Mirror mounting apparatus

• US 4,687,305 A
• Filed: 09/13/1985
• Issued: 08/18/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spy-Mirrors Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spy-Mirrors Incorporated
• Inventors: Pickens, Frank D., Harris, Richard J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Petrakes, John
• Application Number:
  US06/775,572
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 350/618, 350/623, 350/624, 350/631, 350/632, 248/476, 248/274, 248/477, 248/278, 248/495, 248/279, 248/496, 248/297.3
• US Class Current: 359/863
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/008 allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1824 Manual alignment

Abstract

The rear view system of the present invention allows a mirror to be mounted in the back of a bus which is effectively isolated from the vibration of the bus body thereby providing the driver a clear view of the passengers seated in the back of the bus even in buses having high back seats. The rear view system includes a mirror mounted to a backing support member. The backing support member is secured to the back of the bus using mounting brackets. A pair of matched mounting brackets is provided. Each bracket includes a lower strut fixedly mounted to the interior wall of the bus at one end and pivotally mounted to the backing support member adjacent the lower end of the mirror. An upper strut connected to the interior wall of the bus at a first end and connected to the backing support member adjacent the upper end of the mirror at a second end. The second end of the upper strut is adapted to translate with respect to the backing support member thereby allowing the mirror to pivot about the pivotal connection between the lower strut and the backing support member.

Claims

1. A rear viewing system for allowing a driver to view occupants seated near the rear of a bus, the bus having interior walls subject to vibration as the bus moves, comprising:

a mirror having an upper and lower end;

a backing support member;

attachment means with said mirror and said backing support member for securing said mirror to said backing support member;

means for mounting said mirror to an interior wall of the bus further comprising;

a lower strut having a first and a second end, said first end being mounted to the interior wall of the bus and said second end being pivotally mounted to said backing support member, adjacent said lower end of said mirror;

an upper strut having a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally connected to the interior wall of the bus, and said second end being connected to said backing support member adjacent said upper end of said mirror;

said second end of said upper strut being adapted to translate with respect to said backing support member, thereby allowing said mirror to be selectively pivoted about said pivotal connection between said lower strut and said backing support member.

2. The viewing system of claim 1 wherein:

said lower strut further includes a first and a second segment, said first segment having an upper and lower end, said first segment being adapted for mounting to the interior wall of the bus, substantially parallel thereto;

said second segment extending from the lower end of said first segment to a pivotal connection on said backing support member.

3. The viewing system of claim 2 wherein:

said first end of said upper strut is connected adjacent to said upper end of said first segment of said lower strut.

4. The viewing system of claim 3 wherein:

said first and second segments of said lower strut are disposed at substantially a right angle to each other.

5. The viewing system of claim 4 wherein:

said first and second segments of said lower strut are integrally formed.

6. The viewing system of claim 5 wherein:

said upper strut is longer than said second segment of said lower strut thereby allowing said upper end of said mirror to selectively be positioned an equal, greater and lesser distance from the wall of the bus than said lower end of said mirror.

7. The viewing system of claim 3 further comprising:

a backing support member mounting link, said link extending substantially parallel to said backing support member and connection thereto and wherein;

said link is formed having a longitudinal slot at one end;

said second end of said upper strut is disposed for slidable movement along said slot on said mounting link; and

said second segment of said lower strut is pivotally connected to said mounting link at the end of said mounting link opposite from said slot.

8. The viewing system of claim 7 wherein:

said mirror has a convex reflecting surface.

9. The viewing system of claim 8 wherein said attachment means further comprises:

a resilient channel member formed having an elongated groove; and

wherein

said mirror and said backing support member have substantially the same peripheral dimensions and both said mirror and backing support member have an end extending into said groove.

10. The viewing system of claim 9 wherein said resilient channel member is formed from sheet metal.

11. The rear view system of claim 10 wherein:

said resilient channel member is formed having a rubber interior component adapted to receive said mirror and said backing support member and further comprises a sheet metal component overlying and substantially enclosing said rubber interior component.

12. The rear view system of claim 8 wherein:

said mirror and said backing support member have substantially the same peripheral dimensions; and

said attachment means further comprises;

a plurality of clips holding the periphery of said mirror to the periphery of said backing support member.

13. The rear view system of claim 12 wherein said mirror and said backing support member are formed having a pair of opposing arcuate edges and a pair of opposing straight edges.

14. The rear view system of claim 13 wherein:

the distance between said opposing arcuate edges of said mirror is greater than the distance between said straight edges of said mirror.

15. The viewing system of claim 14 further comprising:

two backing support member mounting links mounted substantially parallel to each other on said backing support member; and

two identical sets of upper and lower strut members each connected to one of said mounting links;

said mounting links and strut members thereby securing said mirror to the inner wall of the bus when each of said first segments of said upper struts are attached to the interior wall.

16. The viewing system of claim 15:

a second mirror mounted in the front of the bus, near the driver and adapted to permit the driver to observe said mirror mounted in the rear of the bus without turning his head.

17. The viewing system of claim 16:

said first and second segments of said lower strut are disposed at substantially a right angle to each other.

18. The viewing system of claim 17:

said first and second segments of said lower strut are integrally formed.

19. The viewing system of claim 18 wherein:

said upper strut is longer than said second segment of said lower strut thereby allowing said upper end of said mirror to selectively by positioned an equal, greater and lesser distance from the wall of the bus than said lower end of said mirror.

20. a rear viewing system for allowing a driver to view occupants seated neat the rear of a bus, the bus having interior walls subject to vibration as the bus moves, comprising:

a mirror having an upper and lower end;

a backing support member;

attachment means with said mirror and said backing support member for securing said mirror to said backing support member;

means for mounting said mirror to an interior wall of the bus further comprising;

a lower strut having a first and second end, said first end being mounted to the interior wall of the bus and said second end being pivotally mounted to said backing support member, adjacent said lower end of said mirror;

an upper strut having a first end and a second end, said first end being slidably connected to the interior wall of the bus, and said second end being connected to said backing support member adjacent said upper end of said mirror;

said second end of said upper strut being adapted to pivot with respect to said backing support member, thereby allowing said mirror to be selectively pivoted about said pivotal connection between said lower strut and said backing support member;

said lower strut further includes a first and a second segment, said first segment having an upper and lower end, said first segment being adapted of mounting to the interior wall of the bus, substantially parallel thereto;

said second segment extending from the lower end of said first segment to a pivotal connection on said backing support member; and

said first end of said upper strut is connected adjacent to said upper end of said first segment of said lower strut.

21. The viewing system of claim 20 wherein:

said first segment of said lower strut is formed having a longitudinal slot thereon;

said first end of said upper strut is adapted for slidable movement along said slot;

said second end of said upper strut is pivotally mounted to said backing plate.

22. The viewing system of claim 20 further comprising:

a backing support member mounting link, said link extending substantially parallel to said backing support member and connected thereto and wherein;

said first segment of said lower strut is formed having a slot thereon, said first end of said upper strut is adapted for slidable movement along said slot;

said second end of said upper strut and said second segment of said lower strut both pivotally mounted to said mounting link on opposite ends thereof.