Dual rear view mirrors for trucks and other vehicles

A dual rear view mirror assembly for trucks and other vehicles comprising a bracket assembly having an upper portion and a lower portion, each bracket portion having an inboard end adapted to be attached to a truck and like vehicles forwardly of the driver and to one side thereof, each bracket portion having an outboard end with attachment mechanisms, an inboard first mirror having a supporting strip on its upper edge, lower edge and inboard edge, the supporting strip including adjustable support means coupled to the bracket assembly for allowing the adjustment of the first mirror at its inboard end about a vertical axis, and an outboard second mirror having a supporting strip on its upper edge, lower edge and outboard edge, the inboard edge of the second mirror being located adjacent to the outboard edge of the first mirror, and adjustment means coupling the first mirror and second mirror about a vertical axis extending through the line of coupling between the first and second mirrors whereby the second mirror may be adjusted with respect to the first mirror independent of the adjustment of the first mirror with respect to the brackets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to dual rear view mirrors for trucks and
 other vehicles and more particularly pertains to expanding the view of
 drivers through two part rear view mirrors.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 The use of mirrors for trucks and other vehicles is known in the prior art.
 More specifically, rear view mirrors heretofore devised and utilized for
 the purpose of expanding the view are known to consist basically of
 familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding
 the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been
 developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
 The prior art disclosed a large number of patents directed to rear systems
 for use in trucks and other vehicle. By way of example, U.S. Pat. Nos.
 4,049,228 to Skewis; and 4,941,638 to DiSalbatore disclose planar mirror
 adjustable for use with trucks in identifying blind spots.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,847 to Gong disclosed a rear view mirror which is
 extensible in a common plan.
 U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,741,633 to Haley and 4,182,552 to Feinbloom disclose rear
 view mirrors including plural reflective surfaces.
 In this respect, the dual rear view mirrors for trucks and other vehicles
 according to the present invention substantially departs from the
 conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so
 provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of expanding the
 view of drivers through two part rear view mirrors.
 Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for
 new and improved dual rear view mirrors for trucks and other vehicles
 which can be used for expanding the view of drivers through two part rear
 view mirrors. In this respect, the present invention substantially
 fulfills this need.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of rear
 view mirrors now present in the prior art, the present invention provides
 improved dual rear view mirrors for trucks and other vehicles. As such,
 the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
 subsequently in greater detail, is to provide new and improved dual rear
 view mirrors for trucks and other vehicles and method which has all the
 advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
 To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a new and
 improved dual rear view mirror system for trucks and other vehicles
 comprising, in combination, a bracket assembly having an upper portion and
 a lower portion, each bracket portion having an inboard end adapted to be
 attached to a truck and like vehicles forwardly of the driver and to one
 side thereof, each bracket portion having an outboard end with attachment
 mechanisms; an inboard first mirror having a supporting strip on its upper
 edge, lower edge and inboard edge, the supporting strip including
 adjustable support means coupled to the bracket assembly for allowing the
 adjustment of the first mirror at its inboard end about a vertical axis,
 an outboard second mirror having a supporting strip on its upper edge,
 lower edge and outboard edge, the inboard edge of the second mirror being
 located adjacent to the outboard edge of the first mirror, adjustment
 means coupling the first mirror and second mirror about a vertical axis
 extending through the line of coupling between the first and second
 mirrors whereby the second mirror may be adjusted with respect to the
 first mirror independent of the adjustment of the first mirror with
 respect to the brackets, an adjustment mechanism in the form of an
 operator controlled motor located in the region beneath the axis between
 the first and second mirrors, the motor having an output end adapted to
 adjust the second mirror about the axis with respect to the first mirror,
 the motor having an input end operable under the control of a user to
 allow rotation movement of the motor in either direction for the
 adjustment of the angular orientation of the second mirror with respect to
 the first mirror, and a tinted lens positionable over each of the mirrors
 for abating the glare of sun light and bright head lights and with magnets
 releasably coupling the lenses to the mirrors.
 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, of course,
 additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter
 and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
 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 descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
 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
 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.
 Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent
 and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the
 scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar
 with patent of legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a
 cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
 the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention
 of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to
 be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide new and
 improved dual rear view mirrors for trucks and other vehicles which have
 all the advantages of the prior art rear view mirrors and none of the
 disadvantages.
 It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved
 dual rear view mirrors for trucks and other vehicles which may be easily
 and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
 It is further object of the present invention to provide new and improved
 dual rear view mirrors for trucks and other vehicles which are of durable
 and reliable constructions.
 An even further object of the present invention is to provide new and
 improved dual rear view mirrors for trucks and other vehicles which are
 susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and
 labor, and which accordingly are then susceptible of low prices of sale to
 the consuming public, thereby making such dual rear view mirrors for
 trucks and other vehicles economically available to the buying public.
 Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide new and
 improved dual rear view mirrors for trucks and other vehicles which
 provide in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the
 advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the
 disadvantages normally associated therewith.
 Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dual rear
 view mirror assembly for trucks and other vehicles comprising a bracket
 assembly having an upper portion and a lower portion, each bracket portion
 having an inboard end adapted to be attached to a truck and like vehicles
 forwardly of the driver and to one side thereof, each bracket portion
 having an outboard end with attachment mechanisms, an inboard first mirror
 having a supporting strip on its upper edge, lower edge and inboard edge,
 the supporting strip including adjustable support means coupled to the
 bracket assembly for allowing the adjustment of the first mirror at its
 inboard end about a vertical axis, and an outboard second mirror having a
 supporting strip on its upper edge, lower edge and outboard edge, the
 inboard edge of the second mirror being located adjacent to the outboard
 edge of the first mirror, and adjustment means coupling the first mirror
 and second mirror about a vertical axis extending through the line of
 coupling between the first and second mirrors whereby the second mirror
 may be adjusted with respect to the first mirror independent of the
 adjustment of the first mirror with respect to the brackets.
 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.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various
 Figures.
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof,
 the preferred embodiment of the new and improved dual rear view mirrors
 for trucks and other vehicles embodying the principles and concepts of the
 present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10
 will be described.
 More specifically, it will be noted that FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate a new
 and improved dual rear view mirror assembly 10. Such assembly is for
 trucks and other vehicles. In its most basic of terms, the assembly 10
 comprises a supporting bracket 12, a first or inboard mirror 14, a second
 or outboard mirror 16 and coupling components there between.
 More specifically, the first component is a bracket assembly 12. The
 bracket assembly has an upper portion 20 and a lower portion 22. Each
 bracket assembly also has an inboard portion 24 adapted to be attached to
 a truck, now shown, like vehicle at a location forwardly of the driver and
 to one side thereof. Each bracket assembly also has an outboard edge 28
 with attachment mechanisms in the form of screws 32. The screws 32 extend
 through apertures in the outboard ends of the bracket assembly into
 threaded apertures in the adjacent mirror to form an adjustable coupling
 therebetween.
 The next major component of the system is first or inboard mirror 14. Such
 mirror has a supporting bracket 36 on its upper edge, lower edge and
 inboard edge. The support bracket 36 includes adjustable support means in
 the form of threaded apertures aligned with apertures of the bracket
 assembly for receiving screws 32. This is for allowing the adjustment of
 the first mirror about its inboard end with respect to the bracket
 assembly and vehicle about a vertical axis.
 A second mirror 16 is next provided, like the first mirror. It has a
 supporting bracket 40 adjacent its upper edge, lower edge and outboard
 edge. The inboard edge of the second mirror is located adjacent to the
 outboard edge of the first mirror.
 Next provided are adjustment means to couple the first mirror and second
 mirror about a vertical axis. Such vertical axis extends through the line
 of coupling between the first and second mirrors. In this manner, the
 second mirror may be adjusted with respect to the first mirror independent
 of the adjustment of the first mirror with respect to the brackets.
 Such adjustment means is in the form of screws 42. The screws 42 extend
 through apertures 44 in the bracket 40 of the second mirror into threaded
 apertures 46 in the bracket 36 of the first mirror for the adjustable
 coupling therebetween.
 FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternate embodiment of the invention. In such
 embodiment an adjustment mechanism is provided in the form of an operator
 controlled motor 50. Such motor 50 is located in a housing 52 region
 beneath the pivot point between the first and second mirrors. The motor 50
 has an output end 54 coupled to, and adapted to adjust, the second mirror
 16 with respect to the first mirror 14 about a vertical axis.
 The motor 50 also has an input end 56 operable under the control of a user
 to automatically allow adjustment of the angular orientation of the second
 mirror 16 with respect to the first mirror 14. Electrical lines 58 lead to
 controlling mechanisms within the vehicle.
 Lastly, FIGS. 6 and 7 show another alternate embodiment of the invention.
 Such embodiment features tinted lens 60 which are positioned over the
 mirrors 14 and 16. Such lenses function for abating the glare of sun light
 and bright head lights, magnets 62 releasably couple the lenses and the
 mirrors. The lenses 60 are in two parts corresponding in size to the
 mirrors they cover. A piano hinge 64 couples the lenses for pivoting with
 the pivoting of the mirrors.
 Truckers often have a problem seeing behind their rigs. This is due to the
 design of the outside mirrors and the fact that most of them can only
 adjusted to permit viewing a selected area of road. When passing other
 vehicles, it is vital to be able to view the other lane to tell if the
 left lane is clear so that the vehicle can be pulled out into the lane for
 passing a slower vehicle. After the slower vehicle is overtaken, the
 passing driver must be able to see the right lane in order to tell if the
 passed vehicle is far enough behind to pull back into the other lane.
 The present invention is a mirror that can be adjusted to permit easy
 viewing behind the vehicle and also to the lanes on each side. The mirror
 assembly consists of two section. These are rectangular in shape and
 arranged side by side to form a larger rectangle. The section closest to
 the vehicle, the inboard section, is fixed to the base assembly. It can be
 adjusted in the normal fashion and secured in the preferred position. The
 second section, the out board section, can be pivoted independently of the
 first. This permits it to be adjusted to view an area distinct from the
 other mirror. The adjustment c..n be done either manually or electrically
 with a small electric motor and gear assembly. The present invention
 assembly replaces the original mirror assembly without alteration to the
 original mounting hardware. It will be greatly appreciated by truckers and
 anyone else who spends time on the road.
 As to 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.
 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 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.
 Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
 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.