Optical: systems and elements – Glare or unwanted light reduction – With mirror
Reexamination Certificate
1992-09-09
2001-09-25
Shafer, Ricky D. (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Glare or unwanted light reduction
With mirror
C359S604000, C359S614000, C359S838000, C359S868000, C359S871000, C359S872000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293679
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicular mirrors. More particularly, the present invention relates to large field-of-view vehicular mirrors. Even more particularly, the present invention concerns mirrors having a convex surface with an extended or uninterrupted field-of-vision.
2. Background of the Art
There have been substantial improvements in recent years in both vehicular mirrors, security mirrors and other convex type mirrors that have extended the field-of-view or vision for the user or operator of the vehicle.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,914 to Stout, et al., teaches an extended field of view mirror having a convex surface which is spherical, but which is ten inches in diameter. This mirror is commonly referred to as a “banana” mirror because of its shape. Due to its exterior width, though the mirror does have inherent disadvantages.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,578 to Schmidt, et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an ellipsoidal convex surface vehicle mirror which is truncated to reduce the surface area of the mirror, but not the field-of-vision.
Each of the above mirrors, although substantially increasing the field-of-vision for the vehicle operator, still has a portion of the mirror that does not contribute to their respective viewing surfaces.
As is known to those skilled in the art, each of the prior art mirrors has a mirror frame or mounting gasket positioned at the edge or over the edge of the mirror. This gasket secures the mirror to a mounting frame. However, the gasket and the frame extend far enough into the reflecting area of the mirror so as to block the use of the surface of the mirror near the edge, except to reflect the gasket and the frame. This creates a blind spot in the field-of-vision for the operator.
To make this additional mirror surface available for use by a vehicle operator would greatly add to the safe operation of a vehicle. In the case of school buses, this additional mirror surface would greatly add to the safety of the children in and around the buses. It is to this to which the present invention is directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for an extended field-of-view mirror which is preferably positioned on each of the front fenders of a vehicle. Although, generally used on school buses, the mirror can be readily adapted for use on any large vehicle, including, but not limited to, recreational vehicles, trucks, boats, aircraft, and the like. Likewise, the present invention is equally applicable to any other type of convex mirror.
The extended field-of-view mirror of the present invention generally comprises:
(a) a convex reflective surface having a viewing area and a continous perimetral edge surrounding the viewing area and lying in a plane
(b) an opaque band integrally formed with the reflective surface and depending from the perimetral edge substantially to the plane the opaque band substantially surrounding the entire reflective surface; and
(c) a mounting flange integrally formed with and substantially opaque band, normally formed to the and extending outwardly therefrom.
As noted, the extended field-of-view mirror lens is preferably a convex reflective surface which may be ellipsoidal, spherical, rectangular or the like.
The opaque band extends from the perimeter of the field-of-view of the reflective surface, in lieu of the traditional edge of the mirror lens. The opaque or non-reflective band extends a sufficient distance from the perimetral edge of the reflective surface to position the mounting flange of the mirror away from the reflective surface of the mirror.
The mounting flange, which seats upon a mounting frame, is integrally formed with the opaque band and outwardly extends normally therefrom.
The mounting frame facilitates the mounting of the mirror onto a vehicle. The mirror lens is secured to the mounting frame by any suitable means.
In use a gasket is removably mounted onto the flange to finish the mirror. The mounting flange and the gasket are not reflected by the reflective surface of the mirror lens. Moreover, the gasket does not block off any portion of the reflective surface.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing. Throughout the following description and drawings, identical reference numbers refer to the same component throughout the several views, in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 1811823 (1931-06-01), Horton
patent: 3901587 (1975-08-01), Haile
patent: 4023029 (1977-05-01), Fischer
patent: 4436372 (1984-03-01), Schmidt et al.
patent: 4730914 (1988-03-01), Stout
patent: 4938578 (1990-07-01), Schmidt et al.
patent: 5084785 (1992-01-01), Albers et al.
patent: 5589984 (1996-12-01), Schmidt et al.
Hutchinson Franklin D.
Schmidt William P.
Shafer Ricky D.
Weintraub Arnold S.
Weintraub, Duross & Brady
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