Abstract:
A visual aid helping a driver to safely back into a traffic lane from a parking place, said visual aid providing visual images from a vantage point just beyond the rear periphery of a motor vehicle, wherein the visual information shows vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic in close proximity to rear of the motor vehicle and obliquely to left and right sides thereof, said visual images being presented within the view of the driver.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to safety viewing devices for motor vehicles.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Among related prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,078 of Bracamonte, which describes an upwardly extendable motor vehicle mirror used to view beyond visually obstructive vehicles, such as SUVs and vans.  
         [0003]     However, in Bracamonte &#39;078, the driver can only see far away. There is a blind spot in the area directly beside the rear of an SUV or van, such as where a small child or shopping cart or other obstruction such as a closely passing vehicle might be located.  
         [0004]     In contrast, there is a need for a rearview mirror, which is rearwardly extendable from the rear light area, clearly exposing anything immediately behind the adjacent SUV or van, which is a feature not attainable with the upwardly extending mirror of Bracamonte &#39;078.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a view to the motor vehicle driver of conditions in both directions along the traffic lane in addition to the area directly behind the vehicle, which is normally visible.  
         [0006]     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a visual aid which helps a driver to safely back into a traffic lane from a parking place, wherein the visual images are derived from a vantage point just beyond the rear periphery of the vehicle.  
         [0007]     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a visual aid which clearly shows vehicular or pedestrian traffic in close proximity to a danger zone in the vicinity of a motor vehicle and beyond  
         [0008]     It is further an object of the present invention to provide a visual aid for providing a rear view which is also visible in the reflection from the rear view mirror.  
         [0009]     Other objects will become apparent from the following description of the present invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In keeping with the aforementioned objects and others which may become apparent, the present invention provides a view to the driver of conditions in both directions along the traffic lane in addition to the area directly behind the vehicle which is normally visible. This visual aid helps a driver to safely back into a traffic lane from a parking place. The visual images are derived from a vantage point just beyond the rear periphery of the vehicle. This visual information, which clearly shows vehicular or pedestrian traffic in close proximity to the danger zone and beyond, is presented within the normal viewscape of a driver turned around and peering through the rear vehicle window as he or she prepares to back out. The visual image presented is also visible in the reflection from the rear view mirror. For some impaired drivers with limited range of motion of their torso, this is the only rear viewscape they have while backing up. This is becoming a more prevalent condition as the driving population ages. The visual aids of this invention are of particular benefit to low vehicles obscured on both sides by high vehicles (such as trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUV&#39;s), or vans) parked alongside.  
         [0011]     While the invention can be built into a motor vehicle, the preferred embodiment of this invention is designed to be easily installed as an aftermarket accessory. It is attached to the rear license plate holder and has its own primary batteries as a power supply within a compact housing that also contains a mechanism and controls to deploy or store a mirror upon radio command from a small transmitter within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The mirror has two slightly concave reflecting surfaces placed at right angles to each other and attached to the end of a telescoping rod such as to place the mirror such that it can be easily seen by the driver through the rear window when deployed. The reflections from the mirror surfaces are oriented so that views of the traffic lane in both directions are provided simultaneously. The vehicle should be slowly backed out just parallel or slightly beyond the longest vehicle parked alongside to gain maximum advantage from the view provided prior to backing out completely into the traffic lane. In two related variations of this embodiment, the primary batteries are replaced with rechargeable batteries in one version. They are charged intermittently every time the brake lights are operated by tapping into the brake light lines which are normally available at the rear of the vehicle. In another variation, the radio communications is replaced by a slender fiber optic cable which is snaked into the passenger compartment from the rear housing through a trunk or window and discreetly routed to the driver&#39;s area to terminate in a simple control box containing a light emitting diode (LED), battery and push button switch.  
         [0012]     In another similar embodiment also attached to the rear license plate holder, the telescoping mirror is deployed vertically and a single mirror surface is used. In this case, the entire deployment mirror assembly is rotatable by a second motor so as to orient the mirror to view first one direction and then the other direction along the traffic lane.  
         [0013]     For vehicles that have a robust car top carrier attached, a simpler embodiment is provided. A two surface mirror is attached at the end of an extending arm that is attached in a fixed fashion to the car top carrier. While perhaps not aesthetically pleasing, it is a simple inexpensive solution that is compatible with many SUV&#39;s, station wagons, or small commercial delivery vehicles.  
         [0014]     For inclusion as a factory-provided accessory on new vehicles, a deployable embodiment of this invention can be totally hidden in the rear roof structure (until used) or can be stored in a streamlined bulge in the roof structure. The mirror, which is now hinged so that both surfaces can be stored flat, is pushed out of the roof on a telescoping rod and hinged down on a short arm to deploy in clear view of the rear window.  
         [0015]     Another embodiment that is designed for simple aftermarket installation attaches the mirror accessory to the rear window opposite the driver side. This will work on most sedans, station wagons and SUV&#39;s. The accessory actually straddles the glass on the rear window with the folded two-surface deployable mirror in a flat housing on the outside while the drive motor and control relays are on the inside of the window. The window is moved up to seal the opening with gaskets provided to prevent wind noise or infiltration. For deployment, the mirror is extended rearward from the open end of the flat housing, and then at the end of the stroke a short arm positions it in view of the rear window. Since there is ready communication with the vehicle interior with this embodiment, it is easily powered by plugging into the cigarette lighter outlet and is controlled via hard wire with a simple two pushbutton control pod.  
         [0016]     A final embodiment, with variations, uses a two-camera closed circuit video system with a flat panel display screen configured as a split screen. The display pops down from the ceiling at the rear window when needed and folds flat with the ceiling when not in use. The cameras can be mounted in a fixed position on brackets on the rear bumper facing sideways in opposite directions. For inclusion as original equipment on a new vehicle, the two cameras are attached to an arm which deploys out of a covered hatch in the trunk lid upon command. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in drawings, in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a Top view of parked vehicles with approaching traffic using a visual aid of this invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a Perspective view of a two-surface mirror of this invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a Rear view of vehicle with deployed mirror of the preferred embodiment of this invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a Perspective view of internal major components of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a Block diagram of the preferred embodiment of this invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a Side view of an alternate embodiment of this invention using a mirror with one reflecting surface.  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a Side view of a van with a fixed mirror embodiment of this invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a Rear view of van with fixed mirror embodiment.  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a Rear view of vehicle with roof mounted embodiment of this invention in stored position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a Side view of vehicle with roof mounted embodiment in deployed position.  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a Side view of vehicle with rear window mounted embodiment of this invention showing both stored and deployed positions.  
         [0029]      FIG. 12  is a Rear view of vehicle with rear window mounted embodiment in deployed position.  
         [0030]      FIG. 13  is a Schematic diagram of rear window mounted embodiment showing use of two automotive relays for control.  
         [0031]      FIG. 14  is a Top view of two-camera arm assembly used with video system embodiment of this invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 15  is a Side view of vehicle rear quarter illustrating deployment of camera arm from hatch in trunk lid as used in video system embodiment.  
         [0033]      FIG. 16  is a Interior rear view of vehicle equipped with video system embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]      FIG. 1  shows the overall geometry of a car equipped with the display feature of this invention in a “helicopter” type of view. Vehicle  1  is attempting to back out of a parking space between SUV  2  and van  3 . A two-surface mirror  11  (shown more clearly in  FIG. 2 ) is positioned in direct view of driver  6  via view line  9  or in a reflected view from rear view mirror  7  via view line  10 . Vehicle  1  is backed up part way by distance  4  so as to roughly line up  5  with the longer adjacent vehicle  3 . Approaching vehicle  13  via image ray  15  is viewable on one side of mirror  11  through rear window  8 . Simultaneously, approaching vehicle  12  is visible as an image the other side of mirror  11  via image ray  14 . Neither of these approaching vehicles would be visible to driver  6  except for the images presented by mirror  11  due to his restricted view of the traffic lane through all vehicle windows in this position.  
         [0035]     The two-surface mirror of  FIG. 2  has two reflecting surfaces,  20  and  21 , which are preferably slightly concave so as to intercept a wider view (similar in concept to the side view mirror distal to the driver). Surfaces  20  and  21  are preferably at right angles to each other with the sighting line  22  permitting a simultaneous view of both surfaces. For some embodiments, mirror  11  is designed with a hinge  23  joining surfaces  20  and  21  with spring bias from a torsion spring (not shown) to place the surfaces at right angles to each other. A light force inward at hinge  23  will permit mirror surfaces  20  and  21  to flatten out into a planar configuration.  
         [0036]     The two adjacent mirror surfaces  20  and  21  form an angle ranging from greater than 0 degrees up to about 120 degrees, such as between 45 and 90 degrees, preferably 90 degrees, and a connecting means of connecting the mirror surfaces  20  and  21 .  
         [0037]     The preferred embodiment of this invention is designed as an easily installed aftermarket accessory which is stored in a protective housing when not deployed.  
         [0038]     Therefore,  FIG. 3  shows a view at the rear vehicle  1  in the deployed position with telescoping rods  27  supporting mirror  11  in proper orientation visible through rear window  8 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows an outline of housing  26  with self opening and closing lips  35  through which mirror  11  is driven by telescoping rod assembly  27 . The telescoping rod  27  is of non-circular crossection so as to resist twisting and have the ability to maintain rotational registration. It is driven in similar fashion to automotive power antennas via an internal semi-rigid cable which is urged into and out of housing  31  by a actuator or motor, such as a reversible DC permanent magnet gearmotor  32 . While it may be installed at any rearward location, such as in the fender or rear trunk cover, in a preferred embodiment, housing  26  is attached to a bracket that fits under license plate  25  and shares the same mounting screws. Housing  31  is angle adjustable at bracket  33  and mirror mount  34  is a ball joint that places mirror  11  in a vertical position at the correct view line before clamping. Position sensors are adjustable to customize the deployed and stored positions for a particular installation. These can be actual mechanical limit switches or optical or magnetic sensors. Inner housing  30  contains batteries and radio receiver and control equipment.  
         [0040]     The block diagram of  FIG. 5  illustrates the operation of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . A small transmitter  40  similar to a garage door opener is used by the driver to toggle between deploy and store modes by pressing push button  41 . Receiver  42  through control block  43  operates gearmotor  32  with the proper polarity to accomplish the desired move. Deployed limit sensor  46  stops motor  32  when at the proper level. Stored limit sensor  45  stops motor  32  when mirror  11  is properly stored. Batteries  44  can be 3 or 4 alkaline batteries such as “C” size. Such use would simplify installation, but it adds the need to change depleted batteries. This can be eliminated at the expense of a slightly more involved installation by using rechargeable batteries such as NiCad or LiMH types which are charged by charger  48  intermittently every time brake light  47  is actuated. Another simplification substitutes a single optical fiber connecting an internal controller consisting of a pushbutton, battery, and LED to controller  43  directly. While eliminating the radio frequency link, it makes the installation more cumbersome by requiring routing a tiny optical fiber from the outside of the vehicle to the interior.  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment similar to the preferred embodiment but using a single reflecting surface mirror  57 . Housing  55  is attached to horizontal adjuster link  53  with clamp  54 . While the assembly can be attached anywhere to a rear fender or to a trunk cover, preferably the assembly attaches to the license plate holder via plate  52 . Telescoping assembly  56  must be set in a vertical position for this embodiment. Internally, an actuator or motor, such as a second gearmotor, is used to rotate the entire vertical positioning assembly to orient mirror  57  first in one position along the traffic lane and then in the second position in the opposite direction. Transmitter controller  50  has now been enhanced with two position rotary control  51  to control rotation, in addition to push button  41  to control up and down operations.  
         [0042]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate an embodiment of this invention on vehicle  62  wherein mirror  11  is in a fixed deployed position. It is simply clamped to a rigid vehicle cartop carrier  63  via clamp  65 . It is then adjusted by sliding out bent member  66  out of fixed member  64  to the desired position and clamping via thumbscrew  67 .  
         [0043]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate an embodiment of this invention as original equipment.  
         [0044]      FIG. 9  shows vehicle  72  with rear window  74  and roof mounted streamlined pod  73  housing a stored mirror assembly.  
         [0045]      FIG. 10 , the side view, shows the mirror  11  deployed at the end of telescoping rod  75  and short arm  76  after emerging from pod  73  through door  77 . In actuality, streamlined pod  73  can be eliminated with the entire accessory stored within the normal exterior roofline with the option of a slight bulge on the interior roofline. When deployed, door  77  is powered open (arc “A”) and telescoping members  75  are urged forward (distance “B”) wherein at the limit of movement, arm  76  swings down (“C”) thereby placing mirror at the ideal position for viewing through rear window  74 . The reverse operations are used to store the feature in its roofline storage compartment. Mirror  11  has the collapsible feature to fit more easily in a flat compartment.  
         [0046]      FIGS. 11-13  describe an aftermarket deployable mirror embodiment which is very simple to install with no tools. This system is simply straddled over the glass edge of a side rear window, adjusted for horizontal orientation, and sealed with flexible gaskets.  
         [0047]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of vehicle  80  with mirror system in housing  81  which is attached to rear side window  85 . When deployed, see dashed lines, telescoping rod  83  is driven out by an outwardly extendable member, such as a telescoping member or a perforated semi-rigid plastic tape, wherein a short horizontal arm  84  (as in  FIG. 12 ) pivoted at  82  deploys to place mirror  11  within view through rear vehicle window. Since housing  81  is flat to conform to the side of vehicle  80 , mirror  11  preferably has the collapsible feature.  
         [0048]     While other power sources, such as batteries, may be used, the schematic diagram of  FIG. 13  shows how power is preferably derived by plugging plug  98  into the vehicle accessory (cigarette lighter) socket. A front mounted control pod  97  may be a switch mechanism, such as simply two momentary single pole normally open switches, one to initiate “deploy”  90  and a second to initiate “store”  91 . Using no electronics or microprocessors, two automotive type relays mounted at the rear side window unit are all that is necessary for control. Each of the relays  92  and  93  preferably has three contacts; two are motor drive contacts and are normally open types, while the third set of contacts are normally closed and are used as safety contacts to prevent a short circuit situation if a “store” button  91  is accidentally hit while the deploy process in operation (or vice versa). This circuit latches the relays at the start of the deploy or start process so that a short press of a button is all that is needed to start a process which will stop itself when the appropriate normally closed limit switch is operated. Limit switch  95  stops the deploy process, while limit switch  96  stops the store process. A motor is used, such as gear motor  94 , which is preferably a permanent magnet reversible DC motor.  
         [0049]      FIGS. 14 through 16  describe an alternate closed circuit video display embodiment using two video cameras and a flat panel display configured as a split screen with the image form each camera providing image for half the screen. Versions of this embodiment for use as an aftermarket installation would use fixed cameras attached to the rear bumper and aimed about 180 degrees away from each other (to the sides of the vehicle) to capture a view of the traffic lane in either direction.  
         [0050]      FIGS. 14 and 15  relate to dual camera assembly  100  intended for use as original equipment. Arm  104  is pivoted from a powered pivot  105  and terminates in camera head  101  with video cameras  102  and  103  aimed away from each other.  
         [0051]      FIG. 15  shows a portion of vehicle  107  with a hatch lid  106  incorporated in its trunk lid. Camera assembly  100  is pivoted inside of the trunk lid so that it can be deployed out by swinging on power pivot  105  upon command. Hatch lid  106  is powered open prior to deployment. It can be appreciated that cameras  102  and  103  would have a good view of the traffic lane in both directions in the deployed position.  
         [0052]     Simultaneously with the deployment of the cameras, flat display  109  flips down from its storage position  110  (as in  FIG. 16 ) flush with the ceiling of the vehicle interior. Note that display  109  in the deployed position is within the viewscape of rear window  108 ; its image is also viewable as reflected in the rear view mirror.  
         [0053]     In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.  
         [0054]     It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended Claims.