GB2129749A - Side mirror with indicator light - Google Patents

Abstract

A rearview mirror is marginally provided with an indicator light frame 2 within which a bulb board 3, provided with bulb receiving sockets 31, is seated. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATIONSide mirror with indicator lightThis invention relates to the side mirror of a vehicle and more particularly, to a mirror which is provided on its margin with an indicator light which may be easily perceived by a pedestrian or a driver in an oncoming or following vehicle.

Conventional indicator means on a vehicle for serving notice to vehicles following behind or approaching in an opposite direction, when the driver is preparing to make a turn, are either positioned blow the headlights or mounted at both sides of the vehicle. In the former case, the driver of the abreast running vehicle cannot perceive the indicator light. In the latter case, the indicator lights are not located on a very prominent position, especially in the case of a small vehicle having a low hull. In either case, they fail to give satisfactory results. Moreover, the driver himself often cannot see if his indicator light is operative. When the indicator light does not work, due for example to a poor contact of the bulb or the burnout of a filament, the inside indicator may yet remain bright so as to give the wrong signal to the operator.

Furthermore, in some cases, accidents may be caused by careless drivers who forget to turn out their indicator after having made a turn so that the other drivers are misguided by the wrong signal.

Concentrating his attention on more critical things, an unskilled driver is liable to misuse the indicator lightAccordingly, it is the chief object of this invention to provide an improved indicator light whereby the abovementioned drawbacks are obviated and/or mitigated.

The invention relates to an indicator light which is marginally mounted on the side mirror of a vehicle.

In so mounting, all the aforesaid problems are satisfactorily solved. Apart from a freedom from the foregoing disadvantages, a driver can judge the width of the opposite oncoming vehicle, thereby largely reducing the probability of collision or hull abrasion. With the indicator light at the side mirror, a driver can easily preceive an intent to turn on the part of the vehicle running abreast. Similarly, he can let the latter know his own plan for turning. Although he may not be able to see the right indicator light of the vehicle at his right side or the left indicator light of the vehicle at his left side, this would not be a matter of first importance because no collision would be likely to result from such turning. Furthermore, this invention enables a driver to observe if his indicator light works.

In the case of the conventional means, one cannot check if his indicator light is out of order without the aid of another person or without going outside his car to see for himself.

When two vehicles coming in opposite direction encounter each other in the night, each operator, dazzled by the glaring headlight of the opposite vehicle, cannot assess the width of the approaching vehicle, he can only roughly estimate its width in order to dodge it. This obviously leads to a dangerous situation. For this reason, this invention provides a means which includes a set of red panels which give good reflective effect and a set of yellow panels which are highly pervious to light. The red panels enable the night drivers to judge the width of the opposite vehicles. In a bad fog, the yellow panels make an excellent fog light to ensure the safety of driving.

In the drawings:Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of the invention; andFigure 2 is a perspective view of the invention.

With reference to Figure 1, the invention comprises a side rearview mirror 1,which is marginally provided with an inverted L-shaped indicator light frame 2 within which is seated a bulb board 3 of likeL-shape and provided with a plurality of, for example, five sockets 31 for receiving bulbs 4. It must be emphasized that this invention is not retrictedto, though illustrated by, L-shaped frame. Whatever type of frame matches the contour of the panels gives good results.

Frame 2, however, may be formed integrally with side mirror 1 so as to reduce the cost of the assemblage. Red plastic panels 51 and yellow plastic panels 52 are preferably alternately mounted with respect to the frame.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention are possible. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be interpreted solely from the following claims.

1. A side mirror for a vehicle characterised by an indicator light on its margin, the indicator light comprising: an frame, a board of like shape seated in the frame and provided with a plurality of bulbreceiving sockets, the frame being glazed with red and yellow panels.

2. The side mirror according to Claim 1 wherein the frame forms an integral part of the side mirror.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Side mirror with indicator light This invention relates to the side mirror of a vehicle and more particularly, to a mirror which is provided on its margin with an indicator light which may be easily perceived by a pedestrian or a driver in an oncoming or following vehicle. Conventional indicator means on a vehicle for serving notice to vehicles following behind or approaching in an opposite direction, when the driver is preparing to make a turn, are either positioned blow the headlights or mounted at both sides of the vehicle. In the former case, the driver of the abreast running vehicle cannot perceive the indicator light. In the latter case, the indicator lights are not located on a very prominent position, especially in the case of a small vehicle having a low hull. In either case, they fail to give satisfactory results. Moreover, the driver himself often cannot see if his indicator light is operative. When the indicator light does not work, due for example to a poor contact of the bulb or the burnout of a filament, the inside indicator may yet remain bright so as to give the wrong signal to the operator. Furthermore, in some cases, accidents may be caused by careless drivers who forget to turn out their indicator after having made a turn so that the other drivers are misguided by the wrong signal. Concentrating his attention on more critical things, an unskilled driver is liable to misuse the indicator light Accordingly, it is the chief object of this invention to provide an improved indicator light whereby the abovementioned drawbacks are obviated and/or mitigated. The invention relates to an indicator light which is marginally mounted on the side mirror of a vehicle. In so mounting, all the aforesaid problems are satisfactorily solved. Apart from a freedom from the foregoing disadvantages, a driver can judge the width of the opposite oncoming vehicle, thereby largely reducing the probability of collision or hull abrasion. With the indicator light at the side mirror, a driver can easily preceive an intent to turn on the part of the vehicle running abreast. Similarly, he can let the latter know his own plan for turning. Although he may not be able to see the right indicator light of the vehicle at his right side or the left indicator light of the vehicle at his left side, this would not be a matter of first importance because no collision would be likely to result from such turning. Furthermore, this invention enables a driver to observe if his indicator light works. In the case of the conventional means, one cannot check if his indicator light is out of order without the aid of another person or without going outside his car to see for himself. When two vehicles coming in opposite direction encounter each other in the night, each operator, dazzled by the glaring headlight of the opposite vehicle, cannot assess the width of the approaching vehicle, he can only roughly estimate its width in order to dodge it. This obviously leads to a dangerous situation. For this reason, this invention provides a means which includes a set of red panels which give good reflective effect and a set of yellow panels which are highly pervious to light. The red panels enable the night drivers to judge the width of the opposite vehicles. In a bad fog, the yellow panels make an excellent fog light to ensure the safety of driving. In the drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention. With reference to Figure 1, the invention comprises a side rearview mirror 1,which is marginally provided with an inverted L-shaped indicator light frame 2 within which is seated a bulb board 3 of like L-shape and provided with a plurality of, for example, five sockets 31 for receiving bulbs 4. It must be emphasized that this invention is not retrictedto, though illustrated by, L-shaped frame. Whatever type of frame matches the contour of the panels gives good results. Frame 2, however, may be formed integrally with side mirror 1 so as to reduce the cost of the assemblage. Red plastic panels 51 and yellow plastic panels 52 are preferably alternately mounted with respect to the frame. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention are possible. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be interpreted solely from the following claims. CLAIMS

1. A side mirror for a vehicle characterised by an indicator light on its margin, the indicator light comprising: an frame, a board of like shape seated in the frame and provided with a plurality of bulbreceiving sockets, the frame being glazed with red and yellow panels.

2. The side mirror according to Claim 1 wherein the frame forms an integral part of the side mirror.