Vehicular mirror

• US 20040027697A1
• Filed: 05/27/2000
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Strumolo, Gary Steven, Tijerina, Louis, Miller, Ronald Hugh, Greenberg, Jeffry Allen
• Granted Patent: US 6,932,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/864
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors

Abstract

A vehicular mirror 12 having a first curved portion 18 and a second substantially planar portion 16. The first curved portion 18 is deployed in close proximity to the vehicle 10, thereby substantially eliminating the conventional “blind spot” while concomitantly providing a relatively wide field of view.

Claims

1. ) A vehicular mirror comprising a first substantially planar portion and a second curved portion in close proximity to the vehicle.

2. ) The vehicular mirror of claim 1 wherein said second curved portion has a varying height.

3. ) The vehicular mirror of claim 2 wherein said vehicular mirror includes a score line.

4. ) The vehicular mirror of claim 2 wherein said vehicular mirror is movably coupled to the vehicle.

5. ) A vehicular mirror comprising a first generally planar portion and a second curved portion in close proximity to the vehicle and wherein said second curved portion has a varying radius of curvature.

6. ) The vehicular mirror of claim 5 wherein said second curved portion has a varying height.

7. ) The vehicular mirror of claim 5 wherein said vehicular mirror includes a score line.

8. ) The vehicular mirror of claim 5 wherein said vehicular mirror is movably coupled to the vehicle.

9. ) The vehicular mirror of claim 5 wherein said vehicular mirror is contained within a shroud.

10. ) The vehicular mirror of claim 5 wherein said vehicular mirror has a generally elliptical cross sectional area.

11. ) A vehicular mirror assembly for use with a vehicle, said vehicular mirror assembly comprising a first portion which is proximate to said vehicle and which provides a first image of an object having a false measure of distance and a second portion which provides a second image of a second object having a substantially true measure of distance.

12. ) The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 11 wherein said first portion is curved and said second portion is substantially planar.

13. ) The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 12 wherein said first portion has a continuously varying radius of curvature.

14. ) The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 13 wherein said first portion has a varying height.

15. ) The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 14 wherein said vehicular mirror assembly is movably coupled to the vehicle.

16. ) The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 15 wherein said first portion includes a score line.

17. ) The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 16 wherein said vehicular mirror assembly has a generally elliptical cross sectional area.

18. ) The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 17 further comprising a switch assembly which is coupled to said mirror assembly;

and a motor which is coupled to said switch assembly and to said vehicular mirror assembly and which cooperates with said switch assembly to allow said vehicular mirror assembly to be selectively movable.

19. ) The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 18 wherein said switch assembly cooperates with said motor assembly to move said vehicular mirror assembly by a certain predetermined amount.

20. ) The vehicular mirror assembly of claim 19 wherein said certain predetermined amount comprises about seven degrees.