Wide-angle side-mirror device

• US 5,835,294 A
• Filed: 08/07/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norio Minegishi
• Original Assignee: Norio Minegishi
• Inventors: Minegishi, Norio
• Primary Examiner(s): Willis, Davis L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US08/695,778
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 359/857, 359/858, 359/859, 359/864, 359/866
• US Class Current: 359/857
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle

Abstract

A wide-angle side mirror device with a mirror box having a front and a rear, and first and second side walls. An object window is disposed in the first side wall of the mirror box. An observation window is disposed in the second wall of the mirror box. An object mirror having a curved shape which is concave in horizontal cross section and convex in vertical cross section is disposed to face out the object window and diagonally rearwards. An observation mirror is disposed in the mirror box to reflect a mirror image from the object mirror through the observation window. The object mirror preferably has a doughnut or drum shape, and more preferably has a degree of curvature in horizontal cross section approximately the same as a degree of curvature in vertical cross section. The observation mirror is preferably a flat mirror. The device has a wide field of view and allows the driver of a vehicle to view road conditions at acute angle intersections from the driver'"'"'s seat.

Claims

1. A wide-angle side mirror device, comprising:

a mirror box having a front and a rear, and first and second side walls;

an object window disposed in the first side wall of the mirror box;

an observation window disposed in the second wall of the mirror box;

an object mirror having a curved shape which is concave in horizontal cross section and convex in vertical cross section, and disposed to face out the object window and diagonally rearwards;

an observation mirror disposed in the mirror box to reflect a mirror image from the object mirror through the observation window.

2. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the object mirror has a doughnut shape.

3. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 2, wherein the object mirror has a drum shape.

4. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the object mirror has a degree of curvature in horizontal cross section approximately the same as a degree of curvature in vertical cross section.

5. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 2, wherein the object mirror has a degree of curvature in horizontal cross section approximately the same as a degree of curvature in vertical cross section.

6. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 3, wherein the object mirror has a degree of curvature in horizontal cross section approximately the same as a degree of curvature in vertical cross section.

7. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the observation mirror is a flat mirror.

8. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 2, wherein the observation mirror is a flat mirror.

9. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 3, wherein the observation mirror is a flat mirror.

10. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 4, wherein the observation mirror is a flat mirror.

11. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 5, wherein the observation mirror is a flat mirror.

12. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 6, wherein the observation mirror is a flat mirror.

13. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 1, wherein said object mirror is fixed toward the front of said mirror box to face out the object window, and the observation mirror is fixed toward the rear of said mirror box to face out the observation window.

14. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 2, wherein said object mirror is fixed toward the front of said mirror box to face out the object window, and the observation mirror is fixed toward the rear of said mirror box to face out the observation window.

15. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 3, wherein said object mirror is fixed toward the front of said mirror box to face out the object window, and the observation mirror is fixed toward the rear of said mirror box to face out the observation window.

16. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 1, further comprising means for attaching said mirror box to an inside of a window glass in a vehicle.

17. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 2, further comprising means for attaching said mirror box to an inside of a window glass in a vehicle.

18. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 3, further comprising means for attaching said mirror box to an inside of a window glass in a vehicle.

19. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 1, further comprising means for linkedly fixing said mirror box to a vehicle frame or pillar adjacent a window of a vehicle.

20. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 2, further comprising means for linkedly fixing said mirror box to a vehicle frame or pillar adjacent a window of a vehicle.

21. A wide-angle side mirror device according to claim 3, further comprising means for linkedly fixing said mirror box to a vehicle frame or pillar adjacent a window of a vehicle.