Lateral transfer retroreflector assembly

Claim 2

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly comprising: a tubular member having a top side, a bottom side and first and second length defining sides, each of said top and bottom sides having first edge surfaces at a first end of said tubular member and second edge surfaces proximate a second end of said tubular member opposite said first end; a mirror member mounted to said tubular member at said first end; and a roof mirror mounted to said tubular member at said second end; wherein each of said first and second length defining sides of said tubular member extends from said first end of said tubular member beyond said second edge surfaces of said top and bottom sides to form a channel through said second end of said tubular member to receive said roof mirror.

Claim 3

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said tubular member further comprises an end member attached to said first and second length defining sides at said second end of said tubular member.

Claim 4

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said end member attaches to said first and second length defining sides along a substantially flat receiving surface of said end member.

Claim 5

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said tubular member further comprises a mounting member attached to said end member.

Claim 6

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said mounting member has at least one planar mounting pad on a first side thereof for mounting to said end member.

Claim 7

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said roof mirror is mounted to a second side of said mounting member opposite said first side.

Claim 8

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein said roof mirror comprises: a first member having a first reflective planar surface, a first width defining surface substantially perpendicular to said first reflective surface and a first edge surface substantially mutually perpendicular to said first width defining surface and said first reflective surface; a second member having a second reflective planar surface, a second width defining surface substantially perpendicular to said second reflective surface and a second edge surface substantially mutually perpendicular to said second width defining surface and said second reflective surface; said first member mounted to said second member, so that said first and second reflective surfaces are substantially perpendicular, by adhering a portion of said first width defining surface of said first member to a portion of said second reflective surface of said second member; and a third member mounted between said first reflective surface of said first member and said second edge surface of said second member.

Claim 9

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said first and second width defining surfaces of said first and second members of said roof mirror are attached to said second side of said mounting member.

Claim 10

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said first width defining surface of said first member is attached to said second reflective surface of said second member and a junction is formed between said first and second width defining surfaces.

Claim 11

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein said second side of said mounting member comprises at least one mounting key having first and second mounting surfaces for receiving said roof mirror.

Claim 12

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said first and second mounting surfaces of said at least one mounting key matingly engage at least a portion of said junction of said roof mirror.

Claim 13

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said roof mirror is adhered within said channel of said tubular member to said at least one mounting key of said mounting member at said junction, said roof mirror extends through upper and lower openings made by said channel in said tubular member, and a depth of said tubular member, measured between a bottom wall surface of said top side and a top wall surface of said bottom side, is minimized.

Claim 14

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly comprising: a tubular member having first and second ends; a mirror member mounted to said tubular member at said first end; and a roof mirror comprising: a first member having a first reflective planar surface, a first width defining surface substantially perpendicular to said first reflective surface and a first edge surface substantially mutually perpendicular to said first width defining surface and said first reflective surface; a second member having a second reflective planar surface, a second width defining surface substantially perpendicular to said second reflective surface and a second edge surface substantially mutually perpendicular to said second width defining surface and said second reflective surface; said first member mounted to said second member, so that said first and second reflective surfaces are substantially perpendicular, by adhering a portion of said first width defining surface of said first member to a portion of said second reflective surface of said second member; and a third member mounted between said first reflective surface of said first member and said second edge surface of said second member; wherein said first and second width defining surfaces of said first and second members of said roof mirror are substantially perpendicular forming a junction to mount said roof mirror at said second end of said tubular member.

Claim 15

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly comprising: a tubular member having first and second ends; a mirror member mounted to said tubular member at said first end; and a roof mirror comprising: a first member having a first reflective planar surface, a first width defining surface substantially perpendicular to said first reflective surface and a first edge surface substantially mutually perpendicular to said first width defining surface and said first reflective surface; a second member having a second reflective planar surface, a second width defining surface substantially perpendicular to said second reflective surface and a second edge surface substantially mutually perpendicular to said second width defining surface and said second reflective surface; said first member mounted to said second member, so that said first and second reflective surfaces are substantially perpendicular, by adhering a portion of said first width defining surface of said first member to a portion of said second reflective surface of said second member; and a third member mounted between said first reflective surface of said first member and said second edge surface of said second member; wherein said first and second width defining surfaces of said first and second members of said roof mirror are substantially perpendicular forming a junction to mount said roof mirror at said second end of said tubular member.

Claim 16

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said tubular member further comprises a top side, a bottom side and first and second length defining sides, each of said top and bottom sides having first edge surfaces at a first end of said tubular member and second edge surfaces proximate a second end of said tubular member opposite said first end.

Claim 17

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein said first and second length defining sides extend from said first end of said tubular member beyond said second edge surfaces of said top and bottom sides to form a channel through said second end of said tubular member for receiving said roof mirror.

Claim 18

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said tubular member further comprises an end member attached to said first and second length defining sides at said second end of said tubular member.

Claim 19

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said end member attaches to said first and second length defining sides along a substantially flat receiving surface of said end member.

Claim 20

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said tubular member further comprises a mounting member attached to said end member.

Claim 21

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein said mounting member has at least one planar mounting pad on a first side thereof for mounting to said end member.

Claim 22

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein said roof mirror is mounted to a second side of said mounting member opposite said first side.

Claim 23

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein said second side of said mounting member comprises at least one mounting key having first and second mounting surfaces for receiving said roof mirror.

Claim 24

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said first and second mounting surfaces of said at least one mounting key matingly engage at least a portion of said junction of said roof mirror.

Claim 25

A lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein said roof mirror is adhered within said channel of said tubular member to said at least one mounting key of said mounting member by said junction, said roof mirror extends through upper and lower openings made by said channel in said tubular member, and a depth of said tubular member, measured between a bottom wall surface of said top side and a top wall surface of said bottom side, is minimized.

Claim 28

A method of assembling a lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 24, further comprising the step of attaching an end member at said second end of said tubular member, said end member closing said channel.

Claim 29

A method of assembling a lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 25, further comprising the step of attaching a mounting member having at least one planar mounting pad on a first side thereof to said end member for receiving said roof mirror.

Claim 30

A method of assembling a lateral transfer retroreflector assembly as recited in claim 26, further comprising the step of adhering said roof mirror to a second side of said mounting member, said roof mirror having a junction formed between said first and second members which matingly engages said second side of said mounting member.