Towing mirror
First Claim
1. An auxiliary external rearview mirror apparatus which is adapted to be mounted to an existing external mirror member of a vehicle, said existing mirror member including a mirror side having an existing mirror, and a back side, said apparatus comprising:
- an auxiliary mirror member;
first and second support arms extending from said auxiliary mirror member for mounting said auxiliary mirror member to an existing extenal mirror member on a vehicle, said first and second support arms being adapted to engage the mirror side of said existing mirror on opposite sides of said existing mirror; and
securing means for securing the auxiliary mirror apparatus to the existing mirror member, said first and second support arms including a first side which faces the mirror side of the existing mirror member when the first and second support arms are mounted to the existing mirror member, and first and second projections extending from the first and second support arms, respectively, the first and second projections each including a depending portion which extends from a second side of its respective support arm in a direction generally towards the other support arm and which includes a surface which is substantially aligned with said first side of its respective support arm to define with the first side of its respective support arm a first seating surface to seat the mirror side of the existing mirror member, and an extending portion which extends outwardly from the depending portion beyond the first side of the support arm to define a second seating surface to seat the mirror side of the existing mirror member, the first and second seating surface of each support arm defining first and second generally L-shaped seats for seating the mirror side of the existing mirror member on opposite sides of the existing mirror.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An auxiliary external rearview mirror apparatus which is adapted to be mounted to existing external vehicle mirrors of substantially any size or shape to provide the driver or other occupant of the vehicle with an enhanced view of the roadway. The auxiliary external mirror apparatus comprises an auxiliary mirror member, first and second support arms for mounting the auxiliary mirror member to an existing external mirror member of a vehicle, and securing means adapted to extend around the back side of the existing mirror member from the first support arm to the second support arm to secure the auxiliary mirror apparatus to the existing mirror member without covering the existing mirror to any significant extent. The auxiliary mirror apparatus is of streamlined shape and extends from the existing mirror member along substantially the same line that the existing mirror member extends from the vehicle. The auxiliary mirror member includes a back surface which is adapted to face forwardly when the apparatus is mounted to a vehicle and which is angled generally outwardly and rearwardly relative to the vehicle such that the oncoming wind impinging thereagainst during movement of the vehicle will be directed generally outwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle to reduce vibration of the auxiliary mirror or of the existing mirror to which it is mounted.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An auxiliary external rearview mirror apparatus which is adapted to be mounted to an existing external mirror member of a vehicle, said existing mirror member including a mirror side having an existing mirror, and a back side, said apparatus comprising:
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an auxiliary mirror member; first and second support arms extending from said auxiliary mirror member for mounting said auxiliary mirror member to an existing extenal mirror member on a vehicle, said first and second support arms being adapted to engage the mirror side of said existing mirror on opposite sides of said existing mirror; and securing means for securing the auxiliary mirror apparatus to the existing mirror member, said first and second support arms including a first side which faces the mirror side of the existing mirror member when the first and second support arms are mounted to the existing mirror member, and first and second projections extending from the first and second support arms, respectively, the first and second projections each including a depending portion which extends from a second side of its respective support arm in a direction generally towards the other support arm and which includes a surface which is substantially aligned with said first side of its respective support arm to define with the first side of its respective support arm a first seating surface to seat the mirror side of the existing mirror member, and an extending portion which extends outwardly from the depending portion beyond the first side of the support arm to define a second seating surface to seat the mirror side of the existing mirror member, the first and second seating surface of each support arm defining first and second generally L-shaped seats for seating the mirror side of the existing mirror member on opposite sides of the existing mirror. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An auxiliary external rearview mirror apparatus which is adapted to be mounted to an existing external mirror member of a vehicle, comprising:
- an auxiliary mirror member, and means for mounting said auxiliary mirror member to an existing mirror member of said vehicle, said auxiliary mirror member being of tapered design to define an angled back surface which is adapted to face forwardly when said auxiliary mirror apparatus is mounted to said existing mirror member, said back surface being angled to extend generally outwardly and rearwardly relative to said vehicle whereby wind impinging upon said back surface will strike said back surface at a generally acute angle and be deflected outwardly and rearwardly away from said vehicle to provide a substantially streamlined surface for reducing vibration of said auxiliary mirror member.
- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An auxiliary external rearview mirror apparatus which is adapted to be mounted to an existing external mirror member of a vehicle, said existing mirror member having a mirror side and a back side, and including an existing mirror housing and an existing mirror recessed within the housing to define an annular existing mirror housing rim around the existing mirror, the auxiliary mirror comprising:
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an auxiliary mirror member; first and second support arms extending from said auxiliary mirror member for mounting said auxiliary mirror member to an existing mirror member on a vehicle, said first and second support arms having a first side which faces the mirror side of the existing mirror member when the first and second support arms are mounted to the existing mirror member, and first and second projections extending from the first and second support arms, respectively, for engaging the annular rim of the existing mirror housing above and below the existing mirror, the first and second projections each including a depending portion extending outwardly from a second side of its respective support arm generally toward the other support arm and which inculdes a surface which is substantially aligned with said first side of its respective support arm for defining with said first side of its respective support arm a first seating surface, and an extending portion extending outwardly from the end of the depending portion beyond said first side of its respective support arm for defining a second seating surface, said first and second seating surfaces of each support arm defining generally L-shaped seats for engaging and seating the annular rim of the existing mirror housing above and below existing mirror; and securing means adapted to extend around the back side of the existing mirror member from the first support arm to the second support arm to secure the auxiliary mirror apparatus to the existing mirror member, said securing means being both flexible and of adjustable length between said first and second support arms to firmly secure the auxiliary mirror member to existing mirror members of diverse size and shape. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An auxiliary external rearview mirror apparatus which is adapted to be mounted to an existing external mirror member of a vehicle, said existing mirror member including a mirror side having an existing mirror, and a back side, said apparatus comprising:
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an auxiliary mirror member; first and second support arms extending from said auxiliary mirror member for mounting said auxiliary mirror member to an existing external mirror member on a vehicle, said first and second support arms being adapted to engage the mirror side of said existing mirror member on opposite sides of said existing mirror; and a pair of flexible straps adapted to be extended around the back side of the existing mirror member from the first support arm to the second support arm to secure the auxiliary mirror apparatus to the existing mirror member, each of said flexible straps having one end secured to said first support arm and the other end adapted to be extended around the back side of the existing mirror member and to be extended through a slot in the second support arm to secure the auxiliary mirror apparatus to the existing mirror member, each of said flexible straps including a surface having a plurality of ridges thereon for cooperating with its respective slot for retaining said straps tightly secured around said existing mirror member, said first and second support arms including a first side which faces the mirror side of the existing mirror member when the first and second support arms are mounted to the existing mirror member, and first and second projections extending from the first and second support arms, respectively, for engaging the mirror side of the existing mirror member on opposite sides of the existing mirror, the projections each including a depending portion which extends outwardly from its respective support arm and an extending portion which extends outwardly from the depending portion beyond the first side of the support arm to define generally L-shaped seats for engaging the mirror side of the existing mirror member on opposite sides of the existing mirror.
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15. An auxiliary external rearview mirror apparatus which is adapted to be mounted to an existing external mirror member of a vehicle, said existing mirror member including a mirror side having an existing mirror and a back side, said apparatus comprising:
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an auxiliary mirror member; first and second support arms extending from said auxiliary mirror member for mounting said auxiliary mirror member to an existing external mirror member on a vehicle, said first and seocnd support arms being adapted to engage the mirror side of said existing mirror member on opposite sides of said existing mirror; and at least one flexible strap having one and secured to said first support arm and the other end thereof adapted to be extended around the back side of the existing mirror member and extended through a slot in the second support arm and pulled tightly to secure the auxiliary mirror apparatus to the existing mirror member, said at least one flexible strap being adjustable in length from said first support arm to said second support arm to secure said auxiliary mirror apparatus to existing mirror members of diverse size and shape, and including a surface having a plurality of ridges thereon for cooperating with said slot for retaining said strap tightly secured around said existing mirror member. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification