GB2230750A

GB2230750A - Rear view mirrors

Info

Publication number: GB2230750A
Application number: GB8909281A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Starmer
Original assignee: METRO PRODUCTS
Current assignee: METRO PRODUCTS
Priority date: 1989-04-24
Filing date: 1989-04-24
Publication date: 1990-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-24
Also published as: GB8909281D0; GB2230750B

Abstract

A motorist's "blind spot" rear view mirror (4) has mounting means (9) whereby the "blind spot" mirror can be fastened to the housing of a standard rear view mirror with a spring clip 10 while permitting the angular orientation of "blind spot" mirror to be adjusted relative to the standard mirror. <IMAGE>

Description

rAT) vIE\; Ios Rt. 't VIS 'IRSCRe This invention relates to rear view mirrors for vehicles.

Externally mounted rear view mirrors as conventionally used on motor cars permit the driver to see vehicles approaching from the rear along an inside or outside path. However, before such an approaching vehicle has advanced sufficiently to come into the leading driver's direct view, it passes out of the field of view covered by the rear view mirror. Such mirrors therefore leave so-called "blind spots". This constitutes an accident hazard.

Curved retro-mirrors are known which give a wider field of view but they are not popular because of image distortion.

It is known to provide small inset reflector elements which stick onto conventional rear view mirrors and provide a reflecting surface which is angled relative to that of the main mirror so as to cover the blind spots which would otherwise exist. Such inset reflecting elements tend to confuse rather than assist the driver. The driver sees two contiguous images within the area in which he is accustomed to see but one and his mind does not quickly dissociate the two images and allocate to them their different significances.

The present invention provides a more satisfactory solution to the problem. The solution takes the form of a twin mirror assembly comprising a main rear view mirror of conventional form mounted in a housing which is or can be attached to a vehicle, and a smaller mirror which is mounted on such housing and is or can be angled relative to the main mirror so as to afford a vehicle driver a view of objects which are to the outside of the field of view of the main mirror.

The main purpose of the smaller mirror is of course to eliminate or substantially eliminate the blind spot which would exist if the main mirror were to be used alone at a setting appropriate for giving the driver a view of a stretch of road which is well behind his or her vehicle and to the inside or outside of its path as the case may be.

A mirror assembly according to the invention can be fitted at the off-side or near-side of a vehicle. It is particularly useful and is more particularly intended for use on the off-side. But of course a vehicle can be fitted with such an assembly on both sides.

The different sizes of the mirrors and the fact that the smaller mirror or (hereafter called "blind-spot") mirror does not reduce the effective area of the main mirror, induces natural use of the main mirror in the way and for the purpose that the driver is accustomed to use a single conventional rear-view mirror. The blind-spot mirror is preferably much smaller than the main mirror. A large disparity in size helps to ensure that it is mentally registered as fulfilling a secondary role and to ensure that it does not detract from the proper use and benefit of the main mirror.

The blind-spot mirror is preferably located above the main mirror, i.e. on top of the main mirror housing.

It is recommended that the area of the blind-spot mirror be less than half that of the main mirror. It is considered most satisfactory for each of the main and blind-spot mirrors to be of generally rectangular shape, with a horizontal dimension in excess of its vertical dimension: and preferably each of the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the blind-spot mirror is less than half of the corresponding dimension of the main mirror.

Another feature which is optional but which is highly beneficial resides in the mounting of the blind-spot mirror so that it is angularly adjustable relative to the main mirror. Angular adjustability of the blind-spot mirror in the horizontal plane, relative to the main mirror, is particularly desirable but in preferred embodiments of the invention the blind-spot mirror is adjustable relative to the main mirror in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The blind-spot mirror is preferably mounted so that its angle can be adjusted simply by manual manipulation of such mirror. This implies the presence between the blind-spot and main mirrors of a joint, preferably a universal joint, whose resistance to movement of the blind-spot mirror is sufficient to retain it in any adjusted position against vibration and other forces imposed on it during normal use of the vehicle.

The blind-spot mirror can be a flat mirror or it can be a convex mirror. The latter may be preferred, particularly if the mirror is of a preferred very small relative size as above referred to.

The present invention includes a blind-spot mirror per se, having means whereby it can be attached to the housing of a conventional external rear-view vehicle mirror to form a twin mirror assembly as hereinbefore defined.

Such a blind-spot mirror can be marketed as a motoring accessory for purchase and fitting by individual motorists. It is desirable for the mirror to have fixing means which make the task of fitting it to a conventional rear-view mirror a very simple one.

A blind-spot mirror according to the invention is preferably provided with a mounting appendage incorporating a clamping device by which the mirror can be clamped onto the housing of a conventional external rear-view vehicle mirror. The clamping device is preferably connected to the blind-spot mirror by a joint, most preferably a universal joint, which permits angular displacement of the mirror relative to the clamp.

Commonly used external rear-view vehicle mirrors are inset into and free for some movement relative to their housing. There is therefore a clearance or gap between the boundary of the mirror and its housing. The clamping device of a blind-spot mirror according to the invention as above referred to, preferably incorporates clamping jaws one of which is in the form of a thin strip which can be inserted into such gap so that the clamp embraces a portion of the rear-view mirror housing1 and a screw threaded member for applying clamping pressure to the jaws by screwaction. The screw-threaded member should be conveniently accessible for turning when the blind-spot mirror is fitted onto the rear-view mirror housing.

A very suitable form of clamping device is one comprising a spring clip which can be positioned so that its limbs embrace a portion of a main rear-view mirror housing as aforesaid while a portion of the clip projects forwardly from such housing, and a clamping screw for exerting clamping pressure on the clip at its said forwardly projecting portion.

As an alternative to a clamping device, a blind-spot mirror according to the invention can have a mounting appendage which can be secured to the housing of a conventional rear view mirror housing by adhesive.

Preferred embodiments of a twin mirror assembly and a blind-spot mirror for forming part of such an assembly are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing part of a main rear-view mirror with a blind-spot mirror mounted thereon; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same assembly and Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation thereof.

In the drawings, 1 is a conventional external rear-view vehicle.

mirror. The mirror element 2 is inset in a housing 3 which is connected or connectable to a vehicle and which may of course be arranged for adjustment manually or by a remote control mechanism.

The blind-spot mirror 4 comprises a mirror element 5 secured in a casing 6. This casing is connected by a ball-and-socket joint 7 to a mounting appendage 8 comprising a foot 9 which projects forwardly from the casing 6 when this is in its upright position relative to the foot.

A spring clip 10 is connected to the foot by a connecting screw 11 which passes through a hole in the upper limb of the clip. The clip and the foot are shaped so that the lower limb of the clip can be inserted between the boundary edge of the main mirror element 5 and its housing.

The depth of insertion is limited by abutment of a substantially vertically orientated portion of the upper limb of the clip against the edge of the main mirror housing, and by the fact that that portion of the upper limb of the clip bears against a shoulder face of the foot. When the blind-spot mirror is thus positioned, clamping pressure can be applied to the clip by tightening a screw 12 (which may be a self-tapping screw) which passes through holes in the forwardly projecting part of the clip and into a bore in the adjacent part of the foot. The blind-spot mirror is thereby held securely to the main mirror but the ball-and-socket joint permits the blind-spot mirror to be independently adjusted.

It is an advantage that the clamping screw 12 is inverted, i.e.

orientated with its head below the mounting foot 9. This means that its presence and accessibility are less obvious and the risk of its being stolen is reduced.

Also, it is an important advantage that the blind-spot mirror and its mounting appendage leave the area of the main mirror entirely unobstructed.

In the case that a twin-mirror assembly according to the invention is designed for marketing as such, whether as a twin-mirror accessory or as part of a vehicle, the connection between the blind-spot and main rear-view mirror can of course be of a sophisticated form, the casings of the two mirrors being designed ab initio with a view to their assembly.

Claims

1. A twin mirror assembly comprising a main rear view mirror of conventional form mounted in a housing which is or. can be attached to a vehicle, and a smaller mirror which is mounted on such housing and is or can be angled relative to the main mirror so as to afford a vehicle driver a view of objects which are to the outside of the field of view of the main mirror.

2. A twin mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the area of the blind-spot mirror is less than half that of the main mirror.

3. A twin mirror assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of the main and blind-spot mirrors is of generally rectangular shape, with a horizontal dimension in excess of its vertical dimension, and wherein each of the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the blind-spot mirror is less than half of the corresponding dimension of the main mirror.

4. A twin-mirror assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the blind-spot mirror is mounted so that it is angularly adjustable relative to the main mirror.

5. A mirror combination according to claim 4, wherein each of the main and blind-spot mirrors is of generally rectangular shape with a horizontal dimension in recess of its vertical dimension, and wherein each of the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the blind-spot mirror is less than half of the corresponding dimension of the main mirror.

5. A twin-mirror assembly according to claim 4, wherein between the blind-spot and main mirrors there is a universal joint.

6. A rear-view mirror having means whereby it can be attached to the housing of a conventional external rear-view vehicle mirror to form a twin mirror assembly as hereinbefore defined.

7. A blind-spot mirror according to claim 6, having a mounting appendage incorporating a clamping device by which the mirror can be clamped onto the housing of a conventional external rear-view vehicle mirror.

8. A blind-spot mirror according to claim 7, wherein the clamping device is connected to the blind-spot mirror by a joint which permits angular displacement of that mirror, at least in the horizontal plane, relative to the clamp.

9. A blind-spot mirror according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the clamping device incorporates clamping jaws one of which is in the form of a thin strip which can be inserted into the gap which in the case of a conventional external rear view vehicle mirror exists between the edge of the mirror element and its housing, so that the clamp embraces a portion of such housing, and a screw threaded member for applying clamping pressure to such jaws by screw- action.

10. A blind-spot mirror according to claim 9, wherein the clamping device comprises a spring clip which can be positioned so that its limbs embrace a portion of a main rear-view mirror housing as aforesaid while a portion of the clip projects forwardly from such housing, and said screw threaded member functions to exert clamping pressure on the clip at its said forwardly projecting portion.

11. A twin-mirrow assembly according to the any of claims 1 to 5, secured to a vehicle.

Amendments to the claims have been fined as follows 1. A driver's "blind-spot" mirror unit for mounting on a conventional ex'cerior rear-view vehicle mirror assembly incorporating a mirror element and a housing within which such element is moveable, said "blind-spot" mirror unit comprising a mirror and mounting means incorporating a clamping device by which said unit can be clamped onto the top of the housing of such a conventional mirror assembly, said clamping device incorporating clamping jaws one of which is in the form of a strip which can be inserted into the gap between the housing and the edge of the mirror element of such assembly; and said mounting means further incorporating a joint which permits angular displacement of the "blind-spot" mirror relative to said clamping jaws.

2. A "blind-spot" mirror unit according to claim 1, wherein said jaws are constituted by the limbs of a spring clip which can be positioned so that such limbs embrace a portion of a said rear-view mirror housing while a portion of the clip projects forwardly from such housing, and wherein the clamping device includes a screw-threaded clamping member for exerting clamping pressure on said clip at its said forwardly projecting portion.

3. A "blind-spot" mirror unit according to claim 1 or 2, the mirror of such unit having an area less than half that of the mirror element of a said conventional rear-view mirror assembly.

4. A vehicle driver's rear-view mirror combination comprising (i) a main rear-view mirror which is part of a conventional exterior rear-view mirror assembly incorporating a housing within which such main mirror is moveable, and (ii) a "blind-spot mirror unit according to any preceding claim, which unit is detachably connected to the housing of said conventional assembly, the mirror area of such unit being less than half that of said main mirror.