Motorcycle mirror providing rider concurrent viewing of road to the side and immediately to the rear of motorcycle

• US 6,485,151 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael P. Coleburn
• Original Assignee: Michael P. Coleburn
• Inventors: Coleburn, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Juba, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US09/728,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 359/842, 359/850, 359/855, 359/854, 359/865, 359/866, 359/871, 359/838, 359/872, 359/875, 359/881, 248/476, 248/479, 248/480
• US Class Current: 359/842
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 29/00 Adaptations or arrangements of mirrors for use on cycles

Abstract

A motorcycle rear view mirror assembly for addition to motorcycles and like vehicles providing a view of both the rear sides, and directly behind and adjacent to the rear of the motorcycle which will increase the safety of the operator when changing lanes and will make the rider aware of vehicles approaching too close behind them. The device features a first mirror positionable to an angle to reflect the area to the side of a motorcycle into the view of the rider and a second mirror attached to said assembly adjacent to an outside edge of first mirror and a provision for adjustment of the face of the second mirror toward the inside edge of the first mirror to an operative angle between 3 and 25 degrees. When positioned to the operative angle, the second mirror reflects the area immediately adjacent to the rear of the motorcycle and concurrently the first mirror reflects the area to one or both sides of the motorcycle allowing the rider of said motorcycle to view, concurrently, the areas to the side of the motorcycle and the area immediately adjacent to the rear of the motorcycle.

Claims

1. A motorcycle rear view mirror assembly for attachment to a motorcycle having a center axis extending from the front wheel mount to the rear wheel mount, comprising:

a handlebar mounted clamp, said clamp having a clamp aperture configured to cooperatively engage an attachment end of an elongated arm;

said rear view mirror assembly having a first mirror, said first mirror having an inside edge and an outside edge, said first mirror positionable to an angle to reflect the area to the side of a motorcycle into the view of the rider of said motorcycle;

said rear view mirror assembly having a second mirror, said second mirror attached to said assembly adjacent to said outside edge of said first mirror;

said rear view mirror assembly having an assembly mount cooperatively engageable with the distal end of said arm opposite said attachment end;

means for lateral translation of said mirror assembly upon said distal end of said arm;

means of adjustment of the face of said second mirror toward the inside edge of said first mirror to an operative angle;

said second mirror when positioned to said operative angle reflecting the area at said center axis immediately adjacent to the rear of said motorcycle;

said first mirror and said second mirror concurrently reflecting said area to the side of said motorcycle and sand area immediately adjacent to said rear of said center axis of said motorcycle when said second mirror is at said operative angle to said first mirror; and

whereby said rider of said motorcycle may view both, said area to the side of said motorcycle, and said area immediately adjacent to said rear of said center of said motorcycle concurrently when operating said motorcycle.

2. The motorcycle rear view mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising a mirror shroud, said mirror shroud providing a frame about the perimeter of said first mirror;

means of attachment of said second mirror to said mirror shroud adjacent to said outside edge of said first mirror.

3. The motorcycle rear view mirror assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said means of attachment of said second mirror to said mirror shroud is a hinge.

4. The motorcycle rear view mirror assembly as defined in claim 2 additionally comprising said mirror shroud providing a frame for the perimeter of said first mirror and said second mirror attached at said outside edge.

5. The motorcycle rear view mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said operative angle is between 3 degrees and 25 degrees.

6. The motorcycle rear view mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said operative angle is substantially 3 degrees.

7. The motorcycle rear view mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising a wedge shaped casing, said wedge shaped casing providing a mount for said second mirror upon a front side of said wedge shaped casing;

said wedge shaped casing having a rear surface;

means of attachment of the rear surface of said wedge shaped casing upon a surface of said first mirror adjacent to said outside edge;

said wedge shaped casing configured such that said second mirror mounted on said front side yields said operative angle when said wedge shaped casing is attached said surface of said first mirror adjacent to said outside edge.

8. The motorcycle rear view mirror assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said means of attachment to said rear surface of said wedge shaped casing upon the surface of said first mirror adjacent to said outside edge is adhesive.

9. The motorcycle rear view mirror assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said first mirror is a mirror already mounted upon a conventional motorcycle handlebar.

10. The motorcycle rear view mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said assembly mount is cooperatively engageable with said distal end of said elongated arm using an aperture communicating through said assembly mount, said aperture allowing communication of said arm therethrough, said arm thereby having lateral translation on said arm,

a second aperture in said assembly mount communicating with said first aperture, and

a set screw cooperatively engageable in said second aperture, said set screw having an adjustment end accessible from the exterior of said second aperture, and a contact end capable of engaging said arm communicating through said first aperture thereby allowing fixed adjustable engagement of said assembly mount upon said arm at a determined position.

11. The motorcycle rear view mirror assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said arm attaches to said mount and extends away from said center axis at an acute angle in relation thereto, whereby lateral translation of said mirror assembly on said arm provides both vertical and lateral adjustment of said determined position of said mirror in relation to said center axis.