Rearview mirror for vehicles

• US 4,575,202 A
• Filed: 10/21/1983
• Issued: 03/11/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthur M. Mcguire
• Original Assignee: Arthur M. Mcguire
• Inventors: McGuire, Arthur M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US06/544,074
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 350/615, 350/627, 350/281, 350/278, 350/606, 350/631, 248/481, 248/484, 248/475 R, D12/187
• US Class Current: 359/864
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors

Abstract

Rearview mirror apparatus for automobiles that eliminates the blind spots to the left rear and to the right rear of the automobile comprising a housing holding a mirror having a center mirror portion which is flat so as to reflect images of vehicles located directly behind the driver of the automobile, a left mirror portion which is curved toward the housing so as to reflect images of vehicles located in the left blind spot, and a right mirror portion which is curved so as to reflect images of vehicles located in the right blind spot. The rearview mirror may be mounted on an existing rearview mirror or may replace it.

Claims

1. Rearview mirror apparatus for automobiles that eliminates the blind spots to the left rear and to the right rear of the automobile and is adapted to be mounted on or adjacent to the windshield of the automobile at about the center, comprising

a mirror housing having a back plate and upper, lower, and side panels extending therefrom,

a mirror having a body sheet and a reflecting surface sheet,

said mirror having a center portion which is flat so as to reflect images of vehicles located directly behind the driver of the automobile,

said mirror having a left mirror portion which is curved at its left end toward the housing back plate so as to reflect images of vehicles located in the left lane and especially in the left blind spot, and

said mirror having a right mirror portion which is curved at its right and toward the housing back plate so as to reflect images of vehicles located in the right lane and especially in the right blind spot,

and means for attaching the mirror housing to an automobile comprising

a bracket mounted on the rear of the mirror housing for easily and removably slipping onto an existing rearview mirror mounted on the automobile,

said bracket including

a horizontal cross bar attached to the back of the housing near the top,

a positioning tab extending rearwardly from each end of the horizontal cross bar to engage the top edge of the existing mirror to horizontally position said mirror housing and keep the two mirrors parallel to each other,

a first vertically positioned spring having one end fixed to the horizontal cross bar and having a free end which contacts the rear of the existing mirror to hold the housing in place,

and a second vertically positioned spring having one end fixed to the first vertical spring and having a free end which contacts the rear of the existing mirror to assist in holding the housing in place.

2. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 1,

said bracket being offset from the center of the housing so as to accommodate the mounting bracket of the existing mirror and yet mount the removable mirror evenly on the existing mirror so their centerlines substantially coincide.

3. Rearview mirror apparatus for automobiles that eliminates the blind spots to the left rear and to the right rear of the automobile and is adapted to be easily and removably slipped onto an existing rearview mirror mounted in the automobile, comprising

a mirror housing having a back plate and upper and lower panels extending therefrom,

a mirror having a body sheet and a reflecting surface sheet,

said mirror having a center mirror portion which is flat so as to reflect images of vehicles located directly behind the driver of the automobile,

said mirror having a left mirror portion which is curved at its left end toward the housing back plate so as to reflect images of vehicles located in the left blind spot,

said mirror having a right mirror portion which is curved at its right end toward the housing back plate so as to reflect images of vehicles located in the right blind spot,

and means for attaching the mirror housing to an existing rearview mirror mounted on the automobile comprising

a bracket mounted on the rear of the mirror housing for easily and removably slipping onto the existing rearview mirror, said bracket including

a horizontal cross bar attached to the back of the housing near the top,

a positioning tab extending rearwardly from each end of the horizontal cross bar to engage the top of the existing mirror to horizontally position said mirror housing and keep the two mirrors parallel to each other,

a first vertically positioned spring having one end fixed to the horizontal plate and having a free end which contacts the rear of the existing mirror to hold the housing in place,

and a second vertically positioned spring having one end fixed to the first vertical spring and having a free end which contacts the rear of the existing mirror to assist in holding the housing in place,

said bracket being offset from the center of the housing so as to accommodate the mounting bracket of the existing mirror and yet mount the removable mirror evenly on the existing mirror so that the centerlines substantially coincide.

4. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 3,

the reflecting surface sheet of the mirror being a silvered sheet which was silvered onto the back of the mirror body sheet to provide a reflecting surface.

5. The rearview mirror apparatus of claim 3,

the reflecting surface sheet of the mirror being a reflecting tape attached to the back of the mirror body sheet by an adhesive sheet.