Driver rearview mirror

• US 6,523,965 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1992
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul P. Luger
• Original Assignee: Paul P. Luger
• Inventors: Luger, Paul P.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US07/977,163
• Time in Patent Office: 3,753 Days
• Field of Search: 359/850, 359/851, 359/843, 359/866, 359/854, 359/861, 359/864, 359/865, 359/868, 359/869
• US Class Current: 359/850
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors

Abstract

An improved rearview mirror for use on most types of motor vehicles (cars and trucks) includes two plane (flat) reflective surfaces held at an acute angle with respect to each other. One of these a principal reflecting surface used as the principal rearview mirror; and a second reflecting surface being oriented so as to provide a reflected image of traffic in the blind spot of the principal reflecting surface. This second reflecting surface called the blind-spot-mirror. A support structure holds the principle reflecting surface bound to the larger reflecting surface, the blind-spot-mirror. Although the blind-spot mirror is larger, only portions of it appear to the driver as it is mostly covered by the principal reflecting surface. The support structure between the two reflective surfaces has the shape of a wedge (one or more) necessary for maintaining the blind-spot-mirror at the proper angle so as to reflect blind-spot traffic to the eye of the driver. It is useful on close-to-the-street or high-above-the-street vehicles.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising:

A principle mirror providing a driver a view of objects in a view area in a lane adjacent to the vehicle and excluding a view of objects in a blind spot in the lane adjacent and to the rear of the vehicle;

A blind spot mirror providing the driver the view of objects in the blind spot of the principle mirror;

A frame supporting said blind spot mirror and attached to a side of the vehicle;

A wedge securing said principle mirror to said blind spot mirror;

said wedge tapering from a wide edge to a thin edge;

said thin edge being mounted to point generally inward toward the front and opposite side of the vehicle;

said wedge having a first surface and a second surface;

said blind spot mirror rigidly attached to said first surface and said principle mirror rigidly attached to said second surface;

said first and second surfaces forming a fixed wedge angle therebetween;

said fixed wedge angle being such as to reflect to the driver the view of objects in the blind spot when said principle mirror is positioned to view objects in said view area.

2. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein:

said principle mirror including a principle reflector surface being substantially planar.

3. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein:

said blind spot mirror including a blind spot reflector surface being substantially planar.

4. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein:

said principle mirror including a principle reflector surface;

said blind spot mirror including a blind spot reflector surface;

said principle reflector surface having a total surface area which is smaller than said blind spot reflector surface.

5. The rearview mirror of claim 1, wherein:

said principle mirror including a principle reflector surface;

said blind spot mirror including a blind spot reflector surface;

said blind spot reflector surface having a total surface area which is larger than said principle reflector surface.

6. The rearview mirror of claim 5, wherein:

the first surface of said wedge is rigidly attached to said blind spot reflector surface.

7. The rearview mirror of claim 5, wherein the blind spot includes a first proximate blind spot area and a second distal blind spot area;

said fixed wedge angle being such as to reflect to the driver the view of objects in the first proximate blind spot area; and

further comprising;

A second blind spot mirror;

A second wedge securing said second blind spot mirror to said blind spot mirror;

said second wedge tapering from a wide edge to a thin edge;

said thin edge of said second wedge being mounted to point generally inward toward the front and opposite side of the vehicle;

said second wedge having a first surface and a second surface;

said blind spot mirror rigidly attached to said first surface of said second wedge and said second blind spot mirror rigidly attached to said second surface of said second wedge;

said first and second surfaces of said second wedge forming a second fixed wedge angle therebetween;

said second fixed wedge angle being such as to reflect to the driver the view of objects in the distal blind spot area when said principle mirror is positioned to view objects in said view area.