Mirror

• US 6,354,708 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1999
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The First Years Incorporated (TOMY Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: The First Years Incorporated (TOMY Company Limited)
• Inventors: Polin, Rene Jr., Monahan, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/358,154
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 359/871, 359/872, 359/875, 359/879, 359/880, 248/475.1, 248/476, 248/477, 248/481, 248/496, 248/497, 248/498
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/008 allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08

Abstract

An apparatus includes a mirror. A body is adapted to couple to and support the mirror in multiple of orientations to allow the mirror to reflect light from and to multiple areas. Multiple tabs are coupled to the body and adapted to interfere with adjacent portions of a car seat, to which the body is mounted, and a rear ledge of a car to inhibit the body from moving relative to the car seat.

Claims

1. A device for viewing a child in a rear-facing child carrier upon a rear seat in a car, the device comprising:

a mirror positionable for viewing the child from a front seat of the car;

a body supporting the mirror in a plurality of orientations to allow the mirror to reflect light from and to multiple areas, the body comprising a flexible panel drapable across a front of said rear seat; and

a plurality of tabs coupled to the body and constructed and arranged to interfere with adjacent portions of said rear seat and a rear ledge of the car to inhibit the body from moving relative to said rear seat, each tab having a plate to be wedged between said rear seat and said rear ledge to secure the device in position, with the flexible panel extending downward across the front surface of the rear seat.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plates each have top and bottom surfaces and a rib protruding from at least one of the surfaces.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plates have first and second ends, the first ends being movably coupled to the body, and wherein the ribs are wedge-shaped, tapering from relatively thick ends to relatively thin ends that are closer to the second ends of the plates than the first ends of the plates.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each tab has a plurality of ribs protruding from both of the top and bottom surfaces.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the plurality of tabs are attached proximate to a top edge of the body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mirror is removably mounted to the body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of flexible straps; and

a pair of mating connectors each attached to a strap, at least one of the pair of connectors being adjustably attached along a length of the strap to which the at least one connector is attached;

wherein the straps are adapted to form a loop around a rear car seat and to be coupled by connecting the mating connectors to secure the body to the rear car seat.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible panel comprises a washable fabric.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body includes a plurality of transparent pockets.

10. An apparatus for viewing a child in a rear-facing child carrier upon a rear car seat in a car, the apparatus comprising:

a body comprising a flexible panel extendable across a front of the rear car seat;

a plurality of flexible straps extending from the panel;

a pair of mating connectors each attached to a strap, at least one of the pair of connectors being adjustably attached along a length of the strap to which the at least one connector is attached;

wherein the straps are extendable to form a loop around the rear car seat when coupled by connecting the mating connectors, to secure the body to the rear car seat with the flexible panel extending across a front surface of the rear car seat; and

a mirror removably mounted to the body, the mirror being adjustable to a plurality of orientations to selectively reflect light to and from multiple directions to permit viewing of the child from a front seat of the car.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the body comprises a flexible, washable fabric.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the body includes a plurality of transparent pockets.