PERIPHERAL REAR VIEW MIRRORS FOR AUTOMOBILES

• US 3,846,016 A
• Filed: 05/01/1973
• Issued: 11/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harold S. Firstenberg
• Original Assignee: Harold S. Firstenberg
• Inventors: Firstenberg, Harold S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US05/356,156
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 350/302,303,277,283,286-288,301,307,299
• US Class Current: 359/602
• 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

Abstract

A dashboard mirror is mounted extending substantially across the entire width of the deck above and forward of the automobile dashboard. A top mirror is mounted across the width of the roof of the car, being supported by the rain gutter or other means and overhanging the front. Both mirrors are pivotted to brackets so that they may be adjusted to fit the automobile and the height and seat position of the driver. The line of sight from the rear of the vehicle is forward to the top mirror, then downward and slightly forward through the sloping windshield commonly used in automobiles, then to the dashboard mirror and then to the eye of the driver. Convex portions on the outer edges of the top mirror provide a view of the sides. The dashboard mirror may be provided with a pivotted sheet of plastic glare-preventing material hinged thereto which, when pivotted forward, covers the mirror and during the daytime may be pivotted out of the way.

Claims

1. A rear-view mirror for vehicles having a ledge extending across the width of the windshield immediately behind the windshield comprising a dashboard mirror having a length approximately the width of said ledge and a relatively short height, mounting means fixed on each end of said dashboard mirror having attachment means for fastening said mounting means to said ledge, each said mounting means having a pivot to permit tilting of said dashboard mirror for adjustment of the line of sight of the driver of the vehicle, a top mirror on the exterior of the vehicle extending substantially across the width of the vehicle, second mounting means fixed to each end of said top mirror to position said mirror forward to the top of the windshield of the vehicle, said second mounting means including pivots to adjust the line of sight of the driver to the dashboard mirror, up through the windshield to the top mirror and thence to the rear and sides of the vehicle, said second mounting means including gripping means engageable with opposed rain gutters on the roof of the vehicle to secure said top mirror to the roof by means of the rain gutters.

2. A rear-view mirror according to claim 1 in which said dashboard mirror is curved to correspond to the curvature of the windshield and is upwardly-forwardly slanted and comprises a sheet of flexible glare-protecting plastic material and hinge means along the bottom edge of said mirror attaching the bottom edge of said sheet to said mirror whereby said sheet may lie flat on said ledge or be swung up against said dashboard mirror to protect the driver'"'"''"'"'s eyes from the glare of headlights reflected in said mirror.

3. A rear-view mirror according to claim 1 which further comprises a convex mirror on at least one end of said top mirror to provide an enhanced angle of view to the side of said vehicle.