Abstract:
A rear backup sideview mirror assembly to be used in conjunction with a vehicle&#39;s interior or exterior rearview mirrors to view other motor vehicles moving in a side to lateral direction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 61/996,493 
                 May, 2014 
                 Nichols 
               
               
                   
                 7,780,299 
                 August, 2010 
                 Martinson 
               
               
                   
                 7,422,337 
                 September, 2008 
                 Fetherston 
               
               
                   
                 7,147,335 
                 December, 2006 
                 Dickenson 
               
               
                   
                 6,979,089 
                 December, 2005 
                 Martinson 
               
               
                   
                 6,799,857 
                 March, 2005 
                 Morrison 
               
               
                   
                 6,799,857 
                 October, 2005 
                 Martinson 
               
               
                   
                 6,715,893 
                 April, 2005 
                 Martinson 
               
               
                   
                 2002/0186481 
                 December, 2005 
                 Martinson 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       DESCRIPTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This disclosure relates to an apparatus that allows the driver of a vehicle to obtain the view of incoming traffic where the incoming traffic would be headed toward the passenger&#39;s side or driver&#39;s side of the vehicle when the vehicle operated in reverse, with the use of a rear backup sideview mirror assembly. 
         [0006]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0007]    This application is a Nonprovisional Application of the Provisional Application filed under U.S. Patent Application No. 61/996,493 filed May 8, 2014. The benefit of the earlier filing date of the aforementioned Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/996,493 is hereby claimed. 
         [0008]    When the driver of a vehicle operates said vehicle in reverse, the driver does not always have a clear view of oncoming traffic, for instance, when the vehicle is parked between two cars in a parking lot. In this instance, the driver&#39;s view is obstructed by the vehicles on either side of the vehicle the driver is operating and the driver cannot see oncoming traffic. The present disclosure reveals an apparatus that when used in conjunction with any of the existing vehicle rearview mirror, driver&#39;s sideview mirror, or passenger&#39;s sideview mirror, would allow the driver a perspective of oncoming traffic that would otherwise collide with driver&#39;s vehicle. 
         [0009]    Several attempts have been made to create lateral view mirror assemblies, all of which can be distinguished from the present disclosure: 
         [0010]    In U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,299, Martinson discloses a lateral view mirror assembly for attachment to the rear of a vehicle in order to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic, whereas the present disclosure reveals an apparatus that attaches to the rear of a vehicle in order to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic as well as an additional view of traffic coming from the rear, which is otherwise partially obstructed by the apparatus. 
         [0011]    In U.S. Pat. No. 7,422,337, Fetherston discloses a lateral view mirror assembly for attachment to the rear of a vehicle in order to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic, along with a leveling means for the same, whereas the present disclosure reveals an apparatus that attaches to the rear of a vehicle in order to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic as well as an additional view of traffic coming from the rear, which is otherwise partially obstructed by the apparatus. 
         [0012]    In U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,335, Dickinson discloses a pair of lateral view mirror assemblies for attachment to the driver&#39;s side rear of a vehicle or the passenger&#39;s side rear of the vehicle in order to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic, whereas the present disclosure reveals a single apparatus that attaches to either the driver&#39;s side rear of a vehicle or the passenger&#39;s side rear of the vehicle in order to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic. 
         [0013]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,089, Martinson discloses a pair of mirror assemblies for use with minivans and SUV&#39;s that are attached on the inside of the vehicle, to be used with the rearview mirror, that allows the driver a view laterally and downwardly, whereas the present apparatus is a single apparatus attached to the exterior of a vehicle, used in conjunction with either the rearview mirror, driver&#39;s sideview mirror, or passenger&#39;s sideview mirror, that allows the driver to obtain to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic. 
         [0014]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,971, Morrison discloses a mirror attached inside a vehicle that provides the user with an oblique angle of oncoming traffic, whereas the present apparatus is a single apparatus attached to the exterior of a vehicle, used in conjunction with either the rearview mirror, driver&#39;s sideview mirror, or passenger&#39;s sideview mirror, that allows the driver to obtain to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic. 
         [0015]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,857, Martinson discloses a pair of mirrors used in conjunction with the rearview mirror that allows the driver to obtain to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic, whereas the present apparatus is a single apparatus attached to the exterior of a vehicle, used in conjunction with either the rearview mirror, driver&#39;s sideview mirror, or passenger&#39;s sideview mirror, that allows the driver to obtain to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic. 
         [0016]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,893, Martinson discloses a pair of mirrors used in conjunction with the rearview mirror that allows the driver to obtain to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic, whereas the present apparatus is a single apparatus attached to the exterior of a vehicle, used in conjunction with either the rearview mirror, driver&#39;s sideview mirror, or passenger&#39;s sideview mirror, that allows the driver to obtain to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic. 
         [0017]    In U.S. Pat. App. No 2002/01864810 Martinson discloses a mirror assembly to be used with the rearview mirror that is attached to the rear of a vehicle that allows the driver to obtain to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic, whereas the present disclosure reveals an apparatus that attaches to the rear of a vehicle in order to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic as well as an additional view of traffic coming from the rear, which is otherwise partially obstructed by the apparatus. Martinson also reveals a pair of mirrors attached to the outside driver&#39;s side rear of the vehicle and the passerger&#39;s side rear of a vehicle, that allow the driver to obtain to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic, whereas the present apparatus is a single apparatus attached to the exterior of a vehicle, used in conjunction with either the driver&#39;s sideview mirror or passenger&#39;s sideview mirror, that allows the driver to obtain to obtain lateral views of oncoming traffic. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The present disclosure is a rear backup sideview mirror assembly to enable the driver of the vehicle to see the lateral views from the back of a vehicle to aid in the prevention of accidents when operating the vehicle in reverse. 
         [0019]    The first embodiment of the rear backup sideview mirror assembly is a rearview mirror assembly wherein the driver of the vehicle can look into the rearview mirror of the vehicle and obtain perspectives of oncoming traffic toward the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle, toward the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle, and a downward perspective to see if anything is behind the vehicle but out of the driver&#39;s view. 
         [0020]    The second embodiment of the rear backup sideview mirror assembly is a driver&#39;s sideview mirror assembly wherein the driver of the vehicle can look into the driver&#39;s sideview mirror of the vehicle and obtain perspectives of oncoming traffic toward the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle or toward the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle. 
         [0021]    The third embodiment of the rear backup sideview mirror assembly is a passenger&#39;s sideview mirror assembly wherein the driver of the vehicle can look into the passenger&#39;s&#39;s sideview mirror of the vehicle and obtain perspectives of oncoming traffic toward the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle or toward the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle. 
         [0022]    The base of the any of the three revealed embodiments is attached to the vehicle by a plurality of attachment means, which could include a plurality of threaded fasters, a plurality of suction cups, a plurality of magnets or a plurality of straps. Any of the plurality of mirrors may be adjustable to optimize the view of oncoming traffic once the rear backup sideview mirror assembly is attached to the vehicle. Any of the plurality of mirrors may also be convex. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0023]      FIG. 1A  is a view of the first embodiment of the rear backup sideview mirror assembly, the rearview mirror assembly; 
           [0024]      FIG. 1B  is a view of the rearview mirror assembly with convex mirrors and where the plurality of mirrors are adjustable; 
           [0025]      FIG. 1C  is a view of the rearview mirror assembly in association with the rearview mirror of the vehicle, indicating the perspective visible to the driver relative to the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror and the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror; 
           [0026]      FIG. 1D  is a view of the rearview mirror assembly in association with the rearview mirror of the vehicle, indicating the downward perspective visible to the driver relative to the rear assembly mirror; 
           [0027]      FIG. 1E  is a view of the underside of the rearview mirror assembly indicating the location of some of the plurality of attachment means; 
           [0028]      FIG. 1F  is a view of the rearview mirror assembly indicating as it is attached to a vehicle by a plurality of straps; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2A  is a view of the second embodiment of the rear backup sideview mirror assembly, the driver&#39;s sideview mirror assembly; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2B  is a view of the driver&#39;s sideview mirror assembly with convex mirrors and where the plurality of mirrors are adjustable; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2C  is a view of the driver&#39;s sideview mirror assembly in association with the rearview mirror of the vehicle, indicating the perspective visible to the driver relative to the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror and the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2D  is a view of the underside of the driver&#39;s sideview mirror assembly indicating the location of some of the plurality of attachment means; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2E  is a view of the driver&#39;s sideview mirror assembly indicating as it is attached to a vehicle by a plurality of straps; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3A  is a view of the third embodiment of the rear backup sideview mirror assembly, the passenger&#39;s side mirror assembly; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3B  is a view of the passenger&#39;s side mirror assembly with convex mirrors and where the plurality of mirrors are adjustable; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3C  is a view of the passenger&#39;s side mirror assembly in association with the rearview mirror of the vehicle, indicating the perspective visible to the driver relative to the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror and the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror; 
           [0037]      FIG. 3D  is a view of the underside of the passenger&#39;s side mirror assembly indicating the location of some of the plurality of attachment means; 
           [0038]      FIG. 3E  is a view of the passenger&#39;s side mirror assembly indicating as it is attached to a vehicle by a plurality of straps; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    A rear backup sideview mirror assembly  1  to enable the driver  2  of a vehicle  3  to see the lateral views from the back of the vehicle  3  to aid in the prevention of accidents when operating the vehicle  3  in reverse wherein there are three embodiments, a rearview mirror assembly  4 , a driver&#39;s sideview mirror assembly  5  and a passenger&#39;s sideview mirror assembly  6 . 
         [0040]    The first embodiment  4  of the rear backup side view mirror assembly  1  is a rearview mirror assembly  4  that comprises a rearview mirror  7 , a base  8  and a plurality of mirrors  9 , wherein the driver  2  of the vehicle  3  can look into the rearview mirror  7  of the vehicle  3  and obtain the perspectives from the mirrors attached to the base  8 . In this embodiment, the rearview mirror  7  is located centrally in the front window, within the compartment of a vehicle  3  and the base  8  and associated plurality of mirrors  9  are attached to the rear  10  of said vehicle  3 . The first of the plurality of mirrors  9  is a driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11 . The second of the plurality of mirrors  9  is a passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12 . The third of the plurality of mirrors  9  is the rear assembly mirror  13 . 
         [0041]    In the first embodiment  4 , the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11  is positioned on the base  8  such that, when the driver  2  of the vehicle  3  looks into the rearview mirror  7 , the view of the driver  2  includes the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11  and the perspective presented to the driver  2  from the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11  is of potential oncoming traffic heading towards the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle  3 . In the first embodiment  4 , the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12  is positioned on the base  8  such that, when the driver  2  of the vehicle  3  looks into the rearview mirror  7 , the view of the driver  2  includes the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12  and the perspective presented to the driver  2  from the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12  is of potential oncoming traffic heading towards the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle  3 . 
         [0042]    The rear assembly mirror  13  faces downward such that, when the driver  2  looks into the rearview mirror  7 , the perspective presented to the driver  2  includes the rear assembly mirror, which provides the driver  2  a view downward and behind the rear of the vehicle  3  so that the driver  2  can see if something is behind the vehicle  3  but not otherwise visible. 
         [0043]    The base  8  of the rearview mirror assembly  4  is attached to the rear  10  of the vehicle  3  by a plurality of attachment means  15 , which could include a plurality of threaded fasters, a plurality of suction cups, a plurality of magnets or a plurality of straps  16 . Any of the plurality of mirrors  9  may be adjustable to optimize the view of oncoming traffic once the rear backup side view mirror assembly  1  is attached to the vehicle  3 . Any of the plurality of mirrors  9  may also be convex. 
         [0044]    The second embodiment  5  of the rear backup side view mirror assembly  1  is a driver&#39;s sideview mirror assembly that comprises a driver&#39;s side mirror  17 , a base  8  and a plurality of mirrors  9 , wherein the driver  2  of the vehicle  3  can look into the driver&#39;s side mirror  17  of the vehicle  3  and obtain the perspectives from the plurality of mirrors  9  attached to the base  8 . In this embodiment the driver&#39;s side mirror  17  is located on the exterior, driver&#39;s side of the vehicle  3  forward of the driver&#39;s door window  18  and the base  8 , with the plurality of mirrors  9 , attached to the base  8  is attached to the driver&#39;s side rear  19  of said vehicle  3 . The first of the plurality of mirrors  9  is a driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11 . The second of the plurality of mirrors  9  is a passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12 . 
         [0045]    In the second embodiment  5 , the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11  is positioned on the base  8  such that, when the driver  2  of the vehicle  3  looks into the driver&#39;s side mirror  17 , the view of the driver  2  includes the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11  and the perspective presented to the driver  2  from the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11  is of potential oncoming traffic heading towards the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle  3 . In the second embodiment  5 , the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12  is positioned on the base  8  such that, when the driver  2  of the vehicle  3  looks into the driver&#39;s side mirror  17 , the view of the driver  2  includes the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12  and the perspective presented to the driver  2  from the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12  is of potential oncoming traffic heading towards the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle  3 . 
         [0046]    The base  8  of the driver&#39;s sideview mirror assembly  5  is attached to the rear  10  of the vehicle  3  on the driver&#39;s side  20  by a plurality of attachment means  15 , which could include a plurality of threaded fasters, a plurality of suction cups, a plurality of magnets or a plurality of straps  16 . Any of the plurality of mirrors  9  may be adjustable to optimize the view of oncoming traffic once the rear backup side view mirror assembly  1  is attached to the vehicle  3 . Any of the plurality of mirrors  9  may also be convex. 
         [0047]    The third embodiment  6  of the rear backup side view mirror assembly  1  is a passenger&#39;s sideview mirror assembly  6  that comprises a passenger&#39;s side mirror  21 , a base  8  and a plurality of mirrors  9 , wherein the driver  2  of the vehicle  3  can look into the passenger&#39;s side mirror  21  of the vehicle  3  and obtain the perspectives from the mirrors attached to the base  8 . In this embodiment, the passenger&#39;s side mirror  21  is located on the exterior, passenger&#39;s side  22  of the vehicle  3  forward of the passenger&#39;s door window  23  and the base  8  and associated plurality of mirrors  9  are attached to the passenger&#39;s side rear  24  of said vehicle  3 . The first of the plurality of mirrors  9  is a driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11 . The second of the plurality of mirrors  9  is a passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12 . 
         [0048]    In the third embodiment  6 , the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12  is positioned on the base  8  such that, when the driver  2  of the vehicle  3  looks into the passenger&#39;s side mirror  21 , the view of the driver  2  includes the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11  and the perspective presented to the driver  2  from the driver&#39;s side lateral mirror  11  is of potential oncoming traffic heading towards the driver&#39;s side  20  of the vehicle  3 . In the third embodiment  6 , the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12  is positioned on the base  8  such that, when the driver  2  of the vehicle  3  looks into the passenger&#39;s side mirror  21 , the view of the driver  2  includes the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12  and the perspective presented to the driver  2  from the passenger&#39;s side lateral mirror  12  is of potential oncoming traffic heading towards the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle  3 . 
         [0049]    The base  8  of the passenger&#39;s sideview mirror assembly  6  is attached to the rear  10  of the vehicle  3  on the passenger&#39;s side  22  by a plurality of attachment means  15 , which could include a plurality of threaded fasters, a plurality of suction cups, a plurality of magnets or a plurality of straps  16 . Any of the plurality of mirrors  9  may be adjustable to optimize the view of oncoming traffic once the rear backup side view mirror assembly  1  is attached to the vehicle  3 . Any of the plurality of mirrors  9  may also be convex.