Motorcycle mirror providing rider concurrent viewing of road to the side and immediately to the rear of motorcycle

#The present invention relates to a rear view mirror specifically designed for motorcycles, or similar vehicles. More specifically, the disclosed device is a motorcycle mounted mirror configuration which allows the area directly behind the motorcycle operator, just behind the rear tire of the vehicle, to be viewed by the rider. Concurrently, the device also allows for viewing by the rider of the road area immediately to the side or sides of the motorcycle, depending on the number of the devices which are attached to the handlebars of the cycle. Currently, a blind spot exists in the road area immediately behind the rider of a motorcycle when using conventional motorcycle mirrors which are designed for automobile side viewing when operatively attached to a vehicle. As a consequence, such conventional motor automobile mirrors fail to concurrently show the area to the side of a motorcycle to the rider along with the area of the road immediately behind the rider when operatively mounted on a motorcycle handlebar.

#Observing motorcycle riders on the highway, it is very noticeable that when changing lanes riders turn their heads to look back immediately behind their motorcycle, even though they have handle bar mounted mirrors. Such rider action is consistent in that most riders are aware of the blind spot directly behind the motorcycle and only by turning their heads can they view this area of the road. Helmet laws have only made it more cumbersome for the rider to view this posterior area of the road immediately behind the rider as peripheral vision is severely inhibited by helmets. Still further, many helmets distort or severely inhibit the rider's hearing which handicaps the rider's awareness of vehicles in his proximity since they cannot be heard adequately.

#Conventional rear view mirrors are designed show the area to the side of the vehicle, with any enhancement being to broaden the side area viewed farther out to the side of the viewer. In an automobile, viewing of the area immediately posterior to the vehicle is accomplished by a rear view mirror center mounted on the windshield. By looking into the reflection in the rear view mirror, the driver accomplishes the task of viewing directly behind the vehicle to ascertain the proximity of another vehicle to the rear. In large vehicles, such as trucks, where a rear view mirror on the windshield is not possible, the side mirrors are extended as far as permissible in an attempt to see behind the vehicle. However, such extended side mirrors still fail to see the first few feet immediately adjacent to the rear end of the vehicle. In the case of very large vehicles, unlike the unprotected motorcycle rider, any following vehicles that are too close to the rear are more of a liability to themselves, than to the large vehicle in front of them, since striking a truck of such size with a car generally only has serious consequences for the car.

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to better explain and define the principles of the invention.

#FIG. 1, Prior Art, depicts a motorcycle and rider, with handlebar mounted conventional side view mirror, displaying the rear view angle and enhancement angle, out from the side of the rider.

#FIG. 2 depicts a motorcycle and rider using the device herein disclosed, displaying the rear view angle and enhancement angle of view of the road area located immediately behind the operator.

#Referring now to the drawing FIG. 1, Prior Art, showing a conventional handle bar mounted rear view mirror 12 on the handlebar 14 of a motorcycle 16. The motorcycle rider 18, looking in the planar mirror 12, will only be able to see the area inscribed by the angle A. Conventional side viewing enhancement 20, commonly a convex split-image mirror, or after-market attached viewer, enlarges the viewing angle B outwardly from angle A, increasing the operators vision to the side but leaving a blind spot directly behind and immediately adjacent to the rear of the vehicle. Wearing of a helmet 22 by the rider 18, as is now required in most states, further limits the riders 18 view by retarding the peripheral vision of the operator and making turning of the head awkward. Additionally, the hearing of the rider 18 is also impaired by the helmet 18 thus dampening his awareness of any vehicle to the rear or side which might project noise to alert the rider 18.

#The aforementioned shortcomings and others are overcome with the use of the disclosed device 10 which combines a first and second mirrored surface at a defined angle and determined attachment point to yield a complete view of the sides and the immediate rear or posterior of a motorcycle at the center axis 17 just behind the rear wheel 19. The device 10 may be manufactured as a complete unit or, using the after market rear viewing enhancement unit embodiment, it can be attached adjacent to the outside edge 13 of a handlebar mounted side view mirror 12, as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4. A complete unit yielding the concurrent viewing of the side view of angle A and also the rear area of angle C substantially at the center axis 17 running through a motorcycle 16 from the front wheel through and immediately adjacent to the rear of the rear wheel 19 of the motorcycle 16 to the rider 18 can also be achieved by using the wedge shaped casing 70 of FIG. 7 which would best be attached at the outside edge 13 furthest away from the rider of the first mirror 12 in the form to a conventional side view mirror 12. As depicted in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the view from the conventional side viewing planar mirror 12 is shown with angle A, with the attachable enhancement mirror 24 as the second mirror forming the disclosed device 10 in attachable form, and with both mirrors positioned at the operational angle D opposed to each other, together yielding a concurrent view to the rider of the area depicted by viewing angle C, and showing the posterior area of the vehicle immediately to the rear of the motorcycle but out to the convergence with angle A.

#FIG. 2 thus illustrates the increase in the rearward viewing area immediately behind the center rear portion of a motorcycle 16 afforded to the rider 18 with the addition of the disclosed device 10 as a unit or in the embodiment as an attachable enhancement mirror 24 or wedge shaped attachment. All embodiments thus combine two mirrored or reflective surfaces at a defined operative angle with each other, to thereby eliminate the blind spot immediately behind the rear tire of a motorcycle 16 which now plagues motorcycle riders.