Adjustable, anti-glare automobile side mirror

• US 8,287,141 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John M. Gibbs
• Original Assignee: John M. Gibbs
• Inventors: Gibbs, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavarias, Arnel C
• Application Number:
  US12/143,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20090316272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 359/606
• US Class Current: 359/606
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/085 using a combination of interchangeable reflecting surfaces, e.g. reversible mirrors

Abstract

An automobile side mirror includes a reflective portion having a front mirror that is incompletely silvered and a rear mirror angularly offset from the front mirror, the rear mirror being fixed relative to the front mirror. The mirror includes a bracket hingedly coupled to the reflective portion and a solenoid hingedly coupled to the reflective portion to selectively move the reflective portion from a first configuration to a second configuration. The mirror includes a return element to return the reflective portion from the second configuration to the first configuration. A light sensor is positioned to detect an amount of light directed toward the reflective portion. A processor is in communication with the light sensor and in communication with the solenoid, the processor including programming to actuate the solenoid upon detection of a predetermined amount of light directed at the light sensor.

Claims

1. An automobile side mirror, comprising:

a reflective portion having;

a front mirror incompletely silvered so as to reflect images to a driver of the automobile during daylight hours;

a rear mirror fixedly attached to said front mirror in an angularly offset configuration;

a bracket hingedly coupled to a first pivot point adjacent a lower edge of said reflective portion;

a solenoid hingedly coupled to a second pivot point adjacent an upper edge of said reflective portion to selectively tilt said reflective portion from a first configuration at which said front mirror is in a generally vertical configuration with respect to said bracket to a second configuration at which said front mirror is generally inclined with respect to said bracket when actuated;

a lead screw extending upwardly from said bracket, said solenoid being hingedly coupled to said lead screw such that said solenoid is positioned rearwardly of said reflective portion rear mirror;

wherein;

said rear mirror is angularly offset relative to said front mirror at both said first and second configurations;

a return element to return said reflective portion from said second configuration to said first configuration;

a light sensor positioned to detect an amount of light directed toward said reflective portion;

a processor in communication with said light sensor and in communication with said solenoid;

an ambient light sensor in communication with said processor, and wherein said amount of light is a relative value that represents a difference between said amount of ambient light detected by said ambient light sensor and said amount of light detected by said light sensor;

programming in said processor to actuate said solenoid if said amount of light is greater than a predetermined amount of light; and

programming in said processor for deactivating said solenoid when said predetermined amount of light is no longer detected such that said return element returns said reflective portion from said second configuration to said first configuration immediately when said predetermined amount of light is no longer detected;

a housing enclosing said reflective portion, said bracket, said solenoid, and said return element;

wherein;

said housing is configured to attach to a side door of the automobile;

said housing defines a conical depression adjacent said reflective portion that faces rearwardly;

said light sensor is inset into said conical depression and faces rearwardly;

said housing defines another conical depression that faces upwardly; and

said ambient light sensor is inset into said another conical depression.

2. The automobile side mirror of claim 1, further comprising:

a first motor in communication with a user input and being operatively coupled to said lead screw to rotate said lead screw upon actuation by said user input, whereby turning said reflective portion laterally; and

wherein either said first motor or a second motor is in communication with a user input and is operatively coupled to said solenoid to raise and lower said solenoid to tilt said reflective portion.

3. The automobile side mirror of claim 1, further comprising a cabin switch in communication with said processor to selectively cause said processor to actuate said solenoid.