Abstract:
A device which enables a driver of a vehicle to monitor an infant in a rear seat by the rear view mirror of the vehicle, where the device is portable, universally applicable to passenger vehicles and non-destructive of the vehicle interior yet secure against vehicular vibration. The device consists of a non-threaded telescoping mast that is held into a selected position by a clip, and a mirror for viewing the infant which mast is positioned between the top of the backseat and the headliner secured by outward pressures from a backseat pad and an upper pivotal pad. The pivotal pad can be attached to the mast by a ball and socket for allowing 360 degrees of pivot.

Description:
This invention relates to a device for viewing an infant in the rear seat of a vehicle and, more particularly, to a portable and universal infant viewing device employing an additional mirror stabilized between the roof and back seat of the vehicle, and this invention is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/564,243 filed May 4, 2000, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,340. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     When traveling in a vehicle such as an automobile, a two seated truck, a van or the like, it is lawfully necessary to place an infant in the back seat of the vehicle providing safety to the infant. 
     However, problems are encountered when the infant is placed in the rear seat of the vehicle since it is often difficult, if not impossible, to view the infant properly and still enable the driver of the vehicle to maintain proper eye contact with the road. 
     Further, the law requires that infants be placed in a specially designed infant seat that is constructed and arranged so that the infant is facing the rear of the vehicle. 
     There are numerous United States patents disclosing the use of a back seat mounted infant seat with a forward facing viewing mirror aligned with the front rear-view mirror including: 
     Cossey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,572 which discloses a device for viewing an infant in the rear seat which device clamps with difficulty and prospective instability onto the top of the back seat and includes a telescopically mounted mirror which slopes downward so the driver can readily see the infant in the rear view mirror; 
     Westman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,882 shows another rear seat object viewing device mounted (for adequate stability it must be interior-destructively screwed into the vehicle interior) between the seat and the headliner having an adjustable (rear-view distorting) mast and slanted mirror to reflect an object into the rear mirror so the object can be seen by the driver; 
     Harris, U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,118 discloses another infant observation mirror strapped (with difficulty to impossibility) with poor security to the top of the rear seat in a position which makes it difficult to see the infant from the rear-view mirror; 
     Erickson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,956 shows yet another non-portable mirror system (not universal) with the mirror insecurely mounted to the rear window by an adhesive; 
     Rubin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,898 also involves a non-portable, rear-viewing system for a vehicle wherein the mirror is mounted in the headliner and folds down for use; 
     Harris, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,790 similarly discloses a non-portable, rear-viewing system for a multiple seat vehicle which uses a circular mirror mounted directly to the interior rear of the vehicle; 
     Gardner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,618 discloses a non-portable rear seat viewing device having a mirror mounted on the shelf posterior to the rear seat with a light source around the perimeter of the mirror to light an infant&#39;s face at night while obscuring the driver&#39;s view out of the rear window; and, 
     Collins, U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,526 discloses an infant monitoring system using a mirror mounted in a teddy bear or similar item which is mounted on the back seat rest and prospectively can be vibrated loose from it (non-secure) and which system requires changing the rear-view mirror to observe the infant. 
     Unfortunately, all these disclosures fail to teach individually or collectively suggest a back seat situated infant viewing system observable from a front rear-view mirror having portability, use universality, vibration secure without destructively altering the interior of the vehicle and visual obstruction exterior of the rear window. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention to provide a portable system for viewing an infant in the rear seat of a vehicle while enabling the driver of the vehicle to maintain proper eye contact with the road. 
     A secondary object of the present invention to provide a vehicle vibration secure system of the above type in which a driver utilizes his standard vehicle rear view mirror to view the infant in the back seat. 
     A third object of the present invention to use an adjustable reflector, such as a second mirror, disposed in the back seat to reflect the image of the infant to the rear-view mirror of the vehicle for viewing by the driver of the vehicle. 
     The fourth object of the present invention is to provide an easily to a reflector that reflects images of objects in a back seat that can be mounted against any inclined window headliner or ceiling headliner surface. 
     The fifth object of the present invention is to provide a reflector that reflects images of objects in a back seat that can be adjustably mounted to various height distances that exist between a rear seat backrest and a window headliner/ceiling. 
     The portable, universal system of the present invention is designed for viewing an infant in the rear seat of the vehicle and utilizes an infant imaging mirror mounted on an adjustable mast means between the back seat and roof of the vehicle to provide vibration security, said mirror adjustably alignable to the rear-view mirror for viewing by the driver of the vehicle. The upper portion of the mast means can pivot to any surface angle that exists in the window headliner and/or ceiling of the vehicle. The mast means can be made from a post that is telescopingly received in a cylinder, where the extended height of the post can be clipped in place and easily adjusted for varying heights that exist in different vehicles between the rear backseat and the window headliner and/or ceiling. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1A is a side view, partly cut away, of a vehicle incorporating a mirror-positioned, length-adjustable mast placed between its rear seat and headliner according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the securing of the mast against the headliner. 
     FIG. 2A is a similar view but only illustrating the rear segment of the vehicle of FIG. 1A with the mast alternatively placed between the rear seat and the rear window according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2B is an exploded view of FIG. 2A showing the securing of the mast against the juncture of the headliner and rear window. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of an assembled device of the invention which should be taken in consideration of the exploded view of FIG.  1 B. 
     FIG. 4 is a fully exploded view of the device of the invention in the embodiment best suited for securing the device between the seat and the junction of the headliner and rear window as earlier discussed with respect to FIG.  2 A. 
     FIG. 5 shows a light for illumination of the infant. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the clip of the second embodiment in an unlock position. 
     FIG. 8B is a top view of FIG. 8A along arrow Y 1 . 
     FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of the clip of the second embodiment in a locked position. 
     FIG. 9B is a top view of FIG. 9A along arrow Y 2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     First Embodiment 
     It is preferred to discuss the meanings of some words used herein including: 
     portable indicates that the device can be readily taken from one vehicle to and secured in another; 
     universal indicates that it can be used in any multi-seat vehicle; 
     non-destructive is the property of installation of the device in the vehicle without damage (penetration) to the interior of the vehicle as the headliner and seat bench; and, 
     stable means that the device has the property of being secure against vehicular vibration. 
     All parts of the devices of the invention can be rounded with a large radius structure so as to reduce the potential for injury in the event of a crash or similar injury to the vehicle using the invention disclosed herein. 
     Referring specifically to FIGS. 1A-1B of the drawings, the numeral  10  refers in general to a vehicle having a front seat  12  and a rear seat  14 . A standard rear view mirror  16  is mounted on the inner surface of the front window  18  and is designed to reflect images from the rear of the vehicle which pass through the rear window  20  during normal driving conditions. 
     The device of the invention enables the driver to view through the rear view mirror  16 , an infant  22  disposed in the rear seat  14 . For the purpose of this example, it is assumed that an infant  22  is disposed in a baby seat  24  placed on the seat portion of the rear seat  14  in a direction facing the rear of the vehicle  10  as shown. 
     To this end, a reflecting member, such as a mirror  26 , is mounted to the back seat portion of the rear seat  14  and is designed to reflect the image of the infant  22  in the baby seat  24  to the rear view mirror  16  for direct viewing by the driver. 
     As earlier noted, FIG. 1A is a side view, partly cut away, of a vehicle  10  incorporating a mirror-positioned, length-adjustable mast  27  placed between its rear seat  14  and headliner  28  according to the present invention with an exploded view (FIG. 1B) of the securing of the mast  27  against the headliner  28 . 
     The device of the invention thus from the bottom up has: a foot pad  41  which rests on the top of the back seat  14 ; a seat foot  39  into which is inserted the support tube  40  onto which is secured the mirror  26 ; the support tube  40  is capped with a shoulder cap  42  allowing the threaded rod  44  to telescope within it; and, with reference now to exploded view  1   a,  a swivel post  30  is threaded onto rod  44  at its upper end and is secured swivel  32  by means of spring pin  34  to the headliner foot pad  36  and foam pad  38  which presses against headliner  28  to secure the device. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2A which is a similar view of an automobile as FIG. 1A but only illustrating the rear segment of the vehicle of FIG. 1A with the mast  27  alternatively placed between the rear seat  14  and the juncture of rear window  20  and the headliner  28  according to the present invention. The exploded view of FIG. 2B shows the securing of the mast  27  against the juncture of the headliner  28  and rear window  20 . 
     In this drawing of FIG. 2A, the device of the invention is secured between the top of the back seat  14  to above discussed junction of the rear window  20  and the headliner  21 . The seat foot  39  and associated foot pad  41  securely supports the support tube  40  with its shoulder cap  42  and the threaded rod  44 . Looking now at the exploded view of FIG. 2B, it is seen that the threaded rod  44  is threaded into a swivel post  30  pinned by a spring pin  34  to swivel  32  sculpted to fit into the juncture of the rear window  20  and the headliner  28 . 
     It is in FIG. 3 that a device of the invention is shown in full detail. This device as shown has from the bottom up: a foot pad  41  which rests on the top of the back seat  14  ; a seat foot  39  into which is inserted the support tube  40  onto which is secured the mirror  26 ; the support tube  40  is capped with a shoulder cap  42  allowing the threaded rod  44  to telescope within it; a lower wing nut  46  and an upper wing nut  47  are threadably positioned on the threaded rod  44 ; a swivel post  30  is telescoped onto the rod  44  which at its upper end is secured to the headliner foot pad  36  and foam pad  38 . 
     In FIG. 4, a form of the device of the invention modified to be positioned between the top of the rear seat and the juncture of the rear window  20  and headliner  28  is set forth in exploded view. 
     Starting again from the bottom of the drawing of FIG.  4 : the foot pad  41  rests against the top of the seat and cooperates with the seat foot  39  which in turn secures the support tube  40 ; the upper end  40   a  has a shoulder cap  42  into which the threaded rod  44  telescopes; the threaded rod  44  has a cooperating lower wing nut  46  and upper wing nut  47 ; a short swivel post  31  is threaded onto the upper end of the rod  44 ; and it in turn is pinned by spring pin  34  to the swivel  32  adapted to cooperate with the notch junction  50  of the headliner  28  and the rear window  20 . 
     The mirror  26  is adjustably connected to the support tube  40  with the two cooperating clamp arms  52  and  54 . The other ends of the arm are connected together via a carriage bolt  56  passing through the first arm  52  then the right washer  58  then the mirror spring pin  60  then the mirror back appendage  62  then the left washer  59 , then the second arm  54  and finally secured with a wing nut  64 . 
     If desired the infant can be readily illuminated with the light as illustrated in FIG. 5 secured to the device of FIGS. 1A and 3. For simplification, the numbers of FIG. 5 common to those of FIGS. 1A and 3 and represent the same elements. The light  70  is swivelly connected to the swivel tube  40  and secured (if desired) by the seat foot  39  so as to fully illuminate the infant. The light  70  is powered by means of a cord  72  connected to the cigarette lighter plug  74 . 
     It is thus seen that many advantages result from the foregoing teachings. For example, the device of the present invention is fully portable and universal in application since it can be readily moved from vehicle to vehicle. It enables the driver of the vehicle to maintain eye contact with the road while he utilizes his standard vehicle rear view mirror to view the infant in the back seat and is able to view the highway to the rear without distortion or excessive obstruction. Further, the device is secured in the vehicle without destruction of any part of the interior of the vehicle. Finally, all edges of the appendages and supports are rounded and fabricated with large radius structures. 
     Second Embodiment 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment  100  of the invention. FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the embodiment  100  of FIG.  6 . Referring to FIGS. 6-7, component labels  26 ,  39 ,  41 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  59 ,  62  correspond to similar components from the preceding embodiment.  26 A refer to a backing plate for the mirror  26 . The upper portion of the mast support has a disc shaped headliner frame  136  with a flat edge  137 , and a similar shaped headliner type pad  138  with similar flat edge  139  inserted therein, where the pad  138  is similar to the one described in reference to the first embodiment. The flat edges  137 ,  139  allow for the headliner  136  to substantially abut against a flat type window edge for a better fit, such as where the window meets the molding, or in an area of where the roof meets the window molding. Headliner  136 ,  138  is attached to the mast post  140  by a ball  148  and socket  130  connector that allows the headliner  136  to pivot along a 360 degrees to allow a better fit during installation that a single pivot hinge arrangement. The ball/socket pivot  130 ,  148  allows for the headliner plate  136  to conform to any angle of where the rear window meets a headliner molding, and/or for any sloped angle of a vehicle&#39;s roof. 
     FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the clip  150  of the second embodiment  100  in an unlock position. FIG. 8B is a top view of FIG. 8A along arrow Y 1 . Referring to FIGS. 7,  8 A and  8 B, clip  150  includes an external oval frame  152  with two inwardly facing flange rails  153 ,  155  separated by a space  154  near a lower portion of the clip  150 . On opposite sides of a midportion of the clip  150  can be two inwardly facing spring tabs  157 ,  159 , which are formed from cut-outs  156 ,  158  in the sides of the clip  150 . Since the spring tabs  157 ,  159  are wider than the groove cut-outs  164 ,  162  of the hollow post  160 , the spring tabs  157 ,  159  initially press against the sides of the hollow post  160  above and below the groove cut-outs  164 ,  162  of the hollow post  160  thus holding the clip  150  in place about the hollow post  160 . 
     FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of the clip of the second embodiment  100  in a locked position. FIG. 9B is a top view of FIG. 9A along arrow Y 2 . Referring to FIGS. 8A,  8 B,  9 A and  9 B, when clip  150  is moved in the direction of arrow S, rails  153 ,  155  of clip  150  slide within groove cut-outs  164 ,  162  of hollow post  160  and into selected circular groove  141  of mast  140  locking the mast  140  to the hollow post  160 . Picking different circular grooves  141  along the mast  140  allows for the mast  140  to have various heights relative to the hollow post. Thus, the height of the mast can vary on depending on the different heights between vehicle backseats and the window/headliner and ceiling/headliner surfaces. 
     The components of the invention such as the masts and hollow posts, and the like, can be formed from injection molded plastic, and the like. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.