GB2188013A

GB2188013A - Rear view mirror

Info

Publication number: GB2188013A
Application number: GB08701981A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Paterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-03-18
Filing date: 1987-01-29
Publication date: 1987-09-23
Also published as: GB8701981D0; GB8606659D0

Abstract

A rear view mirror (10) has hinged side portions (20,22) which can be adjusted to provide a substantially wider angle of view over conventional mirrors. The mirror can be attached by a suction pad (12) to the interior of the windscreen (14) and the side mirrors (20,22) are adjusted to suit the driver's viewing position thus providing a wide angle of view which is substantially unrestricted by a rear support in the case of motor vehicles. The mirror can be used with other vehicles where rearward view is required. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rear view mirror The present invention relates to a rear view mirror foy use with moving vehicles and particularly automobiles.

In automobiles it is important that the driver have clear rearward view so that he can see vehicles overtaking or passing. It is important that blind spots caused by the roof supports are minimised to improve such viewing in the interests of road safety. With many existing types of car such a hatchbacks, the rear roof supports are wide and result in large blind spots with the result that it gives limited rearward visibility to the driver. Even if side mirrors are used, these tend to give an angle of view close to the car and the angle of vision afforded to the driver is less than satisfactory in-order to permit rapid and safe manoeuvrability.Furthermore, with the existing systems it frequently happens that cyclists or motorcyclists are obscured in the blind spot so that if a car is turing right or left many accidents can be caused by failure to see the cyclist because he presents a small visual target.

An object of the present invention is to provide a improved rear view mirror for use with vehicles which obviates and mitigates the aforesaid disadvantages.

This is achieved by providing a rear view mirrior which has hinged side portions which can be adjusted to provide a substantially wider angle of view over the conventional mirrors. The mirror can be attached by a suction pad to the interior of the windscreen and the side mirror is adjusted to suit the drivers viewing position thus providing a wide angle of view which is substantially unrestricted by the rear roof support.

Accordingly in one aspect of the invention there is provided a rear view mirror comprising a first generally planar mirror portion and second and third side mirror portions pivotably mounted by a hinge portion to said first planar portion, the mirror having means for being mounted to the interior of a windscreen, and the second and third mirrors being pivotable between a first position which is substantially in the plane of the first planar portion and one of a plurality of second positions which is achieved by pivoting the respective sides portions towards the windscreen to provide a wide angle of view to the rear of the vehicle.

Preferably, the first planar portion includes means for mounting the rear view mirror to a car windscreen. Conveniently said means is ball and socket connection which includes a sucker for attachment to the windscreen.

Preferably also, said mirror is elongate and consists of three portions, a first generally rectangular planar portion and said second and third portions are also generally rectangular.

These and other aspects of the invention will be understood from the following description when taken in combination with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is perspective view of a mirror in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of a mirror shown in Fig. 1; Figures 3 and 4 are side and top views of a vehicle having a mirror as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 fitted to provide a wide angle of rearward viewing.

Reference is first made to Fig. 1 of the drawings which illustrates a rear view mirror in accordance with an embodiment of the invention generally indicated by reference numeral 10 which is attached by a suction pad 12 to the interior of a windscreen 14 of a automobile. It will be seen that the mirror consits of three substantially planar and rectangular portions in which a first central planar portion 16 is connected at its edges 18 to planar rectangular side portions 20 and 22 respectively.

It is best seen in Fig. 2 the connections at edges 18 are effected by elongate hinges 24 which are mounted rearwardly of the mirror surfaces. It will be appreciated that these hinges permit the side portions 20 and 22 to move between portions substantially in line with the central portion 16 as shown in Fig. 2 and to positions rearwardly planar portion as shown in broken outline and as shown in Fig.

1 to permit a wide angle of view to be presented to the driver.

It will be seen that the rear surface 26 of planar portion 16 is coupled to a ball and socket joint generally indicated by reference numeral 28 which permits a mirror to be adjusted in the windscreen and which also couples the mirror to the suction pad 12.

Reference is now made to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings which illustrates diagrammatically the angle of view achieved using the mirror illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be seen that not only does the mirror permit a wide angle of view as substantially in horizontal plane but also permits a wider angle of view in a vertical plane which is of course useful when assessing whether infants or other objects are present at the side or rear of the car. As best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings the angle of view afforded using the mirror according to the invention is substantially wider than with present mirrors even including side mirrors whose normal angle of view is indicated in broken outline.For example, the side portion can be adjusted to give an angle of view which is almost 1800 thus presenting the driver with considerable information all around the rear of the car which improves the drivers awareness of other objects and thus contributes to road safety.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the structure as herein before described without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it will be appreciated that mirrors having more than three segments may be used each of which are hinged to provide a composite rearward wide angle view. In addition, the mirror may be coupled to the windscreen other than by means of the ball and socket joint and suction pad shown, for example, the ball and socket joint can be omitted and the mirror could instead be coupled to the roof of the car. The use of the viewing mirror is not intended to be restricted to automobiles. For example, it may be used in other fields, for example, in sailing boats and motor boats and it could also be used on motorbikes as well as bicyles. Indeed where wide angle viewing rearward of a person is required then the mirror would of course be suitable.

The mirror may also be tinted slightly to reduce dazzling and although it could be made in any suitable size, one suitable size may be a central mirror having a width of 42" by 2" deep and the right mirrors being 3" long by 2" deep.

Advantages of the invention are that the blind spots rearward of the driver are reduced and that the mirror is fully and easily adjustable by the driver to permit complete wide angle view rearward of the vehicle as desired.

Claims

1. A rear view mirror comprising a first generally planar mirror portion and second and third side mirror portions pivotably mounted by a hinge portion to said first planar portion, the mirror having means for being mounted to the interior of a vehicle, and the second and third mirrors being pivotable between a first position which is substantially in the plane of the first planar portion and one of a pluraiity of second positions which is achieved by pivoting the respective side portions towards the front of the vehicle to provide a wide angle of view to the rear of the vehicle.

2. A rear view mirror as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the first planar portion includes means for mounting the rear view mirror to a car windscreen.

3. A rear view mirror as claimed in claim 2 wherein, said means is ball and socket connection which includes a sucker for attachment to the windscreen.

4. A rear view mirror as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said mirror is elongate and consists of three portions, a first generally rectangular planar portion and said second and third portions are also generally rectangular.

5. A rear view mirror as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said planar mirror portions are tinted to provide anti-glare properties.

6. A rear view mirror substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.