Abstract:
A spotter mirror mountable to a reflector has a back, a front reflecting surface, and a locator. The locator facilitates locating the spotter mirror at a predetermined location on the reflector such that the back of the spotter mirror abuts the reflector.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The mirror described herein relates generally to the field of compound mirrors. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    As the number and speed of vehicles on the road increase, rearward and lateral visibility became ever more important. To assist in rearward and lateral visibility, motor vehicles, such as cars and trucks, have mirrors so that the driver can view the areas around and behind the vehicle that are otherwise difficult for the driver to observe. These mirrors are often mounted both inside and outside of the vehicle. 
         [0003]    Frequently, the left outside mirror is typically flat (i.e., planar) providing a relatively true representation of the distance between the driver&#39;s vehicle and vehicles disposed behind the driver&#39;s vehicle. The right or passenger outside mirror of a passenger vehicle is often convex providing a magnified view such that the distance between the driver&#39;s vehicle and vehicles disposed behind the driver&#39;s vehicle appears to be greater than is really the case. Typically the radius of curvature of the passenger outside mirror is large, providing only enough enlargement of the field of view so as to compensate for the greater distance between the mirror and the driver&#39;s eye. Significant blind spots still exist on the passenger side mirror in most of today&#39;s vehicles. 
         [0004]    Unfortunately, neither outside mirror provides adequate visibility to view cars that are disposed in the adjacent right or left-hand lane and that are close, such as within one car length, to the rear of the driver&#39;s vehicle. Thus, a blind spot exists where a vehicle in the blind spot of the driver&#39;s vehicle is not visible in either the inside mirror or the left outside mirror. 
         [0005]    A common method of working around the blind spot is to add a spherically convex spotter mirror to the right or left outside mirror. Spherically convex mirrors provide a wider field of view than the typical flat or planar mirror. A spotter mirror if frequently a stick-on convex mirror that is adhesively mounted directly on the reflective surface of the planar mirror. Such a spotter mirror is shown in U.S. Published Application No. 2003/0117731. 
         [0006]    Known spotter mirrors have a flat back. The flat back carries an adhesive that is used to adhesively bond the spotter mirror onto the planar left outside mirror. Unfortunately, the flat back of the spotter mirror makes it difficult to consistently and accurately place the spotter mirror at the desired location on the outside mirror. In addition, these spotter mirrors are often placed on areas of the mirrors&#39; glass that are critical to an unobstructed view of objects in the mirrors&#39; blind spots. Normally, a mirror&#39;s upper outside corner is the optimal location for the spotter mirror because this area typically reflects the sky or horizon where other vehicles or objects are not located. Unfortunately, the design of current spotter mirrors allows them to be placed anywhere in the viewing area with the result that visibility is often impaired. Moreover, if the installer misplaces the spotter mirror on the mirror glass, the aggressive nature of the adhesive that is typically used to attach the spotter mirror to the mirror glass makes it very difficult to relocate the spotter mirror on the mirror glass without damaging the spotter mirror. 
         [0007]    The spotter mirror described therein overcomes one or more of these or other problems. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The spotter mirror described herein will be more fully understood from the below detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a left outside mirror that is typically used on a vehicle; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates only the reflector of the left outside mirror of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is one perspective view of a spotter mirror that can be assembled to the reflector of the left outside mirror of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the spotter mirror that can be assembled to the reflector of the left outside mirror of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a right side view of the spotter mirror that can be assembled to the reflector of the left outside mirror of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is one perspective view the spotter mirror assembled to the reflector of the left outside mirror of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is another perspective view the spotter mirror assembled to the reflector of the left outside mirror of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates the assembly of the left outside mirror of  FIG. 1  with the spotter mirror; and, 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  compares the fields of view as specified by standard, as implemented by a typical OEM mirror, and as provided by the OEM mirror equipped with a spotter mirror. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    A left outside mirror  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  and includes a mirror housing  12  to which a reflector  14  is suitably mounted. Normally, there is a space  16  between a perimeter  18  of the reflector  14  and an inside perimeter of an edge  20  of the mirror housing  12  that surrounds the perimeter  18  of the reflector  14 . The space  16  is frequently used to accommodate movement of the reflector  14  within the mirror housing  12  usually under remote control of the driver. The reflector  14  is shown in  FIG. 2  removed from the mirror housing  12 . The reflector  14  may be mirror glass or other forms of reflective material. 
         [0019]    A spotter mirror  22  is shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 . The spotter mirror  22  has a top  24 , a bottom  26 , a right side  28 , and a left side  30 . The spotter mirror  22  also has a convex reflective front  32  ( FIGS. 6-8 ) and a stick-on back  34  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The stick-on back  34 , for example, comprises adhesive covered with a paper backing that can be removed at the time of installation to expose the adhesive that is used to bond the spotter mirror  22  to the reflector  14  as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a back edge  36  of the bottom  26  and a back edge  38  of the right side  28  should preferably not extend backwards beyond the stick-on back  34  of the spotter mirror  22 . This relationship allows the back  34  of the spotter mirror  22  to be mounted flush against the plane of the reflector  14  as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
         [0021]    However, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 , an extended edge  50  of the top  24  and an extended edge  52  of the left side  30  extend above the plane of the stick-on back  34  of the spotter mirror  22 . The extended edge  50  of the top  24  and the extended edge  52  of the left side  30  act as locators to permit an installer to accurately position the spotter mirror  22  on the reflector  14  when the spotter mirror  22  is adhesively bonded to the reflector  14  during installation of the spotter mirror  22 . 
         [0022]    Accordingly, during installation of the spotter mirror  22  onto the reflector  14 , the adhesive on the back  34  of the spotter mirror  22  is exposed and the back  34  of the spotter mirror  22  is applied to the reflector  14 . 
         [0023]    As the back  34  of the spotter mirror  22  is being applied to the reflector  14 , the spotter mirror  22  is applied to the reflector  14  so that the extended edge  50  of the top  24  of the spotter mirror  22  wraps a top or perimeter edge  54  of the reflector  14 . Thus, an inner surface of the extended edge  50  of the top  24  of the spotter mirror  22  overlaps and rests on the top edge  54  of the reflector  14 . 
         [0024]    Similarly, as the back  34  of the spotter mirror  22  is being applied to the reflector  14 , the spotter mirror  22  is applied to the reflector  14  so that the extended edge  52  of the left side  30  of the spotter mirror  22  wraps a left side or perimeter edge  56  of the reflector  14 . Thus, an inner surface of the extended edge  52  of the left side  30  of the spotter mirror  22  overlaps and rests on the left edge  56  of the reflector  14 . 
         [0025]    The space  16  between the perimeter  18  of the reflector  14  and the inside perimeter of the edge  20  of the mirror housing  12  that surrounds the perimeter  18  of the reflector  14  is sufficient to accommodate the extended edges  50  and  52  of the spotter mirror  22  as the extended edges  50  and  52  extend into the space  16 . 
         [0026]    In the manner described above, the extended edges  50  and  52  of the spotter mirror  22  are locators that, as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , allow the spotter mirror  22  to be consistently and accurately positioned at the upper left hand corner of the reflector  14  during installation of the spotter mirror  22  on the left outside mirror  10 . 
         [0027]    The spotter mirror  22  is thus an auxiliary convex mirror that increases the field of view to the side and back of the vehicle to which it is mounted. The overall shape and size of the spotter mirror  22  is designed to allow the left outside mirror  10  to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 for minimum surface area and field of view. The left outside mirror  10  with the spotter mirror  22  can be made to meet this standard. However, the surface area and field of view will depend upon the type of vehicle on which the spotter mirror  22  is used. 
         [0028]    As an example, a panel delivery vehicle can be considered to be a truck. In this case, the specification given by FMVSS 571.111 S6 applies. FMVSS 571.111 S6b provides for a minimum 126 cm 2  (19.53 in 2 ) surface area. The effective area of left outside mirror  10  having this size but also provided with the spotter mirror  22  can be arranged to be 196.8 cm 2  (30.5 in 2 ). 
         [0029]    As another example, the spotter mirror  22  can also be used on a passenger vehicle such as a sedan. In this case, FMVSS 571.111 S5.2.1 specifies the field of view for passenger cars. The spotter does not impact the field of view as described in this standard. 
         [0030]      FIG. 9  demonstrates the field of view for a passenger vehicle as specified by FMVSS 571.111 S5.2.1, as provided by a typical left side outside OEM mirror such as the left outside mirror  10 , and as provided by the left outside mirror  10  equipped with the spotter mirror  22 . As can be seen, the spotter mirror  22  greatly expands the field of view. 
         [0031]    Also, by placing the spotter mirror  22  in the upper left hand corner of the left outside mirror  10 , the spotter mirror  22  is aimed to maximize its field of view to the areas not covered by the left outside mirror  10  without the spotter mirror  22 . Those areas include, the area just ahead of the rear wheel at the side of the vehicle, and out to the side and back where the left outside mirror  10  does not view. With known auxiliary convex mirrors, the radius of curvature includes as much vertical (viewing the sky) as it does the road and back to the horizon. The spotter mirror  22  uses a combination of the amount of radius of curvature and the segment of a convex surface to aim the mirror to the areas a driver needs to see. 
         [0032]    Further, the spotter mirror  22  incorporates the extended edges  50  and  52  at its top and outside edges to “wrap” the reflector  14  to aid in installation and insure proper placement the first time. Because of the aggressive nature of the adhesive used to install the spotter mirror  22  to the reflector  14 , the installer gets only one chance to place the spotter mirror  22  on the left outside mirror  10 . Thus, the extended edges  50  and  52  conform to the shape of the upper outside edge of the reflector  14  and/or the upper inside edge of the mirror housing  12  to accurately locate the spotter mirror  22  on the reflector  14 . 
         [0033]    Certain modifications of the present invention have been discussed above. Other modifications of the present invention will occur to those practicing in the art of the present invention. For example, the locators in the form of the extended edges  50  and  52  of the spotter mirror  22  are shown as one continuous edge that extends around the top  24  and the left side  30  of the spotter mirror  22 . 
         [0034]    However, these locators do not have to be continuous. They may instead be discontinuous locators such as periodically disposed projections that extend backwardly from the back  34  of the spotter mirror  22 . 
         [0035]    Also, the locators do not have to be edges. For example, the locators can be bumps on the back  34  of the spotter mirror  22  and corresponding dimples in the surface of the reflector  14 , or vice versa. 
         [0036]    Moreover, as described above, the adhesive of the back  34  is pre-applied to form a stick-on back side comprising an adhesive covered with a paper backing that can be removed at the time of installation. Instead, the adhesive that is used to bond the spotter mirror  22  to the reflector  14  can be applied to the back  34  and/or to the reflector  14  at the time of installation. 
         [0037]    Furthermore, installation can be conducted in any desired order. For example, the spotter mirror  22  can be applied to the reflector  14  and then the reflector  14  can be applied to mirror housing  12 . Alternatively, the reflector  14  can be applied to mirror housing  12  and then the spotter mirror  22  can be applied to reflector  14 . 
         [0038]    Additionally, while the spotter mirror  22  as described above is applied to the reflector  14  to form the left outside mirror  10 , the spotter mirror  22  can be applied to the reflector  14  to form mirrors other than the left outside mirror  10 . 
         [0039]    Also, although the spotter mirror  22  uses the features described above, these features can be included in other forms of auxiliary convex mirrors for any similar application. 
         [0040]    Accordingly, the description of the present invention is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.