A REARVIEW MIRROR SHIELDING DEVICE

Abstract: A shielding device (10) for a vehicle external rearview mirror (11). The shielding device (10) includes a transparent housing (12) hingedly connected to a mounting plate (14). The housing (12) abuts a portion of the vehicle window to provide a substantially unobstructed view of the mirror surface (13) from within the vehicle. The housing (12) includes a rear surface (21) protected from the accumulation of environmental contaminants to provide a substantially unobstructed field of view to the rear of the vehicle from the mirror surface (13). The mirror (11) can be an existing mirror fitted to the vehicle or a mirror forming part of the shielding device.

Description: A REARVIE MIRROR SHIELDING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to shielding devices for external rearview mirrors mounted on vehicles. The shielding device of this invention is suitable for use with rearview mirrors for various vehicles including cars, buses, trucks and boats. Although the invention will be described with reference to its particular application on a motor vehicle and more particularly a motor car it should be appreciated that it is applicable to any vehicle having an external rearview mirror positioned adjacent a window. BACKGROUND ART During inclement weather it is often very difficult for die driver of a vehicle such as a motor car to have a clear view of the externally mounted rearvision mirror. This is a consequence of me water or even snow that will necessarily accumulate on the outer surface of the vehicle window and upon the surface of the mirror itself. Dust can also accumulate on these surfaces especially if the surfaces are damp due to light rain or dew. These environmental contaminants can degrade the driver's vision of the image provided by the mirror to such an extent that the mirror is of little or no value. External rearview mirrors are, of course, very important to the safe operation of the vehicle especially when changing lanes, reversing and parking the vehicle. Prior art attempts at overcoming this problem have been directed to providing shrouds to protect the surface of the mirror and/or arrangements to direct an air flow onto the mirror surface. Whilst these approaches provide some improvement they do not address the problem of environmental contamination by rain or snow of the outside surface of the miσor through which the driver must view the mirror surface. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a shielding device for an external rearview mirror which will overcome, or at least ameliorate, die foregoing problem. Accordingly, in one aspect ύϋs invention provides a shielding device for a vehicle external rearview mirror mounted adjacent a side window of the vehicle, said device comprising a substantially transparent housing mounted to seaiingly enclose the mirror surface and abut a portion of me surface of said window so as to provide a substantially unobstructed view of the mirror surface from within die vehicle, said housing including a rear surface protected from me accumulation of environmental contaminants to provide a substantially unobstructed field of view to the rear of the vehicle from the mirror surface. Preferably, an outer side surface of the housing is at least partially protected from the accumulation of environmental contaminants to provide a wider unobstructed field of view to the rear and side of the vehicle from the mirror surface. The housing preferably includes an opening provided wim a surrounding seal which abuts against the surface of the vehicle window to facilitate the unobstructed view of the mirror surface from witiiin me vehicle. The seal is preferably able to allow the window to be moved in the usual manner without allowing environmental contaminants to enter the housing. Preferably, the rear surface of the housing is arcuate in cross section with a concave surface presented rearwardly. It is also preferred that the rear surface is surrounded by the housing extending past the rear surface. In one form of the invention the respective top, sides and bottom of the housing extend past the rear surface. The housing is preferably held in close abutment with the vehicle window by means of a projection which extends between the vehicle window and the door panel. In the preferred form of die invention mis projection can be selectively moved into and out of engagement. Preferably, the sides of the housing are angled inwardly from the top to the bottom of me housing. Preferably, a front surface of housing is convexly curved to present an aerodynamic profile and the top of the housing is, in use, sloped downwardly toward the front surface to enhance aerodynamic properties of me housing. Preferably, me curved front surface presents a concave inner profile for accommodating merein at least a portion of die mirror. Preferably a rib protrusion extends along d e top of e housing, adjacent die outer side surface of me housing, remote from me vehicle window, to inhibit water or snow run-off from the tope flowing down me side of the housing. The housing is preferably hingedly mounted to a mounting portion appropriately fixed to me vehicle. The remainder of me housing is able to be moved by virtue of its hinged mounting to expose me rearview mirror for cleaning and adjustment. The protection of me outer side surface from me accumulation of environmental contaminants is preferably achieved by means of a forwardly located protuberance which shields the surface from the air flow. Alternatively, or additionally, the protection is facilitated by means of the abovedescribed protrusion along the top of the side of the housing or by virtue of the convexly curved front surface in combination with the angled sides of the housing. The shielding device of this invention can be in the form of an after-market accessory for retrofitting to existing vehicles. Alternatively, it can be purpose manufactured for new vehicles in which case the rearview mirror would preferably form part of the structure of the housing. One embodiment of me invention will now be described, by way of example only, wim reference to me accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a shielding device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing me shielding device in an open condition; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of ano er embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the housing shown in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a partial side view of the housing shown in Figure 3. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The drawings show a shielding device 10 for a vehicle external rearview mirror 11 mounted adjacent a side window (not shown) of a vehicle. The device comprises a generally rectangular transparent housing 12 which sealingly encloses the surface 13 of mirror 11. A mounting plate or side wall 14 is secured to me vehicle by means of screws 15 extending into an appropriate part of the vehicle trim (not shown). The mounting plate extends along the window and includes a rectangular opening 16 defined by a surrounding rectangular portion 17. A seal (not shown) is provided between the rectangular portion 17 and the surface of the vehicle window so as to prevent me ingress of any environmental contaminants. The seal is of a suitably soft and resilient material such as silicon rubber mat will conform to the shape of the gap and provide a substantially moisture impervious seal. It will be apparent uiat a seal of this type allows me window to be wound up and down in me usual manner. The lower edge of rectangular portion 17 rests against a ledge provided adjacent the vehicle window. The housing 12 is hingedly connected to mounting plate 14 by hinge 18 respectively secured to die plate 14 and housing 12. This hinge may be optional, if me user does not require me device or housing to be moved forward. The housing 12 comprises an upper surface 19 a lower surface 20 connected by a rear surface 21, outer side wall 22 a front wall 23, an outer side protruding portion 24 and a side wall extension 25. When the device 10 is in me use position shown in Figure 1 the housing 12 and mounting plate 14 sealingly enclose the mirror surface 13. The top sheet 19 and bottom sheet 20 extend past me rear surface 21 so as to enclose that surface. The bottom sheet 20 does not extend as far rearwardly as die top sheet 19. Similarly, the outer side wall 22 extends past me rear surface 21 and has an inturned edge 26. A locking tab 27 is used to retain the housing 12 in the use position by engaging a crack (not shown) between the vehicle window and me door panel. Therefore, it can also be made at half me diickness of the side wall 14 for easy insertion or odierwise it will need to bend to the proper shape for inserting into me crack. For me same function, it 27 can be replaced by some clips also. The hinged connection of me housing 12 with plate 14 allows d e housing to be swung forward in die manner shown in Figure 2 to allow access to die mirror 11 for cleaning and adjustment. Protruding portion 24 of housing 12 is provided to fit around mirror 11 and also provide protection of outer side wall 22 from to the air flow generated as a consequence of the movement of the vehicle. In use, the protected position of arcuate rear surface 21 prevents the accumulation of environmental contaminants such as dust, water or even snow from adhering to die rear surface. The rectangular opening 16 provides a substantially unobstructed view of die mirror surface 13 from widiin die vehicle. Since the rear surface 21 is not obstructed, a substantially unobstructed field of view to die rear of the vehicle is observed from within me vehicle. The protruding portion 24 of die housing 12 also prevents the accumulation of environmental contaminants along the outer side wall 22 and side wall extension 25. This provides a substantially unobstructed field of view from the mirror to die side of the vehicle. It will accordingly be apparent diat die shielding device of tiiis invention allows a driver to see to die rear and ie side of die vehicle in an improved manner even during quite inclement weather. The sealed nature of die device prevents contamination of the mirror surface or of die portion of die window dirough which die mirror surface is viewed whilst the exterior design of die device prevents die accumulation of cxjntaminants on surfaces providing at least some field of view to die rear and side of me vehicle. A further embodiment which is more aerodynamic and streamlined is shown in Figures 3 to 5. This is generally similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and like reference numerals are used to denote like parts. A significant difference, however, is tiiat protrubrance 25 is dispensed witii and in its place me front wall 23 is instead formed in a convexly curved configuration, as shown clearly in Figure 4. The side walls are also angled inwardly from the top sheet 19 to die bottom sheet 20. Angling the outer side wall provides protection from rain and me like to maximise visibility dirough die housing whilst die inner wall is angled to match me angle of die car window, which is usually at about 20° or more witii respect to die vertical. A rib prodnsion 22 A extends along die outer edge of the tope sheet 19, adjacent die outer side wall to further protect the side wall from snow or rain run-off from the top sheet. To further assist the aerodynamic properties of die housing, and facilitate water and snow run-off, die top of die housing is sloped downwardly toward die front wall 23, as illustrated in Figure 5, while the rear end tiiereof tapers inwardly. The front wall 23 preferably has a concave inner profile shaped to accommodate at least a portion of die mirror 11 to provide a seal tiierearound. The wall may, dierefore, be substantially rigid or flexible and provided widi means to adhere it to die mirror. A further feature of die embodiment of Figures 3 to 5 is a side wall extension or lip 26 which is provided adjacent die open end 28 to deflect air-flow away from the opening and inhibit ingress of snow or rain which may otherwise be caused dirough forward motion of the vehicle. It will be readily apparent uiat the shielding device according to this invention can be formed so as to be fitted to a vehicle as an after-market item. Alternatively, it can be manufactured witii a mirror included for fitting to new vehicles in lieu of die standard external mirror. It will also be apparent that die shielding device can be formed in any suitable shape uiat is capable of enclosing die external mirror and abutting die appropriate portion of die side window whilst presenting a generally streamlined profile to the air flow generated by movement of die vehicle. The foregoing describes only one embodiment of die invention and modifications can be made widiout departing from me scope of the invention.

Claims: The claims defining die invention are as follows: 1. A shielding device for a vehicle external rearview mirror mounted adjacent a side window of the vehicle, said device comprising a substantially transparent housing mounted to sealingly enclose die mirror surface and abut a portion of die surface of said window so as to provide a substantially unobstructed view of die mirror surface from within die vehicle, said housing including a rear surface protected from die accumulation of environmental contaminants to provide a substantially unobstructed field of view to die rear of die vehicle from the mirror surface. 2. A shielding device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises an outer side surface remote from the abutment with said window and at lest partially protected from the cumulation of environmental contaminants to provide a wider unobstructed field of view to die rear and side of die vehicle from the mirror surface. 3. A shielding device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said outer side surface is protected from die accumulation of environmental contaminants by a forwardly located protuberance which shields the surface from the air flow. 4. A shielding device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said protuberance is provided by a portion of said housing accommodating said mirror. 5. A shielding device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said housing includes an opening provided witii a surrounding seal which abuts against the surface of the vehicle window to facilitate said substantially unobstructed view of die mirror surface from witiiin the vehicle. 6. A shielding device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said surrounding seal allows die window to be moved widiout allowing environmental contaminants to enter the casing. 7. A shielding device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said opening is generally rectangular. 8. A shielding device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said rear surface is arcuate in cross-section witii a concave surface presented rearwardly. 9. A shielding device as claimed in claim 8 wherein die housing surrounds die rear surface by extending past die rear surface. 10. A shielding device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said housing is held in close abutment until die vehicle window by a projection selectively operable to extend between die vehicle window and an adjacent door panel. 11. A shielding device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 further comprising a mounting portion adapted to be fixed to die vehicle and wherein the housing is hingedly mounted to the mounting portion so as to be moveable to an open position to allow access to die mirror. 12. A shielding device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said rearview mirror is mounted directly to die vehicle independendy of said shielding device. 13. A shielding device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said mirror is mounted to the shielding device. 14. A shielding device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein sides of the housing are angled inwardly from a top to a bottom of the housing. 15. A shielding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a front surface of die housing is convexly curved to present an aerodynamic profile and die top of the housing is, in use, sloped downwardly toward die front surface to enhance aerodynamic properties of die housing. 16. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the curved front surface presents a concave inner profile for accommodating dierein at least a portion of die mirror. 17. A device as claimed in any one of claim 14 to 16, wherein a rib protrusion extends along the top of the housing, adjacent an outer side of die housing, remote from die vehicle window, to inhibit water or snow run-off from the top flowing down die side of the housing.

Inventors: PANG HIAN SENG, PANG, HIAN, SENG
Applicants: PANG HIAN SENG, PANG, HIAN, SENG
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B60R1
IPC codes: B60R1