GB1602384A - Driving mirror - Google Patents

Description

(54) DRIVING MIRROR (71) 1, JAMES JACKSON LAEMER, a British subject, of 9 Fordenbridge Road, Ford Estate, Sunderland, Co. Durham, I pray that a patent may be granted to me, do hereby declare the invention, for which and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- Externally mounted driving mirrors for vehicles, in particular lorries, have the disadvantage that they do not provide a wide enough view of what is happening behind the driver. Specifically, they cannot provide the driver simultaneously with a view of following traffic, a view of overtaking traffic, and a view of his load.

A driving mirror assembly according to the present invention, for mounting externally on a vehicle, comprises first, second, and third separately mounted mirror sections, the first mirror section extending across substantially the whole width of the assembly, and the second and third sections being mounted adjacent the first section and side by side, the arrangement being such that when the assembly is mounted on a vehicle the first mirror section is capable of providing the driver of the vehicle with a view of following traffic, the second section is capable of providing the driver with a view of an overtaking vehicle when it leaves his view in the first section, and the third section is capable of providing the driver with a view of the side of his own vehicle.

Thus, the provision of the second section overcomes the well-known problem of the "blind spot" when a vehicle is about to pass the driver's vehicle and disappears from his rearview mirror. The third mirror section enables the driver of a lorry to see whether his load is still stable and satisfactorily roped.

Preferably, the second and thiry sections are mounted above the first section; additionally, fourth and fifth sections may be mounted side by side below the first section. The fourth section may be capable of providing the driver a view of small overtaking vehicles and the fifth section may be capable of providing a view of the wheels of his own vehicle.

The second, third, fourth, and fifth mirror sections may be separately adjustable by being mounted in the assembly on universal joints. The mirror sections may be fixed at selected angles by screws extending through the rear of the assembly.

or by friction within the universal joint Preferably, the mirror assembly has a backing portion which extends over the rear of the mirror sections. The assembly may then be attached to the vehicle by an arm connected to the backing portion.

This connection may be adjustable to allow the first mirror section to be fixed at a selected position.

The mirror sections may be formed from convex mirrors but preferably, they are formed from plane mirrors.

Two examples of a mirror assembly constructed according to the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the assembly mounted on a conventional brac ket; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the as sembly shown in Figure 1 :en 1, Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III--III in Figure 2; and, Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 3 but showing an alternative method for mounting the mirror sections.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the mirror assembly has a holder which comprises a frame portion 1 and a backing portion 2 which may be bonded or welded to the rear of the frame portion. The assembly is mounted to the door of a vehicle (not shown) by a conventional arm 3. The arm 3 is attached to the assembly by a conventional clip 4. The clip 4 is arranged to prevent the assembly slipping along the arm 3 but is not so tight as to prevent the vehicle driver from twisting the assembly to an optimum orientation.

The frame portion 1 comprises two elongate, spaced apart, parallel side members 5, and two elongate, spaced apart, parallel end members 6; the side members 5 being perpendicular to the end members 6 and being bonded or welded at their ends to the ends of the end members 6.

Within the frame portion 1, two elongate, spaced apart parallel cross-members 7 extend between the side members 5 to which they are bonded or welded. The cross-members 7 are parallel to the end members 6 and divide the assembly into top, central, and lower sections 8, 9, and 10 respectively.

A strut 11 extends between end member 6 and cross-member 7 of the top section 8, and divides the top section into two substantially equal halves. Similarly, another strut 11 divides the bottom section 10 into two substantially equal halves.

As an alternative to bonding or welding the entire holder may be integrally formed.

A first plane mirror section 12 is mounted in the central section 9, and is arranged to be substantially coplanar with the plane of the assembly. Second and third plane mirror sections 13 and 14 are mounted in the top section 8, and fourth and fifth plane mirror sections 15 and 16 are mounted in the bottom section 10 of the assembly, as shown in Figure 1.

The four mirror sections 13, 14, 15, and 16 are each mounted on universal joints so that they may be separately adjustable.

One method of mounting these sections is illustrat,d in Figure 3. A conventional ball 17, of a ball and socket joint, is bonded or welded to the backing portion 2, and is located inside a conventional socket 18 attached to the rear and at the centre of the mirror section 14. Mirror section 14 is adjusted and maintained at selected angles by screws 19 extending through holes 20 in the backing portion 2, each screw being connected to the mirror section by a ball and socket joint 21. Mirror sections 13, 15, and 16 are all mounted in a similar way to mirror section 14.

In use, the driver first adjusts the holder, and hence the first mirror section 12, so that he may see following traffic, and he then reaches behind the assembly in order to adjust screws 19 until each of the other mirror sections are correctly angled.

An alternative method for mounting the mirror sections is illustrated in Figure 4. The bowed member 22, having a socket 23, is fitted between the side member 5 and strut 11. The member 22 is sufficiently bowed so that the socket 23 tightly holds a ball 24 attached to the centre of mirror section 14. The mirror section 14 is held at any selected angle by friction between socket 23 and ball 24. Again, mirror sections 13, 15, and 16 may be mounted simi arlyto mirror section 14.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A driving mirror assembly for mounting externally on a vehicle, the assembly comprising first, second, and third separately mounted mirror sections, the first mirror section extending across substantially the whole width of the assembly, and the second and third sections being mounted adjacent the first section and side by side, the arrangement being such that when the assembly is mounted on a vehicle the first mirror section is capable of providing the driver of the vehicle with a view of following traffic, the second section is capable of providing the driver with a view of an overtaking vehicle when it leaves his view in the first section, and the third section is capable of providing the driver with a view of the side of his own vehicle.

2. A mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second and third mirror sections are mounted above the first section.

3. A mirror assembly according to claim 2, further comprising fourth and fifth mirror sections mounted side by side below the first mirror section.

4. A mirror assembly according to claim 3 > wherein the arrangement of the fourth and fifth mirror sections is such that when the assembly is mounted on a vehicle, the fourth section is capable of providing the driver with a view of small overtaking vehicles and the fifth section is capable of providing the driver with a view of the wheels of his own vehicle.

5. A mirror assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first mirror section is fixed within the assembly, and the other mirror sections are mounted on universal joints and are separately adjustable through a small range of angles.

6. A mirror assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each section comprises a plain mirror.

7. A mirror assembly according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A vehicle with a driving mirror assembly according to any one of the pre ceding claims, mounted exteinally, thereon.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. parallel end members 6; the side members 5 being perpendicular to the end members 6 and being bonded or welded at their ends to the ends of the end members 6. Within the frame portion 1, two elongate, spaced apart parallel cross-members 7 extend between the side members 5 to which they are bonded or welded. The cross-members 7 are parallel to the end members 6 and divide the assembly into top, central, and lower sections 8, 9, and 10 respectively. A strut 11 extends between end member 6 and cross-member 7 of the top section 8, and divides the top section into two substantially equal halves. Similarly, another strut 11 divides the bottom section 10 into two substantially equal halves. As an alternative to bonding or welding the entire holder may be integrally formed. A first plane mirror section 12 is mounted in the central section 9, and is arranged to be substantially coplanar with the plane of the assembly. Second and third plane mirror sections 13 and 14 are mounted in the top section 8, and fourth and fifth plane mirror sections 15 and 16 are mounted in the bottom section 10 of the assembly, as shown in Figure 1. The four mirror sections 13, 14, 15, and 16 are each mounted on universal joints so that they may be separately adjustable. One method of mounting these sections is illustrat,d in Figure 3. A conventional ball 17, of a ball and socket joint, is bonded or welded to the backing portion 2, and is located inside a conventional socket 18 attached to the rear and at the centre of the mirror section 14. Mirror section 14 is adjusted and maintained at selected angles by screws 19 extending through holes 20 in the backing portion 2, each screw being connected to the mirror section by a ball and socket joint 21. Mirror sections 13, 15, and 16 are all mounted in a similar way to mirror section 14. In use, the driver first adjusts the holder, and hence the first mirror section 12, so that he may see following traffic, and he then reaches behind the assembly in order to adjust screws 19 until each of the other mirror sections are correctly angled. An alternative method for mounting the mirror sections is illustrated in Figure 4. The bowed member 22, having a socket 23, is fitted between the side member 5 and strut 11. The member 22 is sufficiently bowed so that the socket 23 tightly holds a ball 24 attached to the centre of mirror section 14. The mirror section 14 is held at any selected angle by friction between socket 23 and ball 24. Again, mirror sections 13, 15, and 16 may be mounted simi arlyto mirror section 14. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A driving mirror assembly for mounting externally on a vehicle, the assembly comprising first, second, and third separately mounted mirror sections, the first mirror section extending across substantially the whole width of the assembly, and the second and third sections being mounted adjacent the first section and side by side, the arrangement being such that when the assembly is mounted on a vehicle the first mirror section is capable of providing the driver of the vehicle with a view of following traffic, the second section is capable of providing the driver with a view of an overtaking vehicle when it leaves his view in the first section, and the third section is capable of providing the driver with a view of the side of his own vehicle.

2. A mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second and third mirror sections are mounted above the first section.

3. A mirror assembly according to claim 2, further comprising fourth and fifth mirror sections mounted side by side below the first mirror section.

4. A mirror assembly according to claim 3 > wherein the arrangement of the fourth and fifth mirror sections is such that when the assembly is mounted on a vehicle, the fourth section is capable of providing the driver with a view of small overtaking vehicles and the fifth section is capable of providing the driver with a view of the wheels of his own vehicle.

5. A mirror assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first mirror section is fixed within the assembly, and the other mirror sections are mounted on universal joints and are separately adjustable through a small range of angles.

6. A mirror assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each section comprises a plain mirror.

7. A mirror assembly according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A vehicle with a driving mirror assembly according to any one of the pre ceding claims, mounted exteinally, thereon.