Adjustable mirror assembly

• US 9,919,653 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John O'Connor
• Original Assignee: John O'Connor
• Inventors: O'Connor, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US15/090,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20160288716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 359843, 359877
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0483 mounted on a bracket, e.g. details concerning the mouting of the lamps on the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/105 Optical arrangements giving a view under the vehicle, e.g. using periscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1827 Motorised alignment

Abstract

An adjustable mirror assembly. The adjustable mirror assembly includes one or more mirrors that are affixed to a front portion of a vehicle and configured to view the underside of the vehicle. The mirrors allow for both vertical movement and horizontal and vertical angular adjustment. Thus, the mirrors can have a field of view of the underside of the vehicle, which may include a blade for grading road and ground surfaces. In one embodiment, the mirrors are controllable from a control box positioned within the vehicle by a vehicle operator. Further, one or more light sources can be activated to illuminate a desired area for improved vision in low and no light conditions.

Claims

1. An adjustable mirror assembly comprising:

a vehicle having a body with an underside;

one or more mirrors having a reflective element disposed on the vehicle;

wherein at least one mirror of the one or more mirrors is configured to allow a vehicle operator in a driver seat to view the underside of the vehicle;

wherein the one or more mirrors include a first mirror and a second mirror, wherein the first mirror and the second mirror are disposed between a pair of front wheels of a front most axle and the driver seat;

wherein the underside of the body of the vehicle further comprises a blade configured to grade a roadway.

2. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one mirror of the one or more mirrors has a field of view presented to the vehicle operator positioned in the driver seat between 20 degrees and 170 degrees.

3. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more mirrors are non-planar.

4. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more light sources disposed on the vehicle and configured to illuminate the underside of the vehicle.

5. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more mirrors are pivotally affixed to a sliding rod via a ball and socket joint, wherein the one or more mirrors are capable of motion around an infinite number of axes which have a common point.

6. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the sliding rod comprises a first elongated section and a second elongated section fastened together in a telescopic configuration.

7. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

one or more motors operably connected to the one or more mirrors, wherein the one or more motors are configured for vertical angular adjustment and horizontal angular adjustment of the one or more mirrors.

8. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

one or more actuators operably connected to the one or more mirrors configured for vertical translation of the one or more mirrors.

9. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to receive inputs including positional information via an interface, to communicate outputs for selectively actuating one or more actuators or motors, and to cause the one or more actuators or motors to change the position of the one or more mirrors based on the positional information.

10. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein:

the one or more actuators are operably connected to the one or more mirrors and configured for vertical translation of the one or more mirrors.

11. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein:

the one or more motors are operably connected to the one or more mirrors and configured for vertical angular adjustment and horizontal angular adjustment of the one or more mirrors.

12. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mirror and the second mirror of the one or more mirrors are configured to provide overlapping fields of view of the blade, such that the first mirror and the second mirror show the same area of the blade from a differing perspective.

13. An adjustable mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the reflective element of each of the one or more mirrors is facing towards a rear of the vehicle.

14. An adjustable mirror assembly comprising:

a vehicle having a body with an underside;

one or more mirrors having a reflective element disposed on the vehicle;

wherein at least one mirror of the one or more mirrors is configured to allow a vehicle operator in a driver seat to view the underside of the vehicle;

wherein the one or more mirrors include a first mirror and a second mirror, wherein the first mirror and the second mirror are disposed between a pair of front wheels of a front most axle and the driver seat;

wherein the first mirror and the second mirror of the one or more mirrors are configured to provide overlapping fields of view of a blade secured to the body of the vehicle, such that each mirror shows the same area of the blade from a differing perspective.