LATERAL-VIEW MIRROR FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20170144601A1
• Filed: 11/25/2016
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Barry Hutzel, Charon Mcnabb, Lowell Martinson, Steve Brangwyn
• Original Assignee: Barry Hutzel, Charon Mcnabb, Lowell Martinson, Steve Brangwyn
• Inventors: Martinson, Lowell, McNabb, Charon, Hutzel, Barry, Brangwyn, Steve
• Application Number:
  US15/361,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20170144601A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• 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: B60R 1/007 specially adapted for covering the lateral blind spot not covered by the usual rear-view mirror
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1292 with holding means for personal articles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A lateral-view mirror assembly comprising a housing having a first lateral-view mirror and a second lateral-view mirror coupled to a rear portion of a vehicle to provide a driver of a vehicle with the ability to view objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of the vehicle by looking at a reflection of the objects reflected from the first and second lateral-view mirrors to the rear-view mirror to the driver. The lateral-view mirror assembly is helpful when backing out of a parking space and also when changing lanes and is located adjacent a ceiling of the vehicle in order to function properly even when a passenger is seated below the lateral-view mirror assembly.

Claims

1. A lateral-view mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing coupled to a rear portion of a vehicle, wherein the housing is located at a substantially center portion of an interior surface-of a rear window and adjacent a ceiling of the vehicle to locate the housing above a head of a passenger seated below the housing;

a first lateral-view mirror coupled to the housing, the first lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with a rear-view mirror of the vehicle to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of the rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of the objects reflected from the first lateral-view mirror to the rear-view mirror to the driver; and

a second lateral-view mirror coupled to the housing, the second lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with the rear-view mirror of the vehicle to allow the driver to view objects positioned lateral to the driver'"'"'s side of the rear portion of the vehicle by looking at a reflection of the objects reflected from the second lateral-view mirror to the rear-view mirror to said driver.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising lights coupled within the housing.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a compartment located within a base of the housing.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an integral brake light.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a backup camera to view objects positioned behind the rear portion of the vehicle.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is coupled to the interior surface of the rear window.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein housing is coupled to the ceiling of the vehicle.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising rear lighting, wherein the rear lighting provides light behind and lateral to each side of the vehicle during backing operations.

11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a compartment located within a base of the housing.

9. A lateral-view mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing moveably coupled to an adjustment device, wherein the adjustment device is coupled to a rear portion of a vehicle to locate the housing at a substantially center portion of an interior surface-of a rear window;

a first lateral-view mirror coupled to the housing, the first lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with a rear-view mirror of the vehicle to allow a driver to view objects positioned lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of the rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of the objects reflected from the first lateral-view mirror to the rear-view mirror to the driver; and

a second lateral-view mirror coupled to the housing, the second lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with the rear-view mirror of the vehicle to allow the driver to view objects positioned lateral to the driver'"'"'s side of the rear portion of the vehicle by looking at a reflection of the objects reflected from the second lateral-view mirror to the rear-view mirror to said driver, wherein;

the adjustment device operates to adjust an angle of the housing with respect to the rear window to adjust the viewing angle of the first lateral-view mirror and the second lateral view mirror.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the adjustment device couples the housing adjacent a ceiling of the vehicle to locate the housing above a head of a passenger seated below the housing.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the adjustment device comprises an adjustment plate and a pivot structure.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the pivot structure couples a base of the housing to the adjustment plate.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the pivot structure operates to rotate the housing with respect to the adjustment plate.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the adjustment plate is coupled to the interior surface of the rear window.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the adjustment device further comprises a mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is coupled to the interior surface of the rear window and the adjustment plate is coupled to the mounting plate.

17. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the pivot structure comprises a torque hinge.

18. A method of using a lateral-view mirror assembly for a vehicle, the method comprising:

adjustably coupling the lateral-view mirror assembly to a rear portion of a vehicle to locate the housing at a substantially center portion of an interior surface-of a rear window;

adjusting an angle of the lateral-view mirror assembly with respect to the rear window;

using a first lateral-view mirror coupled to the housing, the first lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with a rear-view mirror of the vehicle to view objects positioned lateral to a passenger'"'"'s side of the rear portion of said vehicle by looking at a reflection of the objects reflected from the first lateral-view mirror to the rear-view mirror to the driver; and

using a second lateral-view mirror coupled to the housing, the second lateral-view mirror being positioned in a line of sight with the rear-view mirror of the vehicle, to view objects positioned lateral to the driver'"'"'s side of the rear portion of the vehicle by looking at a reflection of the objects reflected from the second lateral-view mirror to the rear-view mirror to said driver.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the adjusting the angle of the lateral-view mirror assembly with respect to the rear window comprises operating an adjustment device of the lateral-view mirror assembly to adjust the angle of the housing with respect to the rear window to adjust the viewing angle of the first lateral-view mirror and the second lateral view mirror.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising independently adjusting the first lateral-view mirror and the second lateral-view mirror within the housing.