WO2003039909A1 - Blind spot mirror for delivery van - Google Patents

Blind spot mirror for delivery van Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003039909A1
WO2003039909A1 PCT/NL2002/000709 NL0200709W WO03039909A1 WO 2003039909 A1 WO2003039909 A1 WO 2003039909A1 NL 0200709 W NL0200709 W NL 0200709W WO 03039909 A1 WO03039909 A1 WO 03039909A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mirror
fitted
windscreen
view
vehicle
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL2002/000709
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jacobus Johannes De Coninck
Wilbert Albert Marie Van Waes
Original Assignee
Marketing & Adviesbureau Remy B.V.
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 Marketing & Adviesbureau Remy B.V. filed Critical Marketing & Adviesbureau Remy B.V.
Priority to EP02780142A priority Critical patent/EP1441926A1/en
Publication of WO2003039909A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003039909A1/en

Links

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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a first mirror fitted beside the side windows of the front door on the offside, and also a second mirror fitted in front of the windscreen near the lower boundary of the latter, said second mirror being fitted in order to cover a field of view lying next to and in front of the field of view of the first mirror.
  • Such a rear- view mirror is known from Dutch Patent 1010534 in the name of Marketing & Adviesbureau Remy B.V.
  • a solution is given to the side view problem existing for lorries when they change direction.
  • the usual mirrors required by law, or first mirrors give a considerable blind angle, with the result that when bends are being negotiated other road users, in particular those on two-wheeled vehicles, are easily overlooked.
  • By fitting a further (second) mirror above the bonnet it is ensured that the driver looking through the windscreen can considerably reduce this blind angle.
  • Such mirrors are put on the market under the name "DOBLI dead and blind angle mirror".
  • mirrors are ' to be provided to permit a better view of the area near the door on the passenger side, and in particular the area behind that next to the boot.
  • This object is achieved in a vehicle of the type described above in that the mirror surface of said second or additional mirror is fitted entirely above the lower boundary of the windscreen, and that the distance between the vertical axes of the first and the second mirror is 20 - 40 cm.
  • the driver's position and more particularly the height at which the driver sits relative to the windscreen, in delivery vans is essentially different from the position in lorries.
  • the position of the second mirror therefore must be different from that disclosed in Dutch Patent 1010534.
  • the second mirror according to the invention is moved further forward than the mirror described in that patent. In other words, the distance between the first and second mirrors is greater than is the case in the abovementioned Dutch patent.
  • the second mirror is placed higher up.
  • the second mirror is fitted on the front wing lying diagonally opposite the driver position, or on the part of the bonnet at that position. This differs from Dutch Patent 1010534, where the mirror is fitted on the horizontal strip that is directly above the bonnet.
  • a plane through the vertical axis of the second mirror and parallel to the vertical longitudinal plane of the vehicle covers the A-post of that vehicle.
  • the second mirror is situated entirely within the greatest width of the vehicle.
  • the invention is for use particularly in the case of delivery vans, or smaller lorries based on an undercarriage of a delivery van, designed with a loading area without direct side view through the loading area, or with blinded side windows. It will, however, be understood that the invention can also be used in the case of vehicles that are approximately the same height as delivery vans and have the same driver position. Examples of this are campers and the like.
  • Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically in side view a delivery van provided with a mirror according to the invention, with the field of view shown diagrammatically;
  • Fig. 2 shows the vehicle according to Fig. 1, provided with a second mirror according to the invention, in front view;
  • Fig. 3 shows a detail of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale
  • Fig. 4 shows in top view the field of view of the first and second mirror according to Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the assembly of a mirror according to the invention.
  • a delivery van is indicated in its entirety by 1.
  • the rear- view mirror situated near the driver position is indicated by 12, and the mirror situated on the passenger side is indicated by 13. The driver can see the part of the road next to the vehicle through the side windows of the vehicle.
  • a mirror 14 according to the invention is fitted.
  • the bonnet of the vehicle is indicated by 16, while the right front wing is indicated by 17.
  • the mirror is fitted on this front wing.
  • the vertical axis of this mirror is situated at a distance a from the vertical axis of mirror 13.
  • This distance a (Fig. 1) is between 20 and 40 cm.
  • Mirror 14 is situated in front of the windscreen 15 of the vehicle.
  • the lower boundary of the mirror surface of mirror 14 lies above the lower boundary of windscreen 15.
  • This distance is indicated by b (Fig. 2) and is preferably between 5 and 15 cm.
  • the vertical axis of the mirror surface of mirror 14 lies approximately in the vertical longitudinal plane of the vehicle that passes through the A-post on the driver's side.
  • Mirror 14 according to the present invention is shown both in its entirety and in parts in Fig. 5 (Figs. 5a and 5b respectively).
  • the mirror 14 is composed of a top part 25, a base 26 and an intermediate piece 27.
  • the top part 25 is composed of a mirror holder 29 and two clamping pieces 23, for the accommodation of the actual mirror glass 28.
  • the base 26 is composed of a bottom part 24 and a top part 21.
  • the collapsible function is fixed by means of a spring 22.
  • the height position of the mirror can be fixed as desired by adjusting the length of intermediate part 27.
  • Such a mirror can have a height of, for example, 6 - 10 cm and a width of 10 - 15 cm.
  • the field of view of the conventional mirror 13 is indicated diagrammatically by ⁇ in Fig. 4. This angle is approximately 35°. It can be seen that there is a considerable area ⁇ that is not covered by this mirror 13. A range of ⁇ is covered through the use of mirror 14 according to the invention. This angle is approximately 70°. The now remaining part that is not covered by the mirrors is so small that, in particular for cyclists, the danger that they can no longer be seen by drivers is minimized. The fact is that, by looking straight ahead out through the windscreen the driver can now see the front of the bicycle if the latter is situated outside the field of view, in other words outside the area ⁇ . This area is indicated by ⁇ and is 3 - 10°, and can generally be seen by the driver directly through the side window.
  • the mirror shown here can comprise any mirror known in the prior art.
  • the mirror preferably has a height of between 6 and 10 cm, and a width of between 10 and 15 cm, and the radius of curvature or radius is 250 - 400 mm. Changes are possible depending on positioning and details of the vehicle. Such variants spring immediately to mind in the case of the person skilled in the art, and lie with the scope of the appended claims.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

Delivery van provided with an additional rear-view mirror. Said rear-view mirror fitted on the front wing or the bonnet, and the driver looks through the windscreen at said rear-view mirror in order to limit as much as possible the dead angle that arises in the case of conventional rear-view mirrors. The lower boundary of said rear-view mirror is fitted above the lower boundary of the windscreen, and the vertical axis lies approximately in line with the A-post of the delivery van.

Description

BLIND SPOT MIRROR FOR DELIVERY VAN
The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a first mirror fitted beside the side windows of the front door on the offside, and also a second mirror fitted in front of the windscreen near the lower boundary of the latter, said second mirror being fitted in order to cover a field of view lying next to and in front of the field of view of the first mirror.
Such a rear- view mirror is known from Dutch Patent 1010534 in the name of Marketing & Adviesbureau Remy B.V. In that patent a solution is given to the side view problem existing for lorries when they change direction. The usual mirrors required by law, or first mirrors, give a considerable blind angle, with the result that when bends are being negotiated other road users, in particular those on two-wheeled vehicles, are easily overlooked. By fitting a further (second) mirror above the bonnet, it is ensured that the driver looking through the windscreen can considerably reduce this blind angle. Such mirrors are put on the market under the name "DOBLI dead and blind angle mirror".
Although such mirrors provide an excellent solution for lorries, they are less suitable for delivery vans and smaller lorries. It has been found that delivery vans on average have fewer accidents per kilometre travelled than lorries when they change direction, but, on the other hand, the number of delivery vans is very much greater than the number of lorries on the road, so that there is little difference in the total number of accidents occurring per annum.
It is the object of the present invention to reduce the blind angle that is found likewise in the case of delivery vans. In other words, mirrors are' to be provided to permit a better view of the area near the door on the passenger side, and in particular the area behind that next to the boot.
This object is achieved in a vehicle of the type described above in that the mirror surface of said second or additional mirror is fitted entirely above the lower boundary of the windscreen, and that the distance between the vertical axes of the first and the second mirror is 20 - 40 cm.
Research has shown that the driver's position, and more particularly the height at which the driver sits relative to the windscreen, in delivery vans is essentially different from the position in lorries. The position of the second mirror therefore must be different from that disclosed in Dutch Patent 1010534. The second mirror according to the invention is moved further forward than the mirror described in that patent. In other words, the distance between the first and second mirrors is greater than is the case in the abovementioned Dutch patent. Furthermore, the second mirror is placed higher up. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second mirror is fitted on the front wing lying diagonally opposite the driver position, or on the part of the bonnet at that position. This differs from Dutch Patent 1010534, where the mirror is fitted on the horizontal strip that is directly above the bonnet. According to a further advantageous embodiment, a plane through the vertical axis of the second mirror and parallel to the vertical longitudinal plane of the vehicle covers the A-post of that vehicle.
According to a further variant, the second mirror is situated entirely within the greatest width of the vehicle. As described above, the invention is for use particularly in the case of delivery vans, or smaller lorries based on an undercarriage of a delivery van, designed with a loading area without direct side view through the loading area, or with blinded side windows. It will, however, be understood that the invention can also be used in the case of vehicles that are approximately the same height as delivery vans and have the same driver position. Examples of this are campers and the like.
The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing.
In the drawing:
Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically in side view a delivery van provided with a mirror according to the invention, with the field of view shown diagrammatically;
Fig. 2 shows the vehicle according to Fig. 1, provided with a second mirror according to the invention, in front view;
Fig. 3 shows a detail of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale;
Fig. 4 shows in top view the field of view of the first and second mirror according to Fig. 2; and
Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the assembly of a mirror according to the invention.
In Figs. 1 and 2 a delivery van is indicated in its entirety by 1. The rear- view mirror situated near the driver position is indicated by 12, and the mirror situated on the passenger side is indicated by 13. The driver can see the part of the road next to the vehicle through the side windows of the vehicle.
In addition, a mirror 14 according to the invention is fitted. The bonnet of the vehicle is indicated by 16, while the right front wing is indicated by 17. The mirror is fitted on this front wing. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the vertical axis of this mirror is situated at a distance a from the vertical axis of mirror 13. This distance a (Fig. 1) is between 20 and 40 cm. Mirror 14 is situated in front of the windscreen 15 of the vehicle. The lower boundary of the mirror surface of mirror 14 lies above the lower boundary of windscreen 15. This distance is indicated by b (Fig. 2) and is preferably between 5 and 15 cm. The vertical axis of the mirror surface of mirror 14 lies approximately in the vertical longitudinal plane of the vehicle that passes through the A-post on the driver's side. These details can also be seen in Fig. 3.
It is clear from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 how the image of the cyclist shown in Fig. 1 can be seen by the driver of the vehicle. This driver looks through the windscreen by way of the mirror 14 at what is present alongside him and/or at an angle behind and at some distance from him.
Mirror 14 according to the present invention is shown both in its entirety and in parts in Fig. 5 (Figs. 5a and 5b respectively). The mirror 14 is composed of a top part 25, a base 26 and an intermediate piece 27. As can be seen from the drawing in a disassembled state (Fig. 5b), the top part 25 is composed of a mirror holder 29 and two clamping pieces 23, for the accommodation of the actual mirror glass 28. The base 26 is composed of a bottom part 24 and a top part 21. The collapsible function is fixed by means of a spring 22. The height position of the mirror can be fixed as desired by adjusting the length of intermediate part 27. Such a mirror can have a height of, for example, 6 - 10 cm and a width of 10 - 15 cm.
The field of view of the conventional mirror 13 is indicated diagrammatically by ζ in Fig. 4. This angle is approximately 35°. It can be seen that there is a considerable area γ that is not covered by this mirror 13. A range of δ is covered through the use of mirror 14 according to the invention. This angle is approximately 70°. The now remaining part that is not covered by the mirrors is so small that, in particular for cyclists, the danger that they can no longer be seen by drivers is minimized. The fact is that, by looking straight ahead out through the windscreen the driver can now see the front of the bicycle if the latter is situated outside the field of view, in other words outside the area γ. This area is indicated by α and is 3 - 10°, and can generally be seen by the driver directly through the side window.
It will be understood that the mirror shown here can comprise any mirror known in the prior art. The mirror preferably has a height of between 6 and 10 cm, and a width of between 10 and 15 cm, and the radius of curvature or radius is 250 - 400 mm. Changes are possible depending on positioning and details of the vehicle. Such variants spring immediately to mind in the case of the person skilled in the art, and lie with the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims
1. Vehicle (1) comprising a first mirror (13) fitted beside the side windows of the front door on the offside, and also a second mirror (14) fitted in front of the windscreen (15) near the lower boundary of the latter, said second mirror being fitted in order to cover a field of view lying next to and in front of the field of view of the first mirror, characterized in that the mirror surface of said second mirror (14) is fitted entirely above the lower boundary of the windscreen, and in that the distance between the vertical axes of the first and the second mirror is 20 - 40 cm.
2. Vehicle according to Claim 1 , in which said second mirror is fitted on the front wing (17) lying diagonally opposite the driver position, or on the part of the bonnet at that position.
3. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plane parallel to the vertical central longitudinal plane through the vehicle, through the vertical central longitudinal line of the second mirror, intersects the A-post of said vehicle.
4. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, in which the lower boundary of said second mirror lies 5 - 15 cm above the lower boundary of said windscreen.
5. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a delivery van.
6. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a small lorry, camper and/or MPV.
7. Mirror assembly comprising a mirror and fixing means for fitting the mirror in front of the front side of the driver's cab, designed so that the mirror is positioned in such a way that the mirror surface of said mirror is fitted entirely above the boundary of the windscreen, and that the mirror is fitted on the front wing lying diagonally opposite the driver position, or on the part of the bonnet at that position, in order to cover a field of view next to and in front of the field of view of the first mirror.
PCT/NL2002/000709 2001-11-06 2002-11-06 Blind spot mirror for delivery van WO2003039909A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02780142A EP1441926A1 (en) 2001-11-06 2002-11-06 Blind spot mirror for delivery van

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1019312A NL1019312C2 (en) 2001-11-06 2001-11-06 Rearview mirror for van.
NL1019312 2001-11-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003039909A1 true WO2003039909A1 (en) 2003-05-15

Family

ID=19774269

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NL2002/000709 WO2003039909A1 (en) 2001-11-06 2002-11-06 Blind spot mirror for delivery van

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1441926A1 (en)
NL (1) NL1019312C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2003039909A1 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3600869A1 (en) * 1986-01-10 1987-07-16 Miroslaw Janowicz EXTERIOR MIRROR FOR TRUCKS OR THE LIKE.
FR2647066A3 (en) * 1989-05-16 1990-11-23 Gschwend Pius Rear-view mirror for lorries and utility vehicles
NL1010534C2 (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-02-08 W A M Van Waes & Partners B V Vehicle equipped with a rear view mirror.

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3600869A1 (en) * 1986-01-10 1987-07-16 Miroslaw Janowicz EXTERIOR MIRROR FOR TRUCKS OR THE LIKE.
FR2647066A3 (en) * 1989-05-16 1990-11-23 Gschwend Pius Rear-view mirror for lorries and utility vehicles
NL1010534C2 (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-02-08 W A M Van Waes & Partners B V Vehicle equipped with a rear view mirror.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1441926A1 (en) 2004-08-04
NL1019312C2 (en) 2003-05-07

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