Blind spot mirror

• US 8,770,766 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harry Snegg
• Original Assignee: Harry Snegg
• Inventors: Snegg, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Chwasz, Jade R
• Application Number:
  US13/183,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20120014008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 359/844
• 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 blind spot mirror configured to attach to a face of a side mounted automobile mirror to provide an enhanced view. The blind spot mirror includes a mirror and a mirror housing. The mirror housing includes a plurality of rectangular-column support posts and a plurality of protrusions configured to support the mirror. The blind spot mirror includes a base coupled to a rear surface of the mirror housing. The base includes a flat rear surface configured to couple to a face of a side mounted automobile mirror. The blind spot mirror includes a ball and socket coupling member coupled to the base and the mirror housing. The ball and socket coupling member is configured to functionally pivot the mirror housing about the side mounted automobile mirror. The ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center on the mirror housing.

Claims

1. A blind spot mirror configured to attach to a face of a side mounted automobile mirror, thereby providing an enhanced view, comprising:

a) a mirror including a reflective layer disposed across an interior surface of the mirror;

wherein an exterior surface of the mirror does not include a reflective layer;

b) a mirror housing, comprising;

b1) a cavity sized to receive the mirror wherein the cavity is formed by a perimeter wall extending upwardly from a bottom surface thereby forming a bowl-shaped structure;

b2) a plurality of rectangular-column support posts coupled to and extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the cavity and coupled directly to and disposed along the perimeter wall of the cavity, wherein at least two support posts are coupled to each side of the perimeter wall of the cavity; and

b3) a plurality of protrusions, each extending inwardly from the perimeter wall of the cavity and each spaced above a top surface of a support post, wherein each side of the perimeter wall of the cavity includes at least one protrusion;

wherein the plurality of protrusions extends over the plurality of rectangular-column support posts; and

c) a base coupled to a rear surface of the mirror housing including a flat rear surface configured to couple to a face of a side mounted automobile mirror.

2. The mirror of claim 1, further comprising a ball and socket coupling member coupled to the base and the mirror housing and configured to functionally pivot the mirror housing about the side mounted automobile mirror.

3. The mirror of claim 2, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center, from a left side to a right side, on the mirror housing and wherein the protrusions are wedge-shaped, having an angled top surface and a flattened bottom surface such that the top surface angles downward and inward, thereby permitting leverage when assembling the mirror.

4. The mirror of claim 2, wherein the rectangular-column support posts closer to the ball and socket member are taller than the support posts further from the ball and socket member.

5. The mirror of claim 1, wherein the flat rear surface of the base further includes a high bond adhesive layer configured to securely couple the blind spot mirror to the side mounted automobile mirror.

6. The mirror of claim 2, further comprising an adhesive platform disposed on the socket coupling member, disposed in the cavity of the mirror housing and configured to support an adhesive to couple to the mirror, and secure thereto.

7. The mirror of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions include a beveled edge configured to facilitate assembly and a non-beveled edge configured to prevent the mirror from detaching from the mirror housing, and wherein the rectangular-column support posts are angled to not match a concavity of the rear surface of the mirror such that a contact point between each support post and the mirror is a single line of contact along an exterior edge of the mirror instead of an area of contact about the rear surface of the mirror.

8. The mirror of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rectangular-column support posts are disposed substantially below the plurality of protrusions configured to secure the mirror therebetween.

9. A blind spot mirror configured to attach to a face of a side mounted automobile mirror, thereby providing an enhanced view, consisting essentially of:

a) a mirror including a reflective layer disposed across an interior surface of the mirror;

wherein an exterior surface of the mirror does not include a reflective layer;

b) a mirror housing, comprising;

b1) a cavity sized to receive the mirror;

b2) a plurality of rectangular-column support posts extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the cavity and disposed along a perimeter wall of the cavity;

wherein the perimeter wall extends from a bottom surface and the perimeter wall and bottom surface form the cavity; and

b3) a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly from the perimeter wall of the cavity and spaced above a top surface of a support post;

wherein the plurality of protrusions extends over the plurality of rectangular-column support posts;

c) a base coupled to a rear surface of the mirror housing including a flat rear surface configured to couple to a face of a side mounted automobile mirror; and

d) a ball and socket coupling member coupled to the base and the mirror housing and configured to functionally pivot the mirror housing about the side mounted automobile mirror.

10. The mirror of claim 9, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center on the mirror housing.

11. The mirror of claim 10, wherein the flat rear surface of the base further includes a high bond adhesive layer configured to securely couple the blind spot mirror to the side mounted automobile mirror.

12. The mirror of claim 11, further comprising an adhesive platform disposed on the socket coupling member disposed in the cavity of the mirror housing and configured to support an adhesive to couple to the mirror, and secure thereto.

13. The mirror of claim 12, wherein the plurality of protrusions include a beveled edge configured to prevent the mirror from detaching from the mirror housing.

14. The mirror of claim 13, wherein the mirror is configured to be inset into the mirror housing in between the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of support posts.

15. The mirror of claim 14, wherein the plurality of rectangular-column support posts are disposed substantially below the plurality of protrusions configured to secure the mirror therebetween.

16. A blind spot mirror configured to attach to a face of a side mounted automobile mirror, thereby providing an enhanced view, consisting of:

a) a mirror including a reflective layer disposed across an interior surface of the mirror;

wherein an exterior surface of the mirror does not include a reflective layer;

b) a mirror housing, comprising;

b1) a cavity sized to receive the mirror;

b2) a plurality of rectangular-column support posts extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the cavity and disposed along a perimeter of the cavity;

wherein the cavity is formed by a perimeter wall extending upwardly from a bottom surface; and

b3) a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly from the perimeter wall of the cavity and spaced above a top surface of a support post;

wherein the plurality of protrusions include a beveled edge configured to prevent the mirror from detaching from the mirror housing;

wherein the mirror is configured to be inset into the mirror housing in between the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of rectangular-column support posts;

wherein the plurality of rectangular-column support posts are disposed substantially below the plurality of protrusions configured to secure the mirror therebetween;

wherein the plurality of protrusions extends over the plurality of rectangular-column support posts;

c) a base coupled to a rear surface of the mirror housing including a flat rear surface configured to couple to a face of a side mounted automobile mirror;

wherein the flat rear surface of the base further includes a high bond adhesive layer configured to securely couple the blind spot mirror to the side mounted automobile mirror;

d) a ball and socket coupling member coupled to the base and the mirror housing and configured to functionally pivot the mirror housing about the side mounted automobile mirror;

wherein the ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center on the mirror housing; and

e) an adhesive platform disposed on the socket coupling member disposed in the cavity of the mirror housing and configured to support an adhesive to couple to the mirror, and secure thereto.