Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An assembly of mirrors for viewing an area extending longitudinally rearwardly from a central portion of the back of a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising: a first mirror positioned on a forward side portion of the vehicle so as to be directly viewable by a vehicle occupant; a second mirror positioned on an upper rear side portion of the vehicle, the first and second mirrors cooperating with each other to define a first optical axis extending upwardly and rearwardly along the side of the vehicle; and a third mirror positioned on the top of the vehicle and spaced forwardly of the second mirror, said third mirror being positioned such that said first optical axis is reflected from said second mirror onto said third mirror to thereby define a second optical axis, said second optical axis being reflected downwardly and rearwardly by said third mirror so as to permit viewing of an area extending longitudinally rearwardly from a central portion of the back of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
An assembly of mirrors for viewing an area extending longitudinally rearwardly from a central portion of the back of a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising: a first mirror positioned on a forward side portion of the vehicle so as to be directly viewable by a vehicle occupant; a second mirror positioned on an upper rear side portion of the vehicle, the first and second mirrors cooperating with each other to define a first optical axis extending upwardly and rearwardly along the side of the vehicle; and a third mirror positioned on the top of the vehicle and spaced forwardly of the second mirror, said third mirror being positioned such that said first optical axis is reflected from said second mirror onto said third mirror to thereby define a second optical axis, said second optical axis being reflected downwardly and rearwardly by said third mirror so as to permit viewing of an area extending longitudinally rearwardly from a central portion of the back of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second mirror has a planar reflecting surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A mirror assembly according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising mounting means for adjustably mounting the second mirror on the side of the vehicle so that the distance between a side edge of the mirror and the side of the vehicle is adjustable and the angular orientation of the second mirror with respect to the vehicle is adjustable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mirror assembly according to claim 3 wherein said third mirror has a convex reflecting surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said third mirror is mounted on a left rear portion of the top of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mirror assembly according to one of claims 1 or 5, wherein said third mirror has a convex reflecting surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mirror assembly according to claim 6, wherein the third mirror has an eight inch diameter, a one foot focal length, and a radius of two feet.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of mounting mirrors so as to provide viewing of an area extending longitudinally rearwardly from a central portion of the rear of the vehicle, said method comprising: positioning a first mirror on a forward side of the vehicle so as to be directly viewable by an occupant of the vehicle; positioning a second mirror on an upper rear side of the vehicle so that the reflecting surfaces of the first and the second mirrors define a first axis extending upwardly and rearwardly along the side of the vehicle; and positioning a third mirror on the top of the vehicle forwardly of the second mirror so that the first axis is reflected onto the reflecting surface of the third mirror thereby defining a second axis, the reflecting surface of the third mirror being positioned so as to reflect the second axis rearwardly from the back of the vehicle to thereby provide viewing of an area directly behind and extending rearwardly from the rear of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of mounting mirrors so as to provide viewing of an area extending longitudinally rearwardly from a central portion of the rear of the vehicle, said method comprising: positioning a first mirror on a forward side of the vehicle so as to be directly viewable by an occupant of the vehicle; positioning a second mirror on an upper rear side of the vehicle so that the reflecting surfaces of the first and the second mirrors define a first axis extending upwardly and rearwardly along the side of the vehicle; and positioning a third mirror on the top of the vehicle forwardly of the second mirror so that the first axis is reflected onto the reflecting surface of the third mirror thereby defining a second axis, the reflecting surface of the third mirror being positioned so as to reflect the second axis rearwardly from the back of the vehicle to thereby provide viewing of an area directly behind and extending rearwardly from the rear of the vehicle.