Mirror safety system for viewing the rear seat of an automobile

• US 4,733,956 A
• Filed: 11/28/1986
• Issued: 03/29/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank A. Erickson
• Original Assignee: Frank A. Erickson
• Inventors: Erickson, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henry, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US06/935,780
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 350/623, 350/624, 350/618, 350/631, 350/632, 350/612, 350/604, 350/639, 248/467, 248/475.1-483, 248/549, 248/900
• US Class Current: 359/863
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/008 allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

A mirrored system and components therefor are disclosed herein for use in an automobile having front and rear seats covered by a roof structure from which a rear view mirror and a forward facing mirror downwardly depend in fixed spaced apart optical alignment relationship. The mirrors are adjustable to accommodate an optical line of sight from the driver'"'"'s position on the front seat to an infant'"'"'s position on the rear seat. The forward facing mirror is removably mounted by a suction cup attachment to roof structure or rear window by a base that carries a dome type mirror on a backing plate by a resilient metal band. A screw adjustment connects one end of the band to the base while the other end of the band adhesively adheres to the mirror backing plate.

Claims

1. In an automobile having a front and a rear seat and a front and rear window joined at their upper edges by a roof structure so as to define a closed compartment intended to be occupied by passengers, the improvement which comprises:

a safety optical system for viewing said rear window;

a rear facing mirror carried on said front window;

a front facing mirror carried on said rear window;

an optical axis established from said front seat to said rear seat via said rear facing mirror and said front facing mirror;

said front facing mirror having adjustment means for movably aligning with respect to said rear facing mirror for viewing a selected area of said rear seat;

said front facing mirror is convex and said rear facing mirror is substantially flat;

said front facing mirror comprises;

a backing plate mounting said convex mirror from one side;

a base having a suction cup removably carried on said rear window;

an elongated pliable band of fixed length having opposite ends attached to said backing plate and said base respectively permitting relative movement between said backing plate and said base and serving as a shock absorber;

said adjustment means includes a screw fastener selectively coupling one end of said band to said base;

said backing plate includes a display area carrying indicia thereon; and

said display area being unobscured by said base for visual observation through said rear window.