Strengthened, shatter-resistant vehicular mirror
First Claim
1. A strengthened, reinforced safety mirror comprisinng a sheet of glass having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion and front and rear surfaces;
- reflective coating means substantially covering one of said surfaces for reflecting light;
reinforcing sheet means laid substantially against and being generally coextensive with the rear surface of said mirror for strengthening and shatterproofing said glass sheet, said reinforcing sheet means having a coefficient of thermal expansion generally matched to that of said glass sheet and means for allowing an elastic bonding means to permeate said sheet means and adhere said sheet means to said mirror; and
resilient, elastic bonding means permeating said reinforcing sheet means and forming a layer including said reinforcing sheet means therewithin for adhering said reinforcing sheet means to said mirror whereby during exposure to normal temperatures or either extreme heat or cold, said reinforcing sheet means and said resilient, elastic bonding means together increase the tensile strength of said rear surface of said glass sheet and retain any fragments and pieces of said glass should it be broken.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A strengthened, reinforced safety mirror especially adapted for use in interior rearview mirror assemblies in vehicles used in varying climates. The safety mirror has increased tensile strength and resistance against bending, breakage, and shattering as well as the ability to retain any glass fragments when broken. The mirror includes a reinforcing sheet means secured with adhering or bonding means to the rear surface of the glass mirror element. The reinforcing sheet means has a coefficient of thermal expansion matched to that of the glass to prevent differential expansion between the glass and the reinforcing sheet thereby assuring a secure bond between the same and preventing distortion of the glass in substantially all temperatures. The density of the reinforcing sheet is also preferably matched to the viscosity of the bonding means to further insure a secure bond and proper strength of the mirror.
23 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A strengthened, reinforced safety mirror comprisinng a sheet of glass having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion and front and rear surfaces;
- reflective coating means substantially covering one of said surfaces for reflecting light;
reinforcing sheet means laid substantially against and being generally coextensive with the rear surface of said mirror for strengthening and shatterproofing said glass sheet, said reinforcing sheet means having a coefficient of thermal expansion generally matched to that of said glass sheet and means for allowing an elastic bonding means to permeate said sheet means and adhere said sheet means to said mirror; and
resilient, elastic bonding means permeating said reinforcing sheet means and forming a layer including said reinforcing sheet means therewithin for adhering said reinforcing sheet means to said mirror whereby during exposure to normal temperatures or either extreme heat or cold, said reinforcing sheet means and said resilient, elastic bonding means together increase the tensile strength of said rear surface of said glass sheet and retain any fragments and pieces of said glass should it be broken. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- reflective coating means substantially covering one of said surfaces for reflecting light;
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13. A strengthened, reinforced safety mirror comprising a sheet of glass having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion and front and rear surfaces;
- reflective coating means covering one of said surfaces for reflecting light; and
reinforcing sheet means generally coextensive with, generally parallel to, and lying against and adhered to said rear surface of said mirror for strengthening and shatterproofing said glass sheet, said reinforcing sheet means having a coefficient of thermal expansion generally matched to that of said glass sheet;
resilient, elastic means at least partially including said reinforcing sheet means for adhering said reinforcing sheet means to said rear surface of said mirror whereby during normal temperatures or either extreme heat or cold, said reinforcing sheet means and resilient, elastic adhering means together increase the tensile strength of said rear surface of said glass sheet and retain any fragments and pieces of said glass sheet should it be broken. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- reflective coating means covering one of said surfaces for reflecting light; and
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24. A strengthened, reinforced safety mirror comprising a sheet of glass having front and rear surfaces;
- relative coating means substantially covering one of said surfaces for reflecting light;
reinforcing sheet means laid substantially against and being generally coextensive with the rear surface of said mirror for strengthening and shatterproofing said glass sheet, said reinforcing sheet means including a layer of fabric having first and second woven strands extending generally transversely of one another, said woven fabric having a predetermined fabric density including a predetermined number of strands per square inch; and
resilient, elastic bonding means permeating said reinforcing sheet means and forming a layer including said reinforcing sheet means therewithin for adhering said reinforcing sheet means to said mirror;
said bonding means including a bonding agent flowed over said reinforcing woven fabric and thereafter cured by heating into said resilient, elastic layer, said bonding agent having a predetermined viscosity to thoroughly permeate said fabric and engage said mirror rear surface;
said bonding agent viscosity and fabric density being chosen and matched to allow escape of any trapped gas bubbles formed during assembly of said mirror or curing of said bonding agent such that said layer is securely and substantially continuously adhered to substantially the entire rear surface of said mirror whereby said reinforcing sheet means and said resilient, elastic bonding means together increase the tensile strength of said rear surface of said glass sheet and retain any fragments and pieces of said glass should it be broken. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
- relative coating means substantially covering one of said surfaces for reflecting light;
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27. In a safety rearview mirror assembly for vehicles of the type including a mirror case having a back, peripheral walls extending outwardly from the back, a glass mirror element having a reflective coating on one surface thereof received within said side walls, and peripheral securing means for holding said element in said case, said case including means for supporting at least a portion of the rear surface of said mirror element, the improvement comprising:
- a strengthened, reinforced mirror element comprising a sheet of glass having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion and front and rear surfaces;
reflective coating means covering one of said surfaces for reflective light; and
reinforcing sheet means generally coextensive with, generally parallel to, and lying against and adhered to said rear surface of said mirror element for strengthening and shatterproofing said glass sheet, said reinforcing sheet means having a coefficient of thermal expansion generally matched to that of said glass sheet;
resilient, elastic means at least partially including said reinforcing sheet means for adhering said reinforcing sheet means to said rear surface of said mirror element whereby during normal temperatures or either extreme heat or cold, said reinforcing sheet means and resilient, elastic adhering means together increase the tensile strength of said rear surface of said glass sheet and retain any fragments and pieces of said glass sheet should be broken. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
- a strengthened, reinforced mirror element comprising a sheet of glass having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion and front and rear surfaces;
Specification