Vehicle mirror

• US 5,594,585 A
• Filed: 06/13/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murakami Kaimeido Co Ltd (Murakami Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Murakami Kaimeido Co Ltd (Murakami Corporation)
• Inventors: Komatsu, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Callahan, Timothy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TON, MY TRANG
• Application Number:
  US08/490,073
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 359/507, 359/509, 359/512, 359/883, 359/884
• US Class Current: 359/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/245 by deposition from the vapour phase
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/36 at least one coating being a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3605 Coatings of the type glass/metal/inorganic compound
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3649 made of metals other than silver
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3663 specially adapted for use as mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/42 at least one coating of an organic material and at least one non-metal coating
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/213 SiO2
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/75 Hydrophilic and oleophilic coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/78 Coatings specially designed to be durable, e.g. scratch-resistant
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/15 from the vapour phase
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/152 by cvd
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/365 Coating different sides of a glass substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/845 specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors

Abstract

A vehicle mirror has a mirror housing and a mirror assembly provided in the mirror housing. The mirror assembly includes a glass substrate and a reflecting film made of chromium or aluminum and formed on the back surface of the glass substrate. A panel heater is bonded by adhesive to the back surface of the reflecting film. A hydrophilic film is formed on the front surface of the glass substrate. The hydrophilic film is made of a hydrophilic oxide film such as SiO₂ and functions to spread a waterdrop deposited on the mirror surface in the form of a thin water film.

Claims

1. A vehicle mirror having a glass substrate, having a front and a back surface, a reflecting film formed on said back surface of said glass substrate, said front surface of said glass substrate being fully covered with a continuous hydrophilic inorganic oxide film, which is in contact with said glass substrate, said hydrophilic inorganic oxide film having a porous surface.

2. A vehicle mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein the inorganic oxide film has a lower refractivity than the glass substrate.

3. A vehicle mirror as defined in claim 1 wherein the inorganic oxide film is a film made of SiO₂.

4. A vehicle mirror as defined in claim 1 wherein a heat generating member is laminated on the surface of the reflecting film.

5. A vehicle mirror as defined in claim 1 wherein the reflecting film comprises a heat generating member.

6. A vehicle mirror wherein the mirror comprises a glass substrate having a reflecting film formed on the front surface thereof and said front surface of said glass substrate being fully covered with a continuous hydrophilic inorganic oxide film, which is in contact with said glass substrate, said hydrophilic inorganic oxide film having a porous surface.

7. A vehicle mirror as defined in claim 6 wherein the inorganic oxide film is a film made of SiO₂ and has a lower refractivity than the glass substrate.

8. A vehicle mirror as defined in claim 7 wherein the mirror has a substrate having a reflecting film formed on the front surface thereof, and the inorganic oxide film is formed on the surface of the reflecting film and a heat generating member is laminated on the surface of the reflecting film.

9. A vehicle mirror as defined in claim 6 wherein a heat generating member is laminated on the surface of the reflecting film.

10. A vehicle mirror as defined in claim 6 wherein the reflecting film is made of a heat generating member.