Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
` Z000354 ~
` BAÇKGRQUND OF THE _~ . .
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The instant invention relates generally to motor vehicle
mirrors and more speci~ically it relates to a backup side view
mirror light for a motor vehicle.
Numerous vehicle mirrors have been provided in prior
art that are adapted to include electric light bulbs primarily
used fox signal indicating~ For example, U.S. patents
numbered 2,595,331; 3,266,016 and 4,475,100 all are
illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be
^ 10suitable for the particular purpose to which they address,
they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present
invention ad heretofore described.
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~t'' A primary object of the present invention is to provide
^ a backup side view mirror light for a motor vehicle that will
overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
Another object is to provide a backup side view mirror
light for a motor vehicle that will illuminate the rear side
fender when the gear shift lever in the motor vehicle is
placed into reverse helping the driver to see at night when
parking.
An additional object is to provide a backup side view
mirror light for a motor vehicle in which light beams from an
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auxiliary lamp mounted below the side view mirror can be timed
and reflected away by an adjustable reflective mirror portion
therein.
A further object is to provide a backup side view mirror
for a motor vehicle that is simple and easy to use.
A still further object is to provide a backup side view
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mirror for a motor vehicle that is economical in cost to
manufacture.
Further objects of the invention will appear as the
description proceeds.
; To the accomplishment of the above and related objects,
this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact,
- however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that
changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated
and described within the scope of the appended claims.
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BRIEF DES~RIPTION pF THE DRA~INÇ FI~B~ -
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; Figure 1 is a top view of a motor vehicle with invention
installed thereon so that light beams can be reflected back to
rear fender at night for parking.
Figure 2 is a front view of the invention with parts
broken away.
Figure 3 is a side view thereof with parts broken away.
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring system for
the auxiliary lamp which is connected to a backup switch
operated by a gear shift lever in the motor vehicle.
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Figure 5 is a modification in which the reflector mirror
pivots for adjustment with respect to the stationary light
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Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6
in figure 5 showing the adjustable reflector mirror in greater
` detail.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION QF THE PREFERRED EMB~DIMENTS
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which
similar reference characters denote similar elements
throughout the several views, Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a
backup side view mirror light 10 for a motor vehicle 12
consisting of a framed side view mirror 14 adapted for
; attachment, with bracket 16, to a door 18 of the motor vehicle
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12. A housing 20 that has an opening 22 is mounted to
underside 24 of the side view mirror 14 so that the opening 22
~' 10 is facing rearwardly. An auxiliary lamp 26 is mounted within
~; the housing 20 . A reflector mirror 28 covers a portion of the
i opening 22 whereby reflected light beams from the auxiliary
; lamp 26 on the reflector mirror 28 causes the reflector mirror
to glow thus serving as a clearly visible auxiliary backup ~ -
-~ warning light. A transparent lens 30 covers another portion
of the opening 22 whereby direct light beams from the
auxiliary lamp 26 come as through the transparent lens 30 and
`- are directed rearwardly to illuminate rear fender 32 of the
motor vehicle to help driver (not shown) see at night when
parking.
As shown in Figure 4 a backup switch 34 is electrically
connected between a battery 36 and standard backup lamps 38
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in the motor vehicle 12. The backup switch 34 is mechanically -
connected to a gear shift lever 40 in the motor vehicle 12 so
that when the gear shift lever 40 is placed into reverse the
backup switch 34 will close activating the standard backup
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` ;~OOQ354
lamps 38. The auxiliary lamp 26 is electrically connected to
the backup switch 34 so that when the backup switch closes the
auxiliary lamp 26 will also be activated.
A manual switch 42 can also be provided and mounted on
dashboard (not shown) of the motor vehicle 12. The manual
switch 42 is electrically connected between the battery 36 and . '
the auxiliary lamp 26 so that when the manual switch 42 is
closed the auxiliary lamp 26 will be activated thus bypassing ~ .
the backup switch 34. :
. 10 Figures 5 and 6 show a modification in which the housing :~
20 has a slot 44 formed at the opening thereof. A hinge 46 is
disposed within the housing 20 and connected at one end of the
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reflector mirror 28 with other end of the reflector mirror
extending through the slot 44. The reflector mirror 28 can be
manually adjusted with respect to the housing 20 to pivot ~::-''
' therein, allowing some of the reflected light beams from the
`' auxiliary lamp 26 to be directed rearwardly to aid in :-
illuminating the rear fender 32 of the motor vehicle 12.
.~ ball joint can be used for hinge 46 for vertical adjustment to
see the curb-line. :
; While certain novel features of this invention have been
: shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, ~ ; ~
.~ it will be understood that various omissions,substitutions ~nd ~ .
.~ changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and
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,!i in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art
~,/ without departing from the spirit of the invention. .
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