Wide-view horizontal vehicle safety mirror

• US 4,964,712 A
• Filed: 05/25/1989
• Issued: 10/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anderson, Allen J.
• Original Assignee: Anderson, Allen J.
• Inventors: Anderson, Allen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAFER, RICKY D
• Application Number:
  US07/357,052
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 350/538, 350/539, 350/540, 350/541, 350/542, 350/543, 350/544, 350/618, 350/622, 350/623, 350/626
• US Class Current: 359/405
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/08 Periscopes arrangements on floating structures of underwater viewing devices B63C11/49; arrangement of visual watch equipment on submarines B63G8/38

Abstract

A device for enabling the driver of a vehicle to view behind the vehicle as he is driving. The apparatus includes a number of elongated periscopes mounted generally vertical within the vehicle. The periscopes are mounted so as to provide adjacent angular fields about a generally vertically-oriented axis. The device further includes a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve receiving a corresponding periscope for axial movement for relative thereto. The sleeves are mounted for movement about a generally horizontal axis. Each sleeve includes a pawl member which projects axially from its corresponding sleeve. The apparatus is, further, constructed so that when a main body portion of a periscope is moved telescopically within its corresponding sleeve to bring that sleeve into engagement with a collar carried by a head portion of the periscope, the pawl member will enter one of a plurality of circumferentially-spaced notches formed in the collar to enable rotation of the main body portion of the periscope tube about the axis of elongation thereof.

Claims

1. Vehicle rear-viewing apparatus, comprising:

(a) a plurality of elongated periscopes, each of said periscopes having an outer end and an inner end, and providing an angular field of view, each periscope including a tube mounting optics therein;

(b) a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve receiving a corresponding periscope therewithin for relative telescoping movement, to mount said periscope received therewithin with its inner end inside a wall of a vehicle with which the periscope is used, and its outer end outside said wall, wherein angular fields of view of two adjacent periscopes overlap about a first axis generally perpendicular to said wall to afford an expanded field of view about the first axis greater than that provided by each individual periscope;

(c) means mounting each sleeve for pivotal movement about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis;

(d) a pawl member projecting axially from each sleeve; and

(e) wherein each periscope tube comprises a main body portion received within its corresponding sleeve for relative telescoping movement, a head portion defining said outer end of the periscope tube, said head portion being disposed for rotation, with respect to an axis of elongation of the periscope tube, relative to said main body portion, and a collar carried by said head portion, said collar including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced notches formed therein, wherein, when said main body portion is moved telescopically within said sleeve to bring said sleeve into engagement with said collar, said pawl member will enter one of said notches, and rotation of said main body portion of the periscope tube about the axis of elongation will effect angular displacement of said head portion relative to said main body portion.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for locking a periscope tube against relative telescoping movement with respect to its corresponding sleeve.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for locking a sleeve against pivotal movement about the second axis.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 comprising a center-line periscope and a pair of periscopes straddling said center-line periscope, and wherein said periscopes combine to afford an expanded field of view about the first axis of at least 180 degrees.