Patrol vehicle safety mirror

• US 7,108,384 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gaetano Montante, Theophilos Athanassiou
• Original Assignee: Gaetano Montante, Theophilos Athanassiou
• Inventors: Montante, Gaetano, Athanassiou, Theophilos
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/619,138
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 359/840, 359/844, 359/850, 359/855, 359/864, 359/865, 359/872, 359/876, 248/476, 248/479, 248/481
• US Class Current: 359/876
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle

Abstract

A safety mirror for attaching to a patrol car having a front, a driver side, and a driver side rear-view mirror, for use when an officer is walking back to the patrol car from a stopped vehicle located in front of the patrol car. The safety mirror has a housing having a front and a rear, a mirror surface located at the housing front, and a bracket extending rearwardly from the housing. The bracket is attached to the driver side door adjacent the rear view mirror, and the mirror surface is oriented forwardly. Accordingly when walking toward the patrol vehicle substantially alongside and parallel to the driver side, the officer can see the stopped vehicle in the mirror surface while simultaneously watching oncoming traffic.

Claims

1. A patrol vehicle safety mirror, for attaching to a patrol car having a front, a driver side, and a driver side rear-view mirror, for use when an officer is walking back to the patrol car from a stopped vehicle located in front of the patrol car, comprising:

a mounting plate having a semi-spherical collar;

a main housing, having a front and a rear surface, a socket adjacent to the rear surface, the rear surface having a mounting plate recess for accommodating the mounting plate flush with the rear surface of the main housing, a mirror plate attached at the front and is oriented forwardly for allowing the officer to view a reflection from the front; and

a mounting arm, attached and extend from the rear of the main housing and extending laterally for mounting to the patrol car such that the front of the main housing is oriented in the direction of the front of the patrol car, the mounting arm having an open rear surface and a receptacle, wherein the mounting arm is attached to the main housing with a ball assembly having a plug having an axial bore, the plug extending into the receptacle wherein a central screw extends through the open rear surface of the mounting arm and extends into the axial bore for fastening the plug in the receptacle, the ball assembly also having a ball that is pivotally mounted within the socket, such that when the mounting plate is attached within the mounting plate recess the ball is accommodated between the socket and the semi-spherical collar for allowing the ball to rotate and pivot therein for allowing the main housing to pivotally adjust with respect to the mounting arm.

2. The safety mirror as recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting arm has a mounting arm flange for attaching the mounting arm flange to the door of the patrol car.

3. The safety mirror as recited in claim 2, further comprising a mounting arm cover, for attaching to and covering the open rear surface of the mounting arm following securement of the plug within the receptacle.