Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A NEW STRUCTURE OF AUTOMOBILE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR
BAC~GROUND OF THE lNV~:NllON
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new structure of an
automobile exterior rearview mirror, more specifically, to the
exterior rearview mirror having an arc-surface wide-angle
mirror and a plane mirror integrated together to provide a
fullview mirror that reduces blind spots and interferences.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
When driving on a curved roadway or in an alley, a driver
often encounters that he cannot fully visualize the rearview
from the exterior rearview mirror (1). In such cases the
driver has to use the arc-surface mirror provided on the side
of the roadway or someone has to direct the driver to go
through. It is apparent that the design of the existing
exterior rearview mirror for automobiles has blind spots.
Because of this a stick-on type arc-surface wide-angle mirror
(2) is available for the driver to adhere it to the plane
exterior rearview mirror (1) in the automobile, as shown in
FIG. 1. The attachment of the arc-surface mirror (2) to the
exterior rearview mirror in the automobile makes use of a
double-sided tape (21). This type of attachment is not secure
and moisture and vibration can cause the arc-surface mirror
(2) to fall off. In addition, it is not easy to position the
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wide-angle mirror (2). A helper is needed for the car owner
to properly position the stick-on arc-surface mirror (2). Any
displacement of the stick-on arc-surface mirror will only give
a partial rearview to the driver.
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Even though the arc-surface wide-angle mirror (2) can be
attached in the right position, the image from the plane
rearview mirror can be interfered by the attached arc-surface
mirror (2). This can cause some trouble in driving, such as
the rearview interferences in backing up the car, changing
lanes or making turns. All these factors create some safety
concern for the driver.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a new structure for the automobile exterior rearview
mirror to overcome the disadvantages of the stick-on type arc-
surface mirror so that a full rearview of the road condition
can be seen from the driver's seat.
SUMMARY OF THE lNv~NLlON
The main object according to the present invention is to
provide a new structure of an automobile exterior rearview
mirror in which the arc-surface wide-angle mirror and the
plane rearview mirror are integrally fabricated together so
that a driver does not have to use the stick-on type and he
does not have to worry about the accurate positioning of the
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stick-on.
Another object according to the present invention is to
provide a new structure of an automobile exterior rearview
mirror in which a circular surface of blank zone directly
molded on said plane mirror ~one:-is-paraboli~ed with a
coating during the stage of grinding, so that the inter-
ferences caused by the arc-surface wide-angle mirror and the
plane mirror can be eliminated.
A further object according to the present invention is
to provide a series of different models of the said automobile
exterior rearview mirror for different applications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings disclose an illustrative embodiment of the
present invention which serves to exemplify the various
advantages and objects hereof, and are as follows:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the conventional
exterior rearview mirror with the stick-on type wide-angle
mirror used in automobiles.
FIG. 2A iS a plane view showing a new structure of the
automobile exterior rearview mirror according to the present
invention.
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FIG. 28 is a side view of the plane view in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3 shows the assembly o the exterior rearview
mirror framed inside a frame.
FIG. 4Ais an illustrative view showing the assembly in
FIG. 3 installed in automobile on the road.
FIG. 4 Bis a diagrammatic view showing the relationship
of the driver's view and the image from the exterior rearview
mirror.
FIGS. SA, 5B and 5C are respectively the plane views
showing the different locations of the wide-angle mirror in
the exterior rearview mirror according to the present
invention.
FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing the relationship
of the driver's view and the image from the exterior rearview
mirror. (The driver's seat is located on the left hand side
of the car)
FIG. 7 is an illustrative view showing the relationship
of the driver's view and the image from the exterior rearview
mirror. (The driver's seat is located on the right hand side
of the car)
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The new structure of the automobile exterior rearview
mirror is a device that combines the functions of a plane
mirror and a wide-angle mirror. The new structure mainly
consists of a plane mirror zone (11), an arc-surface wide-
angle zone (12), as are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In between
the plane mirror zone (11) and the arc-surface wide-angle zone
(12) is a circular blank surface (131) with an image coating
(13) by parabolizing or grinding.
Referring to FIG. 3 for an embodiment of the new
structure of the automobile exterior rearview mirror (1) as
it is framed by a frame (2). The unique design of the
exterior rearview mirror has the following features:
The wide-angle zone (12~ and the plane mirror zone (11)
are fabricated into an integral device, therefore, there is
no need to concern about the falling off and the accurate
positioning of the stick-on. In addition, since the device
is fabricated professionally, a series of versatile, good
quality and well designed products can be provided to allow
a driver to replace the mirror. Moreover, the device is
available at a reasonable price.
The color of the parabolized image coating and the size
of the exterior rearview mirror (1) can be adjusted
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accordingly based on the districts (country or area), the
weather and the requirement of the consumers. This makes it
more practical to be used by the car driver anywhere in the
world.
The circular blank surface (131) with the parabolized
image coating (13) is provided to prevent the refraction and
reflection interferences caused by the arc-surface wide-angle
zone (12) and the plane zone (11). With the circular blank
surface (131) the interferences from the two mirrors can be
prevented so that the driver can have a complete control of
his driving based on the visibility from the plane mirror zone
(11) and the wide-angle mirror zone (12) (there will be no
blind spot). Thus the chances of having accidents from
backing up the car and making a turn can be avoided.
Please refer to FIGS. 4 and 4A. As shown in FIG. 4,
let's assume that car (3) is the car at the front with the
exterior rearview mirror (1) installed, and cars (4) and (5)
are approaching from the back of car (3), then the view of the
driver and the exterior rearview mirror (1) are connected by
lines (L1) and (L2). The visibility from the exterior
rearview mirror (1), (i.e. the horizontal axis X and the
vicinity of the wide-angle mirror (12)). Let's further assume
that the angles 01 and 02 can be ignored, and the image zone
formed by cars (4) and (5) with the wide-angle zone (12) is
expressed by the dotted lines pl and p2, then the circular
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blank surface (131) with the parabolized coating (13) can
prevent the interference of images overlapping and blocking
from the plane zone (11) and the wide-angle zone (12). The
visual disturbance from natural light source, reflection from
the roadway and the light sources from the cars in the back
can all be eliminated. Please refer to FIG. 4A.
The above circular blank surface (131) is formed based
on the refraction, reflection and the blocking area of the
wide-angle zone (12) and the plane zone (11). (The area of
the circular blank surface can be calculated based on the
refraction and reflection principles in optical physics, it
is a complicated issue and therefore is not listed here). The
exterior rearview mirror (1) formed with the circular blank
surface area (131) will show a clear and correct positioning
of the image, and the visibility will not be disturbed and
blocked.
In addition, a series of different models can be
fabricated based on the above configuration of the automobile
exterior rearview mirror, some of these models include the
placement of the wide-angle zone (12) to be in a different
location. Please refer to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, it can be seen
that there are three kinds of exterior rearview mirror (1)
that are practical to be used. The difference between the
three exterior rearview mirrors are on the locations of the
wide-angle zone (12). As shown in FIG. 5A, the arc-surface
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wide-angle mirror zone (12) is located on the right hand lower
corner in the plane mirror zone (11), the wide-angle mirror
(12) is located in the lower center portion of the plane
mirror (11) in FIG. 5B, and the wide-angle mirror (12) is
located in the left hand lower corner of the plane mirror (11)
in FIG. SC. Based on the principle of symmetry, six different
models of exterior rearview mirror (1) will be available for
use in different countries and different models of cars. A
driver can have his own choice of selecting the right exterior
rearview mirror based on his height, his driving style and
habit, therefore maximizing the application and function of
the arc-surface wide-angle mirror (12).
As shown in FIG. 6, the driver seat is located on the
left hand side of the car. Since the driver is far away from
the right-side mirror, he can choose the new device of the
present invention with the wide-angle mirror located in the
lower right hand corner, as shown in FIG. 5A. This selection
allows the driver to have a full view on the right hand side
of the car, so that he can change lane easily and have better
visibility on the right side of his car. The full view from
the exterior rearview mirror (1) prevents any blind spot which
can cause automobile accident. The related principle can be
seen from FIGS. 4 and 4A. Similarly, the exterior rearview
mirror (1) on the left hand side can also be selected so as
to assure the safety when the car is about to take off. This
is because a proper image can be displayed on the plane zone
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(11), and the lower image on the wide-angle zone provides the
view below the body of the car and the condition at the front
of the rear wheel.
Similarly, if the driver seat is located on the right
hand side of the car, then the exterior rearview mirror (1)
on the right hand side of the car shall be selected such that
the arc-surface wide-angle zone (12) is located on the lower
left hand corner of the plane mirror zone (11). Thus the
driver can have a view below the body of the car. On the
other hand, the left side exterior rearview mirror (1) shall
be chosen to be the same type of exterior rearview mirror, so
that the wide-angle zone (12) can provide a safe and wider
visibility area for lane changing, backing up and making
turns. Please refer to the related drawings for the above
description as shown in FIG. 7. In addition, the above
selection of the exterior rearview mirror shall be changed,
if necessary, to meet the practical needs. This includes the
use of the wide-angle mirror zone (12) located in the lower
center of the exterior rearview mirror so that the road
condition behind the rear wheel can be seen.
In summary, it is believed that the present invention
would improve the drawbacks of the conventional product and
it would also enhance the safety in driving. Therefore, a
claim is made in compliance with the law.
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Although the invention has been described in its
preferred form with a certain degree of particularity it is
understood that the present discIosure of the preferred form
has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in
the details of construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from
the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed. It is intended that the patent shall cover, by
suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features
of patentable novelty exists in the invention disclosed.
