US5054900A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panoramic rearview mirror with narrow elongated reflective panels
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-07-17
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Granted: 1991-10-08
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Expires: 2010-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A grated thin-film surface forms a plurality of successive narrow silvered planes which are oriented to provide a composite and linear mirror. The thin film can be mounted against the inside upper section of a vehicle windshield, or sandwiched between the plies of a laminated windshield. The reflective surface is covered with a layer of liquid crystal of which the opacity can be electrically adjusted.
Inventors
- 👤 Anton K. Simson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; B60R1/088; B60R1/001; B60R1/081; B60R1/082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
In combination with a vehicle windshield having generally parallel front and back faces, a reflective device designed to provide a wide scope rearview to an operator of the vehicle, said device comprising: a thin grated substrate having an outer face in contact and congruent with a section of the windshield, and an inner face defining a succession of narrow, elongated reflective panels wherein said panels are oriented to present a composite but linearly reflective surface to light rays emanating from a point in space located inwardly from said windshield; the inner faces of each of said panels being flat, reflective and forming varying angles with the outer face of the substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
In combination with a vehicle windshield having generally parallel front and back faces, a reflective device designed to provide a wide scope rearview to an operator of the vehicle, said device comprising: a thin grated substrate having an outer face in contact and congruent with a section of the windshield, and an inner face defining a succession of narrow, elongated reflective panels wherein said panels are oriented to present a composite but linearly reflective surface to light rays emanating from a point in space located inwardly from said windshield; the inner faces of each of said panels being flat, reflective and forming varying angles with the outer face of the substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination claimed in claim 1, wherein said windshield has a generally arcuate shape slanting downwardly and forwardly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination claimed in claim 2, wherein said section forms a strip extending horizontally across an upper part of the windshield.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combination claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said panels lies in a plane defined by a first angle with the horizon and by a second angle with the outer face of the substrate, the first and second angles of the successive panels varying from panel to panel across the span of said section to accommodate the slant and radius of a portion of the windshield underlying each of said panels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination claimed in claim 4, wherein said substrate is a thin film, and the width of each of said panels falls between 100 and 500 micrometers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination claimed in claim 5, wherein said thin film is applied to the inner face of the windshield.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination claimed in claim 5, wherein said windshield is made of several laminated plies of glass, and said grated substrate is sandwiched between two of said plies.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination claimed in claim 5, wherein said windshield comprises a layer of tinted material over said grated surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination claimed in claim 8, wherein said device comprises means for adjusting the tint of said material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
The combination claimed in claim 4, wherein the positions of successive lines separating said panels correspond to the intersections of a plurality of successive, parallel, adjacent and uniformly spaced-apart planes with said section of the windshield, wherein the pitch and yaw angles of said planes are similar to the pitch and yaw of said rearview mirror, and the mirror angle of each of said panels is equal to the difference between the pitch angle of said mirror and the pitch angle of the section of the windshield underlying said panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-07 | 1995-04-08 | 1995-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-04-08 | 1999-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-07 | 2003-04-08 | 2003-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |