Mirror apparatus for automobile

• US 4,349,247 A
• Filed: 07/30/1980
• Issued: 09/14/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (Mitsubishi Materials Corporation), Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (Mitsubishi Materials Corporation), Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Matsuzaki, Mikio, Koyama, Yukio, Akizuki, Kunio, Kondo, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Application Number:
  US06/173,907
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 350/277, 350/283, 350/293, 350/301, 350/302, 350/307
• US Class Current: 359/863
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08

Abstract

A mirror apparatus for automobile including an objective mirror region having an objective mirror and an ocular mirror region having a planar ocular mirror, wherein: the objective mirror is provided outside the automobile body to face an area of ground surface centering around the vicinity of the corner of the automobile body located opposite to the driver'"'"'s seat, and the ocular mirror is disposed in a space within the ocular mirror region which has a first aperture for receiving therethrough an image reflected by the objective mirror and a second aperture for transmitting therethrough an image reflected by the ocular mirror to the driver'"'"'s eyes. The first aperture has a limited size necessary for receiving the image on the objective mirror region reflected on the ocular mirror. Thus, this mirror apparatus enables the driver to have a good view of the blind area which otherwise would develop on that site located opposite to the driver'"'"'s seat, and also is able to block the entry of unnecessary light to the mirrors.

Claims

1. A mirror apparatus for automobile, comprising an objective mirror region having a convexed curved objective mirror and a planar ocular mirror region having a planar ocular mirror, wherein:

said objective mirror is provided to face an area of ground surface centering around the vicinity of that corner within a driver'"'"'s chamber located opposite to the driver'"'"'s seat,

said ocular mirror is provided within a space of the ocular mirror region having a first aperture for receiving therethrough an image reflected by said objective mirror and a second aperture for transmitting therethrough to the driver an image reflected by said ocular mirror, and

said first aperture has such a limited size as is required for receiving the image from said objective mirror region that is reflected by said objective mirror.

2. A mirror apparatus according to claim 1, in which said ocular mirror is provided within an inner space of said objective mirror region for free adjustment of its visual field.

3. A mirror apparatus according to claim 2, in which said ocular mirror region includes a housing having a first aperture and a second aperture,

said housing is attached to a body of said automobile and is freely moveable with respect to said automobile at that side of said housing which is attached to said body, and

said housing is rotatable and pivotable about a vertical line and is pivotable with respect to a horizontal line as viewed from the driver'"'"'s seat.

4. A mirror apparatus according to claim 3, in which said ocular mirror is provided within said housing for free adjustment of its visual field.

5. A mirror apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light-blocking hood extending to project beyond marginal edges of said objective mirror of the objective mirror region.

6. A mirror apparatus according to claim 5, in which said first aperture of the ocular mirror region has such limited size as will reflect said objective mirror surface and those portions of said light-blocking hood which are located beyond the marginal portions of said objective mirror.

7. A mirror apparatus according to claim 1, in which either one of said first aperture and said second aperture of said ocular mirror region is provided, at its peripheral portions, with cover means having a reduced transmissibility of light rays as compared with those portions of said aperture located inner than said marginal portions.

8. A mirror apparatus according to claim 1, in which both of said first and second apertures of said ocular mirror region are provided, at their marginal portions, with cover means each having a reduced transmissibility of light rays as compared with those portions of said apertures located inner than said marginal portions.

9. A mirror apparatus according to claim 8, in which said cover means have such transmissibility of light rays as will become lower as the portions of the cover means go closer toward the marginal edges thereof.

10. A mirror apparatus according to claim 2, in which said objective mirror region has a main body portion and a light-blocking hood portion, and

said hood portion is operable for adjustment of position so as not to block transmission of image to the driver when a visual field provided by said ocular mirror is adjusted.