WIDE ANGLE MIRROR

• US 3,797,920 A
• Filed: 06/19/1972
• Issued: 03/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Theodore L. Beach Jr
• Original Assignee: Theodore L. Beach Jr
• Inventors: Beach, Theodore L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US05/263,925
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 350/303,304,299,288,307
• US Class Current: 359/866
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors

Abstract

Main and auxiliary mirrors are angularly disposed at an obtuse angle for viewing a trailing portion of an elongate or articulated vehicle during turning or parking operations thereof as well as traffic conditions at the rear of the vehicle during forward movement thereof.

Claims

1. A wide angle mirror assembly adapted to be mounted exteriorly of an elongate or articulated vehicle for viewing a trailing portion of said vehicle as well as traffic conditions to the rear and sides of said vehicle comprising a tube-like polyhedron consisting of a body of flexible sheet material having integrally formed Ushaped channels facing each other and coextensive with the side edges of said body, an elongate member spaced apart from said body and disposed between said channels and having notches coextensive with opposite sides of said member, first planar mirror means mounted in one of said channels and in one of said notches, second planar mirror means angularly disposed relative to the plane of said first mirror means and mounted in the other of said channels and in the other of said notches. end members closing the ends of said polyhedron and receiving each end portion of said body, said elongate member and both mirror means, and means interconnecting said end members.

2. A mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein an obtuse angle is defined between the respective planes of said first and second mirror means.

3. A mirror assembly according to claim 2 wherein said angle is of the order of about 160* to about 170*.

4. A mirror assembly according to claim 2 wherein said angle is about 165*.

5. A mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means includes a member bearing against the inner wall of said body.

6. A mirror assembly according to claim 5 wherein said bearing member additionally bears against one of said end members.

7. A mirror assembly according to claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means is a shaft having a pair of divergent arms affixed thereto adjacent each end piece, and a foot portion formed integrally with each arm and bearing against the inner wall of said body.