Adjustable rear view mirror extension apparatus

• US 5,096,283 A
• Filed: 04/23/1990
• Issued: 03/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hans Croteau
• Original Assignee: Hans Croteau
• Inventors: Croteau, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ryan, Jay
• Application Number:
  US07/512,830
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 350/631, 350/632, 350/634, 350/636, 350/612, 350/626, 248/479, 248/485
• US Class Current: 359/865
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors

Abstract

An adjustable rear view mirror extension apparatus that attaches to a standard existing rear view mirror found in most automobiles and other motor vehicles. The apparatus has a mirror, a mirror frame to secure the mirror, a plurality of lateral supports to position the mirror on the frame, and a flexible mirror retainer to releasingly retain the mirror in the mirror frame. There is a mirror frame support that allows the mirror to rotate on a vertical axis and a rotating device to allow the mirror to rotate on a horizontal axis. The rotating device has a housing comprising two sections. The two sections are adjustably connected to adjust the tension of the insert spring which controls the ease of movement of the mirror around its horizontal axis. The rotating device has a first and second surface with a plurality of radial bosses and grooves, respectively, included are an insert, spring and insert gripping device to restrict rotation. Thre is a bending device such as a flexible metal tubing to selectively position the mirror. The dual pivot device assists the user to move the mirror out of the way of the sun visor of a vehicle. The dual pivot device, also, allows the bending device and therefore the mirror to be adjusted on two more vertical axes. There is an attachment device which has an attachment frame and a plurality of fasteners to attach the apparatus to an existing mirror in the vehicle.

Claims

1. An adjustable mirror apparatus to place on an existing mirror comprising:

a. a mirror;

b. a mirror frame means to secure the mirror;

c. a mirror frame support means hingingly connected to the mirror frame that allows the mirror to rotate around a vertical axis of the mirror;

d. a rotating means connected to the mirror frame support means to rotate the mirror around a longitudinal axis of the mirror;

e. a bending means attached to the rotating means to selectively position the mirror;

f. a dual pivot means connected to the bending means to allow the bending means to rotate on a first vertical axis and on a second vertical axis; and

g. an attachment means connected to the dual pivot means to attach the dual pivot means to the existing mirror.

2. An adjustable mirror apparatus as described in claim 1 further comprising a locking means having a first part on the mirror frame support means and a second part on the mirror frame means.

3. An adjustable mirror apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the first part is an elongated boss and the second part is an elongated groove.

4. An adjustable mirror apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the rotating means further comprises:

a. a disk connected to the mirror frame support means;

b. a first surface having a plurality of radial bosses thereon;

c. a second surface on an insert having a plurality of radial grooves thereon that intimately engages radial bosses on the first surface;

d. the radial bosses and radial grooves abutting radially when the first and second surfaces abut to restrict the rotation of the first surface in relation to the second surface;

e. a spring having one end intimately engaged with a rear surface of the insert to bias the second surface of the insert toward the first surface of the disk;

f. a housing having a first section and a second section adjustably connected to the first section;

g. an inner chamber in the housing to house the disk, the insert and the spring;

h. a spring abutment surface in the inner chamber;

i. an other end of the spring abutting the spring abutment surface; and

j. an insert gripping means on a circumference of the inner chamber to restrict rotation of the insert.

5. An adjustable mirror apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the bending means further comprises a flexible tubing.

6. An adjustable mirror apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the attachment means further comprises:

a. an attachment frame connected to the dual pivot means to support the dual pivot means; and

b. a plurality of fastening means on the attachment frame to fasten the attachment frame to the existing mirror.

7. An adjustable mirror apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the mirror frame means further comprises:

a. a lateral support means in the mirror frame means to position the mirror on the mirror frame means; and

b. a flexible mirror retaining means to releasingly retain the mirror in the mirror frame means.

8. An adjustable mirror apparatus to place on an existing mirror comprising:

a. a mirror;

b. a mirror frame means to enclose and support the mirror;

c. a mirror frame support means hingingly connected to the mirror frame that allows the mirror to rotate around a vertical axis of the mirror;

d. a locking means having a first part on the mirror frame support means and a second part on the mirror frame means;

e. a disk connected to the mirror frame support means;

f. a first surface having a plurality of radial bosses thereon;

g. a second surface on an insert having a plurality of radial grooves thereon that intimately engages radial bosses on the first surface;

h. the radial bosses and radial groove abutting radially when the first and second surfaces abut to restrict the rotation of the first surface in relation to the second surface;

i. a spring having one end intimately engaged with a rear surface of the insert to bias the second surface of the insert toward the first surface of the disk;

j. a housing having a first section and a second section adjustably connected to the first section;

k. an inner chamber in the housing to house the disk, the insert and the spring;

l. a spring abutment surface in the inner chamber;

m. an other end of the spring abutting the spring abutment surface; and

n. an insert gripping means on a circumference of the inner chamber to restrict rotation of the insert;

o. a flexible tubing connected to an other end of the housing to selectively position the mirror;

p. a dual pivot means connected to the flexible tubing to allow the flexible tubing to rotate on a first vertical axis and on a second vertical axis; and

q. an attachment means connected to the dual pivot means to attach the dual pivot means to the existing mirror.

9. An adjustable mirror apparatus to place on an existing mirror comprising:

a. a mirror;

b. a mirror frame means to enclose and support the mirror;

c. a lateral support means in the mirror frame means to position the mirror on the mirror frame means;

d. a flexible mirror retaining means to releasingly retain the mirror in the mirror frames means;

e. a mirror frame support means hingingly connected to the mirror frame that allows the mirror to rotate around a vertical axis of the mirror;

f. a locking means having an elongated boss on the mirror frame support means and an elongated groove on the mirror frame means;

g. a disk connect to the mirror frame support means;

h. a first surface having a plurality of radial boss thereon;

i. a second surface on an insert having a plurality of radial grooves thereon that intimately engages radial bosses on the first surface;

j. the radial bosses and radial grooves abutting radially when the first and second surfaces abut to restrict the rotation of the first surface in relation to the second surface;

k. a spring having one end intimately engaged with a rear surface of the insert to bias the second surface of the insert toward the first surface of the disk;

l. a housing having a first section and a second section adjustably connected to the first section;

m. an inner chamber in the housing to house the disk, the insert and the spring;

n. a spring abutment surface in the inner chamber;

o. an other end of the spring abutting the spring abutment surface; and

p. an insert gripping means on a circumference of the inner chamber to restrict rotation of the insert;

q. a flexible tubing connected to an other end of the housing to selectively position the mirror;

r. a dual pivot means connected to the flexible tubing to allow the flexible tubing to rotate on a first vertical axis and on a second vertical axis;

s. an attachment frame connected to the dual pivot means to support the dual pivot means;

t. a plurality of fastening means on the attachment frame to fasten the attachment frame to the existing mirror; and

u. the mirror frame means having a beveled fingergrip portion on one end.