Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Combination convex mirrors situated inside a vehicle, proximal doors.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to car safety devices but more
particularly to a set of mirrors designed to eliminate blindspots.
5BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] The prior art shows the use of the we!l known side rearview mirrors
located outside the vehicle, proximal the front doors of the vehicle with
the one mirror on the passenger's side being slightly convex so as to
show a wider field of view. Also well known in the art are small convex
mirrors glued or otherwise permanently affixed to existing side rearview
mirrors which allow for increased field of views. Some of those small
mirrors have various shapes, in some cases they have different levels of
convexity, ranging from quite convex towards being planar so as to
provide for specific area, sometimes they are oriented in such a way so
as to provide viewing very close to the miror and close to the ground.
[0031 The present invention is a supplement to the invention of the prior U.S.
Patent applications 10/829,082 filed April 22, 2004, and patent
application 11/195,195 filed August 1, 2005 , both from this Inventor
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and, more particularly, the concepts of the present invention add to the
state of the car rearview mirror art as set forth and referenced in those
prior applications.
[004] A patent by Wang discloses a convex mirror preferably located on the
rear door which allows for a passenger to see incoming trafic such as
cars but also cyclists and even pedestrians before opening the door and
possibly causing harm. The Wang patent does not limit the mirror to be
installed to the rear door but does not make any mention of mirrors
being located on the opposite side of the vehicle, that is the side located
on what is referred to as the curb side since the purpose of the mirror
arrangement is to prevent accident from fast oncoming trafic, the curb
side is rarely a cause for concem and therefore there is no need for
Wang's mirrors there.
15[005] The inconvenience of having small mirrors situated outside the vehicle
and affixed to existing side rearview mirrors is that in winter, ice and
snow can cling to the mirrors and having mirors sticking out like buttons
can make it harder to scrape the ice. Another inconvenience with such
c button mirrors is that it can also make it harder to properly wash the
larger rearview mirror, especially when using a squeegee such as at a
service station. Also, some aftermartcet glue on mirrors can become
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unglued after a while, especially when subjected to different ranges in
temperature and the general stress of being exposed to the exterior with
wind blowing on the mirrors as the car speeds down a road.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
5
[006] The cited prior patent itself was a valuable step in the rearview mirror
installation art, in that it provided low cost, easy to install mirrors inside
a
vehicle but it did not fully take advantage of its positioning.
10[007] Even in hindsight consideration of the present invention to determine
its
inventive and novel nature, it is not only conceded but emphasized that
the prior art had many details usable in this invention, but only if the prior
art had had the guidance of the present invention.
15[0081 That is, it is emphasized that the prior art had/or knew several
particulars
which individually and accumulatively show the non-obviousness of this
combination invention. E.g.,
[009] (a) The matter of there having been only a relatively short time between
20 a prior art patent and the concept of a new invention which improves
upon a detail of that patent is logically realized by the U.S. Patent Office
and by the Courts to not necessarily negate the improvement invention
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as inventive; and the applicability of this realization seems quite logical
expecially here where all the components, when considered separately
from the combination are not only in existence but are quite present;
[0010] (b) The nature of an invention as being a "novel combination", in spite
of
existence of details separately, is especially significant here where the
novelty is of the plurality of concepts, i.e., the addition of a second mirror
situated on the curb side;
[0011] (c) The present invention is considered to be one which has been a
"building on" of that patent, this having been by a major change, by
addition of a secondary convex mirror;
[0012] (d) Similarly the possibility of simply installing additional means
seems
surely to have suggested this invention, but only to a person who had
the creative insight, especially since the existing inventions would
probably be considered as themselves more than adequate;
15[0013] (e) The ease of tooling for the present invention has surely given
manufacturers ample incentive to have made modifications for
commercial competitiveness in a competitive industry, if the concepts
had been obvious;
[0014] (f) The prior art has always had sufficient skill to make many types of
mirrors and more than ample skill to have achieved the present
invention, but only if the concepts and their combinations had been
conceived;
[0015] (g) Substantially all of the operational characteristics and advantages
of
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details of the present invention, when considered separately from one
another and when considered separately from the present invention's
details and accomplishment of the details, are within the skill of persons
of various arts, but only when considered away from the integrated and
5 novel combination of concepts which by their cooperative combination
achieve this advantageous invention;
[0016] (h) The details of the present invention, when considered solely from
the
standpoint of construction, are exceedingly simple, basically a convex
mirror with an attachment means to the interior of a vehicle. The matter
of simplicity of construction has long been recognized as indicative of
inventive creativity;
[0017] (i) Similarly, and a long-recognized indication of inventiveness of a
novel
combination, is the realistic principle that a person of ordinary skill in the
art, as illustrated with respect to the claimed combination as differing in
the stated respects from the prior art both as to construction and
concept, is presumed to be one who thinks along the line of
conventional wisdom in the art and is not one who undertakes to
innovate; and
[0018] (j) The predictable benefds from a novel procedure having the features
of this invention would seem sufficiently high that others would have
been working on this type of installation, but only if the concepts which it
presents had been conceived.
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[0019] Accordingly, although the prior art has had capability and motivation,
amply sufficient to presumably give incentive to the development of an
installation and procedure according to the present invention, the fact
remains that this invention awaited the creativity and inventive discovery
of the present Inventor. In spite of ample motivation and capability
shown by the many illustrations herein, the prior art did not suggest this
invention.
10[0020] The present invention generally compnses a pair of small and
relatively
unobtrusive convex mirrors located inside a vehicle on both the driver's
and the passengers side, generally proximal the doors close to the
windows so as to provide a view of the ouside of the vehicle. A variety of
attachment means can be provided for those mirrors whether they are
sold as after market products or installed as equipment during
manufacturing of the vehicle.
[0021] By using those mirrors, there is no need for button mirrors glued
on
the exterior mirrors and by not having any button mirrors, the exterior
mirrors do not lose any space, which make them more efficient in
showing all the angles that they are conceived to give in the first place.
The interior mirrors can be oriented independently of the exterior mirrors
to give the exact angle of view desired. They show objects that are
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closer to the car whereas the exterior mirrors show objects that are
farther behind. Finally, the mirrors, by being inside are always clean,
free of ice, dirt, rain,etc...
5[0022] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof
that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will
form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0023] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0024] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,
upon
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the
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several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that
the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0025] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference
should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in
which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Fig. 1 Is a perspective view from inside a vehicle showing the mirror
arrangement.
[0027] Fig. 2 Is a top view from inside a vehicle showing the mirror
arrangement and their angle of view from the viewpoint of a user.
[0028] Fig. 3 Perspective view of a first embodiment of a mirror holding frame
structure.
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[0029] Fig. 4 Perspective view of a second embodiment of a mirror holding
frame structure.
[0030] Fig. 5 Close up perspective view of the mirror installed.
5[0031] Fig. 6 Side view, exploded, of a convex mirror having a balljoint
connector.
[0032] Fig. 7 Close up perspective view of a convex mirror installed in a
moulded holding frame structure.
[0033] Fig. 8 Cutaway side elevation of convex mirror along line A-A of fig.
7.
10[0034] Fig. 9 Perspective view of the mirror affixed to a roof pillar.
[0035] Figs. lOa-c Schematic views of altemate variations of the mirror
holding
frame structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] In fig. 1, a combination convex mirrors (12, 12') situated Inside a
vehicle
15 (10) to increase the field of view comprises a pair of small and relatively
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unobtrusive convex mirrors (12, 12') located on both the driver's and the
passenger's side, and located generally proximal to doors (14, 14') and
close to the windows (16, 16') and the standard issue exterior rear view
mirrors (11, 11') so as to provide a view of the ouside of the vehicle (10).
5[0037] A variety of attachment means can be provided for those mirrors
whether they are sold as after market products or installed as
equipment during manufacturing of the vehicle. The field of view that the
head (13) of a user, as illustrated in Fig. 2 with the dotted lines,
requires very little left and right tum of the head (13) to gain access to
10 the field of view provided by the convex mirrors (12, 12'). The field of
view can go from far behind all the way to very close of both sides of the
vehicle (10).
[0038] In order to position the convex mirrors (12, 12') at the appropriate
locations, which is proximal the front doors (14, 14') of the vehicle (10)
so as to be viewable from the driver's position as shown by the head
(13), a variety of means are used for holding the convex mirrors (12,
12'). For example, referring more particularly to FIG. 3, a flexible, pliable
yet rigid frame structure (41) has two opposite ends with a first end (31)
having an adhesive substance (18) that adheres to a part of the vehicle
(10) and a second end (17) also having an adhesive substance (18)
onto which the convex mirror (12, 12') can be adhered to. The exact
location the frame structure (41) is adhered to depends on the interior
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design of the vehicle and the user's own preference. The frame structure
(11) is pliable along two bends (19, 19') which gives the frame a given
configuration such as an inverted "Z" like configuration. As illustrated in
the examples of Figs. 10a-c, various configurations can be had without
departing from the scope of the invention. For shipping reasons, it is
preferable that the frame structure (41) be as flat as possible to lower
shipping costs.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 4, is shown an altemate bend of the frame structure
(41') which gives the frame structure (41') a triangular configuration
which also produces a silmilar result, but with the difference that the
adhesive substance (18) is on the same side of the frame structure (41')
in this embodiment, as opposed to being on aftemate sides of the frame
structure (41)as per the embodiment of FIG. 3. The variation in the way
the bends (19, 19') are made is sufficiently minimal to fall within the
scope of a single invention. The adhesive substance (18) is covered
with a peel and stick film (not shown) as is well known in the art.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 6, in this embodiment which can be applied to both
types of bends (as per FIGS. 3-4) the convex mirror (12, 12') is
orientable by way of a ball joint (24) extending from the frame structure
(41, 41') and which cooperates with a ball joint receptacle (26) situated
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at the back of the convex mirror (12, 12'). In this embodiment, the ball
joint (24) replaces the adhesive substance (18), although the ball joint
(24) could be adhered to the adhesive substance (18).
[0041] In order to install the frame structure (41, 41'), a user peels off a
peel
and stick film from the adhesive substance (18) situated on a first end
(31), applies said adhesive substance (18) proximal the door (14) inside
the vehicle (10), installs the convex mirrors (12, 12) on a second end
(17) after having peeled off that second end's (17) peel off layer. The
user then induces the proper bends into the bends (19, 19) of said
frame structure (41,41) so as to provide adequate placement of the
convex mirrors (12, 12').
[0042] In yet another example, as shown in FIGS. 7-8 the convex mirrors (12,
12) are enclosed within a circular holder (27) which is part of an
altemate frame structure (41 ") which allows the convex mirrors (12, 12)
to be oriented along many axes. The altemate frame structure (41") is
configured and sized to appropriately fit the door (14) at the window (16)
level .
[0043] FIG. 8 The sides (71) of the circular holder (27) are curved to match
the
curves of the perimeter (91) of the convex mirrors (12, 12') so as to
allow its rotational movement.
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[0044] Fig. 9 illustrates that besides the door (14) itself, the mirror can
also be
affixed to other parts of the vehicle (10) such as the roof pillar (110).
[0045] Figs. lOa-c show additional variations of the mirror holding frame
structure (41). The shapes can be orthogonal or very much pliable such
as in the wire (112) of fig. 10c. In fig 10a the frame structure (41) has an
L configuration and in fig. 10b the frame structure (41) has an
J configuration and in fig. 10c the frame structure (41) has an
S configuration.
[0046] It is thus seen that two carefully positioned mirrors provide an
advantage
which cannot be achieved by Wang which only provides for viewing on
one side of the vehicle.
[0047] In summary as to the nature of the overall and advantageous concepts,
their novelty and inventive nature is shown by novel features of concept
and construction shown here in advantageous combination and by the
novel concepts hereof not only being different from all the prior art
known, but because the achievement is not what is or has been
suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art, especially realistically
considering this as a novel combination comprising components which
individually are similar in nature to what is well known to very many
persons. No prior art component or element has even suggested the
modifications of any other prior art to achieve the particulars of the novel
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concepts of the overall combination here achieved, with the special
advantages which the overall combination system provides; and this
lack of suggestion by any prior art has been in spite of the long
worldwide felt need for solving the issue of blind spots.
5[0048] The differences of concept and construction as specified herein yield
advantages over the prior art; and the lack of this invention by the prior
art, as a prior art combination, has been in spite of this invention's
apparent simplicity of the construction once the concepts have been
conceived, in spite of the advantages it would have given, and in spite of
the availability of all the materials, to all persons of the entire world, and
the invention's non-technical and openly-visible nature.
[0049] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of
usage and operation will be provided.
[0050] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious
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to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
[0051] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
5 principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to
limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents
may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
15
