VEHICLE SIDE REAR-VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY HAVING A MEANS FOR EXPOSING A BLIND SPOT

• US 20150165976A1
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oscar Yonghwan Choi
• Original Assignee: Oscar Yonghwan Choi
• Inventors: CHOI, Oscar Yonghwan
• Granted Patent: US 9,308,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/007 specially adapted for covering the lateral blind spot not covered by the usual rear-view mirror
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly having a means for exposing a blind spot. The assembly includes a mirror housing mounted on a vehicle; a support frame fixedly mounted on the vehicle; a backing plate movably connected to the support frame; a mirror glass; a connecting means which connects the mirror glass to the backing plate wherein the mirror glass is pivoted on the connecting means about a rotating axis defined by the connecting means; and a motion actuator mounted on the backing plate for rotating the mirror glass about the rotating axis. The assembly further includes a two-motor powered adjustment means for adjusting an orientation of the backing plate in which the two-motor powered adjustment means is fixedly mounted on the support frame.

Claims

1. A vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly having a means for exposing a blind spot, comprising:

a mirror housing mounted on a vehicle;

a support frame fixedly mounted on the vehicle;

a backing plate movably connected to the support frame;

a mirror glass;

a connecting means which connects the mirror glass to the backing plate wherein the mirror glass is pivoted on the connecting means about a rotating axis defined by the connecting means; and

a motion actuator mounted on the backing plate for rotating the mirror glass about the rotating axis.

2. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising a two-motor powered adjustment means for adjusting an orientation of the backing plate wherein the two-motor powered adjustment means is fixedly mounted on the support frame.

3. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod.

4. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein a first joint is provided on an end of the first connecting rod and a second joint is provided on an end of the second connecting rod.

5. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein the rotating axis is defined by a line through the first and second joints.

6. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein the first and second joints are a rotating joint, a pivot joint, a hinge joint, or a ball and socket joint.

7. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein the first connecting rod is coupled by the first joint to the mirror glass and the second connecting rod is coupled by the second joint to the mirror glass.

8. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein the first connecting rod is coupled by the first joint to the backing plate and the second connecting rod is coupled by the second joint to the backing plate.

9. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein the first connecting rod is disposed farther away from the vehicle than the second connecting rod and the first connecting rod is disposed above the second connecting rod.

10. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the mirror glass is a left side mirror glass and the rotating axis is tilted relative to a vertical axis, wherein the motion actuator rotates the mirror glass such that the mirror glass is rotated about 5 degrees outwardly relative to a vertical axis and about 5 degrees downwardly relative to a horizontal axis.

11. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the mirror glass is a right side mirror glass and the rotating axis is tilted relative to a vertical axis, wherein the motion actuator rotates the mirror glass such that the mirror glass is rotated about 13 degrees outwardly relative to a vertical axis and about 5 degrees downwardly relative to a horizontal axis.

12. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the motion actuator is a linear solenoid for pushing and pulling the mirror glass.

13. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the linear solenoid comprises a thrust pin which is coupled to the mirror glass by a ball and socket joint.

14. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the motion actuator is an electric motor, which is adapted to provide a linear motion, for pushing and pulling the mirror glass.

15. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the motion actuator is configured to generate a rotational movement for a predetermined angle and the rotational movement of the motion actuator rotates the mirror glass.

16. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising a switch installed on a steering wheel of the vehicle for activating the motion actuator wherein if the switch is on, the motion actuator rotates the mirror glass and if the switch is off, the motion actuator rotates back the mirror glass to an original angle.

17. The vehicle side rear-view mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein the switch comprises:

an outer cover which covers the steering wheel wherein the outer cover is rotatable with respect to the steering wheel;

a plurality of electrically conductive metal pieces disposed on and attached to an inner side of the outer cover; and

two conductive wires disposed between the outer cover and the steering wheel along a curve of the steering wheel;

wherein the switch is turned on when a driver rotates the outer cover so that at least one conductive metal piece rotates and connects the two conductive wires in order for electricity to flow between the two conductive wires.

18. A vehicle side rear-view mirror system having a means for exposing a blind spot, comprising:

a left side rear-view mirror assembly constructed according to claim 1;

a right side rear-view mirror assembly constructed according to claim 1 wherein the left side rear-view mirror assembly and the right side rear-view mirror assembly are substantially symmetric to each other; and

a switch for activating rotational movement of the left side rear-view mirror and the right side rear-view mirror.

19. The vehicle side rear-view mirror system of claim 18,

wherein when a left turn signal is on, the switch activates rotational movement of the left side rear-view mirror and does not activate rotational movement of the right side rear-view mirror,

wherein when a right turn signal is on, the switch activates rotational movement of the right side rear-view mirror and does not activate rotational movement of the left side rear-view mirror, and

wherein when no turn signal is on, the switch activates rotational movement of both of the left side rear-view mirror and the right side rear-view mirror.

20. The vehicle side rear-view mirror system of claim 18, wherein the rotating axis of the left side rear-view mirror assembly is not symmetric to the rotating axis of the right side rear-view mirror assembly.