Lateral transfer retroreflector assembly

• US 5,361,171 A
• Filed: 03/04/1993
• Issued: 11/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PLX Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PLX Incorporated
• Inventors: Bleier, Zvi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US08/026,472
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 359/359, 359/618, 359/834, 359/836, 359/850, 359/855, 359/856, 359/857, 359/861, 359/871
• US Class Current: 359/855
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/122 cube corner, trihedral or triple reflector type

Abstract

An improved lateral transfer retroreflector assembly is provided, comprising a tubular member having a channel, a mirror member and a roof mirror mounted to a mounting member. The tubular member has first and second ends, the first end having mounted thereat the mirror member, and the second end forming a channel within which the roof mirror is mounted. The roof mirror is adhered to a mounting member along a junction formed in the roof mirror. The shape of the mounting member substantially conforms to the shape of the junction in the roof mirror thereby ensuring a secure, accurate mount. The channel has an upper and lower opening through which the roof mirror extends. The openings created and the manner in which the roof mirror is mounted within the channel ensure that the depth of the tubular member will be minimized.

Claims

1. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly comprising:

a tubular member having a top side, a bottom side and first and second length defining sides, each of said top and bottom sides having first edge surfaces at a first end of said tubular member and second edge surfaces proximate a second end of said tubular member opposite said first end;

a mirror member mounted to said tubular member at said first end; and

a roof mirror mounted to said tubular member at said second end;

wherein each of said first and second length defining sides of said tubular member extends from said first end of said tubular member beyond said second edge surfaces of said top and bottom sides to form a channel through said second end of said tubular member to receive said roof mirror.

2. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said tubular member further comprises an end member attached to said first and second length defining sides at said second end of said tubular member.

3. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said end member attaches to said first and second length defining sides along a substantially flat receiving surface of said end member.

4. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said tubular member further comprises a mounting member attached to said end member.

5. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said mounting member has at least one planar mounting pad on a first side thereof for mounting to said end member.

6. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said roof mirror is mounted to a second side of said mounting member opposite said first side.

7. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein said roof mirror comprises:

a first member having a first reflective planar surface, a first width defining surface substantially perpendicular to said first reflective surface and a first edge surface substantially mutually perpendicular to said first width defining surface and said first reflective surface;

a second member having a second reflective planar surface, a second width defining surface substantially perpendicular to said second reflective surface and a second edge surface substantially mutually perpendicular to said second width defining surface and said second reflective surface;

said first member mounted to said second member, so that said first and second reflective surfaces are substantially perpendicular, by adhering a portion of said first width defining surface of said first member to a portion of said second reflective surface of said second member; and

a third member mounted between said first reflective surface of said first member and said second edge surface of said second member.

8. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said first and second width defining surfaces of said first and second members of said roof mirror are attached to said second side of said mounting member.

9. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said first width defining surface of said first member is attached to said second reflective surface of said second member and a junction is formed between said first and second width defining surfaces.

10. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein said second side of said mounting member comprises at least one mounting key having first and second mounting surfaces for receiving said roof mirror.

11. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said first and second mounting surfaces of said at least one mounting key matingly engage at least a portion of said junction of said roof mirror.

12. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said roof mirror is adhered within said channel of said tubular member to said at least one mounting key of said mounting member at said junction, said roof mirror extends through upper and lower openings made by said channel in said tubular member, and a depth of said tubular member, measured between a bottom wall surface of said top side and a top wall surface of said bottom side, is minimized.

13. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly comprising:

a tubular member having first and second ends;

a mirror member mounted to said tubular member at said first end; and

a roof mirror comprising;

a first member having a first reflective planar surface, a first width defining surface substantially perpendicular to said first reflective surface and a first edge surface substantially mutually perpendicular to said first width defining surface and said first reflective surface;

a second member having a second reflective planar surface, a second width defining surface substantially perpendicular to said second reflective surface and a second edge surface substantially mutually perpendicular to said second width defining surface and said second reflective surface;

said first member mounted to said second member, so that said first and second reflective surfaces are substantially perpendicular, by adhering a portion of said first width defining surface of said first member to a portion of said second reflective surface of said second member; and

a third member mounted between said first reflective surface of said first member and said second edge surface of said second member;

wherein said first and second width defining surfaces of said first and second members of said roof mirror are substantially perpendicular forming a junction to mount said roof mirror at said second end of said tubular member.

14. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said tubular member further comprises a top side, a bottom side and first and second length defining sides, each of said top and bottom sides having first edge surfaces at a first end of said tubular member and second edge surfaces proximate a second end of said tubular member opposite said first end.

15. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein said first and second length defining sides extend from said first end of said tubular member beyond said second edge surfaces of said top and bottom sides to form a channel through said second end of said tubular member for receiving said roof mirror.

16. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said tubular member further comprises an end member attached to said first and second length defining sides at said second end of said tubular member.

17. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said end member attaches to said first and second length defining sides along a substantially flat receiving surface of said end member.

18. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said tubular member further comprises a mounting member attached to said end member.

19. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein said mounting member has at least one planar mounting pad on a first side thereof for mounting to said end member.

20. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein said roof mirror is mounted to a second side of said mounting member opposite said first side.

21. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein said second side of said mounting member comprises at least one mounting key having first and second mounting surfaces for receiving said roof mirror.

22. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said first and second mounting surfaces of said at least one mounting key matingly engage at least a portion of said junction of said roof mirror.

23. A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein said roof mirror is adhered within said channel of said tubular member to said at least one mounting key of said mounting member by said junction, said roof mirror extends through upper and lower openings made by said channel in said tubular member, and a depth of said tubular member, measured between a bottom wall surface of said top side and a top wall surface of said bottom side, is minimized.

24. A method of assembling a lateral transfer retroreflector assembly, comprising the steps of:

forming a tubular member having a top side, a boom side and first and second length defining sides, each of said top and bottom sides having first edge surfaces at a first end of said tubular member and second edge surfaces proximate a second end of said tubular member opposite said first end, wherein each of the said first and second length defining sides of said tubular member extends from said first end of said tubular member beyond said second edge surfaces of said top and bottom sides to form a channel through said second end of said tubular member;

forming a mirror member having a reflective surface;

mounting said mirror member to said first end of said tubular member;

forming a roof mirror comprising first and second members, said first and second members having substantially perpendicular reflective surfaces; and

mounting said roof mirror within said channel of said tubular member.

25. A method of assembling a lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 24, further comprising the step of attaching an end member at said second end of said tubular member, said end member closing said channel.

26. A method of assembling a lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 25, further comprising the step of attaching a mounting member having at least one planar mounting pad on a first side thereof to said end member for receiving said roof mirror.

27. A method of assembling a lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 26, further comprising the step of adhering said roof mirror to a second side of said mounting member, said roof mirror having a junction formed between said first and second members which matingly engages said second side of said mounting member.