Tether attached back seat safety mirror

• US 6,779,900 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BRICA Incorporated (Munchkin Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Blue Ridge International Products Company (Pencor Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nolan-Brown, Patricia
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US10/397,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 297/185, 297/188.06, 359/871, 359/857, 359/876, 359/872, 248/489, 248/490, 248/493, 248/497, 248/494
• 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

A device is described for observing an infant in a rear facing safety seat located in the rear seat of a motor vehicle. A rear seat mirror has a front reflecting surface and a back surface. A mirror positioning structure is connected to the back surface by a v-shaped arrangement of support surfaces. A mirror attachment assembly includes at least one strap having a secured end connected to at least one of the back surface and the mirror positioning structure, and a free end having a fastener capable of connecting to a tether anchor associated with the rear seat.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

a top tether anchorage point intended for attachment of the top tether of a forward facing child safety seat in a motor vehicle, and a pair of lower child seat anchorage points; and

a device for observing an infant in a rear facing child safety seat located in the rear seat of the motor vehicle, said device in turn comprising

a mirror assembly including a rear seat mirror having a front reflecting surface and a back surface, and a mirror positioning structure connected to said back surface,

an upper strap for connecting said mirror assembly to said top tether anchorage point, and

a pair of lower straps for connecting said mirror assembly to said lower child seat anchorage points.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said upper strap is adjustable in length.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said lower straps are adjustable in length.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein said lower straps comprise elastic bungee style cords.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said lower straps are adjustable in length.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said lower straps comprise elastic bungee style cords.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein

said mirror positioning structure has a V-shaped arrangement of support surfaces connected to said back surfaces; and wherein

said upper strap has a secured end connected to at least one of said back surface and said mirror positioning structure, and a free end having a fastener capable of connecting to the top tether anchorage point.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said upper strap is adjustable in length.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said lower straps are adjustable in length.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein said lower straps comprise elastic bungee style cords.

11. The combination of claim 7, wherein said lower straps are adjustable in length.

12. The combination of claim 7, wherein said lower straps comprise elastic bungee style cords.

13. The combination of claim 1, wherein said mirror positioning structure comprises a ball, and a receptacle which frictionally receives said ball.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said upper strap is adjustable in length.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein said lower straps are adjustable in length.

16. The combination of claim 14, wherein said lower straps comprise elastic bungee style cords.

17. The combination of claim 13, wherein said lower straps are adjustable in length.

18. The combination of claim 13, wherein said lower straps comprise elastic bungee style cords.