Abstract:
A mirror device permitting a driver using the device to view forward and rearward of the vehicle. The device provides the visual field of the conventional and/or modern side-view mirror and also extends the visual field to view areas, regions, and/or objects which are forward to allow a line of sight that might otherwise be blocked by an obstruction.

Description:
CROSS -REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 14/279,295, Filed 2014 May 5 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to mirrors for vehicles and more particularly pertains to a new forward and rearward viewing mirror device for vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Many automobile accidents are consequences of human error rather than mechanical failure. This is especially true with today&#39;s state-of-the-art automotive amenities which have virtually eliminated the possibility of accidents occurring as a result of technological malfunction. Still, the automotive industry continues to locus on improved safely features for motor vehicles by designing mechanisms to protect both drivers and passengers, making for safer driving conditions. 
         [0006]    Vehicular accidents are commonly caused during the passing and overtaking of vehicles that are anterior to one&#39;s own vehicle. Safety hazards are created when large and/or wide vehicles block the visual field available to the vehicle in the posterior position, obstructing the view of the driver. Moreover, fatalities often occur from bead-on collisions on two-lane roadways where passing is permitted and from side collisions during left turns at intersections of multi-lane roadways, when the oncoming traffic is not visible to the driver. It has heretofore been necessary to direct that vehicle slightly into the adjacent lane on the right or left in order to assure safe passage into another lane. 
         [0007]    The ability to see other vehicles is an important aspect in accident prevention. Furthermore, having adequate views to the rear of, alongside, and/or forward of one&#39;s vehicle is essential to safe operation. These views are obtained in a less hazardous manner when the driver is not required to make dangerous movement into another lane in order io obtain a greater visual field prior to making turns or passing vehicles immediately ahead of them. 
         [0008]    The use of vehicular mirrors is known in the prior art. More specifically, vehicular mirrors heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. It may be desirable to provide a forward and rearward viewing mirror device which provides the visual field of significant areas and/or objects that would otherwise not be viewable to the driver and thus overcomes the various drawbacks of the prior art. 
         [0009]    Many mechanisms have been proposed and constructed for enhancing the forward visual field available to drivers. These include image capture devices, periscope apparatuses, and the use of prisms or a system of mirrors. Although often providing results, these devices also have several shortcomings. For example and without limitation, image capturing devices are subject to obstruction, cloudiness, and malfunctions. This would require frequent repair or replacement as a result of structural degradation to the device. The periscope approach narrows the field of view that is produced and has limited mobility. The use of prisms creates a distorted view from the refraction, as opposed to reflection, and results in a view that is of poor quality for determining the traffic situation ahead of the vehicle. Lastly, the use of multiple mirrors in a mirror system creates the cumbersome duty of constant realignment of mirrors alongside susceptibility to misalignment. 
         [0010]    The prior art displays many devices that produce front and rear-images that appear side-by-side or stacked when viewed, and can cause confusion as to which direction is being reflected toward the driver. Other prior art produces results with openings built into the apparatus which can become blocked from various materials residing within and/or comprising the ambient environment in which the vehicle resides, causing damage to the device and making it subject to both maintenance problems and breakage. The aforementioned conditions substantially prevent the prior art from properly operating and/or undesirably interfere with their operation. 
         [0011]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of mirrors now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new forward and rearward viewing mirror device wherein the same can be utilized for a more effective visual field while operating a vehicle. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0012]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
       PRINCIPLE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    It is a first object of the present invention to provide a new forward and rearward viewing mirror device for a vehicle which overcomes some or all of the previously delineated disadvantages of the prior art. 
         [0014]    It is a second object of the present invention to provide a new forward and rearward viewing mirror device which improves the visual, field by providing, a driver with m efficacious view of objects forward, rearward, and/or alongside of the vehicle. 
         [0015]    It is a third object of the present invention to provide a new forward and rearward viewing minor device which gives the driver of a vehicle an improved line of sight with respect to objects ahead of the vehicle, while maintaining a view of objects to the rear of the vehicle, without requiring the driver to significantly direct the vehicle into an adjacent lane in order to view the traffic conditions that would otherwise be obstructed by preceding objects and/or vehicles. 
         [0016]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a new forward and rearward viewing mirror device that can be attached to a vehicle for providing the driver thereof with an enhanced visual field. 
         [0017]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new forward and rearward viewing mirror device dial is adjustable to various angles to enable usage for a wide variety of people. 
         [0018]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new forward and rearward viewing mirror device which permits relatively safe forward and rearward viewing while utilizing conventional and/or modem material and equipment to manufacture the apparatus. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    These, and other objects, are achieved by a forward and rearward viewing mirror device which in lieu of the preferred embodiment comprises a unit that can be attached to a vehicle; a first mirror tor viewing objects rearward of the vehicle is positioned in the unit to provide the rearward view known to those skilled in the art, and a second mirror for viewing objects forward of the vehicle is positioned in the unit axially relative to the first mirror and angled to provide a forward view. Each mirror is movable and capable of adjustment over a wide range therefore resulting in a plurality of angle positions. 
         [0020]    The present invention utilizes mirrors to reflect an image in a way that preserves much of its original quality subsequent to its contact with the mirror. The positioning of the first mirror with respect to the second mirror provides a non-planar format of viewing for the driver; thus, creating a distinction in the viewing perspectives for the forward viewing mirror and for the rearward viewing mirror. Single mirror usage provides primary and direct reflected images. The ability to adjust the forward viewing mirror allows for the creation of angles that reduce the view of the obstacle and increase the visual field that is ahead of the driver, so that objects can be seen from a considerable distance without the driver having to move the vehicle significantly into an adjacent lane. Also, the option to use side mirror engineering known to those skilled in the art enables past technology to be incorporated into the architecture whereby conventional and modern mirror assembly configuration can be improved upon to provide optimal results for an enhanced forward and rearward view during operation of a vehicle. 
         [0021]    It may therefore be desirable to allow a user of a vehicle to view certain areas and/or objects which are located or disposed in the front and/or along the side of the vehicle, thereby allowing the user to gain additional images or information over that which is traditionally and/or typically provided by present-day mirrors. This additional information may be useful in the navigation and/or operation of the vehicle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic rear perspective view of a first embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a schematic front perspective view of a first embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a schematic plan view of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device mounted to a vehicle, illustrating a principle in accordance With the teaching of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device according to the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a schematic rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a schematic front perspective view of a second embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device according to the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a schematic rear perspective view of a third embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a schematic front perspective view of a third embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a schematic perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device according to the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a schematic rear perspective view ofa fourth embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device. 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a schematic front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the forward and rearward viewing mirror device. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0035]    The present invention can be employed on automobiles such as motorcycles, cars, trucks and buses, and vehicles other than automobiles, as well as tor commercial, emergency, military, and government vehicles, and for industrial uses such as on construction equipment or warehouse moving equipment. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
         [0036]    With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 13  thereof, a new forward and rearward viewing mirror device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
         [0037]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 13 , the forward and rearward viewing mirror device  10  generally comprises a forward and rearward viewing mirror device for permitting a driver using the mirror device to see forward arid rearward of the vehicle, extending and enhancing the available visual field. 
         [0038]    The system comprises a unit  12  having a first chamber  14  and a second chamber  16 . The first chamber  14  is located on a face of the unit  12 . The first chamber  14  has an element thereinto permit housing into the unit  12 . The second chamber  16  is located axially to the first chamber  14  of the unit  12 . The second chamber  16  has an element therein to permit housing into the unit  12 . 
         [0039]    An arm  18  secures the unit  12  to a vehicle  20 . The arm  18  has a first end  22  and a second end  24 . The first end  22  of the arm  18  is adapted for mounting the unit  12  to a vehicle  20 . The second end  24  of the arm  18  is coupled to the unit  12 . The second end  24  of the arm  18  could be rotatably coupled to the unit  12 . 
         [0040]    A first minor  26  views rearward  28  the vehicle  20 . The first mirror  26  is rotatably mounted in the element of the first chamber  14 . 
         [0041]    A second minor  30  views forward  32  the vehicle  20 . The second mirror  30  is rotatably mounted in the element of the second chamber  16 . 
         [0042]    The first mirror  26  is adapted for displaying to the driver  34  the visual field rearward  28  of the vehicle  20 . The second mirror  30  is adapted for displaying to the driver  34  the visual field forward  32  of the vehicle  20 , also allowing the driver  34  to view around an obstruction  36  that is blocking the forward vision path, without having to significantly move the vehicle into an adjacent lane. The first mirror  26  and second minor  30  are fully adjustable to provide the most effective visual field area. 
         [0043]    The angle of the first mirror  26  and second mirror  30  as well as the positioning of the first chamber  14  and second chamber  16  of the unit  12  will be so that the combination of aesthetics and utility is optimum for each individual type, make, and/or model of vehicle. For example and without limitation, the second chamber  16  of the unit  12  can be positioned in a location closer to the arm  18  and nearer the vehicle  20  in any embodiment, for optimization on a specific vehicle such as a car, jeep, van, or truck. 
         [0044]    Furthermore, the forward and rearward visual field area can be extended and enhanced using conventional and/or modern mechanisms (e.g. convex/concave mirrors and mechanical/electrical adjusting means) known to those skilled in the art. It is to be realized that the optimum dimensional, relationships for the parts of the invention may include, but are not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, all of which are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in tire drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0045]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.