Child view safety mirror

• US 5,949,595 A
• Filed: 07/21/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glen Kissinger
• Original Assignee: Glen Kissinger
• Inventors: Kissinger, Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US09/119,525
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 359/850, 359/854, 359/855, 359/862, 359/864, 359/865, 359/866, 359/872
• US Class Current: 359/854
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/008 allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors

Abstract

A child view safety mirror comprising a main mirror. A structure is provided for mounting the main mirror to a rear surface of a front windshield of a motor vehicle, so that the driver can use the main mirror as a rear view mirror, to look out of the rear windshield of the motor vehicle. A top angled mirror is on the main mirror, so that the driver can use the top angled mirror to view the rear seating area in the motor vehicle, to see children in the rear seats. A left side mirror is provided. A first assembly attaches the left side mirror in an adjustable manner to a left side of the main mirror. A right side mirror is also provided. A second assembly attaches the right side mirror in an adjustable manner to a right side of the main mirror. When the left side mirror and the right side mirror are turned inwardly, the driver can see behind the front seats from one side of the motor vehicle to the other side giving a full view of the entire interior of the motor vehicle. When the left side mirror and the right side mirror are turned outwardly, the blind spot created by conventional rear and side view mirrors is minimized.

Claims

1. A child view safety mirror for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a front windshield with a rear surface, an interior, a rear, a left and right exterior, a front seat, a rear seat and a driver, said child view safety mirror comprising:

a main mirror having a right side and a left side, said main mirror being in a first generally vertical plane;

means for mounting said main mirror to the rear surface of the front windshield, to allow the driver to use said main mirror to see out the rear of the motor vehicle;

a top angled mirror rigidly attached to said main mirror, said top angled mirror being inclined towards the main mirror in a second plane at an obtuse angle to the first generally vertical plane, to thereby allow the driver to use said top angled mirror to see the rear seat of the motor vehicle and any occupants therein;

a left side mirror adjustable attached to said left side of said main mirror; and

a right side mirror adjustable attached to said right side of said main mirror;

wherein

when said left side mirror and said right side mirror are adjusted inwardly, said child view safety mirror provides the driver with a full view of the interior of the vehicle; and

when said left side mirror and said right side mirror are adjusted outwardly, said child view safety mirror provides the driver with a full view of the left and right exterior of the vehicle.

2. The child view safety mirror according to claim 1, said child view safety mirror further comprising:

a first ball joint for attaching said left side mirror to said left side of said main mirror;

a second ball joint for attaching said right side mirror to said right side of said main mirror;

wherein

said first ball joint includes a first ball attached to a first stem, said first stem being attached to said left side of said main mirror, and a first socket formed in a right side of said left side mirror, said first socket receives said first ball to allow said left side mirror to be adjusted both vertically and horizontally; and

said second ball joint includes a second ball attached to a second stem, said second stem being attached to said right side of said main mirror, and a second socket formed in a left side of said right side mirror, said second socket receives said second ball to allow said right side mirror to be adjusted both vertically and horizontally.

3. The child view safety mirror according to claim 1, wherein said main mirror, said left side mirror and said right side mirror each comprise:

a frame housing having a front surface; and

a reflective plate affixed to said front surface.

4. The child view safety mirror according to claim 1, wherein:

said main mirror includes a rear surface;

said means for mounting comprises an adjustable bracket that extends between the rear surface of the front windshield and said rear surface of said main mirror; and

said main mirror can be angularly adjusted by the driver using said adjustable bracket.

5. The child view safety mirror according to claim 1, wherein said top angled mirror comprises:

a frame housing having a front surface and being formed on said main mirror; and

a reflective plate affixed to said front surface of said frame housing;

wherein

said reflective plate is in the second plane; and

the second plane is positioned at an angle of about sixty degrees from horizontal.

6. A child view safety mirror for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a front windshield with a rear surface, an interior, a rear, a left and right exterior, a front seat, a rear seat and a driver, said child view safety mirror comprising:

a main mirror having a right side and a left side, said main mirror being in a first generally vertical plane;

means for mounting said main mirror to the rear surface of the front windshield, to allow the driver to use said main mirror to see out the rear of the motor vehicle;

a top angled mirror rigidly attached to said main mirror, said top angled mirror being inclined towards the main mirror in a second plane at an obtuse angle to the first generally vertical plane, to thereby allow the driver to use said top angled mirror to see the rear seat of the motor vehicle and any occupants therein;

a left side mirror adjustable attached to said left side of said main mirror;

a first ball joint for attaching said left side mirror to said left side of said main mirror;

a right side mirror adjustable attached to said right side of said main mirror; and

a second ball joint for attaching said right side mirror to said right side of said main mirror;

wherein

said first ball joint includes a first ball attached to a first stem, said first stem being attached to said left side of said main mirror, and a first socket formed in a right side of said left side mirror, said first socket receives said first ball to allow said left side mirror to be adjusted both vertically and horizontally;

said second ball joint includes a second ball attached to a second stem, said second stem being attached to said right side of said main mirror, and a second socket formed in a left side of said right side mirror, said second socket receives said second ball to allow said right side mirror to be adjusted both vertically and horizontally;

when said left side mirror and said right side mirror are adjusted inwardly, said child view safety mirror provides the driver with a full view of the interior of the vehicle; and

when said left side mirror and said right side mirror are adjusted outwardly, said child view safety mirror provides the driver with a full view of the left and right exterior of the vehicle.

7. The child view safety mirror according to claim 6, wherein said top angled mirror comprises:

a frame housing having a front surface and being formed on said main mirror; and

a reflective plate affixed to said front surface of said frame housing;

wherein

said reflective plate is in the second plane; and

the second plane is positioned at an angle of about sixty degrees from horizontal.

8. A child view safety mirror for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a front windshield with a rear surface, an interior, a rear, a left and right exterior, a front seat, a rear seat and a driver, said child view safety mirror comprising:

a main mirror having a right side and a left side;

means for mounting said main mirror to the rear surface of the front windshield, to allow the driver to use said main mirror to see out the rear of the motor vehicle;

a top angled mirror rigidly attached to said main mirror, to allow the driver to use said top angled mirror to see the rear seat of the motor vehicle and any occupants therein, said top angled mirror comprising a frame housing having a front surface and being formed on said main mirror and positioned at an angle of about sixty degrees from horizontal and a reflective plate affixed to said front surface of said frame housing;

a left side mirror adjustable attached to said left side of said main mirror; and

a right side mirror adjustable attached to said right side of said main mirror;

wherein

when said left side mirror and said right side mirror are adjusted inwardly, said child view safety mirror provides the driver with a full view of the interior of the vehicle; and

when said left side mirror and said right side mirror are adjusted outwardly, said child view safety mirror provides the driver with a full view of the left and right exterior of the vehicle.