IL102479A - Mirror system for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Description

VISION SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES A SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES The present invention relates to a system for motor vehicles. More specifically said invention relates to a system for motor vehicles that assists the driver by expanding his field of vision to the front parts of the vehicle, particularly when parking in crowded parking lots, driving through narrow streets or in heavy traffic or in manoeuvring the vehicle through a space with obstacles, thus making it unnecessary for the driver to look outside the vehicle and endanger himself by putting his head and hand outside the vehicle's cabin, and without having to make use of the services of another person stationed outside the vehicle. According to the present invention the system enables the driver to look at the side mirrors of the vehicle and see simultaneously both the front end of the vehicle and its rear end.

Parking between two vehicles, or in parking lots, or when driving through areas crowded with vehicles such as traffic jams, often requires the driver to put his head or hand outside the vehicle's cabin in order to verify that he is not bumping into nearby vehicles, or to be assisted by a person standing outside the car directing him how to move the vehicle. Such a person is not always available. In the current situation, vehicles have (one or two) side mirrors at the front of the vehicle enabling the driver to view the rear end of the vehicle as well as the traffic in the road behind the vehicle. The conventional side mirrors do not provide the driver with a view of the front end of the vehicle, which is most important, in manoeuvring" the vehicle.

The present invention relates to a system for motor vehicles which serves as an aid to the driver in expanding his field of vision to the vehicle's front end, particularly when parking. The system is comprised of a side view mirror, and a rear view mirror. There are one or two conventional side view mirrors which are preferably installed on both sides (or one side) of the vehicle. The rear view mirrors are located on the same optical axis with the side view mirror and the rear view mirror is oriented towards the external side of the front wheel and both are about the same size (but preferably a bit smaller) than the front mirrors, and are also installed outside the vehicle at the rear end of the front door, or a little further back at one or both sides of the vehicle. The rear view mirrors are placed at the same height as the side view mirrors and face the side view mirrors with a slight downwards inclination enabling the driver to see: A) the front end of the vehicle by looking from the driver's cabin at the rear view mirror which is reflected in the side view mirror, and, B) simultaneously viewing through the side view mirror the rear end of the vehicle and the traffic behind it.

The system according to the present invention may have means for signalling and orienting the driver. Said means may be located on the bumper at each corner of the vehicle.

In the said invention we add to the side view mirror a rear view mirror- facing the side view mirror. While the side view mirror is located at the front part of the front door, the rear view mirror is located at the rear end of the front door or a bit further back.

Addition of a rear view mirror creates a system of two mirrors facing one another enabling the driver while only looking at the side view mirrors to continue to view as before the rear end of the vehicle and the traffic on the road behind it and also to view the front end of the vehicle, inasmuch as the view of the front end is reflected in the rear view mirror and from there to the side view mirror at which the driver is looking. The reflection of the rear view mirror in the side view mirror doesn't take up more than 30% of the area of the side view mirror.

It is possible optionally to add to the system of the side view and rear view mirrors a conventional device for signalling and for orienting the driver which is installed at the front and/or rear bumpers at the vehicle's corners.

These devices protrude slightly and are also of bright colours and may have light reflectors. The devices aid the driver in managing delicate parking or other manoeuvres with the help of the mirror system as described above.

In routine driving situations there is an option to fold the rear view mirror, and to pull it out again only while parking or while driving slowly between obstacles such as other vehicles.

The invention will be exemplified and clarified by means of Figures 1, 2, 3a and 3b. These figures in no way limit the scope of the invention, and serve only as illustrations.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 describes a view from above of the system installed in the car.

Figure 2 describes a side view of the system installed in the car.

Figure 3a describes the reflection of the system from the driver's cabin.

Figure 3b describes a close-up of the image reflected in the side view mirror of the system as seen from the driver ' s cabin.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 describes a view from above of a vehicle on which the system has been installed, the side view mirror (1) and the rear view mirror (2). Parallely a side view mirror (3) and a rear side mirror (4) are installed at the other side of the vehicle. The front end of the vehicle (5) is reflected in the rear view mirror (2) and this image is then reflected through the side view mirror (1), and thus to the driver. A parallel view of the other front end of the car (6) is perceived by the driver through the mirrors (3) and (4).

Fig. 2 describes a side view of the system. The front end of the vehicle (7) is reflected in the rear view mirror ( 8 ) and this transfers the picture to the side view mirror ( 9 ) and this in turn transfers the picture to the driver (10) . Simultaneously the rear end of the vehicle (11) including the traffic on the road behind the vehicle continues to be reflected in the side view mirror (9) and from there the picture is transferred to the driver (10). Thus, part of the area of the side view mirror includes a view of the front end of the car (7) and part includes a view of the rear end of the vehicle (11) and the traffic behind the vehicle.

Fig. 3a describes the view in the side view mirror as it is reflected in the driver's cabin. The main area of the side view mirror (12) continues to reflect the view of the rear end of the vehicle (13) and everything beyond it. In addition the side view mirror reflects the rear view mirror (14) facing it. The part of the rear view mirror reflected in the side view mirror does not exceed 30% depending on the relative size of the mirrors and the distance between them.

Fig. 3b describes a close-up of the view reflected in the side view mirror as it is seen from the driver's cabin. In most of the side view mirror there is reflected a view of the rear end of the vehicle as well as of other vehicles on the road behind (15). The rear view mirror (16) is also reflected in the side view mirror, along with a reflection of the front end of the car ( 17 ) .

Claims (1)

Claims :

1. A system for motor vehicles serves as an aid to the driver in expanding his field of vision to the vehicle's front end, particularly when parking, which is comprised of a side view mirror, a rear view mirror and such that the side view mirror is comprised of one or two conventional side view mirrors which are installed on both sides or one side of the vehicle, and such that the rear view mirrors are located on the same optical axis with the side view mirror and wherein the rear view mirror is oriented towards the external side of the front wheel and both are about the same size (but preferably a bit smaller) than the front mirrors, and are also installed outside the vehicle at the rear end of the front door, or a little further back at one or both sides of the vehicle, and such that the rear view mirrors are placed at the same height as the side view mirrors and face the side view mirrors enabling the driver to see both the front end of the vehicle by looking from the driver's cabin at the rear view mirror which is reflected in the side view mirror, and simultaneously viewing through the side view mirror the rear end of the vehicle and the traffic behind it. A system for motor vehicles according to claim 1 wherein the rear view mirror is optionally folded onto the car'S: body in routine driving and can be pulled out for parking. A system for motor vehicles according to claim 1 having means for signalling and for orienting the driver. A system for motor vehicles according to claim 1 wherein a means for signalling and orienting the driver are installed on the bumper at each corner of the vehicle. ADVOCATE & PATENT ATTORNEY Ρ· θι 0. i i o e i, Jerusalem