View expanding and directing optical system

Claim 2

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens compRising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said system further including support means for supporting said lens and prism on said vehicle; at least one of said optical units being mounted adjacent at least one rear window of a vehicle and arranged such that said expanded and demagnified viewing area provides a view of the area immediately to the rear of said vehicle and below said rear window.

Claim 3

The optical system of claim 1 wherein said prism comprises a Fresnel prism.

Claim 4

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 2 wherein said optical unit is mounted on an automobile of the station wagon type having a tailgate at the rear thereof with a window mounted thereon, said unit being mounted on said tailgate exterior of said window and arranged such that said expanded and demagnified viewing area provides a view of the area below and to the rear of said tailgate window.

Claim 5

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 3 wherein said support means comprises a frame supporting said lens and prism parallel and adjacent to one another, at least one mounting bracket, and securing means pivotally securing said frame to said bracket such that said frame may be pivoted and secured in various positions with respect to said bracket.

Claim 6

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 2 wherein said optical unit is mounted on an automobile of the station wagon type having a roof and a tailgate at the rear thereof with a window mounted thereon, said unit being mounted on said roof interior of said vehicle and adjacent said taligate window such that said expanded and demagnified viewing area provides a view of the area below and to the rear of said tailgate window.

Claim 7

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 5 wherein said support means comprises a frame supporting said lens and prism parallel and adjacent to one another, at least one mounting bracket, and securing means pivotally securing said frame to said bracket such that said frame may be pivoted and secured in various positions with respect to said bracket.

Claim 8

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens comprising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said system further including support means for supporting said lens and prism on said vehicle; said optical unit being mounted adjacent the rear window of said vehicle and arranged such that said expanded and demagnified viewing area provides a view of both the areas to the rear of said vehicle and laterally of both sides of said vehicle, said areas including areas above and below the level of the window of said vehicle.

Claim 9

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens comprising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said system further including support means for supporting said lens and prism on said vehicle; said optical unit being mounted adjacent the rear window of said vehicle and arranged such that said expanded and demagnified viewing area provides a view of both the areas to the rear of said vehicle and laterally of both sides of said vehicle, said areas including areas above and below the level of the window of said vehicle.

Claim 10

The optical system of claim 7 wherein said prism comprises a Fresnel prism.

Claim 11

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, Said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens comprising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said system further including support means for supporting said lens and prism on said vehicle; at least one of said optical units being mounted on an automobile of the sedan type, having a longitudinal centerline, two sides, a roof, a rear window and a shelf interior of and adjacent to said window, said unit being mounted adjacent the interior of said window and including two sets of lenses and prisms, each set including one lens and one prism, one set arranged to provide said expanded and demagnified viewing area to one of said sides of said vehicle to the rear of said window, and the remaining set arranged to provide an expanded and demagnified viewing area to the other of said sides of said vehicle to the rear of said window.

Claim 12

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, Said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens comprising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said system further including support means for supporting said lens and prism on said vehicle; at least one of said optical units being mounted on an automobile of the sedan type, having a longitudinal centerline, two sides, a roof, a rear window and a shelf interior of and adjacent to said window, said unit being mounted adjacent the interior of said window and including two sets of lenses and prisms, each set including one lens and one prism, one set arranged to provide said expanded and demagnified viewing area to one of said sides of said vehicle to the rear of said window, and the remaining set arranged to provide an expanded and demagnified viewing area to the other of said sides of said vehicle to the rear of said window.

Claim 13

The optical system of claim 9 wherein each of said prisms comprise a Fresnel prism.

Claim 14

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 10 wherein said support means comprises a frame supporting said lens and prism in each of said sets generally parallel and adjacent to one another, at least one mounting bracket, and securing means pivotally securing said frame to said bracket such that said frame may be pivoted and secured in various positions with respect to said bracket.

Claim 15

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 11 wherein said optical unit is mounted on said shelf such that said unit is perpendicular to the vertical plane including a line extending from said specified eye position through the position of the optical center of said lens.

Claim 16

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 11 wherein said optical unit is mounted on said roof such that said unit is perpendicular to the vertical plane including a line extending from said specified eye position through the position of the optical center of said lens.

Claim 17

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens comprising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said system further including support means for supporting said lens and prism on said vehicle; said system including two of said units mounted on an automobile of the sedan type, having a longitudinal centerline, two sides, a roof, a rear window and a shelf interior of and adjacent to said window, one unit providing said viewing area to said one side and the other unit providing said viewing area to said other side.

Claim 18

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens comprising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said system further including support means for supporting said lens and prism on said vehicle; said system including two of said units mounted on an automobile of the sedan type, having a longitudinal centerline, two sides, a roof, a rear window and a shelf interior of and adjacent to said window, one unit providing said viewing area to said one side and the other unit providing said viewing area to said other side.

Claim 19

The optical system of claim 14 wherein each of said prisms comprise a Fresnel prism.

Claim 20

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 15 wherein each of said support means comprises a frame supporting said lens and prism parallel and adjacent to one another, at least one mounting bracket, and securing means pivotally securing said frame to said bracket such that said frame may be pivoted and secured in various positions with respect to sAid bracket.

Claim 21

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 15 wherein said units are mounted on said shelf on either side of said centerline, each unit being positioned perpendicularly to the vertical plane including the line of sight extending from the specified eye position through the position of the optical center of each respective unit.

Claim 22

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 15 wherein said units are secured to said roof interior of said vehicle on either side of said centerline, each unit being positioned perpendicularly to the vertical plane including the line of sight extending from the specified eye position through the position of the optical center of each respective unit.

Claim 23

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens comprising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said vehicle including vision aiding means disposed along said line of sight extending between said specified eye position and the position of at least one of said optical units on said vehicle; said vision aiding means comprising a rear vision aiding means; said rear vision aiding means comprising at least one exterior rearview mirror enabling a person within said vehicle to view rearwardly along the side of said vehicle with said mirror, said optical unit being mounted on a support means affixed to the rearwardmost portion of the side of said vehicle within the field of view of said mirror, said optical unit being arranged such that said expanded and demagnified viewing area to the rear of and behind said vehicle is visible through said unit and with said mirror.

Claim 24

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens comprising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said vehicle including vision aiding means disposed along said line of sight extending between said specified eye position and the position of at least one of said optical units on said vehicle; said vision aiding means comprising a rear vision aiding means; said rear vision aiding means comprising at least one exterior rearview mirror enabling a person within said vehicle to view rearwardly along the side of said vehicle with said mirror, said optical unit being mounted on a support means affixed to the rearwardmost portion of the side of said vehicle within the field of view of said mirror, said optical unit being arranged such that said expanded and demagnified viewing area to the rear of and behind said vehicle is visible through said unit and with said mirror.

Claim 25

The optical system of claim 19 wherein said prism comprises a Fresnel prism.

Claim 26

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 20 wherein an exterior mirror and an optical unit are mounted on each side of said vehicle.

Claim 27

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 19 wherein an exterior mirror and an optical unit are mounted on each side of said vehicle.

Claim 28

An optical system for vehicles as described in claim 21 wherein said support means comprises a frame supporting said lens and prism parallel and adjacent to one another, at least one mounting bracket, and securing means pivotally securing said frame to said bracket such that said frame may be pivoted and secured in various positions with respect to said bracket.

Claim 29

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens comprising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said prism is a Fresnel prism; said vehicle including vision aiding means disposed along said line of sight extending between said specified eye position and the position of at least one of said optical units on said vehicle; said vision aiding means being a rear vision aiding means; said rear vision means comprising at least one exterior rearview side mirror; at least one of said optical units being mounted on said side mirror whereby the rearward field of view therethrough is expanded and directed laterally and to the rear of said vehicle.

Claim 30

An optical system for vehicles for expanding and directing the field of view of a person located within a vehicle, said system comprising in combination: at least one optical unit including a divergent lens and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays, said lens and prism disposed in separate planes adjacent one another on said vehicle about a system axis comprising a line of sight extending from a specified eye position of a person within said vehicle through said lens, said lens and prism in combination forming an optical unit whereby the virtual eye position of a person viewing through said system is shifted to a point intermediate the distance between said specified eye position and said unit and away from said system axis whereby an expanded and demagnified viewing area is visible to said person; said divergent lens comprising a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length; said prism is a Fresnel prism; said vehicle including vision aiding means disposed along said line of sight extending between said specified eye position and the position of at least one of said optical units on said vehicle; said vision aiding means being a rear vision aiding means; said rear vision means comprising at least one exterior rearview side mirror; at least one of said optical units being mounted on said side mirror whereby the rearward field of view therethrough is expanded and directed laterally and to the rear of said vehicle.

Claim 31

An optical apparatus for expanding and directing the field of vision of a person; said apparatus comprising in combination a vision aiding means and an optical unit associated therewith including a divergent lens and a prism; said optical unit expanding and directing the field of vision otherwise obtainable with said vision aiding device; said optical unit including a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays; said vision aiding means comprising at least one rearview mirror, said unit being mounted adjacent to said mirror.

Claim 32

An optical apparatus for expanding and directing the field of vision of a person; said apparatus comprising in combination a vision aiding means and an optical unit associated therewith including a divergent lens and a prism; said optical unit expanding and directing the field of vision otherwise obtainable with said vision aiding device; said optical unit including a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays; said vision aiding means comprising at least one rearview mirror, said unit being mounted adjacent to said mirror.

Claim 33

The optical system of claim 25 wherein said prism comprises a Fresnel prism.

Claim 34

An optical apparatus for expanding and directing the field of vision of a person; said apparatus comprising in combination a vision aiding means and an optical unit associated therewith including a divergent lens and a prism; said optical unit including a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays; said vision aiding means comprising at least one mirror, said mirror being visually aligned with said optical unit to provide the person viewing said mirror with a field of view viewable on said mirror which is expanded and demagnified by said unit from the view otherwise viewable in said mirror without said unit.

Claim 35

An optical apparatus for expanding and directing the field of vision of a person; said apparatus comprising in combination a vision aiding means and an optical unit associated therewith including a divergent lens and a prism; said optical unit including a Fresnel lens having a negative focal length and a prism having a specified angle of deviation of incident light rays; said vision aiding means comprising at least one mirror, said mirror being visually aligned with said optical unit to provide the person viewing said mirror with a field of view viewable on said mirror which is expanded and demagnified by said unit from the view otherwise viewable in said mirror without said unit.

Claim 36

The optical system of claim 27 wherein said prism comprises a Fresnel prism.