Patent ID: 6022116
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A support device for temporarily supporting a mirrored surface from a tow vehicle having a towing coupling, the device being mountable against a pair of unparalleled surfaces being removably mountable near the towing coupling in order to allow the viewing of the towing coupling while connecting the towing coupling to an object to be towed, the support device comprising:a mirror;axial support means for supporting said mirror about an axis, the axis being approximately coplanar with said mirror;a first leg having a first section, and a second section, said first section having a first end surface closer to said mirror, and a second end surface away from said mirror, said second section having a third end surface closer to said first section and a fourth end surface away from said first section, the first section being connected to the second section by a hinge means that is mounted adjacent to said second end surface of the first section and said third end surface of said second section and cooperates with said second end surface and said third end surface to allow pivoting of the second section relative to the first section along a pivot axis that is normal to the axis of said axial support means, the pivoting being from a first position where the second section extends over said mirror and said second end surface and said third end surface do not come in contact with each other, and a second position where the second section extends away from the mirror, and said second end surface and said third end surface come in contact with each other, the first section being releasably and independently pivotably attached to said axial support means at an angle that is approximately normal to said axial support means, and the second section further having support means for attaching the second section to a surface of the tow vehicle;a second leg having a first section, and a second section, the second leg being independent from said first leg, said first section having a first end surface closer to said mirror, and a second end surface away from said mirror, said second section having a third end surface closer to said first section and a fourth end surface away from said first section, the first section of the second leg being connected to the second section of the second leg by a hinge means that is mounted adjacent to said second end surface of the first section and said third end surface of said second section and cooperates with said second end surface and said third end surface to allow pivoting of the second section of the second leg relative to the first section of the second leg along a pivot axis that is normal to the axis of said axial support means, the pivoting being from a first position where the second section of the second leg extends over said mirror and said second end surface and said third end surface do not come in contact with each other, and a second position where the second section extends away from said mirror and said second end surface and said third end surface come in contact with each other, the first section of the second leg being releasably and pivotably attached to said axial support means at an angle that is approximately normal to said axial support means, and the second section of the second leg further having a support means for attaching the second section of the second leg to a surface of the tow vehicle, so that said first leg and said second leg are independently adjustable to allow mounting of the support device against unparallel surfaces, and so that said first leg and said second leg fold over and across said mirror for storage, thereby providing protection for the mirror and providing a reduced footprint for storage.