GB2473076A - A marker for indicating the presence of a vehicle exterior mirror - Google Patents

A marker for indicating the presence of a vehicle exterior mirror Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2473076A
GB2473076A GB0920952A GB0920952A GB2473076A GB 2473076 A GB2473076 A GB 2473076A GB 0920952 A GB0920952 A GB 0920952A GB 0920952 A GB0920952 A GB 0920952A GB 2473076 A GB2473076 A GB 2473076A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
protector
clip
wing
door
vehicle
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB0920952A
Other versions
GB0920952D0 (en
GB2473076B (en
Inventor
Phil Hall
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
Priority to GB0920952A priority Critical patent/GB2473076B/en
Publication of GB0920952D0 publication Critical patent/GB0920952D0/en
Priority to PCT/GB2010/051932 priority patent/WO2011064566A1/en
Publication of GB2473076A publication Critical patent/GB2473076A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2473076B publication Critical patent/GB2473076B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/48—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for parking purposes
    • B60Q1/486—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for parking purposes for indicating that vehicle is in a parked state
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
    • 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
    • B60R1/06—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • B60R13/04—External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F21/00—Mobile visual advertising
    • G09F21/04—Mobile visual advertising by land vehicles
    • G09F21/046—Mobile visual advertising by land vehicles using the shaking brought about by the locomotion of the vehicle

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

An exterior rear view vehicle mirror protector 102 has a clip 104 to allow it to be attached to the door of a parked vehicle. The protector also has a wing 106 joined to the clip by a flexure 108. The wing extends a greater distance from a body of the vehicle than does an exterior rear view mirror affixed to the vehicle, so that passing traffic is warned to avoid collision with the mirror. The flexure allows the wing to flex if struck by the traffic so that the wing can oscillate back and forth. The clip includes a jaw 118 that allows it to be attached to the vertical edge of the door. In one embodiment the mirror is attached to a vertical edge of the door of the parked car, whereby opposing strips of the jaw releasably grip the door.

Description

Patent application of Phil Hall Exterior mirror protector for vehicles
Field of Invention
This invention relates to a vehicle accessory for protecting exterior rear view mirrors of parked vehicles, particularly of cars and small vans.
Background of the Invention
Vehicle exterior rear view mirrors protrude generally into the path of passing traffic when parked, and are therefore liable to be hit and damaged by the traffic. This is particularly so for the door-mounted rear view mirror of cars and light vans. Some vehicles have mirrors which are positioned by an electric motor when the ignition is switched off so that they are flush with the side of the vehicle. This helps to protect the mirrors from being hit by passing vehicles. In other vehicles, the mirrors have a mounting which allows them to be rotated by a user of the vehicle so that they are flush with the side of the vehicle.
However, for many vehicles there remains a risk that, while parked, their mirrors will be damaged by passing traffic or even pedestrians.
Disclosure of Invention
From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that a need has arisen for a reducing the risk of a vehicle exterior rear view mirror from being damaged by passing traffic or pedestrians when parked.
The present invention provides a protector having a clip to allow the protector to be attached to the door of a parked vehicle. The protector also has a wing joined to the clip by a flexure. The wing extends a greater distance from a body of the vehicle than does an exterior rear view mirror affixed to the vehicle, so that passing traffic is warned to avoid collision with the mirror. The flexure allows the wing to flex if struck by the traffic so that the wing can oscillate back and forth.
The clip includes a jaw that allows it to be attached to the vertical edge of the door.
In one embodiment the mirror is attached to the door of the parked car.
Brief Description of Drawings
For a more complete explanation of the present invention and the technical advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawing in which: Figures 1 and 2 show the exterior mirror protector of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows the exterior mirror protector of the present invention in use.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention and their technical advantages may be better understood by referring to Figures 1 and 2, which shows a protector (102) of the present invention comprising a clip (104) and a wing (106) joined by a flexure (108) The clip attaches to a door of a parked vehicle. Preferably the clip attaches to the door along a vertical edge of the door distal to a hinge arrangement joining it to the body of the vehicle.
In one embodiment the clip has a jaw (118) extending along it. The jaw is comprised of two opposing strips of material (110 and 112) joined to each other along one edge (114) . The material is preferably flexible, so that the clip can be pushed against the edge of a vehicle door and the vehicle door will fit into a gap (116) between the jaws, to form a tight but reversible fit. The size of the gap is therefore comparable to the thickness of the part of the door to which it is to be attached. Preferably the gap is less than the thickness of the part of the door to which it is to be attached so that a tight fit is formed as the jaws flex.
The dimensions of the clip are such that the vehicle door will close and lock. In particular, a thickness (120) is comparable to, and preferably less than, a gap between the door to which the protector is fitted and the body of the car when the door is closed.
The flexure acts as a hinge, so that if the wing is hit by a passing vehicle or pedestrian, the wing can oscillate back and forth before returning to its original position projecting from the car door, thereby reducing the effect of the impact. The flexure has a join with the clip of a length (122) sufficient to prevent the flexure from being impeded by the outer surface of the door to which the protector is attached when the wing flexes.
The wing preferably has a high visibility surface (124) . For example, it has a brightly coloured reflective surface that draws attention to the protector by day or night. A length (124) of the wing is such that it extends a greater distance from the body of the vehicle than does the exterior rear view mirror to be protected.
The use of the protector is shown in Figure 3. In panel A, the clip of the protector is affixed to vehicle door (302) . In panel B, the door has been closed, resulting in the protector being attached to the door by the clip.
The flexure between the clip is not prevented from acting as a hinge by this attachment. In panel C, the wing extends a greater distance from the body of the vehicle than does the exterior rear view mirror to be protected. In panel D, the effect of the wing being hit by a passing vehicle or pedestrian is shown diagrammatically: the flexure allows the wing to oscillate in a damped fashion before returning to the position shown in panel C.

Claims (12)

  1. Claims 1. A protector (102) including: (a) a clip (104), said clip being attachable to a door of a parked vehicle; (b) a wing (106); and (c) a flexure (108), said wing and said clip joined by said flexure; characterised by said wing extending a greater distance from a body of said vehicle than does an exterior rear view mirror affixed to said vehicle, whereby traffic passing said vehicle is warned to avoid collision with said mirror.
  2. 2. The protector of claim 1 further characterised by said flexure allowing said wing to flex if struck by said traffic, whereby said wing can oscillate back and forth.3. The protector of claim 2 wherein said flexure includes a junction with said clip, wherein a length (122) of said junction is sufficient to prevent said flexure from being impeded by an outer surface of said door.
  3. 3. The protector of any of the preceding claims in which said mirror is a mirror attached to said door.
  4. 4. The protector of any of the preceding claims in which said clip is attached to said door along a vertical edge of said door distal to a hinge arrangement joining said door to said body.
  5. 5. The protector of any of the preceding claims in which said clip includes a jaw (118).
  6. 6. The protector of claim 5 in which said jaw includes two opposing strips of material (110 and 112) joined to each other along an edge (114) 7. The protector of claim 6 in which said material is flexible, whereby said clip can be pushed against an edge of said vehicle door and said vehicle door will fit into a gap (116) between said jaws.8. The protector of claim 7 in which said gap is less than a thickness of said edge.9. The protector of any of the preceding claims in which a thickness (120) of said clip is less than a gap between said door and said body when said door is closed.10. The protector of any of the preceding claims in which said wing has a high visibility surface (124) * 11. The protector of any of the preceding claims in which said traffic is vehicular.12. The protector of any of the preceding claims in which said traffic is pedestrian.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A protector including: (a) a clip which is attachable to a door of a parked vehicle; (b) a wing having a proximal edge which is adjacent to the clip and a distal edge which is remote from the clip, an extent of the in use wing between the proximal and distal edges being greater than a standard exterior rear view mirror of the parked vehicle; and (c) a flexure which joins the proximal edge of the wing and the clip, a longitudinal extent of the proximal edge of the wing being greater than a longitudinal extent of the distal edge of the wing.2. A protector of claim 1, in which said flexure allows said wing to hinge when struck by traffic and to consequently oscillate back and forth.0 3. A protector of claim 2, wherein said flexure includes a junction with said clip, wherein a length of said junction is sufficient to prevent said flexure from being impeded by an outer surface of said door.4. A protector of any of the preceding claims, wherein a longitudinal extent O of the clip matches or substantially matches the longitudinal extent of the proximal edge of the wing.5. A protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wing is or is substantially triangular.6. A protector as claimed in claim 5, wherein edges between the proximal edge and the distal edge of the wing are or are substantially rectilinear along at least a majority of their longitudinal extents.
  7. 7. A protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clip, wing and flexure are integrally formed as one-piece.
  8. 8. A protector of any of the preceding claims in which said clip includes a jaw.
  9. 9. A protector of claim 8 in which clip includes two opposing strips of material joined to each other along an edge.
  10. 10. A protector of claim 9 in which said material is flexible so that an edge of a vehicle door is receivable in the clip as a tight push fit.
  11. 11.A protector of any of the preceding claims, in which a thickness of said clip is less than a gap between a vehicle's door and its body, when said door is closed.
  12. 12. A protector of any of the preceding claims, in which said wing has a high visibility surface.
GB0920952A 2009-11-28 2009-11-28 Exterior mirror protector for vehicles Expired - Fee Related GB2473076B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0920952A GB2473076B (en) 2009-11-28 2009-11-28 Exterior mirror protector for vehicles
PCT/GB2010/051932 WO2011064566A1 (en) 2009-11-28 2010-11-22 Vehicle warning device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0920952A GB2473076B (en) 2009-11-28 2009-11-28 Exterior mirror protector for vehicles

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0920952D0 GB0920952D0 (en) 2010-01-13
GB2473076A true GB2473076A (en) 2011-03-02
GB2473076B GB2473076B (en) 2011-07-06

Family

ID=41572908

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0920952A Expired - Fee Related GB2473076B (en) 2009-11-28 2009-11-28 Exterior mirror protector for vehicles

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2473076B (en)
WO (1) WO2011064566A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105034942A (en) * 2015-06-26 2015-11-11 侯邦为 Warning device
GB2597326A (en) * 2020-07-20 2022-01-26 Berzins Katy Improvements in or relating to distancing parked vehicles

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2690885A1 (en) * 1992-05-06 1993-11-12 Applic Technologies Nles Indicator arm for use in indicating parking clearance required by handicapped people - has extended arm with indicator panel to show drivers, parking adjacent to handicapped persons vehicle minimum clearance required
GB2297407A (en) * 1995-01-28 1996-07-31 Gary Leonard Shepherd Parked vehicle warning signal
DE20113839U1 (en) * 2001-08-21 2001-12-06 Schmid Wolfgang Car parking distance sign

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3895348A (en) * 1973-09-17 1975-07-15 Ambrose Palermo Vehicle mounted warning device
US4363191A (en) * 1980-04-23 1982-12-14 Donnelly Mirrors, Inc. Hinged window assembly

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2690885A1 (en) * 1992-05-06 1993-11-12 Applic Technologies Nles Indicator arm for use in indicating parking clearance required by handicapped people - has extended arm with indicator panel to show drivers, parking adjacent to handicapped persons vehicle minimum clearance required
GB2297407A (en) * 1995-01-28 1996-07-31 Gary Leonard Shepherd Parked vehicle warning signal
DE20113839U1 (en) * 2001-08-21 2001-12-06 Schmid Wolfgang Car parking distance sign

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105034942A (en) * 2015-06-26 2015-11-11 侯邦为 Warning device
GB2597326A (en) * 2020-07-20 2022-01-26 Berzins Katy Improvements in or relating to distancing parked vehicles
GB2597326B (en) * 2020-07-20 2022-09-14 Berzins Katy Improvements in or relating to distancing parked vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2011064566A1 (en) 2011-06-03
GB0920952D0 (en) 2010-01-13
GB2473076B (en) 2011-07-06

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20161128