1 - AN ACCESSORY FOR A VEHICLE THIS INVENTION relates to an accessory for
use with a vehicle mirror. Particularly, the invention relates to such an accessory that can enhance the effectiveness of a vehicle mirror.
Most known vehicle mirrors, whether they be interior or exterior mirrors, are associated with the problem that although they provide general rear vision for vehicle drivers, there always remain regions behind a vehicle not visible to a driver via his vehicle mirrors, commonly known as "blind spots". These blind spots include usually a region adjacent a vehicle and approximately level with its rear end and not being aware of vehicles in this region is very dangerous, particularly when the driver of a vehicle decides to change the lane in which he is driving.
In order to alleviate this problem, some vehicle manufacturers have provided vehicle mirrors having convex faces, rather than the usual substantially planar faces, mirrors having convex faces providing a wider range of vision and covering at least some blind spot regions associated with conventional mirrors. Vehicle mirrors having convex faces, however, suffer from the disadvantage that they do not give an accurate indication of the distance of one vehicle behind another and, as such, use of these vehicle mirrors has not proven to be safe.
2 - The above problem associated with known vehicle mirrors also has been alleviated by providing an accessory for use with a vehicle mirror, which comprises an auxiliary mirror, having a convexly curved face, that is attached directly to the face of a vehicle mirror, the auxiliary mirror, when so attached, providing rear vision for a vehicle driver, particularly in the blind spot region referred to above. Although use of this auxiliary mirror has proved to be beneficial, use of this.mirror suffers from the disadvantage that it covers a substantial part of the face of the main vehicle mirror and, as such. the auxiliary mirror must remain relatively small so as not to affect the use of the main mirror. Being relatively small, the auxiliary mirror is not totally effective as the attention of the vehicle driver is not easily drawn to a vehicle in the vision range of the auxiliary mirror and it requires a conscious decision by a driver to look into the auxiliary mirror and take note of vehicles in its vision range. As such, it happens often that a driver "ignores" his auxiliary mirror and the purpose of the auxiliary mirror therefore is defeated.
Another disadvantage associated with known auxiliary mirrors is that their range of vision cannot be adjusted and, as such, they cannot always cover the exact blind spot region behind a vehicle which is of concern to the driver of a particular vehicle.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an accessory for use with a vehicle mirror whereby the disadvantages associated with known accessories of the type are at least partially alleviated.
According to the invention there is provided an accessory for use with a vehicle mirror, which comprises a mirror body including a mirror and a support to which the mirror body is adjustably attached. the support having an attachment formation 3 for attaching the support to a vehicle mirror, the attachment formation being spaced from the mirror body in a configuration in which the mirror body, when the attachment formation is attached to a vehicle mirror in a predetermined location, will be at least partially off-set with respect to the face of the vehicle mirror.
In this specification by the phrase "off-set with respect to the faceof the vehicle mirror" is meant that the mirror body, in the operative configuration of the accessory when attached to a vehicle mirror, does not overlap entirely with the mirror face of the vehicle mirror, at least a part of the said mirror body thus being disposed in a region effectively adjacent the face of the vehicle mirror and not overlapping in any way with the said face of the vehicle mirror.
The mirror of the mirror body of the accessory of the invention may define a convex mirror face, this convex mirror face effectively extending the range of vision that can be provided by the mirror of the mirror body.
The mirror body and the support may be adjustably attached to one another by complementary engagement formations in the form of complementary ball and socket-type formations. Preferably, the ball-type formation may be defined by the mirror body and the socket-type formation may be defined by the support.
The attachment formation of the support may define an attachment surface that can be attached to an opposing support surface provided by a vehicle mirror. The said attachment surface of the attachment formation particularly can be attached to an opposing support surface provided by a vehicle mirror by adhering the attachment surface to the support surface by double sided adhesive tape. Still further, the attachment surface of the attachment formation may be profiled to be - 4 complementary to the profile of the support surface provided by the vehicle mirror to which it can be attached.
Further according to the invention, the support may be a one piece body including its attachment formation, the attachment formation defining an attachment surface which is adapted to attach on to the mirror face of a vehicle mirror. near an edge region of the said mirror face.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the support may comprise a first body part to which the mirror body is attached and a second body part including the attachment formation, the two body parts being releasably engaged with one another. As such, the first body part may comprise an elongate arm, which can provide for the mirror body to be off-set completely with respect to the mirror face of a vehicle mirror to which the second body part can be attached.
The attachment formation of the said second body part may be adapted to be attached to the operative rear of an interior vehicle mirror, with which this particular embodiment of the accessory is intended to be used.
Furthermore, the second body part may define a slot therein within which an engagement formation of the first body part can be releasably received for the engagement of the two body parts. Still further, the attachment formation of the second body part may have two differently profiled attachment surfaces, permitting attachment to two differently profiled opposing support surfaces provided therefor by a vehicle mirror.
Further features of the accessory of the invention, including the mode of use of the accessory of the invention and the benefits of the accessory of the invention, are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to two examples of the invention, illustrated by the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of an accessory for use with a vehicle mirror, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the accessory of Figure 1:
Figure 3 shows the accessory of Figure 1 in an operative configuration thereof with respect to a vehicle mirror; Figure 4 shows a front view of the mirror body of a second embodiment of an accessory for use with a vehicle mirror, in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of the mirror body of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a front view of a first body part of a support for the said second embodiment of an accessory, in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional side view of the body part of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a front view of a second body part of the support of the said second embodiment of an accessory, in accordance with the invention; 6 Figure 9 shows a side view of the second body part of Figure 8; and Figure 10 shows the second embodiment of an accessory, in accordance with the invention, in its operative configuration with respect to a vehicle interior mirror.
Referring initially to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a first embodiment of an accessory for use with a vehicle mirror, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The accessory 10 includes a mirror body 12 including a mirror 14, the mirror body 12 and mirror 14 being moulded bodies of a suitable synthetic plastic material, or the like, the mirror 14 being provided with a suitable mirror surface in a conventional manner. In the configuration shown, the mirror 14 is secured within a recess formation provided therefor by the mirror body 12, the mirror 14 being secured by a suitable adhesive, or the like. Furthermore, the mirror 14 defines a convexly curved mirror surface as shown.
The accessory 10 includes further a support 16, which supports the mirror body 12 in a configuration in which the position of the body 12 with respect to the support 16 is adjustable. Particularly, the mirror body 12 defines a ball-like engagement formation 18, which is engaged with a complementary socket-like formation 20 of the support 16, these formations 18 and 20 providing for a desired degree of adjustability of the mirror body 12 with respect to the support 16. This aspect of the invention is referred to in more detail hereinafter.
The support 16 defines further an attachment formation 99. the formation 22 defining a substantially planar attachment surface 23 to which a strip of double- 7 sided adhesive tape 24 is applied, the double-sided adhesive tape 24 permitting the support 16 and, therefore, the complete accessory 10, to be attached to a support surface provided by a vehicle mirror, as is described hereafter.
As is apparent particularly from Figure 2 of the drawings, the attachment surface 23 of the attachment formation 22 faces in substantially the opposite direction to the face of the mirror 14, the outer perimeter of the attachment formation 22 failing within the outer perimeter of the body 12. This ensures that the device 10 remains a relatively compact unit, it being particularly anticipated that the complementary engagement formations, 18 and 20 respectively, can be formed to enhance further the compactness of the device 10 by effectively minimizing the distance between the mirror 14 and the attachment formation 22.
The accessory 10 is particularly suitable for use with the outside wing mirrors of motor vehicles, a typical wing mirror of a motor vehicle being illustrated in Figure 3 and being designated generally by the reference numeral 30. The vehicle mirror 30 includes a mounting formation 32 whereby the mirror 30 is mounted on the body of a vehicle, the mounting formation 32 extending from a mirror support body 34, within which a substantially planar mirror 36 is adjustably located. The general configuration of a vehicle mirror of the type described and also of different types is well known and, therefore, this is not described in any further detail herein. In the operative configuration of the accessory 10, the attachment formation 22 thereof is adhered to the face 38 of the mirror 36 in a corner region thereof, the attachment formation being adhered to the mirror 36 by means of the doublesided adhesive tape 24 applied thereto.
When attached to the mirror 36 in the location as shown, it is apparent that at least a part of the mirror body 12 of the accessory 10 is off-set with respect to the face 38 of the mirror 36, this off-set relationship of the mirror body 12 ensuring that a minimum portion of the mirror 36 is covered by the mirror body 12, which in turn ensures that the use of the wing mirror 30 is not unduly affected by the application of the accessory 10. As is apparent from Figure 3 of the drawings, the location of the attachment formation 22 with respect to the mirror body 12 and, therefore, the position of the ball-type formation 18 is off-set from a central location between opposite sides of the mirror body 12, thus ensuring that the degree of off-set of the mirror body 12 is effectively increased.
Through the adjustment of the mirror body 12 with respect to the support 16, and once attached to a vehicle mirror 30, the mirror 14 can be directed to cover any desired vision range rearwardly of the vehicle on which the accessory 10 is mounted, thus enabling the mirror 14 to cover effectively the blind spot region that is of particular concern to a vehicle driver.
Because of the off-set relationship of the mirror body 12 with respect to the mirror 36 of the vehicle mirror 30, the size of the mirror body 12 can be relatively large, which will ensure that the accessory 10 can be effectively utilised without unduly affecting the use of the mirror 30. Particularly, the size of the mirror body 12 is such that any vehicles in its vision range while a vehicle is driven, will be clearly visible to the vehicle driver to the extent that the vehicle driver's attention will be attracted thereby in the same way in which vehicles visible in the mirror 36 of the vehicle mirror 30 will attract the attention of the driver. Clearly, the effective size of the mirror body 12 and, as such, the mirror 14, is such that the effectiveness - 9 of the accessory 10 is maximized, while the use of the mirror 30 is not unduly affected.
It will be understood that the exact location of the accessory with respect to a vehicle mirror is adjustable, thus ensuring that the particular needs of a vehicle driver can be accommodated.
Referring now to Figures 4 to 10 of the drawings, a second embodiment of an accessory for use with a vehicle mirror, in accordance with the invention, comprises generally a mirror body 50 including a mirror 52. The mirror 52 again defines a convex mirror face 54, while a ball-type engagement formation 56 extends operatively rearwardly from the part of the mirror body 50 within which the mirror 52 is located. The configuration of the mirror body 50, including the mirror 52 and the formation 56, is essentially the equivalent of the mirror body 12 referred to above with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 and, therefore, this is not described in any further detail herein. The second embodiment of the accessory of the invention includes further a support which comprises a first body part 58, which incorporates an elongate arm extending from a socket-type formation 60 that is complementary to the ball-type formation 56 of the mirror body 50. The mirror body 50 is adjustably attached to the body part 58 by the engagement of the complementary formations 56 and 60.
The said support includes further a second body part 62 that defines an elongate slot 64 therein along the length thereof, the end portion 66 of the first body part 58 being slidably receivable within the slot 64, for the effective engagement of the first body part 58 with respect to the second body part 62. In particular, the end portion 66 of the first body part 58 has two slots 68 formed therein near opposite sides thereof. these slots 68 providing the end portion 66 with a degree of resilient flexibility that will allow the formations 70 to pass through the slot 64, which in turn will provide for mechanical engagement between the parts 58 and 62. This mode of engagement will prevent the part 58 from being withdrawn from the part 62 without suitable manipulation of the formations 70. The mode of engagement of the first body part 58 with the second body part 62 is clearly apparent from the drawings and, therefore, is not described in any further detail herein.
As is apparent particularly from Figure 8 of the drawings, the second body part 62 defines two opposing attachment surfaces. 72 and 74 respectively, the surface 72 being provided with a curved profile, whereas the surface 72 is substantially planar. Either one of these surfaces 72 or 74 can hence be associated with double sided adhesive tape for adhering the body part 62 to the rear side of an interior vehicle mirror, the particular surface 72 or 74 utilised for this purpose being determined by the rear profile defined by the operative rear side of a vehicle mirror, to which the body part 62 must be attached.
As is apparent from the above, the second embodiment of the accessory of the invention as described above is intended particularly for use with an interior vehicle mirror, such a mirror being illustrated generally by the reference numeral 80 in Figure 10 of the drawings. In use, the second body part 62 of the accessory will be attached to the operative rear side of the mirror so that the arm of the first body part 58 extends outwardly from the vehicle mirror 80, when its end portion 66 is engaged with the slot 64 within the body part 62. When in this configuration and with the mirror body 50 attached to the first body part 58, the mirror body 50 will be disposed adjacent the vehicle mirror 80 and, as such, it is ensured that the accessory including the mirror body 50 will not interfere in any way with the use - 11 of the interior vehicle mirror 80. Also, with the position of the mirror body 50 being adjustable with respect to the first body part 58 forming a part of the support for the accessory, the vision range of the mirror 52 can be adjusted either to cover a blind spot region behind a vehicle within which the interior vehicle mirror is mounted or, alternatively, possibly covering the rear interior of the vehicle which will enable a vehicle driver to keep a watch on, for example, passengers within the rear of the vehicle which, typically, can be children or babies.
Alternative positions of the mirror body 50 with respect to an interior vehicle mirror is illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 10, the exact position of the accessory thus being greatly variable and being determined by the requirements of the vehicle driver. It will be understood that the mirror body 50 of this particular accessory can be easily removed from its support when this is not required for use by a vehicle driver. Also, by having a number of body parts 58 secured to the rear of the interior vehicle mirror, the position of the mirror body can be changed from one body part 58 to another.
As for the accessory 10 as described above, this second embodiment of an accessory, in accordance with the invention, does not unduly interfere with the use of a vehicle mirror, this particular embodiment of the invention having the additional benefit that it can assist a driver to monitor, for example, the movement of children in the back of a vehicle without having to look over his shoulders and this, clearly, will enhance safe driving.
In general, it is believed that use of the accessory of the invention will greatly enhance safe driving, reducing the possibility of accidents occurring, particularly as a result of vehicle drivers not being aware of vehicles in the usual blind spot regions associated with conventional vehicle mirrors. Being off-set with respect to the face of vehicle mirrors with which the accessory is used, the vision range of the vehicle mirror also is not unduly affected, which is a common problem associated with known accessories of the general type, as explained earlier in this specification.
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