Rear view mirror apparatus

• US 6,726,340 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cornelis Visser
• Original Assignee: Cornelis Visser
• Inventors: Visser, Cornelis
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, EUNCHA P
• Application Number:
  US10/171,894
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 359/872, 359/838, 359/871, 359/873, 359/874, 359/875, 359/876
• US Class Current: 359/872
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08

Abstract

A rear view mirror apparatus for aiding a driver in viewing an area directly behind the vehicle. The rear view mirror apparatus includes a plurality of stanchion portions being designed for being coupled to a trunk lid of the vehicle whereby the stanchion portions are positioned proximate a rear edge of the trunk lid. A mirror assembly is coupled to the stanchion portions. The mirror assembly is positioned between the stanchion portions. The mirror assembly is rotatable with respect to the stanchion portions whereby the mirror assembly optically reflects a virtual image of the area directly behind the vehicle to be viewed by the driver.

Claims

1. A rear view mirror apparatus for viewing an area directly behind a vehicle by the driver of the vehicle, the rear view mirror apparatus comprising:

a plurality of stanchion portions being adapted for being coupled to a trunk lid of the vehicle such that said stanchion portions are positioned proximate a rear edge of the trunk lid;

a mirror assembly being coupled to said stanchion portions, said mirror assembly being positioned between said stanchion portions, said mirror assembly being rotatable with respect to said stanchion portions such that said mirror assembly optically reflects a virtual image of the area directly behind the vehicle to be viewed by the driver; and

said mirror assembly comprising a body portion, said body portion being coupled between said stanchion members, said mirror assembly comprising a reflective portion, said reflective portion being coupled to said body portion such that said body portion is rotated with respect to said stanchion portion for changing an angle of reflection of said reflective portion of the area behind the vehicle, said reflective portion being planar and having a substantially consistent thickness across a length and a width of said reflective portion such that said reflective portion does not distort images viewed in said reflective portion.

2. The rear view mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

each of said stanchion portions comprising a mounting member and a flange member, said mounting member of said stanchion portion being coupled to said mirror assembly, said flange member outwardly extending from said mounting member opposite said mirror assembly, said flange member being adapted for being coupled to the vehicle.

3. The rear view mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said body portion comprising a pair of end members, each of said end members being rotatably coupled to said stanchion portions such that the rotation of said end members with respect to said stanchion portions is for changing the angle of reflection of said reflective portion.

4. The rear view mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

each of said end members comprising a main portion and an extension portion, said extension portion outwardly extending from said main portion of the associated one of said end members, said extension portion of each of said end members extending through an associated one of said stanchion portions; and

each of a plurality of fastener members being selectively engagable to said extension portion of one of said end members, said fastener member being for compressing the associated one of said stanchion portions between the associated one of said fastener members and the associated one of said main portions for inhibiting rotation of said mirror assembly with respect to said stanchion portion when said fastener members engage said extension portion of each of said end members.

5. The rear view mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

said body portion comprising a shell member, said shell member being coupled between said end members of said body portion, said shell member being for receiving said reflective portion of said body portion, said shell member being for maintaining the angle of reflection of said reflective portion.

6. The rear view mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

said shell member comprising an arcuate wall, said arcuate wall having a pair of tabs, said tabs inwardly extending from opposing ends of said arcuate wall, said reflective portion being positioned in a cavity of said shell member defined by said arcuate wall such that said reflective portion abuts said tabs of said arcuate wall, said tabs being for retaining said reflective portion in said cavity of said arcuate wall.

7. The rear view mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

said body portion comprising a retaining member, said retaining member arcuately extending along an interior surface of said arcuate wall, said retaining member comprising a pair of free ends, said free ends engaging said reflective portion opposite said tabs of said arcuate wall such that said retaining member biases said reflective member against said tabs of said arcuate wall for inhibiting inadvertent movement of said reflective portion in said cavity of said shell member.

8. The rear view mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

each of said stanchion portions comprising an adhesive, said adhesive being coupled to a bottom surface of said flange member of the associated one of said stanchion portions, said adhesive being for adhering said flange member of the associated one of said stanchion portions to the vehicle.

9. The rear view mirror apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

each of said stanchion portions comprising a sheet member, said sheet member being selectively coupled to said adhesive opposite said flange member of the associated one of said stanchion portions, said sheet member being for inhibiting inadvertent adhering of objects to said adhesive, said sheet member being selectively removable from said adhesive for allowing said adhesive to adhere to the vehicle.

10. A rear view mirror apparatus for viewing an area directly behind a vehicle by the driver of the vehicle, the rear view mirror apparatus comprising:

a plurality of stanchion portions being adapted for being coupled to a trunk lid of the vehicle such that said stanchion portions are positioned proximate a rear edge of the trunk lid;

a mirror assembly being coupled to said stanchion portions, said mirror assembly being positioned between said stanchion portions, said mirror assembly being rotatable with respect to said stanchion portions such that said mirror assembly optically reflects a virtual image of the area directly behind the vehicle to be viewed by the driver;

said mirror assembly comprising a body portion, said body portion being coupled between said stanchion members, said mirror assembly comprising a reflective portion, said reflective portion being coupled to said body portion such that said body portion is rotated with respect to said stanchion portion for changing an angle of reflection of said reflective portion of the area behind the vehicle, said reflective portion being planar and having a substantially consistent thickness across a length and a width of said reflective portion such that said reflective portion does not distort images viewed in said reflective portion;

said body portion comprising a pair of end members, each of said end members being rotatably coupled to said stanchion portions such that the rotation of said end members with respect to said stanchion portions is for changing the angle of reflection of said reflective portion;

each of said end members comprising a main portion and an extension portion, said extension portion outwardly extending from said main portion of the associated one of said end members, said extension portion of each of said end members extending through an associated one of said stanchion portions;

each of a plurality of fastener members being selectively engagable to said extension portion of one of said end members, said fastener member being for compressing the associated one of said stanchion portions between the associated one of said fastener members and the associated one of said main portions for inhibiting rotation of said mirror assembly with respect to said stanchion portion when said fastener members engage said extension portion of each of said end members;

said body portion comprising a shell member, said shell member being coupled between said end members of said body portion, said shell member being for receiving said reflective portion of said body portion, said shell member being for maintaining the angle of reflection of said reflective portion;

said shell member comprising an arcuate wall, said arcuate wall having a pair of tabs, said tabs inwardly extending from opposing ends of said arcuate wall, said reflective portion being positioned in a cavity of said shell member defined by said arcuate wall such that said reflective portion abuts said tabs of said arcuate wall, said tabs being for retaining said reflective portion in said cavity of said arcuate wall;

said body portion comprising a retaining member, said retaining member arcuately extending along an interior surface of said arcuate wall, said retaining member comprising a pair of free ends, said free ends engaging said reflective portion opposite said tabs of said arcuate wall such that said retaining member biases said reflective member against said tabs of said arcuate wall for inhibiting inadvertent movement of said reflective portion in said cavity of said shell member;

each of said stanchion portions comprising a mounting member and a flange member, said mounting member of said stanchion portion being coupled to said mirror assembly, said flange member outwardly extending from said mounting member opposite said mirror assembly, said flange member being adapted for being coupled to the vehicle;

each of said stanchion portions comprising an adhesive, said adhesive being coupled to a bottom surface of said flange member of the associated one of said stanchion portions, said adhesive being for adhering said flange member of the associated one of said stanchion portions to the vehicle; and

each of said stanchion portions comprising a sheet member, said sheet member being selectively coupled to said adhesive opposite said flange member of the associated one of said stanchion portions, said sheet member being for inhibiting inadvertent adhering of objects to said adhesive, said sheet member being selectively removable from said adhesive for allowing said adhesive to adhere to the vehicle.