Blind spot mirror

• US 8,777,429 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harry Snegg
• Original Assignee: Harry Snegg
• Inventors: Snegg, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US12/332,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20100142068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 359/868, 359/872, 248/481
• US Class Current: 359/868
• 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 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors

Abstract

A blind spot mirror configured to attach to an automobile, thereby providing an enhanced view, comprising a base having a flat rear surface configured to couple to an automobile mirror. The blind spot mirror also includes a mirror housing pivotally coupled to the base through a ball and socket coupling member, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is coupled to the mirror housing substantially off-center on the mirror housing. The ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center to the mirror housing, 60/40 respectively. The blind spot mirror further includes a mirror disposed within the mirror housing and coupled thereto through a hook and groove coupling device. The mirror is inset into a receiving portion around the perimeter of the mirror housing and secured to the hook and groove coupling device.

Claims

1. A blind spot mirror, comprising:

a) a base having a flat rear surface;

b) a convex mirror housing having a width and height greater than the base, thereby concealing the base behind the convex mirror housing in a manner such that an orthogonal rear projection of the convex mirror housing encloses the base and wherein the convex mirror housing is pivotally coupled directly to the base through a ball and socket coupling member, said ball and socket coupling member is integral to and coupled directly to each of the base and the convex mirror housing, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is coupled to the convex mirror housing substantially off-center on the convex mirror housing but the base is still positioned entirely directly behind the convex mirror housing; and

c) a convex mirror disposed within the convex mirror housing and coupled thereto through cooperation of a projection with a hook, having a shank and a barb protruding from the shank, the shank extending directly from an underside of the mirror that cooperates with a U-shaped projection extending directly from a bottom interior surface and spaced away from an outside edge convex mirror housing;

wherein the shank of the hook is disposed between the U-shaped projection and a nearest region of an outer wall of the convex mirror housing and the barb of the hook protrudes inwardly towards an interior of the convex mirror housing, wherein the flat rear surface of the base faces opposite the mirror, and wherein the base is not visible while a user is looking at the convex mirror from a front centered point of view.

2. The blind spot mirror of claim 1, wherein an effective width of the barb is greater than a spacing between the associated U-shaped projection and the associated nearest region of the outer wall of the convex mirror housing such that the associated U-shaped projection and the associated nearest region of the outer wall operate to trap the barb within the U-shaped projection.

3. The blind spot mirror of claim 1, wherein the convex mirror further includes a first hook and a second hook disposed on the underside of the convex mirror, and wherein the second hook is disposed opposite the first hook, the second hook including a shank having a barb protruding therefrom and the barb extending inwardly towards the interior of the convex mirror housing.

4. The blind spot mirror of claim 3, wherein the convex mirror housing further includes a first U-shaped projection and a second U-shaped projection configured to secure to the first hook and the second hook, respectively, wherein the shank of the second hook is disposed between the second U-shaped projection and an associated nearest region of the outer wall of the convex minor housing, and wherein an effective width of the barb of each of the first hook and the second hook is greater than a spacing between the associated U-shaped projection and the associated nearest region of the outer wall of the convex mirror housing such that the associated U-shaped projection and the associated nearest region of the outer wall of the convex minor housing operate to trap the associated barbs within the U-shaped projection.

5. The blind spot mirror of claim 1, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center, 60/40 respectively, to the convex mirror housing.

6. The blind spot mirror of claim 1, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center, 70/30 respectively, to the convex mirror housing.

7. The blind spot mirror of claim 1, wherein the socket coupling member is coupled to the base, disposed opposite of the flat rear surface.

8. The blind spot mirror of claim 1, wherein the ball coupling member is coupled to the convex mirror housing, disposed opposite of the convex mirror.

9. A blind spot mirror configured to attach to an automobile mirror, thereby providing an enhanced view, comprising:

a) a base having a flat rear surface configured to couple to the automobile mirror;

b) a convex mirror housing having a front profile larger than the base thereby completely obscuring the base when viewed from a front centered perspective, pivotally coupled directly to the base through a ball and socket coupling member, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is directly coupled to and a unitary part of each of the convex mirror housing and the base and is coupled substantially off-center on the convex mirror housing but not so far off-center that the base is visible behind the convex mirror housing from the front centered perspective; and

c) a convex mirror disposed within the convex mirror housing;

wherein the convex mirror is inset into a receiving portion around a perimeter of the convex mirror housing;

wherein the convex mirror further includes a first hook and a second hook extending from and disposed on an underside of the convex mirror;

wherein the convex mirror housing further includes a first squared projection with a hole and a second squared projection with a hole configured to secure to the first hook and the second hook, respectively;

wherein the flat rear surface of the base faces opposite the convex mirror, and wherein each of the first and second hooks include a shank having a barb protruding therefrom, the shank of each hook being disposed between their associated squared projections and a nearest region of an outer wall of the convex mirror housing, and the barb of each hook protruding inwardly towards an inner region of the convex mirror housing.

10. The blind spot mirror of claim 9, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center, 60/40 respectively, to the convex mirror housing, and wherein an effective width of one of the barbs is greater than a spacing between its associated squared projection and its associated nearest region of the outer wall of the convex mirror housing.

11. The blind spot mirror of claim 9, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center, 70/30 respectively, to the convex mirror housing.

12. The blind spot mirror of claim 9, wherein the socket coupling member is coupled to the base, disposed opposite of the flat rear surface.

13. The blind spot mirror of claim 9, wherein the ball coupling member is coupled to the convex mirror housing, disposed opposite of the convex mirror.

14. A blind spot mirror, comprising:

a) a base having a flat rear surface;

wherein the flat rear surface of the base includes an adhesive, configured to couple the base to an automobile mirror;

b) a convex mirror housing having a front profile larger than the base thereby completely obscuring the base when viewed from a front centered perspective, pivotally coupled directly to the base through a ball and socket coupling member, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is coupled to the convex mirror housing substantially off-center on the convex mirror housing but not so far off center as to reveal the base when viewed from the front of the convex mirror at a front centered position;

wherein the socket coupling member is coupled to the base, disposed opposite of the flat rear surface;

wherein the ball coupling member is coupled to the convex mirror housing, disposed opposite of the convex mirror; and

c) a convex mirror disposed within the mirror housing;

wherein the convex mirror is inset into a receiving portion around a perimeter of the convex mirror;

wherein the convex mirror further includes a first hook and a second hook, each protruding from a back surface of the convex mirror and disposed on an underside of the convex mirror;

wherein the convex mirror housing further includes a first squared protrusion with a hole and a second squared protrusion with a hole configured to secure to the first hook and the second hook, respectively, the squared protrusions extending from an interior surface of the convex mirror housing;

wherein the flat rear surface of the base faces opposite the convex mirror, and wherein each of the first and second hooks include a shank having a barb protruding therefrom, the shank of each hook being disposed between their associated squared projections and a nearest region of an outer wall of the convex mirror housing, the barb of each hook protruding inwardly towards an inner region of the convex mirror housing, and an effective width of one of the barbs is greater than a spacing between its associated squared projection and its associated nearest region of the outer wall of the convex mirror housing.

15. The blind spot mirror of claim 14, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center, 60/40 respectively, to the convex mirror housing.

16. The blind spot mirror of claim 14, wherein the ball and socket coupling member is disposed substantially off-center, 70/30 respectively, to the convex mirror housing.