Rear-mounted vehicle mirror

A mirror support structure for mounting at the rear of a vehicle to support a mirror for convenient viewing of a trailer hitch element positioned at the rear of the vehicle while the observer is seated in the vehicle driver's seat. The mirror support structure includes a mounting member adapted to engage with and be supported by a surface at the rear of the vehicle, and a support arm that is slidably carried by the mounting member and that is positioned at an acute angle relative to the vehicle surface. A mounting arrangement is provided for securing a convex mirror to the support arm. The mirror support structure can include a mounting member for mounting on the upper portion of a tailgate of a pickup truck, or it can include a suction cup for mounting either on the surface of the trunk lid of a passenger car or on the surface of a rear window of a van or panel truck to permit laterally offset positioning of the mirror support structure to enable convenient viewing from the driver's seat of the trailer hitch area at the rear of the vehicle to permit backing of the vehicle to the trailer or vehicle to be towed, and also to permit connection thereto without requiring an additional person.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a mirror support structure for attachment 
of a mirror to the rear of a vehicle for permitting viewing of a trailer 
hitch area at the lower rear portion of the vehicle and while the observer 
is seated in the driver's seat. More particularly, the present invention 
relates to an improved mirror support structure for viewing a trailer 
hitch while seated in the driver's seat, wherein the mirror support 
structure is adapted for positioning at a point at the rear of the vehicle 
that is offset from the vehicle centerline, and wherein the mirror is 
supported on an arm that is slidably carried by a mounting member so that 
the position of the mirror can be changed to accommodate proper 
positioning of the mirror structure on different types of vehicles. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Mirror support structures for positioning a mirror to enable viewing of a 
trailer hitch area at the rear of a vehicle are known. Examples of patents 
in which such mirrors for attachment at the rear of a vehicle are 
disclosed include U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,376, which issued on Mar. 6, 1990, 
to Rodger P. Neeley; U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,913, which issued on Aug. 28, 
1990, to David M. Quesada; U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,342, which issued on May 5, 
1992, to David M. Quesada; U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,182, which issued on Jan. 
19, 1993, to James R. Haworth; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,289, which issued 
on May 3, 1994, to Brady G. Johnson. The Johnson patent shows that mirror 
carried by the towed vehicle whereas the other patents show the mirror 
carried by the towing vehicle. 
With the exception of the structure illustrated in the Quesada '913 patent, 
the mirror structures disclosed in the patents listed above are intended 
to be positioned on the centerline of either the towing vehicle or the 
towed vehicle. The use of such mirrors permits the driver of a towing 
vehicle to directly observe, while seated in the driver's seat, the 
trailer hitch area while the vehicle is being maneuvered into position to 
connect or disconnect the towing vehicle with the towed vehicle. However, 
there are times when the vehicle structure does not permit such a central 
arrangement, such as, for example, a van having rear doors that together 
define a frame that is centrally positioned and thereby prevents direct 
viewing because of the interfering frame structure. Additionally, the 
driver of the towing vehicle may prefer that the trailer hitch mirror be 
offset several inches from the vehicle centerline so as not to interfere 
with the rear view during times other than when a towed vehicle is being 
connected to or disconnected from the towing vehicle. 
The Quesada '913 patent permits off centerline positioning of a rear 
mounted mirror on a pickup truck, but the structure is quite complicated, 
requiring numerous parts, and thereby involving an excessive cost to 
produce the device. 
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of 
the prior art structures and to provide an improved rear mounted mirror 
for observing a trailer hitch area of a Vehicle, to facilitate connection 
with and disconnection from a towed vehicle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a 
mirror support structure is provided for positioning at the rear of a 
towing vehicle for observing a trailer hitch while the observer is seated 
in the vehicle. The support structure includes a mounting member for 
removable connection with a surface at the rear of the towing vehicle and 
at a position above the rear bumper. A support arm extends angularly from 
the mounting member and is disposed at an acute angle relative to the 
vehicle surface. A mirror mounting arm extends from an end of the support 
arm for supporting a convex mirror in a forward facing direction. The 
support arm is arranged to permit the mirror to be conveniently positioned 
to enable clear and unobstructed viewing of the trailer hitch area with 
the mirror mounted at a position that is offset relative to the vehicle 
centerline.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4 
thereof, there is shown a convex mirror 10 carried by a mirror support 12 
adapted to be mounted at the rear of a vehicle (not shown) and in a 
generally forwardly-facing direction. In the structural embodiment of the 
invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, mirror support 12 is configured to 
enable it to be positioned on the top edge of a vertically extending 
tailgate of a pickup truck, or the like, as shown in FIG. 5. 
Mirror support 12 includes a mounting member 14, a support arm 16, and a 
mirror holder 18. Mounting member 14 as shown is a generally U-shaped 
structure that in use is oriented in inverted condition so that it can fit 
on and be supported by the upper edge of a pickup truck tailgate, as will 
be hereinafter described. Mounting member 14 includes a first L-shaped 
member 20, and a second L-shaped member 22. As clearly seen in FIG. 1, the 
horizontally extending legs 24, 26 of the respective L-shaped members 20, 
22 are in overlapping relationship with each other. To support the 
L-shaped members 20, 22 in a fixed position relative to each other second 
L-shaped member 26 includes a pair of apertures 28 to each receive a 
dart-type plastic fastener 30 (see FIG. 2), and first L-shaped member 24 
includes an elongated slot 32 through which fasteners 30 are adapted to 
pass. When fasteners 30 pass through slot 32 and into apertures 28, they 
are held in position by virtue of the gripping action provided by the 
barbed ends of fasteners 30 that extend laterally outwardly when they pass 
through apertures 28, to firmly hold L-shaped members 20 and 22 in a 
predetermined position relative to each other to define a space or gap 
between their respective vertical legs 34, 36 so that L-shaped members 20 
and 22 when in assembled condition define a U-shaped member to overlie the 
top edge and to contact the inner and outer faces of a pickup truck 
tailgate, as is clearly seen in FIG. 5. Furthermore, the spacing between 
vertical legs 34, 36 of the respective L-shaped members 20, 22 can be 
changed by sliding each of the L-shaped members relative to each other to 
narrow or widen the spacing between vertical legs 34, 36. Although 
disclosed in terms of a dart-type fastener, those skilled in the art will 
appreciate that other forms of fastener, such as plastic screws and 
threaded apertures, can also be utilized, if desired, to hold L-shaped 
members 22 and 24 in a desired relative position and also to enable the 
spacing between vertical legs 34 and 36 to be changed to adapt mounting 
member 14 to tailgates of different front-to-back thicknesses. 
Vertical leg 36 of second L-shaped member 22 is connected with support arm 
16 and is inclined to arm 16 at an acute angle b. Preferably, angle b is 
within the range of about 20.degree. to about 50.degree., and most 
preferably is of the order of from about 30.degree. to about 40.degree.. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, support arm 16 preferably has a longitudinal 
length greater than that of vertical leg 36, so that mirror holder 18 is 
positioned a sufficient distance above the top edge of the truck tailgate 
to enable it to be clearly seen when the mirror support 12 is in its 
operative position. Moreover, and as best seen in FIG. 3, support arm 16 
is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of vertical member 36 at an 
angle a. Angle a can be of the order of about 5.degree. to about 
20.degree., most preferably of the order of about 10.degree.. 
Mirror holder 18 is rigidly connected with and extends generally laterally 
from the upper or distal end of support arm 16 and toward mounting member 
14. Preferably, mirror holder 18 is at an angle c relative to support arm 
16, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein angle c can range from about 85.degree. to 
about 105.degree., and is preferably about 85.degree.. Additionally, and 
as best seen in FIG. 4, mirror holder 18 also extends angularly inwardly 
from support arm 16 toward mounting member 14 at an angle d, relative to 
the rearwardly facing surface 46 of support arm 16. Preferably, angle d 
ranges from about 75.degree. to about 90.degree.. 
Referring once again to FIG. 1, mirror 10 is carried on mirror holder 18 so 
that it faces in the general direction of mounting member 14. Mirror 10 is 
preferably securely mounted to mirror holder 18, such as by a double-faced 
adhesive strip 52 that can be adhesively attached to mirror holder 18, so 
that the rear surface of mirror 10 can be secured to mirror holder 18. As 
shown in FIG. 4, mirror 10 can be mounted to mirror holder 18 in an offset 
position, if desired, depending upon the geometry of the tailgate of the 
truck, the position of the trailer hitch, and the desired position of 
mounting member 14 along the top of the truck tailgate. 
The mirror support structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 is shown in 
position on the tailgate 54 of a pickup truck in FIGS. 5 and 6. As there 
shown, mounting member 14 is positioned to lie on the top edge of tailgate 
54, and the respective vertical legs of L-shaped members 20 and 22 face 
the respective inner and outer surfaces of the tailgate. In that regard, 
it is preferred that L-shaped member 20 be so configured that horizontal 
leg 24 and vertical leg 34 are disposed relative to each other at an angle 
less than 90.degree., preferably about 80.degree., so that the lowermost 
inner edge 38 of leg 34 always contacts the inner face of tailgate 54. 
When mounting member 14 is in position with mirror 10 properly oriented, 
one seated in the driver's seat looking rearwardly will see the mirror in 
accordance with the present invention as shown in FIG. 6. As shown, the 
external, forwardly facing, rear mounted mirror carried on tailgate 54 is 
so oriented as to permit direct viewing of trailer hitch ball 56 that is 
normally disposed adjacent the rear bumper of the truck. Accordingly, when 
backing up the truck to permit connection of the truck portion of the 
trailer hitch with the trailer portion of the hitch, the connection of the 
respective hitch elements can be conveniently effected by the vehicle 
operator, without the need for an additional person to provide assistance 
and guidance. 
Depending upon the physical arrangement of the particular truck on which 
the present invention is positioned, such as tailgate height relative to 
the position of trailer hitch ball 56, adjustment of the position of 
mirror 10 may be necessary to permit optimum viewing. In that regard, 
adjustment of the orientation of mirror 10 to permit convenient sighting 
of trailer hitch ball 56 is performed by varying the spacing between 
vertical legs 34 and 36. As the horizontal spacing between vertical legs 
34 and 36 is increased, by sliding horizontal legs 24 and 26 relative to 
each other, support arm 16 and mirror arm 18 pivot rearwardly about 
lowermost edge 58 of support arm 16. As a result, the field of view of 
mirror 10 shifts forwardly. When trailer hitch ball 56 is in clear view in 
mirror 10, the device is correctly configured for that truck. The 
horizontal legs 24 and 26 are frictionally held in that optimum position 
for that truck by the pulling force imposed by dart-type fasteners 30, 
which operate to draw legs 24 and 26 toward each other to increase the 
frictional force therebetween. 
If the device in accordance with the present invention is then positioned 
on another truck, another adjustment may be necessary for optimum viewing. 
In that case the horizontal spacing between vertical legs 34 and 36 may 
need to be narrowed, as a result of which the field of view of mirror 10 
shifts rearwardly by virtue of the pivotal movement of support arm 16 and 
mirror arm 18 about lowermost edge 58 of support arm 16. 
Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, 
and 9, in which a mirror support structure 60 in accordance with the 
present invention is shown in a configuration suitable for mounting on the 
trunk lid of a passenger vehicle. The passenger vehicle embodiment 
includes a support arm 16 and a mirror holder 18, together with a convex 
mirror 10, all having the same structure as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 
through 4 and described hereinabove for the pickup truck embodiment of the 
invention. 
Mounting member 62 for mounting the mirror support structure to the surface 
of a passenger car trunk lid 64 is a mounting bracket that includes a 
first leg 66 and a second leg 68. Legs 66, 68 are disposed relative to 
each other at an obtuse angle d, which can range from about 120.degree. to 
about 150.degree., and preferably is of the order of about 132.degree.. 
Support arm 16 is slidably adjustable along second leg 68 by the provision 
of dart-type fasteners 42 and a slot arrangement as in the pickup truck 
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. In that regard, second leg 68 
includes a pair of longitudinally spaced, elongated slots 70, 72 to permit 
shifting the position of support arm 16 relative to mounting member 62 by 
sliding support arm 16 inwardly or outwardly relative to each other, in 
the same manner as was described in connection with the horizontal legs 24 
and 26 in the pickup truck embodiment. 
First leg 66 of mounting member 62 can be of substantially the same length 
as second leg 68, and adjacent its outermost end 74 first leg 66 carries a 
suction cup 76 for secure, but removable, attachment of mirror support 
structure 60 to the upper surface of trunk lid 64. 
FIG. 9 shows all embodiment of the passenger car version of the invention 
in position on the trunk lid 64, wherein the orientation of mirror 10 can 
be changed by sliding support arm 16 relative to mounting member 62, to 
accommodate trunk lids having different slopes, until the desired position 
of mirror 10 is achieved for optimal viewing of trailer hitch ball 84. 
The effect of the adjustment is best seen in FIG. 7, which shows that when 
support arm 16 is moved relative to second leg 68 of mounting member 62, 
the contact point 80 between the proximal end 82 of support arm 16 remains 
in substantially the same position, while mounting member 62 is pivoted 
angularly about suction cup 76, to carry with it support arm 16 and mirror 
arm 18, to permit proper orientation of convex mirror 10 for convenient 
viewing of trailer hitch ball 84. 
A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10 
through 12, which show mirror support 100 in position on a rear window 92 
of a van or panel truck 94 having at least one rear window. In that 
regard, mounting member 62 for the van embodiment has the same general 
structure as the corresponding mounting member for the passenger car 
embodiment shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, although support arm 96 is somewhat 
different in that mirror 10 is mounted in a different position. 
Preferably, in addition to the inclination angle e, which can range from 
about 120.degree. to about 150.degree., and is preferably about 
148.degree., the plane of leg 68 is preferably twisted at about a 
14.degree. clockwise angle relative to the plane of arm 66, when viewed 
along support member 96. 
Support arm 96 is generally similar in structure to support arm 16, and is 
movable relative to mounting member 90 in the same manner as is support 
arm 16 relative to mounting member 62 of the passenger car embodiment. 
However, support arm 96 does not always require an angularly disposed 
mirror holder 18 at as large an angle as in the earlier-described 
embodiments, but, instead, can range frown 0.degree., as shown, to about 
10.degree., depending upon the configuration of the rear of the van. 
Support arm 96 includes an adhesive support strip 52 that is mounted 
adjacent the distal end 98 of support arm 96, and on the side of support 
arm 96 opposite the side that contacts mounting member 90, to face in a 
generally forwardly direction relative to van 94. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 
11, a stop member 100 can be defined at distal end 98 of support arm 96, 
if desired, to engage an edge of mirror 10. 
An embodiment of the van version of the invention is shown in operative 
position in FIGS. 11 and 12, wherein mirror support 90 includes a suction 
cup 76 to permit secure connection of the device with the glass defining 
the rear window of the van. Again, as in the earlier-described 
embodiments, dart-type fasteners 42 interconnect support arm 96 with 
mounting member 90 to permit sliding adjustment of support arm 96 relative 
to mounting member 90 in order to permit proper positioning of mirror 10 
for convenient viewing of the area surrounding trailer hitch ball 102. As 
was the case in connection with the passenger car embodiment, sliding 
movement of support arm 96 relative to mounting member 90 causes mounting 
member 90 to pivot about suction cup 76, and thereby changes both the 
position and the angular orientation of mirror 10 so that proper 
orientation of the mirror can be effected. 
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been 
illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art 
that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from 
the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended to 
encompass within the appended claims, all such changes and modifications 
that fall within the scope of the present invention.