GB2040843A - Rearview mirrors - Google Patents

Rearview mirrors Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2040843A
GB2040843A GB7901766A GB7901766A GB2040843A GB 2040843 A GB2040843 A GB 2040843A GB 7901766 A GB7901766 A GB 7901766A GB 7901766 A GB7901766 A GB 7901766A GB 2040843 A GB2040843 A GB 2040843A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
mirror
vehicle
external mirror
vehicle external
view
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB7901766A
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 GB7901766A priority Critical patent/GB2040843A/en
Publication of GB2040843A publication Critical patent/GB2040843A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60RVEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00Optical 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
    • B60R1/02Rear-view mirror arrangements
    • B60R1/08Rear-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
    • B60R1/081Rear-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
    • B60R1/082Rear-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 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)

Abstract

A vehicle external mirror (10) has two reflective areas or facets (20,22) angled relative to each other. One (20) serves normal rear view purposes along and outwardly of the side of a vehicle, and the other (22) serves to provide a further, more outward, field of view to and sight of overtaking vehicles and assist entry to one carriageway or road from another road, such as a slip road. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle external mirror The invention relates to mirrors and particularly to external mirrors, such as wing mirrors, for motor vehicles.
In general, the field of view available with such mirrors is not wide enough unless convex mirrors are used when depth of view is distorted. The latter can be alarming as the main purpose of such mirrors are to judge overtaking and traffic lane entry opportunities according to following or existing traffic, and to assist in reversing manoeuvres.
It is an object of this invention to provide an alternative way of improving field of view with less effect on distance judgement. To this end I propose that a mirror have two main reflective areas, one angled relative to the other.
Preferred external vehicle mirrors of this invention have relatively large and small reflective areas, the former nearest the vehicle and the latter extending away from the outer edge of the former both in extent and angularly. The larger area may then serve the normal purpose of giving a rearward view along and outwards of the side of the vehicle and to an angle dictated by optics. However, beyond that angle, the smaller portion will give a field of view very much to one side of the vehicle but still at least somewhat rearwardly thereof in order to detect any very close overtaking vehicle.
Also, the smaller area mirror can serve an extremely useful purpose when approaching a road or carriageway at an acute angle as often happens when joining a motorway from a slip road. Then, obviously, a far better sight of traffic on the carriageway to be joined will be given than with a normal external mirror.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a driver's view of an external vehicle mirror; and Figure 2 is a section on line AA of Figure 1.
In the drawing, an external mirror 10 for a road vehicle has a conventional stand-off arm 12 from a mount, not shown, that conveniently includes any conventional means of affording about 90" of swinging movement between an operative mirror position and a retracted position with the mirror generally parallel with the vehicle body. Usually, such means has a spring loaded seating to latch at least in the operative mirror position. Also, a conventional angular adjustment joint, such as a ball and clamp, will be provided between the arm 12 and the mirror proper.
The mirror itself comprises a holder 14that, again in conventional manner, has a pressed metal or moulded plastics body presenting a curved rear surface to improve airflow past the mirror.
However, the salient features of the mirror 10, from the point of view of this invention, concern the two distinct mirror facets 20 and 22 that are angled relative to each other at 24 to give differing fields of view. The main one 20 of these mirror facets is closest to the vehicle and serves in conventional manner to give a rearward field view from the side of the vehicle outwards as limited by its size and shape.
The other mirror facet 22 makes an angle of about 10 with the general plane of the main facet 20 in a direction away from a viewing driver. That will afford another field of view which will cover positions outwardly of the field of view of the main mirror facet close to the vehicle where the field of view of the main mirror facet is inevitably most restricted.
It has been found that plane mirror facets give satisfactory results, which is advantageous from a cost viewpoint, but the use of a non-plane mirror facet or facets is not to be ruled out should that be desired or found to afford operational advantages in some applications of the invention. Also, the angle of 10 between plane mirror facets was found to be satisfactory in one particular application to a wing mirror. However, other angles may be used as found to be satisfactory or advantageous, say for different distances between drive position and wing mirror mounting. In general, however, a range from 21/2" to 121/2 is believed to cover most practical embodiments. External cab or door mounting mirrors can also benefit from this invention and the most advantageous mirror facet angle may then differ from that required of a wing mirror.
Aflexible or hinged joint 24 between the mirror facets may well prove to be a practical proposition, especially for mirrors of the type having the mirror itself movable within a shield as is becoming common practice for door mounted mirrors adjustable by a linkage from within the vehicle. Any mirror facet adjustment should, of course, be lockable or sufficiently stiff in action to resist movement by vehicle vibration. It is believed that a single deformable sheet, for example of metal, would suffice, either directly silvered and mirror finished, or as a carrier for two glass facets preferable sealed relative to each other by mastic or a resilient compressed seal to allow at least minor relative angular adjustment.
However, the drawing shows a fixed facet mirror with a preset angle between glass facets conventionally mounted within a mirror body rim 26 on rim adjacent flats 28 and with a seal strip 30 to the rim 26. Afurther double channel seal 32 is shown between the two facets 20, 22. It will, of course, be appreciated that the facets could be integral one with the other and need not be of glass. Also, the mirror holder could have a support (dashed lines 34) for the mirror facet joint perhaps especially if moulded from synthetic plastics material. Then, both facets could be afforded independently in any conventional way.
Conceivably, of course, the facets 20, 22 could be mounted in a holder suitable for attachmentto and over a standard, single facet, vehicle mirror, e.g. by clips or clamps.

Claims (6)

1. Vehicle external mirror comprising two reflective areas one angled relative to the other to give two fields of rearward view.
2. Vehicle external mirror according to claim 1 wherein one of said areas is larger than the other for giving a normal field of view along the side and outwardly of a vehicle and the other extends away from the larger area at its outer edge for giving a field view beyond that of the larger area.
3. Vehicle external mirror according to either preceding claim, comprising a body carrying said reflective areas.
4. Vehicle external mirror according to claim 3, wherein said body is adapted for securementto an existing vehicle external mirror over its single reflective area.
5. Vehicle external mirror according to claim 4, wherein said body is adapted for universal mounting to a stand-off arm.
6. Vehicle external mirror substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
GB7901766A 1979-01-17 1979-01-17 Rearview mirrors Withdrawn GB2040843A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7901766A GB2040843A (en) 1979-01-17 1979-01-17 Rearview mirrors

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7901766A GB2040843A (en) 1979-01-17 1979-01-17 Rearview mirrors

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2040843A true GB2040843A (en) 1980-09-03

Family

ID=10502578

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB7901766A Withdrawn GB2040843A (en) 1979-01-17 1979-01-17 Rearview mirrors

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2040843A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2151568A (en) * 1983-12-16 1985-07-24 Stuart Allan Wilkie Wing mirror
EP0152098A2 (en) * 1984-02-13 1985-08-21 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Control apparatus for a dazzle-free refflection mirror of a vehicle
GB2157633A (en) * 1984-04-11 1985-10-30 William Sydney Charlton Rear view mirrors
US4859046A (en) * 1988-05-20 1989-08-22 Traynor Rodney P Lane viewer mirror apparatus for vehicles
GB2261861A (en) * 1991-11-26 1993-06-02 Frank Whittle Driving mirror
US5760978A (en) * 1996-05-15 1998-06-02 Smith; Ronnie P. Dual rear view mirror system

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2151568A (en) * 1983-12-16 1985-07-24 Stuart Allan Wilkie Wing mirror
EP0152098A2 (en) * 1984-02-13 1985-08-21 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Control apparatus for a dazzle-free refflection mirror of a vehicle
EP0152098A3 (en) * 1984-02-13 1987-07-29 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Control apparatus for a dazzle-free refflection mirror of a vehicle
GB2157633A (en) * 1984-04-11 1985-10-30 William Sydney Charlton Rear view mirrors
US4859046A (en) * 1988-05-20 1989-08-22 Traynor Rodney P Lane viewer mirror apparatus for vehicles
GB2261861A (en) * 1991-11-26 1993-06-02 Frank Whittle Driving mirror
US5760978A (en) * 1996-05-15 1998-06-02 Smith; Ronnie P. Dual rear view mirror system

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)