Sectionalized and detachable side view mirror for a vehicle

• US 8,622,558 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jongyoung Kim
• Original Assignee: Jongyoung Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Jongyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Doak, Jennifer L.
• Application Number:
  US13/393,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20120162800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/850, 359871-877
• US Class Current: 359/865
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors

Abstract

Disclosed is a sectionalized and detachable side view mirror assembly for a vehicle. The sectionalized and detachable side view mirror assembly includes: a housing having a hollow section therewithin; a central mirror by which a driver sees the rear side of the vehicle from inside of the vehicle; a lateral mirror by which the driver sees a blind spot in vicinity of the rear side of the vehicle from inside of the vehicle; a lower mirror by which the driver sees a lower rear side of the vehicle from inside of the vehicle; a central mirror mounting part for securing the central mirror within the hollow section of the housing; a lateral mirror mounting part for securing the lateral mirror within the hollow section of the housing; and a lower mirror mounting part for securing the lower mirror within the hollow section of the housing.

Claims

1. A sectionalized and detachable side view mirror assembly for a vehicle, the sectionalized and detachable side view mirror assembly comprising:

a housing having a hollow section therewithin;

a central mirror by which a driver sees the rear side of the vehicle from inside of the vehicle;

a lateral mirror by which the driver sees a blind spot in vicinity of the rear side of the vehicle from the inside of the vehicle;

a lower mirror by which the driver sees a lower rear side of the vehicle from the inside of the vehicle;

a central mirror mounting part for securing the central mirror within the hollow section of the housing;

a lateral mirror mounting part for securing the lateral mirror within the hollow section of the housing; and

a lower mirror mounting part for securing the lower mirror within the hollow section of the housing,

wherein the central mirror mounting part, the lateral mirror mounting part, and the lower mirror mounting part are integrally formed and insertedly provided in such a manner that the central mirror mounting part, the lateral mirror mounting part, and the lower mirror mounting part cover the hollow section of the housing,

the lateral mirror mounting part is positioned at a lateral side of the central mirror mounting part away from the vehicle, and is inclined with a predetermined angle toward outside of the housing along an outward direction of the vehicle, and

the lower mirror mounting part is positioned below the central mirror mounting part, and is inclined with a predetermined angle toward inside of the housing along a downward direction,

wherein an angle formed by the lateral mirror mounting part and the central mirror mounting part ranges from 183°

to 185°

, an angle formed by the lower mirror mounting part and the central mirror mounting part ranges from 175°

to 177°

, a length ratio of the central mirror to the lower mirror ranges from 7;

3 to 8;

2, and a width ratio of the central mirror to the lateral mirror ranges from 7;

3 to 8;

2.

2. A sectionalized and detachable side view mirror assembly for a vehicle, the sectionalized and detachable side view mirror assembly comprising:

a housing having a hollow section therewithin;

a central mirror by which a driver sees the rear side of the vehicle from inside of the vehicle;

a lateral mirror by which the driver sees a blind spot in vicinity of the rear side of the vehicle from the inside of the vehicle;

a lower mirror by which the driver sees a lower rear side of the vehicle from the inside of the vehicle;

a central mirror mounting part for securing the central mirror within the hollow section of the housing;

a lateral mirror mounting part for securing the lateral mirror within the hollow section of the housing; and

a lower mirror mounting part for securing the lower mirror within the hollow section of the housing,

wherein the central mirror mounting part, the lateral mirror mounting part, and the lower mirror mounting part are integrally formed and insertedly provided in such a manner that the central mirror mounting part, the lateral mirror mounting part, and the lower mirror mounting part cover the hollow section of the housing,

the lateral mirror mounting part is positioned at a lateral side of the central mirror mounting part away from the vehicle, and is inclined with a predetermined angle toward outside of the housing along an outward direction of the vehicle, and

the lower mirror mounting part is positioned below the central mirror mounting part, and is inclined with a predetermined angle toward inside of the housing along a downward direction,

wherein the central mirror mounting part comprises a front-side frame, a back panel, and a hinge, wherein the front-side frame has a rectangular opening allowing the central mirror to be exposed to outside, the back panel is fixed within the housing, and has a space between the back panel and the front-side frame to allow the central mirror to be inserted therein, and the hinge is formed at one side end of the front-side frame and the back panel, connects the front-side frame and the back panel to each other, and allows the front-side frame to rotate with a predetermined angle, wherein at one end of the front-side frame, a fastening protrusion is formed which is fastened with the back panel by being forcedly fitted, at a corresponding position of the back panel, a fastening groove fastened with the fastening protrusion is formed to forcedly hold the central mirror inserted within the space through fastening, and a front surface of the front-side frame is coated with a reflective material,

the lateral mirror mounting part comprises a front-side frame, a back panel, and a hinge, wherein the front-side frame has a semicircular opening allowing the lateral mirror to be exposed to the outside, the back panel is fixed within the housing, and has a space between the back panel and the front-side frame to allow the lateral mirror to be inserted therein, and the hinge is formed at one side end of the front-side frame and the back panel, connects the front-side frame and the back panel to each other, and allows the front-side frame to rotate with a predetermined angle, wherein at one end of the front-side frame, a fastening protrusion is formed which is fastened with the back panel by being forcedly fitted, at a corresponding position of the back panel, a fastening groove fastened with the fastening protrusion is formed to forcedly hold the lateral mirror inserted within the space through fastening, and a front surface of the front-side frame is coated with a reflective material, and

the lower mirror mounting part comprises a front-side frame, a back panel, and a hinge, wherein the front-side frame has a rectangular opening allowing the lower mirror to be exposed to the outside, the back panel is fixed within the housing, and has a space between the back panel and the front-side frame to allow the lower mirror to be inserted therein, and the hinge is formed at one side end of the front-side frame and the back panel, connects the front-side frame and the back panel to each other, and allows the front-side frame to rotate with a predetermined angle, wherein at one end of the front-side frame, a fastening protrusion is formed which is fastened with the back panel by being forcedly fitted, at a corresponding position of the back panel, a fastening groove fastened with the fastening protrusion is formed to forcedly hold the lower mirror inserted within the space through fastening, and a front surface of the front-side frame is coated with a reflective material.

3. The sectionalized and detachable side view mirror assembly for the vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein spaces corresponding to twice thicknesses of the central mirror, the lateral mirror, and the lower mirror are formed between the front-side frame and the back panel of the central mirror mounting part, the front-side frame and the back panel of the lateral mirror mounting part, and the front-side frame and the back panel of the lower mirror mounting part, respectively, two overlapping central mirrors, two overlapping lateral mirrors, and two overlapping lower mirrors are inserted in the spaces, and then, the fastening protrusion and the fastening groove of the central mirror mounting part are fastened with each other to forcedly hold the two overlapping central mirrors, the fastening protrusion and the fastening groove of the lateral mirror mounting part are fastened with each other to forcedly hold the two overlapping lateral mirrors, and the fastening protrusion and the fastening groove of the lower mirror mounting part are fastened with each other to forcedly hold the two overlapping lower mirrors.

4. A sectionalized and detachable side view mirror assembly for a vehicle, the sectionalized and detachable side view mirror assembly comprising:

a housing having a hollow section therewithin, the hollow section being divided into two parts by a sheet-type vertical panel in a vertical direction;

a rectangular central mirror;

a semicircular lateral mirror;

a rectangular lower mirror;

a central mirror mounting part for securing the central mirror within the hollow section of the housing;

a lateral mirror mounting part for securing the lateral mirror within the hollow section of the housing;

a lower mirror mounting part for securing the lower mirror within the hollow section of the housing; and

an actuator for adjusting angles of the lateral mirror mounting part and the lower mirror mounting part,

wherein the central mirror mounting part comprises a front-side frame, a back panel, and a hinge, wherein the front-side frame has a rectangular opening allowing the central mirror to be exposed to outside, the back panel is fixed within the housing, and has a space between the back panel and the front-side frame to allow the central mirror to be inserted therein, and the hinge is formed at one side end of the front-side frame and the back panel, connects the front-side frame and the back panel to each other, and allows the front-side frame to rotate with a predetermined angle, wherein at one end of the front-side frame, a fastening protrusion is formed which is fastened with the back panel by being forcedly fitted, at a corresponding position of the back panel, a fastening groove fastened with the fastening protrusion is formed to forcedly hold the central mirror inserted within the space through fastening, and a front surface of the front-side frame is coated with a reflective material,

the lateral mirror mounting part comprises a front-side frame, a back panel, a hinge, and a spur gear, wherein the front-side frame has a semicircular opening allowing the lateral mirror to be exposed to the outside, the back panel has a space between the back panel and the front-side frame to allow the lateral mirror to be inserted therein, and the hinge is formed at one side end of the front-side frame and the back panel, connects the front-side frame and the back panel to each other, and allows the front-side frame to rotate with a predetermined angle, wherein at one end of the front-side frame, a fastening protrusion is formed which is fastened with the back panel by being forcedly fitted, at a corresponding position of the back panel, a fastening groove fastened with the fastening protrusion is formed to forcedly hold the lateral mirror inserted within the space through fastening, a front surface of the front-side frame is coated with a reflective material, at both lateral ends of the back panel, a rotation shaft is formed which is fixed to an inner surface of the housing and the vertical panel to rotate the back panel with a predetermined angle, and the spur gear is engaged with the actuator to adjust the angle of the back panel during motor-rotation of the actuator,

the lower mirror mounting part comprises a front-side frame, a back panel, a hinge, and a spur gear, wherein the front-side frame has a rectangular opening allowing the lower mirror to be exposed to the outside, the back panel is fixed within the housing, and has a space between the back panel and the front-side frame to allow the lower mirror to be inserted therein, and the hinge is formed at one side end of the front-side frame and the back panel, connects the front-side frame and the back panel to each other, and allows the front-side frame to rotate with a predetermined angle, wherein at one end of the front-side frame, a fastening protrusion is formed which is fastened with the back panel by being forcedly fitted, at a corresponding position of the back panel, a fastening groove fastened with the fastening protrusion is formed to forcedly hold the lower mirror inserted within the space through fastening, a front surface of the front-side frame is coated with a reflective material, at both lateral ends of the back panel, a rotation shaft is formed which is fixed to inner upper and lower surfaces of the housing to rotate the back panel with a predetermined angle, and the spur gear is engaged with the actuator to adjust the angle of the back panel during the motor-rotation of the actuator,

wherein the central mirror mounting part and the lower mirror mounting part are inserted in such a manner that the central mirror mounting part, and the lower mirror mounting part cover one side hollow section of the vertical panel within the housing, and the lower mirror mounting part is provided below the central mirror mounting part,

the lateral mirror mounting part is inserted in such a manner that the lateral mirror mounting part covers the other side hollow section of the vertical panel within the housing, and

both the spur gear of the lateral mirror mounting part and the spur gear of the lower mirror mounting part are engaged with the actuator to simultaneously adjust angles of the lateral mirror mounting part and the lower mirror mounting part during the motor-rotation of the actuator.

5. The sectionalized and detachable side view mirror assembly for the vehicle as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an indoor remote control for controlling the actuator, the indoor remote control being provided inside the vehicle,

wherein the actuator comprises a motor and a gear box, wherein the motor is rotated in any one direction by an operation of the indoor remote control, and the gear box is connected to said spur gears to transfer rotary motion of the motor, which allows the spur gear of the lateral mirror mounting part and the spur gear of the lower mirror mounting part to move in opposite directions during rotation of the motor,

when the motor rotates in one direction, the lateral mirror mounting part is inclined with a predetermined angle toward outside of the housing along an outward direction of the vehicle, and the lower mirror mounting part is inclined with a predetermined angle toward inside of the housing along a downward direction, and

when the motor rotates in the other direction, inclined angles of the lateral mirror mounting part and the lower mirror mounting part are unfolded so as to allow the lateral mirror mounting part and the lower mirror mounting part to be on the same plane as the central mirror mounting part.