GB2193474A

GB2193474A - A rear view mirror unit

Info

Publication number: GB2193474A
Application number: GB08717593A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Daniel Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-26
Filing date: 1987-07-24
Publication date: 1988-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-24
Also published as: GB2193474B; DE8710366U1; GB8717593D0

Abstract

A rear view mirror extension 16 for use when towing for example a caravan behind a car is attached to the existing door-mounted mirror. The extension is in the form of a sleeve 26 with a mirror at its outboard end, and the sleeve can be slid over the existing mirror 12. The sleeve can be partly elastic so that it grips the existing mirror, and can have a cut-out 32 so that the existing mirror is not obstructed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rear view mirror unit This invention relates to a vehicle rear view mirror unit, particularly an add-on mirror to be used when towing a trailer or a caravan in order to extend the range of rear view vision.

When towing a wide trailer, such as a caravan, it is necessary to employ an additional wing mirror or mirrors to enable the driver to see behind him, past the trailer or caravan.

The majority of mirror units presently sold for this purpose have an-outrigger arrangement which is clamped in one way or another to the vehicle body and which supports a mirror outboard of the vehicle bodywork. In order to provide sufficient stability for the mirror, a triangulated construction is usually used, making contact with the bodywork at three points.

Such mirror units are cumbersome and ugly, and there is always the risk that some damage to the vehicle bodywork may be caused by attaching the mirror to the bodywork. A particular instance where such damage might occur is if the mirror is accidentally knocked, as this type of mirror generally has no mechanism by which it can be safely displaced if it should be knocked.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle rear view mirror unit for use with a vehicle having an existing, externally-mounted rear view mirror, the mirror unit comprising a sleeve adapted to slide over and to be secured on the existing-rear view mirror and carrying a rear view mirror adjacent its outboard end.

With this construction, the new mirror unit is merely fitted onto the existing mirror, and thereby makes use of the mounting of the existing mirror. No further points of contact with the vehicle bodywork are required. Attachment of the mirror unit is very simple, merely requiring a push fit over the existing mirror, and the further advantage is obtained that the mirror unit can take advantage of the mechanism which allows the existing mirror to be pushed temporarily to one side if it should be knocked.

The sleeve is preferably adapted to allow universal fitting, ie one sleeve should be capable of being fitted to virtually any existing mirror. This can be accomplished by making one wall of the sleeve elastic so that it can be stretched over, and can grip any existing mirror.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a rear view mirror unit for a vehicle with an existing, externaily mounted rear view mirror, wherein the mirror unit comprises a mounting face, means by which the mounting face can be attached to an existing mirror without affecting the function or the usability of the existing mirror, and an additional mirror adjacent the outboard end of the unit.

The mounting face is preferably part of a generally sleeve-like structure, the sleeve being adapted to be pushed over the casing of the existing mirror.

The additional mirror can be rigidly fixed relative to the mounting face, or can be attached through an adjustable mounting so that the angle which the mirror makes to the drivers eye can be altered relative to the mounting face and can be set for each individual driver in a manner known for existing mirrors.

Typically the additional mirror will be mounted about 20cms (measured between the mirror centres) outboard of the existing mirror, although a distance of up to 50cms is possible.

The sleeve may be constructed out of metal, for example light metal such as aluminium but is most advantageously moulded from plastics, possibly a foamed plastics material.

Most motor manufacturers nowadays provide some styling input to the designs of the mirror housing, in order to produce an aerodynamic and aesthetically pleasing shape. The exterior of the sleeve of the present invention can be similarly styled, if desired, to match the contours of the existing mirror.

Where part of the sleeve is elastic, to allow universal fitting with the elastic pulling the sleeve walls tightly around the existing mirror, the friction thus produced between the sleeve and the existing mirror may be sufficient to hold the mirror unit in place. However, in order to ensure that the mirror housing is positively retained on the original mirror, the housing may also have means at the open end of the sleeve which can be engaged in the joint between the casing of the original mirror and its support on the vehicle bodywork. This retaining means could be a simple fixed tang projecting across the open end of the sleeve and which can be sprung into the joint.

In another embodiment, a series of lugs could be provided on the inside of the housing to engage with the outboard end of the existing mirror which is pressed into contact with the lugs by the tension in the elastic sleeve.

On some original equipment mirrors, the inboard edge of the mirror is spaced from the car bodywork. In this case, instead of a fixed tang, a strap or other fastening could be fastened across the sleeve opening and around the inboard end of the original mirror.

It is important that one mirror unit be capable of being secured on a variety of cars with different original equipment mirrors. To accomplish this, the sleeve may perhaps- be made from an integral skin polyurethane foam, with a metal plate reinforcement to support the front face.

Alternatively part of the sleeve can be of an elastic material, and this part may be a separate component from the remainder of the mirror housing. The elastic part can be a flat sheet, for example of a rubber material. The conection between the elastic part and the rest of the housing can be variable to assist universal mounting.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a car with two existing rear view mirrors and shows where mirror units in accordance with the invention will be fitted; Figure 2 is a more detailed view of a mirror unit; Figure 3 shows a cross-section-through one sleeve construction; Figure 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of mirror unit according to the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of the unit of figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-section on the line VI- VI from Figure 5; Figure 7 shows an elastic component of the unit; Figure 8 is a section on the line VIII -VIII from Figure 7; Figure 9 is a front view of a third embodiment of mirror unit according to the invention; Figure 10 is a plan view of the unit of Figure 9;; Figure 11 shows an elastic component of the unit of Figures 9 and 10; and Figure 12 is a section on the line XII-XII from Figure 11.

Figure 1 shows a car 10 with two existing door-mounted rear view mirrors 12 and 14.

When the car is to be used for towing-, extension mirror units 16 and 18 will be fitted over the existing mirrors 12 and 14 in a manner to be described.

Figure 2 shows this in more detail. The original, existing mirror 12 has a casing 20 which is hinged to a support structure 22 mounted on the vehicle door. The casing 20 will be hinged to the support structure 22 in a known manner, so that the housing is retained in position under normal circumstances, and can be turned about its hinge if it is locked.

As a result of this arrangement there is a small gap 24 which can be opened between the mirror housing 20 and the support structure 22.

The extension mirror unit 16 is in the form of a sleeve with an open end 26. The shape of the back face 28 of the unit will generally correspond in contour to that of the housing 20, so that when the sleeve is slipped over the housing 20, it will be retained rigidly in position, and cannot wobble at all. In order to prevent the sleeve from being accidentally pulled off, a tang 30 is mounted facing into the open end 26, and when the sleeve is in position this tang 30 will engage in the gap 24.

The sleeve has a cut out region 32 which will register with the original mirror 34 once the sleeve has been mounted, to enable the mirror 34 to be used in the normal way. The original mirror can then be adjusted in the conventional way without affecting the angle of the extension mirror 36. Outboard of the cut out 32, the extension mirror 36 is mounted on the front face of the sleeve. The mirror 36 can be fixed relative to the mounting front face of the sleeve, or can be fitted in an adjustable mounting which will allow the angle of the mirror to be adjusted relative to the mounting face. It may also be possible to provide a remote control mechanism for this outboard mirror in the same way as for the existing mirror.

Existing mirror casings fitted by the motor manufacturers, have a variety of shapes.

Where the existing mirror casing 20 has a tapering shape, ie it is very much broader at its inboard end than at its outboard end, additional tangs 30 may be required to hold the mirror unit 16 or 18 in place. Alternatively, a securing device other than the tangs could be provided.

The mirror described can thus be mounted or demounted on a vehicle with a minimum of effort. The fact that the sleeve fits snugly around the existing mirror casing means that the correct orientation is automatically achieved. Any adjustment of the outboard mirror which may be necessary for different drivers can be done by the driver from the driver's seat. A particularly neat and attractive appearance can be achieved.

It would be possible to design a dedicated mirror unit for each shape of existing door mirror. Alternatively, if part of the sleeve wall has elastic properties, it may be possible for one type of unit to fit on a variety of existing mirror casings. Figure 3 shows one way in which this could be done. The sleeve 16 is moulded in one piece from a "soft feel" integral skin polyurethane foam or other suitable plastics. The front face 38 is formed around an embedded metal reinforcement plate 40 which supports the outboard mirror and provides the necessary structural strength to the unit. The rear part 42 of the sleeve is relatively thin-walled and can stretch when it is fitted over an original mirror.

An alternative form of mirror unit for "universal" mounting is shown in Figures 4 to 8.

In these figures, where parts correspond to parts already shown and described in Figures 1 to 3, they bear the same reference numerals.

The unit has a first region 50 which will form a sleeve to fit on to an existing mirror, and a second region 52 which is outboard of, and contiguous with the first region and the function of which is to support the extension mirror 36. The first region 50 comprises a front section 54 and a separate elastic back section 56. The front section has a generally flat face with the cut-out 32, and low lateral walls 58. The lateral walls have elongate slots 60, and the side edges of the back section 56 have elongate beads 62 which fit and can be retained in the slots. There are two slots 60 in each wall 58 to allow different settings for the back section 56.

Generally speaking, the back section will be fitted in the lower set of slots 60, nearer to the flat face of the first section if the existing mirror is relatively thin, and in the upper set of slots if the existing mirror is relatively flat, but the best setting for each individual vehicle can be determined by the vehicle owner (or may be specified when the unit is sold). It is important that the elastic should be put into enough tension when the unit is fitted to provide the necessary frictional grip on the existing mirror.

The elastic back section 58 tapers as can be seen in Figure 7, both because existing mirrors do generally taper outwardly, and to form a smooth line with the back of the second region 52. The section 58 has a tongue 64 which will be received in a recess 66 in the second part, so that there is no gap between the two parts.

To assist fitting, a hole 68 is provided in the elastic section 58, so that a finger can be placed through the elastic material to stretch it as the sleeve is being drawn on to the existing mirror.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 9 to 12, the front plate 70 has parallel slots 72 through its thickness, each with a circular enlargement 74 at one end. The egdes of the back section 76 have edge beads 78. These beads will hold the edges of the back section to the front plate.

To engage the back section with the front plate, the beads are fed from one end through the circular enlargements 74 so that the beads lie on one side of the plate 70 and the back section on the other side.

The back section actually has two parallel beads 78 at each edge. the choice of which bead to engage with each slot will depend on the shape of the existing mirror, to give enough tension to hold the mirror unit in place.

Furthermore, the rear face of the front plate 70 carries two (or more) lugs 80. One or both of these lugs will engage the outboard edge of the existing mirror, the position of which is shown in chain-dotted lines 82. The tension in the rubber back section will press the lugs against the edge of the existing mirror.

Claims

1. A vehicle rear view mirror unit for use with a vehicle having an existing, externallymounted rear view mirror, the mirror unit comprising a sleeve adapted to slide over and to be secured on the existing rear view mirror and carrying a rear view mirror adjacent its outboard end.

2. A rear view mirror unit for a vehicle with an existing, externally mounted rear view mirror, wherein the mirror unit comprises a mounting face, means by which the mounting face can be attached to an existing mirror without affecting the function or the usability of the existing mirror, and an additional mirror adjacent the outboard end of the unit.

3. A mirror unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the mounting face is part of a generally sleeve-like structure, the sleeve being adapted to be pushed over the casing of the existing mirror.

4. A mirror unit as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3, wherein the sleeve has a wall which includes an elastic region which can be stretched over, and can grip an existing mirror.

5. A mirror unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1, 3 or 4, wherein the sleeve is moulded from plastics material.

6. A mirror unit as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the friction produced between the sleeve and the existing mirror is sufficient to hold the mirror unit in place.

7. A mirror unit as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein retaining means are provided at the open end of the sleeve for engagement in the joint between the casing of the existing mirror and its support on the vehicle bodywork.

8. A mirror unit as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the retaining means is a fixed tang projecting across the open end of the sleeve and which can be sprung into the joint.

9. A mirror unit as claimed in Clause 7, wherein the retaining means comprises a strap or other fastening which can be fastened across the sleeve opening and around the inboard end of the existing mirror.

10. A mirror unit as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein lugs are formed on the interior of the front face of the sleeve to engage the outboard edge of the existing mirror.

11. A mirror unit as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 10, wherein the sleeve is made from an integral skin polyurethane foam, with a metal plate reinforcement to support the front face.

12. A mirror unit as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 10, wherein part of the sleeve is of an elastic material, and this part is a separate component from the remainder of the mirror housing.

13. A mirror unit as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the elastic part is a flat sheet of a rubber material.

14. A mirror unit as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the connection between the elastic part and the rest of the housing is variable to assist universal mounting.

15. A mirror unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the additional mirror is rigidly fixed relative to the mounting face.

16. A mirror unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the additional mirror is attached through an adjustable mounting so that the angle which the mirror makes to the drivers eye can be altered relative to the mounting face and can be set for each individual driver in a manner known for existing mirrors.

17. A rear view mirror unit substantially as herein described with reference to any one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.