GB2244966A - Vehicle mirrors - Google Patents

Abstract

A detachable rear viewing mirror 1 which is easily released from its site of attachment and which when in use covers an existing mirror such that the driver can view rearwardly by simply looking in a single mirror, comprises a bracket 5 adapted to be mounted on an existing vehicle rear viewing structure, such as by straps fitted through slots 6 and holes 7 and having vertical edges 5A, 5B defining ridges 8A, 8B which slidingly engage grooves 9A, 9B in the frame of the detachable mirror. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements Relating to Vehicle Mirrors This invention relates to vehicle mirrors and particularly, though not exclusively to mirrors attached to vehicles when towing another vehicle.

It is known that when a vehicle is towing another vehicle such as a caravan it is often essential to equip the towing vehicle with additional viewing means such that the vehicle being towed does not obscure the driver's view. Where the vehicle to be towed is of a considerable size it may be necessary to provide the towing vehicle with enlarged viewing mirrors. However, as one can appreciate the need to use such mirrors is only brought about when a vehicle is towing another vehicle. It therefore follows that there is a need to provide detachable rear viewing mirrors which extend the range of view of a driver when towing a vehicle.

In the past vehicle rear viewing mirrors have been designed to be attached to existing vehicles and a number of ways have been developed to attach enlarged rear viewing mirrors to vehicles, these include: attaching a mirror to a pole which is in turn fixed to a towing bracket; attaching a mirror to an existing side mirror using an adhesive pad; attaching an addtional wing mirror to an existing wing mirror by means of suction; attaching a wing mirror to an existing wing mirror by means of an elastic sleeve; attaching a rear viewing mirror to a vehicle by means of a flexible cable which is attached to the vehicle body; attaching a wing mirror to a vehicle by means of a pair of flexible straps which extend downward to grip the lower panels of the vehicle; attaching a wing mirror to an existing wing mirror to a vehicle by means of a wing mirror mounting having a slot in which a further mirror can be housed and pulled out from one edge of the slot when needed and finally a car wing mirror may be attached to a wing mirror by means of a cranked rod which can be used to support an additional mirror at a constant height above that of an ordinary wing mirror.

A major disadvantage associated with each of the aforementioned methods of attaching an auxillary rear viewing mirror to a vehicle is that the auxillary mirror is permanently attached to its mounting means and therefore not removable from same when not in use. Moreover, each of the aforementioned means of providing an additional mirror involves the provision of an auxilliary mirror thus a driver may have to divert his attention between at least two mirrors in order to view rearwardly in a certain direction.

Accordingly, it is the aim of the invention to provide a detachable rear viewing mirror which is easily released from its site of attachment and which when in use covers an existing mirror such that the driver can view rearwardly by simply looking in a single mirror. In order to achieve this result it follows that the releasably attached mirror must, in most instances, be of a size greater than that of an existing rearward viewing mirror.

Accordingly the invention is provided by a vehicle rear viewing attachment comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted on an existing vehicle rear viewing structure and a rear viewing mirror adapted to be slideably releasably mounted on said bracket.

Preferably the bracket is releasably mounted on the said structure.

Preferably the bracket is mounted on the said structure by means of adjustable straps.

Preferably the rear viewing mirror adapted to be releasably mounted on the bracket is relatively large with respect to the existing rear viewing mirror.

Preferably the said adapted rear viewing mirror conceals the existing car mirror when in use.

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Preferably the said adapted rear viewing mirror extends outwardly from its attachment site and so provide an adequate means of viewing in a rearwardly direction.

Preferably either the bracket or a part of the releasable mirror is provided with at least one means defining a ridge adapted to slidably engage with at least one groove provided on either the releasable mirror or the bracket so that the bracket and the mirror can be joined together.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures wherein Figure 1 represents a front view of an enlarged mirror in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 represents a plan view of a mirror shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3 represents a rear view of the mirror shown in Figures 1 and 2 illustrating the attachment bracket.

Referring to the figures and firstly to Figure 1 a rear viewing mirror in accordance with the invention is generally referenced by numeral 1 and comprises a generally rectangular mirror 2 housed in a frame 3. When observed from above it can be seen in Figure 2 that frame 3 is provided with indentation 4 towards one of its rearward sides 3A.

Indentation 4 is provided to enable attachment of a bracket as will be described hereinafter.

Turning now to Figure 3 it can be seen that a bracket 5 is illustrated in detail and it is shown attached to rear viewing mirror 1 at the site of indentation 4.

The means of attachment of bracket 5 to rear viewing mirror 1 will now be described.

Bracket 5 is essentially rectangular and comprises outer most vertical edges 5A and 5B and outer most horizontal edges 20A and 20B. Edges 5A and 5B are further provided with recesses defining ridges 8A and 8B respectively along a part of the length of 5A and 5B. In Figure 3 it can be seen that ridges 8A and 8B extend from edge 20A towards a fixed point defined by horizontal line lOC.

Rear indentation 4 is provided with an adaptation which is essentially a flat support having U sectioned edges 9A and 9B. The flat support is attached to the rear viewing mirror 1 by means of bolts 30.

Grooves 9A and 9B are dimensioned so as to slidably engage with ridges 8A and 8B.

Thus it can be seen that bracket 5 may be attached to rear viewing mirror 1 by sliding bracket 5 via ridges 8A and 8B into grooves 9A and 9B provided in the support.

As mentioned ridges 8A and 8B terminate at a position defined by horizontal axis lOC. Further grooves 9A and 9B terminate at the position defined by horizontal axis lOC and therefore it can be seen that the position defined by the axis lOC is the position at which the lower parts of ridges 8A and 8B are supported in grooves 9A and 9B.

Since bracket 5 and mirror 1 are slidably attached theretogether it will be understood that, in use, the mirror 1 can easily and quickly be mounted on bracket 5 by simply sliding ridges 8A and 8B into grooves 9A and 9B.

As can further be seen by reference to Figure 3 towards edge 20B of bracket 5 there is provided a further means by which bracket 5 can be attached to an existing rear viewing assembly or rear viewing mirror on a towing vehicle. This means comprises a number of slots 6 and holes 7 through which straps (not shown) are threaded.

A strap of predetermined length is firstly threaded through slot 6 and is prevented from being released from same by means of an extended portion towards its first end. The second end of the strap is then threaded through the nearest adjacent hole 7. This second end is provided with a hook which is adapted to engage one of projections 12 provided on edge 20A of the bracket. In the embodiment shown, three straps are provided on bracket 5.

In use a first non-viewing side of bracket 5 is placed against a viewing surface of an existing rear viewing mirror and the said straps threaded through slots 6 and holes 7 are placed around the outermost surface of the rear viewing mirror and hooked by means of the hooks provided over projections 12. In this way bracket 5 is attached to an existing rear viewing mirror. Rear viewing mirror 1 can then be slidably attached to bracket 5 via the mating or ridges 8A and 8B with grooves 9A and 9B.

It will be understood that once bracket 5 has been attached to an existing wing mirror the existing wing mirror will be concealed by the attachment of rear viewing mirror 1.

Moreover, it will be understood that mirror 1 will be larger than the existing wing mirror and so because of the size of mirror 1, mirror 1 will extend outwardly from the existing car wing mirror in order to provide an enlarged field of view.

It will also be understood that enlarged mirror 1 may be quickly and easily removed from bracket 5 by sliding ridges 8 out of groove 9. This has the advantage in that once a towing vehicle is stationary it will be possible to remove an enlarged mirror 1 and place it in a safe location until it is needed for use. It can therefore be seen that there are anti-theft advantages to be gained from employing the invention.

Claims (7)

1. A vehicle rear viewing attachment comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted on an existing vehicle rear viewing structure and a rear viewing mirror adapted to be slideably releasably mounted on the said bracket.

2. A vehicle rear viewing attachment according to claim 1 wherein the bracket is releasably mounted on the structure.

3. A vehicle rear viewing mirror according to claim 1 wherein the bracket is mounted on an existing rear viewing structure by means of adjustable straps.

4. A vehicle rear viewing attachment wherein the releasable rear viewing mirror is relatively large with respect to the existing rear viewing mirror.

5. A vehicle rear viewing attachment according to claim 4 wherein said releasable rear viewing mirror conceals a fixed vehicle rear viewing mirror when in use.

6. A vehicle rear viewing attachment according to any preceding claim wherein the said releasable rear viewing mirror extends outwardly from its site of attachment so as to provide an adequate means of viewing in a rearward direction.

7. A vehicle rear viewing attachment according to any preceding claim wherein either the bracket or a part of the releasable mirror is provided with at least one means defining a ridge adapted to slidably engage with at least one groove provided on either the releasable mirror or the bracket so that the bracket and the releasable mirror can be joined together.