Vehicular, side, rear view prismatic mirror system

• US 5,245,479 A
• Filed: 03/05/1992
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kenneth B. Falanga
• Original Assignee: Kenneth B. Falanga
• Inventors: Falanga, Kenneth B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henry, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US07/846,735
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 350/627, 350/625, 350/600, 350/164, 350/276 R, 350/286, 350/287, 350/642, 359/866, 359/864, 359/838, 359/601, 359/831, 359/833, 359/837, 359/884, 359/580
• US Class Current: 359/838
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• 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

An automotive, side, rear view mirror accessory in the form of a prism configured to be adhesively attached to the standard automotive, side, rear view mirror, providing the user through refracted light with a wider scope of vision with regard to the reflected image in the rear view mirror. The prism'"'"'s positioning, size, and angle of refraction can be configured in varying degrees in order to provide the user with maximum efficient viewing of any "blind spot" which might exist at any particular angle with regard to the normal angle of view. The prism unit may be adhesively mounted to a standard automotive side rear view mirror utilizing "off-the-shelf," transparent cement, or, alternately, the unit may be a one-piece construction wherein the prism and mirror are molded as one, or the prism itself may have a backing of reflective material, thereby dispensing with the necessity of transparent cement. The prism is located at the outer edge, namely, on the outer, left edge for the driver'"'"'s side, rear view mirror and on the outer, right edge of the side, rear view mirror on the passenger'"'"'s side.

Claims

1. An accessory kit for a vehicular side, rear view mirror for expanding the viewer'"'"'s field of vision produced by he vehicle'"'"'s side rear view mirror, comprising:

a transparent, refracting prism of a size in its lateral extent substantially less than one half of the reflective front surface of the rear view mirror, the location and size of said prism being designed to expand the viewer'"'"'s field of vision produced by the side rear view mirror, said prism further incorporating reflecting means in the form of a reflective surface coating on its base surface, said prism configured to modify the mirror'"'"'s field of view by refracting the reflected light going through it in such a manner that the pencil rays will be deviated from the parallel to an outward angle proportionate to the prism'"'"'s power, enlarging the user'"'"'s field of view, said prism having a refractive index of about 1.5 and an apical angle of ten to twelve degrees; and

adhesive means associated with said prism for adhesively mounting said prism to the reflective front surface of the side rear view mirror.

2. An accessory kit for a vehicular side, rear view mirror for expanding the viewer'"'"'s field of vision produced by the vehicle'"'"'s side rear view mirror, comprising:

a transparent, refracting prism of a size in its lateral extent substantially less than one half of the reflective front surface of the rear view mirror, wherein said prism has a width of 30-33 mm., a base length of 68-72 mm. and a base thickness of 6-7 mm., the location and size of said prism being designed to expand the viewer'"'"'s field of vision produced by the side rear view mirror, said prism further incorporating reflecting means in the form of a reflective surface coating on its base surface, said prism configured to modify the mirror'"'"'s field of view by refracting the reflected light going through it in such a manner that the pencil rays will be deviated from the parallel to an outward angle proportionate to the prism'"'"'s power, enlarging the user'"'"'s field of view; and

adhesive means associated with said prism for adhesively mounting said prism to the reflective front surface of the side rear view mirror.