Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention relates to an infant observation mirror
for car travel.
In the early months of infancy the infant in its car seat
faces rearwardly. The observa~ion mirror is mounted at the top of
the rear seat back and laterally offset from the infant. Either
front seat passenger, with a slight turn of the head, can pick up
the infant's reflection in the observation mirror. The driver of
the car may also see the infant's reflection by looking at the
observation mirror reflected in the car's rearview mirror~ The
mirror itself is padded and tapered to a thin edge at its bottom.
When strapped to the upper seat back surface, the reflective
surface is substantially vertical.
At a certain point in the child's growth and age, he and
his seat may face forwardly. The front seat occupants may now
observe the child directly and the observation mirror, relocated
becomes an amusement device for the child.
The preferable remount position for the mirror is on the
back of the right hand front seat, near the top of the seat. The
child's car set would be on this side of the vehicle, as well. The
broad requirement is that the line of sight Erom child to mirror
be unobstructed, for example, a solid frbnt seat back could have
the mirror centrally mounted and the child and car seat could be
centrally located as well.
In further description of the invention reference is made
to the accompanying drawings wherein,
~igure 1 is an elevation of the mirror and seat
relationship and,
Figure 2 is a plan of that relationship.
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As shown in Figure 1, mirror unit consisting of a plate
1 with a mirrored surface, a support 4, and attachment means such
as straps 3 is mounted at the top of the rear seatback 2.
Figure 2 shows its lateral offset to the car seat and
infant.
Referring again to Figure 1, the observation mirror is
padded and tapered in from top to bottom. It is secured to the
seat back with adjustable straps 3.
For purposes of clarity only one line of sight is shown
in Figure 1, from a Eront seat occupant to the observation Mirror
and picking up the reflection of the inant.
In Figure 2, two lines of sight are shown. D.L.S~ equals
the driver's line of sight. P.L.S. equals the front seat
passenger's line of sight. To pick up ~ reflected image of the
child, it is necessary for the front seat occupants to turn their
heads inwardly in the direction of the offset mirror.
In summary, an observation mirror enhancing the safety
of an infant during car travel is provided in this invention.
With the older infant facing forward, the mirror location
is such that he sees hls own reflection in the mirror. These
remount positions may vary and are not shown in the drawings.
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SUPPIEMENTAXY DISCLOSURE
As can be seen in Figure 1, the mirror plake is mounted
in a frame or support 4 which is padded and tapered so that when
mounted against an inclined back seat the mirror 1 is angled to
reflect an image of the infant to a front seat viewer. The angle
of incline can be made adjustable by incorporating cloth shims (not
shown) attached to the top portion of the mirror assembly which
can be draped down between a top portion of the assembly and the
rear seatback 2 or a deformable plastic attached to an upper
portion of opposite walls of the assembly to expand or contract in
response to tension or compres~ion force applied to the walls.
Alternatively, it is possible to adjust the angle of incline of the
mirror plate 1 simply by raising or lowering the mirror frame or
support 4 alony the upper curved surface of the rear seatback 2.
The straps preferably extend all the way around a back support
portion of the back seat forming continuous lops. However, clearly
it would be possible to affix to the vehicle floor or to the rear
of the back seat itself brackets, receptacles or other attachment
means to which the straps can be coupled.
The mirror frame or support 4 is resilient foam material
covered with cloth. The mirror plate 1 is preferably a plastic
sheet having a mirrored surface such as polyethylene.
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