Asymmetric multiple constant radii of curvature convex mirrors

• US 7,780,301 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Inventors: Serer, Julian, Englander, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer; Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US12/110,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20090015954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 359/851, 359/866, 359/868, 359/871
• US Class Current: 359/868
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces

Abstract

An asymmetrical mirror lens, usable on front fenders of school buses and similar vehicles, which has a plurality of mirror sections, each having a distinct constant radius of curvature to reduce image distortion. Optional sections located between sections of the constant radius of curvature have a step-wise changing radii of curvature to smooth the image sizes as an object moves across the mirror lens.

Claims

1. An asymmetric convex mirror lens, comprising:

an asymmetric convex mirror dome lens having a peripheral edge which defines a width-wise extending axis and an height-wise extending axis and a plurality of sections of constant radius of curvature arranged width-wise along the mirror dome lens, including a first section having a first constant radius of curvature, located to one side relative to the height-wise axis of the mirror dome lens and a second section having a second constant radius of curvature which is different from the first constant radius of curvature, located to the left of the height-wise extending axis of the mirror dome lens, wherein the asymmetric convex mirror dome lens defines a base with the peripheral edge lying in a flat plane, and the peripheral edge of the base asymmetrically shaped which is neither circular, nor oval, nor elliptical in shape and is asymmetric with respect to both the width-wise extending axis and the height-wise extending axis.

2. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge is comprised of curved sections, including a plurality thereof that have constant radii of curvature.

3. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 2, wherein the base has a shape that is more square at the bottom of the mirror lens and more pointed at the top, where the peak of the lens is defined.

4. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 2, wherein the width-wise extending axis comprises a first horizontal distance that is different than a second horizontal distance from an intersection of the height-wise and width-wise extending axes, and wherein the height-wise extending axis comprises a first vertical distance that is different than a second vertical distance from the intersection.

5. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 1, wherein the first section comprises a first asymmetric section and the second section comprises a second asymmetric section.

6. The asymmetrical mirror lens of claim 1, wherein the width-wise extending axis comprises a first horizontal distance that is different than a second horizontal distance from an intersection of the height-wise and width-wise extending axes, and wherein the height-wise extending axis comprises a first vertical distance that is different than a second vertical distance from the intersection.