Compound automotive rearview mirror
OwnerGeorge E. Platzer JR.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite mirror adapted for use as an outside rearview mirror of a motor vehicle includes a main or primary viewing mirror and an auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror juxtaposed to expose the vehicle blindzone to the vehicle operator. The main viewing mirror is generally of unit magnification. The auxiliary mirror is composed of a planar array of reflecting facets mimicking a convex mirror. The main and auxiliary mirrors can be combined in constant or variable reflectivity applications.
Claims32
An outside rearview mirror for automotive vehicle applications comprising:
- a unitary plastic mirror body having a main rearview mirror and an integrally formed auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror, said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror defining a reflective surface comprised of a segment of a convex mirror having a radius of curvature and a magnification less than that of said main rearview mirror, wherein said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror is located generally in an upper and outer quadrant of said main rearview mirror, and said radius of curvature of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror lies in a plane generally perpendicular to said main rearview mirror, and said plane passes through the center point of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror so that its viewing angle primarily encompasses the region between the outer limit of the viewing angle of said main rearview mirror and the rearward limit of the driver's peripheral vision when the driver is looking at said outside rearview mirror.
An auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror for attachment to an automotive outside rearview mirror comprising:
- a discrete mirror body defining a segment of a convex mirror having a reflective surface, and said convex mirror having a radius of curvature and a magnification less than that of the automotive outside rearview mirror, and said discrete mirror body is located generally in an upper and outer quadrant of the automotive outside rearview mirror, and said radius of curvature of said discrete mirror body lies in a plane generally perpendicular to the automotive outside viewing mirror, and said plane passes through the center point of said discrete mirror body so that its viewing angle primarily encompasses the region between the outer limit of the viewing angle of said automotive outside viewing mirror and the rearward limit of the driver's peripheral vision when said driver is looking at said mirror.
An automotive outside rearview mirror assembly comprising:
- a housing adapted to be affixed to the exterior of a vehicle having an enclosed chamber with a rearwardly facing opening;
- a mirror adjustment mechanism mounted within the housing enclosed chamber and provided with a remotely positionable face plate;
- and
- a mirror element affixed to the face plate, said mirror element comprising a main viewing outside mirror and an auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror, said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror defining a reflective surface comprised of a convex mirror and having a radius of curvature and a magnification less than that of said main viewing outside mirror, wherein said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror is located generally in an upper and outer quadrant of said main viewing outside mirror, and said radius of curvature of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror lies in a plane generally perpendicular to said main viewing outside mirror, and said plane passes through the center point of said auxiliary blindzone viewing mirror so that its viewing angle primarily encompasses the region between the outer limit of the viewing angle of said main viewing outside mirror and the rearward limit of the driver's peripheral vision when said driver is looking at said mirror.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.