US4917485A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety mirror system for vehicles
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-06-05
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Granted: 1990-04-17
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Expires: 2009-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A system using appliances in the form of sectional mirrors allows drivers wide-angle viewing of approaching traffic to the rear and on both side of the system equipped vehicle. The system appliances include an in-vehicle mirror having as sections a convex upper mirror portion and a flat lower mirror portion. The in-vehicle mirror is used individually or in cooperation with one or more outside mirrors of similar structure. The flat lower mirror portions allow regular rear viewing and the convex upper mirror portions provides wide angle viewing to the rear and on both sides of the system equipped vehicle. A preset tilting of the convex mirror surfaces outwardly at the top and inwardly at the bottom in an adjusted relationship to the flat mirror surfaces allows the driver to see a reduced version in a wider plane in the convex mirror surfaces of the same image reflected in the flat mirror surface.
Inventors
- 👤 William K. Baldwin, Sr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:36
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/08; B60R1/081; B60R1/082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A safety mirror system for a vehicle, comprising at least one elongated mirror having distinctly different upper and lower viewing divisions and adapted for attachment inside said vehicle in a location providing rear surveillance for a vehicle driver cooperative with at least two small mirrors being longitudinal right half and left half duplicates of said elongated mirror, said small mirrors adapted for external attachment to said vehicle with one on each side of said vehicle for side viewing; wherein said upper division of said elongated mirror is comprised of a convex mirror mounted in protruding frames which arch centrally and curve back to reduce protrusions adjacent outer ends of said elongated mirror; wherein said upper divisions of said small mirrors are formed in essentially the same manner as the upper division of the elongated mirror with the exception that the convex mirrors are truncated at the apex of the arch defined by the convex mirror of the upper division of the elongated mirror; and wherein said convex mirrors of said upper divisions of both said elongated mirror and said small mirrors are angled with the upper edge out and the lower edge in relative to planar surfaces of said mirrors in said lower divisions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A safety mirror system for a vehicle, comprising at least one elongated mirror having distinctly different upper and lower viewing divisions and adapted for attachment inside said vehicle in a location providing rear surveillance for a vehicle driver cooperative with at least two small mirrors being longitudinal right half and left half duplicates of said elongated mirror, said small mirrors adapted for external attachment to said vehicle with one on each side of said vehicle for side viewing; wherein said upper division of said elongated mirror is comprised of a convex mirror mounted in protruding frames which arch centrally and curve back to reduce protrusions adjacent outer ends of said elongated mirror; wherein said upper divisions of said small mirrors are formed in essentially the same manner as the upper division of the elongated mirror with the exception that the convex mirrors are truncated at the apex of the arch defined by the convex mirror of the upper division of the elongated mirror; and wherein said convex mirrors of said upper divisions of both said elongated mirror and said small mirrors are angled with the upper edge out and the lower edge in relative to planar surfaces of said mirrors in said lower divisions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The safety mirror system for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein said elongated mirror adapted for attachment inside said vehicle has said adaption provided by spaced loops of coiled springs affixed transversely on a non-reflective surface of said mirror arranged for slide-on temporary attachment to existing mirrors in said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The safety mirror system for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein each said small mirrors adapted for external attachment to said vehicle has said adaption provided by adjustable corner mounts attachable to a side of said vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-16 | 2001-10-16 | 2002-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |