Horn shaped rearview mirror with supplemental a mirror

• US 6,554,436 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Popp, Albrecht, Lang, Heinrich, Pfanz, Jürgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US09/304,001
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/850, 359/855, 359/863, 359/864, 359/865, 359/866, 359/872, 359/877
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0617 foldable along the vehicle, e.g. in case of external force applied thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7559 Cylinder type

Abstract

A horn shaped rearview mirror assembly for vehicles is disclosed including a support structure for mounting the mirror assembly to the vehicle, and a support arm including a carrier structure having a vehicle end and a free end, the vehicle end connected to the support structure. The support arm also includes a molded component secured to the carrier structure, the molded component including a mirror housing. A main rearview mirror is affixed to the mirror housing for providing the driver a rearview of the vehicle, and a single supplemental mirror is affixed to the mirror housing above the main mirror for providing the driver a view of at least two dead zones disposed about the vehicle.

Claims

1. A horn shaped rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a support structure for mounting the mirror assembly to the vehicle;

a support arm including a carrier structure having a vehicle end and a free end, the vehicle end connected to the support structure, the support arm also including a molded component secured to the carrier structure, the molded component including a mirror housing;

a key activated locking apparatus disposed on the support structure for selectively locking the support arm to the vehicle;

a main rearview mirror affixed to the mirror housing for providing a driver of the vehicle a rearview of the vehicle; and

only one supplemental mirror affixed to the mirror housing above the main mirror for providing the driver a direct view of at least two dead zones disposed about the vehicle.

2. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the supplemental mirror is configured to provide a view of a dead zone in front of the vehicle and a dead zone on the side of the vehicle between the front end of the vehicle and the front axle of the vehicle.

3. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 2, wherein the supplemental mirror includes a domed mirror surface having a perimeter substantially in the form of a trapezoid.

4. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the main mirror and the supplemental mirror are adjustable by electric motors.

5. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the mirror housing has a forward side, and further including a cover which protects the forward side.

6. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 5, wherein the cover is of one piece.

7. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 5, wherein the mirror housing includes a water dispersing rim.

8. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein the carrier structure is a tubular structure and the molded component is a foamed molded component comprised of a two-component material.

9. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, further including an adjustment mechanism attached to the support arm, the adjustment mechanism configured to allow the support arm to be pivoted relative to the vehicle.

10. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 1, wherein, the support structure includes a clamping mechanism housing a clamp receptacle affixed to the vehicle, an insertable component inserted into the clamp receptacle in an inserting direction, and a slidably installed clamping wedge on the insertable component, the wedge, upon pushing of the insertable component, clampingly locks the insertable component and the clamping wedge to the clamp receptacle.

11. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 10, wherein the clamping wedge is slidable on the insertable component in a direction at right angles to the inserting direction of the insertable component.

12. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 10, wherein the clamp receptacle is a rectangular shaped tube segment.

13. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 10, wherein the support structure includes a snap-in detent apparatus.

14. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 13, wherein the snap-in detent apparatus includes a snap-in spring element affixed to the clamp receptacle and which snaps into a corresponding recess in the insertable component.

15. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 10, wherein the clamping wedge is movable in a clamping direction by clamping screws.

16. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the clamping screws are screwed into tapped borings in the clamp receptacle.

17. A horn shaped rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, the rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a support structure for mounting the mirror assembly to the vehicle;

a support arm including a carrier structure having a vehicle end and a free end, the vehicle end connected to the support structure, the support arm also including a molded component secured to the carrier structure, the molded component including a mirror housing;

a key activated locking mechanism disposed on the support structure for selectively locking the support arm to the vehicle;

a main rearview mirror affixed to the mirror housing for providing a driver of the vehicle a rearview of the vehicle; and

only one supplemental mirror affixed to the mirror housing above the main mirror for providing the driver a direct view of a first dead zone in front of the vehicle and a second dead zone on the side of the vehicle between the front end of the vehicle and the front axle of the vehicle.

18. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 17, wherein the supplemental mirror includes a domed mirror surface having a perimeter substantially in the form of a trapezoid.

19. A rearview mirror assembly as in claim 17, wherein the carrier structure is a tubular structure and the molded component is a foamed molded component comprised of a two-component material.