Device for adjusting automobile side view mirror

• US 5,022,747 A
• Filed: 11/06/1989
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael L. Polanyi, Thomas G. Polanyi
• Original Assignee: Michael L. Polanyi, Thomas G. Polanyi
• Inventors: Polanyi, Thomas G., Polanyi, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RYAN, JAY
• Application Number:
  US07/431,917
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 350/612, 350/616, 350/626, 350/631, 350/632, 350/635
• US Class Current: 359/850
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A device for adjusting a side view mirror has an auxiliary mirror arranged on the side view mirror and having a reflective surface inclined relative to the reflective surface of the side view mirror so that when the driver sees an image of a target on the automobile body the line of sight of a driver looking in the side view mirror is directed toward a required blind spot area near the automobile.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting a side view mirror of an automobile, comprising an auxiliary mirror having a reflective surface which is arranged to be located behind a side view mirror and seen through a transparent portion of said side view mirror, said auxiliary mirror having a reflecting surface inclined at an angle relative to the reflective surface of the side view mirror wherein said transparent portion of said side view mirror is considerably smaller than the surface of said side view mirror, said auxiliary mirror being arranged so that when said side view mirror is adjusted so that when the driver of the automobile sees an image of a target provided on an automobile body on said reflective surface of said auxiliary mirror, the line of sight of a driver looking in said side view mirror is directed toward a required blind spot area near the automobile.

2. A device for adjusting a side view mirror of an automobile, comprising an auxiliary mirror arranged to be located on said side view mirror and being considerably smaller than the side view mirror, said auxiliary mirror having a reflective surface which is inclined relative to a surface of said side view mirror so that when the driver of the automobile adjusts the side view mirror so as to see an image of a target provided on an automobile body in said reflective surface of said auxiliary mirror, the line of sight of a driver looking in said side view mirror is directed toward a required blind spot area near the automobile.

3. A device as defined in claim 2;

and further comprising a target arranged to be provided on an automobile body so that an image of said target is seen by the driver in said position.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, said auxiliary mirror is considerably smaller than the surface of said side view mirror.

5. A device as defined in claim 2, and further comprising a second target positioned on an automobile body at a distance from said first mentioned target such that when the driver of the automobile sees said second target in said part of the side view mirror then said side view mirror is directed toward a second desired area near said automobile.

6. A method for adjusting a side view mirror of an automobile, comprising the steps of providing a target on an automobile body;

arranging on a side view mirror an auxiliary mirror which is considerably smaller than said side view mirror and has a reflective surface inclined relative to a surface of said side view mirror; and

adjusting a side view mirror so that when the driver of the automobile sees an image of said target on said reflective surface of said auxiliary mirror, the line of sight of a driver looking in said side view mirror is directed toward a required blind spot area near the automobile.

7. A side view mirror assembly of an automobile, comprising a side view mirror having a main reflective surface and a side to be located closer to the automobile in a mounted condition;

and an auxiliary mirror arranged on said side view mirror and being considerably smaller than said side view mirror, said auxiliary mirror having an auxiliary reflecting surface which is inclined relative to said main reflective surface of said side view mirror so that said auxiliary reflective surface of said auxiliary mirror faces toward said side in the mounted condition, so that when a driver of the automobile sees an image of a target provided on an automobile body in said auxiliary reflective surface of said auxiliary mirror the line of sight of a driver looking in said main reflective surface of said side view mirror is directed toward a required blind spot area near the automobile.

8. A device for adjusting a side view mirror of an automobile, comprising a support for movably supporting a side view mirror relative to an automobile body;

and means for supporting said side view mirror turnably relative to said support between an adjusting position and a final position, so that when said side view mirror is in said adjusting position and said support is moved by a driver so that a target provided on an automobile body is seen in said side view mirror, said side view mirror can then be turned by the automobile driver to said final position in which a line of sight of a driver looking in said side view mirror is directed to a required blind spot area near the automobile.