirror lens having a peripheral edge which defines a width-wise extending axis and an height-wise extending axis and a plurality of sections of constant radius of curvature arranged width-wise along the mirror lens, including a first section having a first constant radius of curvature, located to one side relative to the height-wise axis of the mirror lens and a second section having a second constant radius of curvature which is different from the first constant radius of curvature, located to the left of the height-wise extending axis of the mirror lens,

including tinting applied at the center of the mirror along the heightwise axis from a peak thereof over a distance greater than half the distance to the bottom.