GB2194763A - Compound exterior rear-view mirror for a vehicle - Google Patents

Compound exterior rear-view mirror for a vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2194763A
GB2194763A GB08720538A GB8720538A GB2194763A GB 2194763 A GB2194763 A GB 2194763A GB 08720538 A GB08720538 A GB 08720538A GB 8720538 A GB8720538 A GB 8720538A GB 2194763 A GB2194763 A GB 2194763A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
mirror
view
vehicle
unit
mirror unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08720538A
Other versions
GB8720538D0 (en
Inventor
Tetuo Kanamori
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB8720538D0 publication Critical patent/GB8720538D0/en
Publication of GB2194763A publication Critical patent/GB2194763A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
    • B60R1/08—Rear-view mirror arrangements involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors
    • B60R1/081—Rear-view mirror arrangements involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors
    • B60R1/082—Rear-view mirror arrangements involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)

Abstract

The mirror unit comprises a main mirror 2 for providing a general rearward view, and a secondary mirror 3 for providing a view of the lower side part of the vehicle, both mirrors being incorporated in a single unit. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle rear-view mirror This invention relates to an exterior rear-view mirror for a vehicle such as an automobile.
Conventional exterior rear-view mirrors, when properly adjusted, only provide a view of the upper side part of the vehicle in addition to a rearward view, and do not provide a view of the lower side part of the vehicle or of its wheels. It would be advantageous, particularly when the vehicle is being manouvered in a confined space such as a narrow road or in a garage, to be able to see the lower side part of the vehicle.
According to the present invention there is provided an exterior rear-view mirror unit for a vehicle, comprising a main mirror for providing a general rearward view, and a secondary mirror for providing a view of the lower side part of the vehicle, both of such mirrors being incoporated in a single unit.
Preferably the said mirror unit comprises an upper frame mounting the said main mirror and a lower frame mounting the said secondary frame mirror. Preferably a bottom member of the said upper frame is integral with a top member of the said lower frame.
Preferably the said secondary mirror is a concave mirror.
Preferably the said secondary mirror is arranged to provide a view of the lower central side part of the vehicle and at least part of the front and rear wheels.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automobile provided with an exterior rear-view mirror unit according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the said mirror unit; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mirror unit, taken on the line A-A of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the automobile of Fig. 1, illustrating the fields of view provided by the mirror unit; and Figure 5 is a side view of an autombile provided with a conventional exterior rear-view mirror, and again illustrating the field of view thereby provided.
Referring to the drawings, an automobile B has each of its front doors D provided with an exterior rear-view mirror unit according to the invention. Only the near-side mirror unit is illustrated, the off-side one being similar.
The rear-view mirror unit 1 contains a main mirror 2 and a secondary mirror 3. The main mirror 2 is arranged to provide a field of view similar to a conventional door-mounted mirror.
The secondary mirror 3, which is a concave mirror, is of the same width as the main mir ror 2 but is shorter in depth. The main mirror 2 and the secondary mirror 3 are mounted in grooves, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in a frame 4, the main mirror 2 being fixed between the grooves 5 and 6, and the secondary mirror 3 between the grooves 7 and 8 on the frame 4. A shaft bearing 9 provides the means for mounting the frame of the secondary mirror 3 on the main mirror 2. By means of the shaft bearing 9 the seondary mirror 3 can be moved in conjunction with the main mirror 2. A plate 7 is provided for mounting the mirror unit 1 to the door D.
Fig. 4 shows the fields of view when the mirror unit is in use. Firstly the rearward view reflected in the main mirror 2 in the area of the angle 6 can be viewed, and secondly the lower side part of the automobile, including the front and back wheels as reflected in the secondary mirror 3 in the area of the angle 62, can be seen. Thus by using the main mirror 2 and the secondary mirror 3, the driver can see virtually everything except the view to the front.
Fig. 5 shows on the other hand the situation when a conventional rear-view mirror is used. Compared with Fig. 4, as the conventional mirror unit 11 has only the main mirror 12, the view is limited to the area of angle 63. Therefore, it is not possible to see the lower side part of the automobile, nor the front and rear wheels.
It will thus be seen that the present invention, at least in its preferred forms, provides an improved rear-view mirror unit which is practical and can be produced in quantity at a low cost. The improved rear-view mirror unit, reflecting the lower side parts of a vehicle, makes it possible to park the vehicle easily in a garage, and to keep an appropriate distance away from the shoulder of a road or from a ditch. Furthermore, when a vehicle.is being driven along the middle lane or the passing lane on a highway, it is helpful in enabling drivers to judge the driving situation, to avoid traffic jams, and to improve traffic safety.
It is to be clearly understood that there are no particular features of the foregoing specification, or of any claims appended hereto, which are at present regarded as being essential to the performance of the present invention, and that any one or more of such features or combinations thereof may therefore be included in, added to, omitted from or deleted from any of such claims if and when amended during the prosecution of this application or in the filing or prosecution of any divisional application based thereon.
1. An exterior rear-view mirror unit for a vehicle, comprising a main mirror for providing a general rearward view, and a secondary mir ror for providing a view of the lower side part of the vehicle, both of such mirrors being in coporated in a single unit.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vehicle rear-view mirror This invention relates to an exterior rear-view mirror for a vehicle such as an automobile. Conventional exterior rear-view mirrors, when properly adjusted, only provide a view of the upper side part of the vehicle in addition to a rearward view, and do not provide a view of the lower side part of the vehicle or of its wheels. It would be advantageous, particularly when the vehicle is being manouvered in a confined space such as a narrow road or in a garage, to be able to see the lower side part of the vehicle. According to the present invention there is provided an exterior rear-view mirror unit for a vehicle, comprising a main mirror for providing a general rearward view, and a secondary mirror for providing a view of the lower side part of the vehicle, both of such mirrors being incoporated in a single unit. Preferably the said mirror unit comprises an upper frame mounting the said main mirror and a lower frame mounting the said secondary frame mirror. Preferably a bottom member of the said upper frame is integral with a top member of the said lower frame. Preferably the said secondary mirror is a concave mirror. Preferably the said secondary mirror is arranged to provide a view of the lower central side part of the vehicle and at least part of the front and rear wheels. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automobile provided with an exterior rear-view mirror unit according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the said mirror unit; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mirror unit, taken on the line A-A of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the automobile of Fig. 1, illustrating the fields of view provided by the mirror unit; and Figure 5 is a side view of an autombile provided with a conventional exterior rear-view mirror, and again illustrating the field of view thereby provided. Referring to the drawings, an automobile B has each of its front doors D provided with an exterior rear-view mirror unit according to the invention. Only the near-side mirror unit is illustrated, the off-side one being similar. The rear-view mirror unit 1 contains a main mirror 2 and a secondary mirror 3. The main mirror 2 is arranged to provide a field of view similar to a conventional door-mounted mirror. The secondary mirror 3, which is a concave mirror, is of the same width as the main mir ror 2 but is shorter in depth. The main mirror 2 and the secondary mirror 3 are mounted in grooves, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in a frame 4, the main mirror 2 being fixed between the grooves 5 and 6, and the secondary mirror 3 between the grooves 7 and 8 on the frame 4. A shaft bearing 9 provides the means for mounting the frame of the secondary mirror 3 on the main mirror 2. By means of the shaft bearing 9 the seondary mirror 3 can be moved in conjunction with the main mirror 2. A plate 7 is provided for mounting the mirror unit 1 to the door D. Fig. 4 shows the fields of view when the mirror unit is in use. Firstly the rearward view reflected in the main mirror 2 in the area of the angle 6 can be viewed, and secondly the lower side part of the automobile, including the front and back wheels as reflected in the secondary mirror 3 in the area of the angle 62, can be seen. Thus by using the main mirror 2 and the secondary mirror 3, the driver can see virtually everything except the view to the front. Fig. 5 shows on the other hand the situation when a conventional rear-view mirror is used. Compared with Fig. 4, as the conventional mirror unit 11 has only the main mirror 12, the view is limited to the area of angle 63. Therefore, it is not possible to see the lower side part of the automobile, nor the front and rear wheels. It will thus be seen that the present invention, at least in its preferred forms, provides an improved rear-view mirror unit which is practical and can be produced in quantity at a low cost. The improved rear-view mirror unit, reflecting the lower side parts of a vehicle, makes it possible to park the vehicle easily in a garage, and to keep an appropriate distance away from the shoulder of a road or from a ditch. Furthermore, when a vehicle.is being driven along the middle lane or the passing lane on a highway, it is helpful in enabling drivers to judge the driving situation, to avoid traffic jams, and to improve traffic safety. It is to be clearly understood that there are no particular features of the foregoing specification, or of any claims appended hereto, which are at present regarded as being essential to the performance of the present invention, and that any one or more of such features or combinations thereof may therefore be included in, added to, omitted from or deleted from any of such claims if and when amended during the prosecution of this application or in the filing or prosecution of any divisional application based thereon. CLAIMS
1. An exterior rear-view mirror unit for a vehicle, comprising a main mirror for providing a general rearward view, and a secondary mir ror for providing a view of the lower side part of the vehicle, both of such mirrors being in coporated in a single unit.
2. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 1, which unit comprises an upper frame mouting the said main mirror and a lower frame mounting the said secondary mirror.
3. A mirror unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein a bottom member of the said upper frame is integral with a top member of the said lower frame.
4. A mirror unit as claimed any preceding claim, wherein the said secondary mirror is a concave mirror.
5. A mirror unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said secondary mirror is arranged to provide a view of the lower central side part of the vehicle and at least part of the front and rear wheels.
6. An exterior rear-view mirror unit for a vehicle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
7. A vehicle incorporating an exterior rearview mirror unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6.
GB08720538A 1986-09-01 1987-09-01 Compound exterior rear-view mirror for a vehicle Withdrawn GB2194763A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP13266686U JPS6339064U (en) 1986-09-01 1986-09-01

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8720538D0 GB8720538D0 (en) 1987-10-07
GB2194763A true GB2194763A (en) 1988-03-16

Family

ID=15086654

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08720538A Withdrawn GB2194763A (en) 1986-09-01 1987-09-01 Compound exterior rear-view mirror for a vehicle

Country Status (2)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS6339064U (en)
GB (1) GB2194763A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE9205723U1 (en) * 1992-04-28 1992-07-09 Ritz, Michael, 3103 Bergen Exterior rear view mirrors for vehicles
WO2005000634A2 (en) * 2003-06-23 2005-01-06 Meyer Lee G Outside, vehicle rearview mirror system for backing
US7055974B1 (en) * 2004-12-17 2006-06-06 Murakami Corporation Vehicle side mirror assembly with rearward and forward viewing

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1133005A (en) * 1966-08-01 1968-11-06 John Brian Davey Improvements in exterior driving mirrors for vehicles
US3644021A (en) * 1970-05-11 1972-02-22 Richard A Wolfe Adjustable vehicle mirror
GB1505658A (en) * 1974-11-07 1978-03-30 Combined Optical Ind Ltd Externally mounted vehicle rear-view mirror
US4105295A (en) * 1977-06-22 1978-08-08 The Acme Specialty Manufacturing Company Mirror assembly with frangible angular projections
GB2048189A (en) * 1979-04-27 1980-12-10 Mirrorcraft Inc Rear view mirror for vehicles
GB2092534A (en) * 1980-12-03 1982-08-18 Hagiri Yoshikazu Rear-view mirror device for vehicles

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS55131043A (en) * 1979-03-31 1980-10-11 Nitto Electric Ind Co Ltd Two-pack type underwater-curing epoxy resin composition

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1133005A (en) * 1966-08-01 1968-11-06 John Brian Davey Improvements in exterior driving mirrors for vehicles
US3644021A (en) * 1970-05-11 1972-02-22 Richard A Wolfe Adjustable vehicle mirror
GB1505658A (en) * 1974-11-07 1978-03-30 Combined Optical Ind Ltd Externally mounted vehicle rear-view mirror
US4105295A (en) * 1977-06-22 1978-08-08 The Acme Specialty Manufacturing Company Mirror assembly with frangible angular projections
GB2048189A (en) * 1979-04-27 1980-12-10 Mirrorcraft Inc Rear view mirror for vehicles
GB2092534A (en) * 1980-12-03 1982-08-18 Hagiri Yoshikazu Rear-view mirror device for vehicles

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE9205723U1 (en) * 1992-04-28 1992-07-09 Ritz, Michael, 3103 Bergen Exterior rear view mirrors for vehicles
WO2005000634A2 (en) * 2003-06-23 2005-01-06 Meyer Lee G Outside, vehicle rearview mirror system for backing
WO2005000634A3 (en) * 2003-06-23 2005-06-16 Lee G Meyer Outside, vehicle rearview mirror system for backing
US7025467B2 (en) * 2003-06-23 2006-04-11 Meyer Lee G Outside, vehicle rearview mirror system for backing
US7055974B1 (en) * 2004-12-17 2006-06-06 Murakami Corporation Vehicle side mirror assembly with rearward and forward viewing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8720538D0 (en) 1987-10-07
JPS6339064U (en) 1988-03-14

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)