Flip-up convex mirror attachment

• US 7,316,485 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alison L. Roose
• Original Assignee: Alison L. Roose
• Inventors: Roose, Alison L.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMARI, ALESSANDRO V
• Application Number:
  US11/508,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20070047115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 359/844, 359/868, 359/872
• US Class Current: 359/844
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence

Abstract

A flip-up convex mirror attachment for installation onto the original equipment mirror in vehicles with either a left-side or right-side driver. The flip-up convex mirror attachment attaches to the mirror surface of the original equipment interior mirror found in most motor vehicles. The flip-up convex mirror attachment contains an angled hinge block for creating a predefined offset angle between the flip-up convex mirror and the OEM mirror such that the reflected image on the side of the mirror nearest the driver is maintained at generally the same point behind the vehicle as the original equipment mirror. The wedge-based hinge assembly may be attached to the flat mirror surface on either a left-side or right-side driver vehicle and still maintain the desired angular offset between the OEM and flip-up convex mirrors.

Claims

1. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle comprising:

a convex mirror having a reflective convex mirror surface (41) and a first and second hinge socket on the opposing surface of the convex mirror,

a wedge block having a flat surface for attaching the wedge block to the mirrored surface of the OEM mirror and a hinge pin on the opposing side of the wedge block,

a means for attaching the flat surface of the wedge block to the upper right portion of the mirrored surface of the OEM mirror,

wherein the hinge pin on the wedge block is inserted into the first hinge socket on the convex mirror to form a hinge for rotation of the convex mirror about the upper horizontal edge of the OEM mirror thereby allowing the motor vehicle operator sitting on the left-hand side of the vehicle to select between the reflected image of the OEM mirror or the convex mirror.

2. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein,

the wedge block defines an angle between the relative surface planes defined by the OEM and convex mirror surfaces (41) such that the OEM and convex mirrors reflect the same image in the edge of the mirror closest to the driver when either the OEM mirror or the convex mirror is in use.

3. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 2 wherein,

the hinge rotates between predefined rotational stops allowing the motor vehicle operator to easily and consistently move the convex mirror between the UP position for viewing a reflected image using the OEM mirror or the DOWN position for viewing a wider angle reflected image using the convex mirror.

4. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 3 wherein,

the predefined angle of the wedge block provides a means for the motor vehicle driver to adjust the OEM and convex mirror assembly to a desired position while viewing the reflected image from either mirror while knowing that the reflected image from the other mirror will maintain the same reflected image on the side of the mirror nearest the driver.

5. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle comprising:

a convex mirror having a reflective convex mirror surface (41) and a hinge pin on the opposing surface of the convex mirror,

a wedge block having a flat surface for attaching the wedge block to the mirrored surface of the OEM mirror and a first and a second hinge socket on the opposing side of the wedge block,

a means for attaching the flat surface of the wedge block to the upper right portion of the mirrored surface of the OEM mirror,

wherein the hinge pin on the convex mirror is connected to the first hinge socket on the wedge block to form a hinge for rotation of the convex mirror about the upper horizontal edge of the OEM mirror thereby allowing the motor vehicle operator sitting on the left-hand side of the vehicle to select between the reflected image of the OEM mirror or the convex mirror.

6. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 5 wherein,

the hinge defines an angle between the relative surface planes defined by the OEM and convex mirror surfaces such that the OEM and convex mirrors reflect the same image in the edge of the mirror closest to the driver when either the OEM mirror or the convex mirror is in use.

7. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 6 wherein,

the hinge rotates between predefined rotational stops allowing the motor vehicle operator to easily and consistently move the convex mirror between the UP position for viewing a reflected image using the OEM mirror or the DOWN position for viewing a wider angle reflected image using the convex mirror.

8. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle comprising:

a convex mirror having a reflective convex mirror surface (41) and a sliding rail on the opposing surface of the convex mirror,

a wedge block having a flat surface for attaching the wedge block to the mirrored surface of the OEM mirror and a first and second hinge socket on the opposing side of the wedge block,

a sliding hinge pin block having a hinge pin for connecting the sliding hinge pin block to the first hinge socket on the wedge block and a sliding socket on the opposing side of the sliding hinge pin block for attaching to the sliding rail on the convex mirror,

a means for attaching the flat surface of the wedge block to the upper right portion of the mirrored surface of the OEM mirror,

wherein the sliding socket on the sliding hinge pin block is connected to the sliding rail on the convex mirror for lateral adjustments of the convex mirror relative to the OEM mirror,

wherein the hinge pin on the sliding hinge pin block is connected to the first hinge socket on the wedge block to form a hinge for rotation of the convex mirror about the upper horizontal edge of the OEM mirror thereby allowing the motor vehicle operator sitting on the left-hand side of the vehicle to select between the reflected image of the OEM mirror or the convex mirror.

9. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 8 wherein,

the upper and lower hinge sockets of the wedge block define an angle between the relative surface planes defined by the OEM and convex mirror surfaces such that the OEM and convex mirrors reflect the same image in the edge of the mirror closest to the driver when either the OEM mirror or the convex mirror is in use.

10. A flip-up convex mirror attachment for use on a motor vehicle OEM mirror with steering on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle as defined in claim 9 wherein,

the hinge rotates between predefined rotational stops allowing the motor vehicle operator to easily and consistently move the convex mirror between the UP position for viewing a reflected image using the OEM mirror or the DOWN position for viewing a wider angle reflected image using the convex mirror.