Windshield visor mirror

• US 4,394,065 A
• Filed: 09/21/1982
• Issued: 07/19/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Arthur P. Swamson Loving Trust
• Original Assignee: Arthur P. Swanson
• Inventors: Swanson, Arthur P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Application Number:
  US06/420,899
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 350/277, 350/288, 350/300, 350/303, 350/304, 350/307, 296/97 R, 296/97 C
• US Class Current: 359/844
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/007 specially adapted for covering the lateral blind spot not covered by the usual rear-view mirror

Abstract

A mirror assembly mountable on conventional automobile vehicle windshield visors of the type swingable from an upright dependent use position between the driver and the windshield and an overhead storage position above the windshield has a frame clipped on the visor swingable to a depending position in front of the driver in both the use and storage positions of the visor with a mirror hinged on the frame to swing laterally of the visor to positions providing clear vision to the driver of the blind spot along the driver'"'"'s side adjacent the rear end of the vehicle. In visor installations swinging forwardly to a storage position, a single fore and aft swinging hinged mirror unit is sufficient. In visor installations swinging rearwardly to a storage position, a pair of mirror units are provided to overlie both faces of the visor. The mirror hinge extends transversely of the visor face so that the mirror swings laterally of the visor to reflect through the front door window or opening on the dirver'"'"'s side of the vehicle while depending directly in front of the eyes of the driver to reflect the blind spot area along the driver'"'"'s side of the vehicle adjacent the rear end of the vehicle, which is not within the viewing range of conventional windshield mounted rear view mirrors or exterior side view mirrors. The lateral swing and the fore and aft swing of the mirror is frictionally resisted to hold its adjusted position.

Claims

1. A vehicle windshield visor mounted rear view mirror adapted to reflect to the vehicle driver the area in the traffic lane alongside the driver at the rear end of the vehicle, which comprises a mirror unit having a base, means for mounting the base against a face of a windshield visor and said unit having a mirror with an end adjacent the traffic lane hinged on the base to swing the mirror laterally of the visor face to reflect said area.

2. The mirror of claim 1 wherein the means for mounting are clips overlying both faces of the visor holding the base tightly against the visor face.

3. The mirror of claim 2 wherein the clips straddle the upper edge of the visor and a second mirror unit is suspended by the clips over the opposite face of the visor.

4. The mirror of claim 1 wherein the mirror is mounted on a frame hinged to said base which swings fore and aft relative to the visor face.

5. The mirror of claim 1 including a second mirror unit on the opposite face of the visor.

6. The mirror of claim 1 including adjustable means controlling resistance to swinging of the mirror.

7. A mirror assembly adapted to be mounted on a vehicle windshield visor of the type swingable about a top edge thereof from a depending vertical use position in front of the windshield to a stored position for providing clear vision to the driver of the blind spot along the driver'"'"'s side adjacent the rear end of the vehicle which comprises a frame swingably suspended from the visor to overlie the visor in its use position and to depend in front of the driver in the storage position of the visor and a mirror hinged on said frame to swing laterally of the visor to positions for reflecting the blind spot area to the driver.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 7, including friction means holding the hinged mirror against unauthorized swinging.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 7, including clips embracing the top edge of the visor suspending the mirror frame.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 7, including means locking the frame against swinging.

11. A mirror assembly adapted to be mounted on the front and rear faces of a vehicle windshield visor to give the driver of the vehicle clear vision of the blind spot area along the driver'"'"'s side adjacent the rear end of the vehicle which comprises a pair of mirror frames, means for respectively mounting a frame of the pair on the front and rear faces of a windshield visor, a mirror hinged on each frame to swing relative to the visor for reflecting said blind spot area to the driver, and means swingably mounting the frame on the front face of the visor to suspend the mirror in front of the driver when the visor is raised.

12. The mirror assembly of claim 11, including a removable suspension for the frame on the rear face of the visor adapting use of the front mirror alone.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 11, including means mountable on the visor detachably mounting the pair of mirror frames to overlie both faces of the visor.

14. A mirror assembly adapted to be mounted on the front and rear faces of an automobile windshield visor of the type swingable from a stored overhead horizontal position to an upright use position between the driver and windshield for providing to the driver in both stored and use positions of the visor a clear vision of the blind spot along the driver'"'"'s side adjacent the rear end of the automobile which comprises a front frame swingably suspended on the visor to overlie the front face of the visor in its use position and to depend in front of the driver in the storage position of the visor, a back frame overlying the back face of the visor, and a mirror hinged to each frame to swing laterally of the visor faces to positions for reflecting the blind spot area to the driver.