Periscope-type view mirror apparatus for automobile

• US 3,950,081 A
• Filed: 02/25/1974
• Issued: 04/13/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Akira, Yamashita, Makoto, Enomoto, Masao, Kushida, Masagoro, Niitsuma, Fumio
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/445,333
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 350/301, 350/302, 350/307, 350/299
• US Class Current: 359/861
• 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 periscope-type rear view mirror apparatus for automobiles is disclosed. The apparatus includes a roof-top planar objective mirror positioned above an aperture formed in the roof of the driver'"'"'s chamber of an automobile for reflecting forwardly and downwardly the light rays coming from the rear of the automobile into the driver'"'"'s chamber, a first planar reflecting mirror positioned in the driver'"'"'s chamber for reflecting forwardly and upwardly the light rays reflected by the objective mirror, and a second planar reflecting mirror positioned close to the first reflecting mirror for reflecting the light rays reflected by the first reflecting mirror to the eyes of the driver. The first reflecting mirror is supported by a pivotably hinged holder to allow the vertical angular adjustment of the holder, whereby the first reflecting mirror can be used as an ordinary rear view mirror of the type normally installed in the driver'"'"'s chamber.

Claims

1. A periscope-type rear view mirror apparatus for an automobile, said automobile having a roof, said roof having an aperture therein, said apparatus comprising:

a frame supporting a glass pane, said frame positioned to cover said aperture with said glass pane, said frame having first and second pairs of parallel, flat lugs integral therewith and respectively extending upwardly and downwardly from the forward portions of the opposed lateral edges thereof;

a housing hingedly connected to said pair of upwardly extending lugs of said frame and adapted to be movable from a first position against said roof to a second position away therefrom;

a roof-type planar objective mirror positioned above said aperture and supported by said housing for reflecting light rays received from the rear of the automobile forwardly and downwardly through said glass pane into the interior of the automobile when said housing is in said second position, said objective mirror being against said roof when said housing is in said first position;

first and second mirror holding members;

said second mirror holding member having upwardly extending side portions constituting two parallel, flat lugs and having downwardly extending side portions constituting two parallel, flat lugs;

said first mirror holding member having forwardly extending side portions constituting two parallel, flat lugs;

said upwardly extending lugs of said second mirror holding member being rotatably secured to said pair of downwardly extending lugs of said frame to provide means for allowing free rotation of said second mirror holding member with respect to said frame;

said forwardly extending lugs of said first mirror holding member being rotatably secured to the downwardly extending lugs of said second mirror holding member to provide means for allowing free rotation of said first mirror holding member with respect to said second mirror holding member;

a first planar reflecting mirror positioned on said first mirror holding member for reflecting the light rays reflected from said objective mirror upwardly and forwardly; and

a second planar reflecting mirror positioned on said second holding member and adjacent said first reflecting mirror for reflecting the light rays reflected from said first reflecting mirror to the position of a driver'"'"'s eyes.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first mirror holding member is sufficiently rotatable with respect to said second mirror holding member to be movable to a position wherein said first planar reflecting mirror comprises means for reflecting light rays passing through a rear window of the automobile directly to the position of a driver'"'"'s eyes.