Mirror mount assembly with dual reflective surfaces

Abstract

A mirror mount assembly includes multiple reflective surfaces disposed within a mirror housing for use on a vehicle. The reflective surfaces of each reflective surface are designed and configured for mounting at a pre-selected site. When so mounted, each reflective surface provides an expanded field-of-view of objects disposed in a specific zone proximate to the mirror mount assembly. When positioned at the extreme front end of the hood of a Type-C school bus, one of the reflective surfaces provides an expanded field-of-view below and alongside the driver and a reflective surface provides an expanded field-of-view below and in front of the school bus. On a Type-D school bus, the mirror mount assembly is disposed above the driver and suspended from the roof of the bus—the housing inkling the two reflective surfaces and a rear-view mirror. The reflective surfaces are designed to provide the driver with the best images in the target zones while minimizing the blindspot behind the mirror mount assembly. Either reflective surface may be adjustable within the housing to account for differing size and shapes of vehicle drivers.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mirror mount assembly for mounting onto large commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles, and buses, including but not limited to trucks, school buses, buses for public transportation, trailers, garbage trucks, boats, cars, station wagons, trains, aircraft, and boats, and more particularly, to a mirror mounting assembly including multiple reflective surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While the technology set forth herein has broad applications to large commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles, and buses, for purposes of example and illustration this technology is shown in this specification in school bus applications. One skilled in the art can readily apply such teachings to such other vehicles.

School buses are the single largest system of public transportation in the U.S., providing about 10 billion rides annually to students grades K through 12. Each year, roughly 440,000 public school buses travel 4.3 billion miles, transporting 23.5 million children to and from schools—54% of all students. The National Safety Council reports that school buses are the safest form of ground transportation with a fatality rate of 0.01 percent per 100,000,000 passenger miles.

However, the National School Transportation Association reports that 25 school children were killed in school bus loading zones in the 1995-96 school year. This number is up from 20 in 1994-95. Of these fatalities, two-thirds were students between the ages of 2 and 8 years. From 1975 to 1995, passing motorists caused 39% of such deaths and 61% were caused by the bus itself.

Various configurations, designs, and geometries for reflective surfaces have been proposed that provide improved visibility to the school bus driver in the danger zones—(a) along either side and (b) immediately in front of and below the front of the bus.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,984 (Schmidt et al.) discloses an oval elliptical mirror mount assembly. The mirror mount assembly has a generally convex reflective surface—a longer axis and a shorter axis essentially normal to each other. The oval shape provides the driver with an enlarged field-of-view along the longer axis. The varying radius reflective surface provides an expanded field-of-view as compared with a continuous radius reflective surface. The oval mirror mount assembly is positioned with the long axis or first major axis vertical to the ground providing an extended field-of-view from top to bottom.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,211 (Schmidt et al.) discloses a truncated convex vehicular reflective surface for mounting onto the exterior front fender. The reflective surface is a portion of a convex surface ellipsoid with a plurality of radii of curvature. The mirror provides the driver with a field-of-view that is greater than the reflection angle about the vertical axis. The viewing center point of the reflective surface is aligned with the geometric center point of the reflective surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,963 (Schmidt et at.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,578 (Schmidt, et at.), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,372 (Schmidt, et at.) disclose an assortment of configurations for vehicular mirrors assemblies. The mirrors generally have continuous convex geometries and are in the shape of an ellipsoid. The mirrors provide the drive with a field-of-view along the vertical axis in the range of 180° to 220° while minimizing the size of any blindspot behind the mirror mount assembly.

The safety of children on school buses demands the highest standard of care. Even a minor reduction in the size of the blindspots is important, since lives are involved.

In one conventional bus mirror system, the driver often has four convex mirrors disposed on the front of the bus (see FIG. 1A), creating numerous blindspots, the need for independent mirror mounts, and confusion as to which mirror he or she should view in various situations. In a second conventional bus mirror system, a convex mirror positioned at the extreme front edge of the bus enables viewing of the side and front of the bus, but the images in these mirrors are primarily the bus itself—which is undesirable (see FIG. 1B).

Several recently issued Patents address the problem of blindspot size reduction by using a single mirror with multiple reflective surfaces. Such mirrors when appropriately positioned provide one portion of such surface to view one area proximate to the vehicle (e.g.—in front) and another portion of such surface to view a different area proximate the vehicle (e.g.—alongside).

U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,755 (Li) discloses a vehicular rear-view mirror having a convex reflecting surface. The surface is composed of a plurality of distinct curved surfaces each having a selected shape that is smoothly joined with each other with a continuously varying average curvature. The average curvature increases gradually along the vertical direction from the top to the bottom of the mirror and along the transverse horizontal direction away from the body of the vehicle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,084 (Schmidt) discloses a combination curved and flat mirror lens surface, having a flatter top portion and a convex lower portion. The surface has a maximum radius of curvature at one end varying to a minimum radius of curvature at the opposing end. A substantially horizontally aligned arc bisects and extends between each pair of side edges. The two portions are formed integrally with each other, with no overlap of the viewing field and no discontinuity. The mirror has a varying radius of curvature normal to the horizontal arc such that a maximum radius of curvature is achieved near one edge and a minimum radius of curvature near another edge.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,786 (McCord) discloses a banana-shaped rear-view mirror having a continuously decreasing radius of curvature from the mirror center and toward the mirror ends. The mirror center is relatively flat, and the opposite ends of the mirror are curved downward to provide additional surface area for viewing objects alongside the vehicle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,050 (McCord) discloses a vehicle mirror having convex curvatures. The vehicle mirror includes a first portion of the viewing surface wherein the field angle increases at an increasing rate as the observer's eye travels outward across the mirror, and a second portion wherein the field angle increases at a decreasing rate as the observer's eye travels across the reflective surface. The mirror includes (1) a primary viewing area nearest to the observer having a spherical convex surface, (2) a secondary viewing area somewhat farther from the observer, having an aspherical convex surface wherein the field angle increases at an increasing rate, and (3) a tertiary viewing area still farther outward, having an aspherical convex curvature wherein the field angle increases at a decreasing rate.

However, it has been found that some combination surfaces either provide distortion in zones between the combination surfaces or provide views of objects in zones not needed, thereby increasing the size of the blindspot behind the combination mirror.

What is needed is a mirror mount assembly that will provide a driver with a clear and expanded field-of-view in multiple zones proximate to the vehicle so as to minimize the number of mirror mounted onto and about the vehicle; a mirror mount assembly that enhances the field-of-view and the visibility about the vehicle without enlarging the blindspot; and a mirror mount assembly that provides an enlarged field-of-view of objects outside and proximate to the vehicle, with minimal distortion of the images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The term “Type C” school bus as used herein refers to a school body style that is installed upon a flat-back cowl chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, designed for carrying more than 10 persons. The entire engine is in front of the windshield and the entrance door is behind the front wheels. An example of a Type C school bus is depicted in FIG. 6.

The term “Type D” school bus as used herein refers to a school body style that is installed upon a chassis, with the engine mounted in the front, midship, or rear with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, and designed for carrying more than 10 persons. The engine may be behind the windshield and beside the driver's seat; it may be at the rear of the bus, behind the rear wheels; or midship between the front and rear axles. The entrance door is ahead of the front wheels. An example of a Type D school bus is also depicted in FIG. 6.

The mirror mount assembly of the present invention addresses all of the above-identified needs, and provides an improved field-of-view without enlarging the blindspot behind the mirror mount assembly. By minimizing the number of mirror mount assemblies disposed onto and about the vehicle, personal safety, driver convenience and cost effectiveness are achieved.

The preferred embodiments of the mirror mount assembly of the present invention include multiple reflective surfaces disposed within a mirror housing. Each reflective surface is designed and configured for mounting at a pre-selected site. Some of reflective surfaces are generally convex in shape providing an enlarged field-of-view in certain pre-selected areas. One or more of the reflective surfaces may have flat reflective surfaces. When so mounted, each reflective surface provides an expanded field-of-view of objects disposed in a specific target zone proximate to the mirror mount assembly.

When positioned at the extreme front end on a Type C school bus, one of the reflective surfaces provides an expanded field-of-view below and alongside the driver and a second reflective surface provides an expanded field-of-view below and in front of the bus. The reflective surfaces are designed to provide the bus driver with clear images in the target zones.

For a more complete understanding of the mirror mount assembly of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which the presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example. As the invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from spirit of essential characteristics thereof, it is expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Throughout the description, like reference numbers refer to the same component throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A discloses the front half of a conventional Type C school bus with a first prior art configuration for a system of mirrors enabling the driver to view both sides of the bus and the front of the bus;

FIG. 1B discloses a second prior art mirror assembly having a wide-angle reflective surface for mounting upon the hood of the school bus;

FIG. 1C discloses a first preferred embodiment of the mirror mount assembly of the present invention with dual reflecting surfaces—one for viewing objects alongside the bus and the second for viewing objects in front of the bus;

FIG. 2 is an environmental view depicting a pair of mirror mount assemblies as shown in FIG. 1C as deployed onto a conventional Type C school bus, each mirror mount assembly providing the driver with a field-of-view in a first zone alongside and near ground level proximate to the school bus and in a second zone in front of near ground level proximate to the school bus;

FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of the mirror mount assembly of the present invention for placement on the extreme right corner of the front of the school bus;

FIG. 3B shows a front view of the mirror mount assembly of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2 for placement on the extreme left corner of the front of the school bus;

FIG. 3C shows a side view of the mirror mount assembly of FIG. 3B complete with a conventional mounting bracket;

FIG. 4A is an environmental view of a second preferred embodiment depicting the mirror mount assembly of the present invention employed onto a transit-style Type D school bus, the mirror mount assembly being suspended from the upper right corner of the front of the school bus, a convex reflective surface providing the driver with a field-of-view in a zone along the right side and near ground level proximate to the school bus and a flat reflective surface that is a rear-view mirror;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the mirror mount assembly of the present invention shown in FIG. 4A for placement on the extreme right corner of the front of the school bus;

FIG. 5A is an environmental view of a third preferred embodiment depicting the mirror mount assembly of the present invention employed onto a conventional Type D school bus, the mirror mount assembly being suspended from the upper right corner of the front of the school bus and combining three reflective surfaces, a first convex reflective surface providing the driver with a field-of-view in a zone along the right side and near ground level proximate to the school bus, a second convex reflective surface providing the driver with a field-of-view in a zone in front of near ground level proximate to the school bus, and a flat reflective surface that is a rear-view mirror;

FIG. 5B shows a front view of the third preferred embodiment of the mirror mount assembly of the present invention as shown in FIG. 5A; and

FIG. 6 discloses conventional school bus body types—Type A, Type B, Type C, and Type D—Types C and D being the object of the mirror mount assemblies of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings with initial reference to FIGS. 1C and 2 which illustrate an environmental view of the preferred embodiment of the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention—a dual mirror mount assembly mounted onto a Type C school bus 12.

The mirror mount assembly 10 as shown comprises a mirror housing 20, and a pair of reflective surfaces (30 and 40) secured within the mirror housing 20. The front reflective surface 30 has a substantially convex shape. The front reflective surface 30 is primarily configured so that when the mirror mount assembly 10 is properly positioned, the front reflective surface 30 provides the school bus driver with an expanded field-of-view of objects disposed in a first zone. The side reflective surface 40 is separate and distinct from the front reflective surface 30 (alongside and below the school bus driver. The side reflective surface 40 also has a substantially convex shape. The side reflective surface 40 is primarily configured so that when properly positioned, it provides the school bus driver with an expanded field-of-view of objects in a second zone, the second zone being in front and below the school bus driver.

In one preferred embodiment of the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention, each of the reflective surfaces (30 and 40) is generally convex and has the shape of a partial ellipsoid. As used herein the terms “ellipsoid” and “ellipsoidal,” unless the context suggests otherwise, refer to solid geometrical shapes that have at least one section that is essentially elliptical in shape. These shapes are generally well known in the art as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,963, U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,578, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,372 cited above. The preferred embodiment of the mirror housing 20 is shown in U.S. Design No. 370,882 and is commercially available from the Mirror Lite Company of Brownstown, Mich.

The mirror mount assemblies (10A and 10B) for use on each side of the school bus 12 are not identical. The placement of the two reflective surfaces (30 and 40) relative to each other is interchanged depending on which front side of the school bus 12 is the pre-selected site. As shown in preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the reflective surface provides the field-of-view of the front of the school bus 12 has four rounded corners, and the reflective surface providing the field-of-view alongside the school bus 12 has but three rounded corners. The two reflective surfaces (30 and 40) are mounted side-by-side in the mirror housing 20.

Since it is recognized that the danger area for a school bus 12 is the loading and unloading zones immediately about the school bus 12, optimal sites for the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention on a Type C school bus 12 are the extreme upper right and left-hand corners on the hood, one mirror mount assembly 10 being placed at each site. When the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention is positioned at the leftmost corner of the top of the school bus 12, the front reflective surface provides the school bus driver with a clear and expanded field-of-view at ground level in front of the school bus 12 and the side reflective surface provides the school bus driver with a clear field-of-view along the left side of the school bus 12. Similarly, when the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention is positioned at the rightmost corner of the top of the school bus 12, again the front reflective surface 30 provides the school bus driver with a clear and expanded field-of-view at ground level in front of the school bus 12 and the side reflective surface provides the school bus driver with a clear field-of-view along the right side of the school bus 12.

Each reflective surface (30 and 40) in the mirror housing 20 is designed and configured to provide the school bus driver with an enlarged field-of-view in a specific zone. For example, the front reflective surface 30 is directed at the left front of the school bus 12, and the side reflective surface 40 is directed at ground level at the left side of the school bus 12. Similarly, for the right-side mirror mount assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 3A, the side reflective surface is directed at the ground level on the right-side of the school bus 12 and the front reflective surface is directed at the right-front of the school bus 12.

FIGS. 4A and 4B disclose a second preferred embodiment of the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention disposed onto a transit-style “Type D” school bus 12′. The mirror mount assembly 10 as shown is suspended from the upper right corner of the front of the school bus 12′. A convex reflective surface provides the driver with a field-of-view in a zone along the right side and near ground level proximate to the school bus 12′ and a flat reflective surface 50 that is a rear-view mirror is included in the same mounting.

FIGS. 5A and 5B disclose of a third preferred embodiment of the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention disposed again onto a conventional Type D school bus 12′. The mirror mount assembly 10 is shown suspended from the upper right corner of the front of the school bus 12′. The mirror mount assembly 10 houses three separate and distinct reflective surfaces. The first convex reflective surface 30 provides the driver with a field-of-view in a zone along the right side and near ground level proximate to the school bus 12′. The second convex reflective surface 40 provides the driver with a field-of-view in a zone (32A and 32B) in front of near ground level proximate to the school bus 12′. The third reflective surface 50 is positioned within the mirror housing 20″ between reflective surfaces 30 and 40. The third reflective surface 50 is flat and is a conventional rear-view mirror.

The mirror housing 20″ includes a base 22 and a stem 24, the stem being positioned above the stem 24 (generally in the shape of an inverted L). The mirror housing 20A″ disposed on the mirror mount assembly 10″ of the present invention on the left-side of the school bus 12 has the shape of an inverted L, and the mirror mount assembly 20B″ disposed on the right-side of the school bus 12′ has the general shape of an inverted and reversed L.

In another preferred embodiment of the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention, the front reflective surfaces (30A and 30B) are oval elliptical in shape, and the side reflective surfaces (40A and 40B) are ellipsoidal (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,984). The front reflective surfaces (30A and 30B) each are substantially oval shaped with the longer axis of the oval corresponding with the first major axis and the shorter axis of the oval corresponding with the minor axis. The shorter axis is essentially normal to the longer axis. The front reflective surface 30 has varying radii of curvature along the axes. The front reflective surface 30 is oval-shaped with a first or long axis corresponding to the first major axis and a second or short axis corresponding to the minor axis. The front reflective surface 30 is defined by an edge or perimeter that surrounds the reflective surface. The front reflective surface 30 is, preferably, an ellipsoid with varying radii along both the first major axis the minor axis. Generally, the front reflective surface 30 has a shorter radius proximate the perimeter and a larger radius proximate the intersection of the two major axes.

The convex reflective surfaces (30 and 40) may also have continuously varying radii of curvature as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,755 (Li) or U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,084 (Schmidt). These configurations are secondary preferred embodiments of the present invention inasmuch because of the smaller size of the reflective surfaces 30 and 40 in the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention.

Also, in various embodiments of the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention, (a) both reflective surfaces (30 and 40) are fixed within the housing 20, (b) either reflective surface is adjustable (30 or) within the housing 20, and (c) both reflective surfaces (30 and 40) are adjustable within the housing 20 by instrumentation within the instrument panel of the school bus 12. The preferred embodiment of the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention has the side reflective surface adjustable in the housing, whereas the front reflective surface 40 is fixed within the mirror housing 20.

It is a delicate balance between providing the school bus driver with the expanded field-of-view in both zones, while minimizing the size of the blindspot. It has been found in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, that the width of the mirror mount assembly 10 as mounted onto a school bus 12 is in the range of from 12″ to 15″ wide—preferably about 13.5″ wide. The height of the mirror mount assembly 10 is in the range of from 6¾″ to 9¼″ and preferably, about 8″ high.

While the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention has been designed and configured for large school bus 12s, one having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the assembly also has broad applications in non-vehicular applications—such as a convenient food store or a bank lobby. Also, one skilled in the art will recognize that a third reflective surface may be used in conjunction with the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention in applications where a field-of-view above the mirror mount assembly 10 is appropriate. While multiple reflective surfaces may be used, the preferred embodiment of the mirror mount assembly 10 includes but two reflective surfaces mounted within a mirror housing 20.

Various Patents are referenced by number and inventor throughout this application. The disclosures of these Patents are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this technology pertains.

It is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations of the mirror mount assembly 10 of the present invention as applied to school buses will be apparent to those skilled in the art to a broad range of other larger school bus 12s (both recreational and commercial) in light of the disclosure herein. It is intended that the metes and bounds of the present invention be determined by the appended claims rather than by the language of the above specification, and that all such alternatives, modifications, and variations which form a conjointly cooperative equivalent are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of these claims.

Claims

1. A mirror mount assembly for mounting upon a pre-selected site of a vehicle, the mirror mount assembly comprising;

a mirror housing for mounting onto the pre-selected site of the vehicle:

a first reflective surface secured within the mirror housing, the first reflective surface having a substantially convex shape, the first reflective surface being positioned in the mirror housing providing a vehicle driver with an expanded field-of-view of objects in a first zone; and

a second reflective surface having a substantially convex shape, the second reflective surface being distinct from the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface being primarily positioned in the mirror housing proximate to the first reflective surface providing the vehicle driver with an expanded field-of-view of objects in a second zone, the second zone being different than the first zone.

2. The mirror mount assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rear-view mirror having a flat surface, the flat rear-view mirror being disposed within the mirror housing.

3. The mirror mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the first reflective surface provides a field-of-view that is greater than a reflective angle of the reflective surface.

4. The mirror mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the first reflective surface is adjustable within the mirror housing.

5. The mirror mount assembly of claim 4, wherein the second reflective surface is adjustable within the mirror housing.

6. The mirror mount assembly of claim 1, wherein one reflective surface has an oval ellipsoidal shape.

7. The mirror mount assembly of claim 1, wherein one reflective surface has a shape that is a partial ellipsoid.

8. The mirror mount assembly of claim 1, wherein one reflective surface has a variable radius of curvature.

9. A mirror mount assembly for mounting upon a vehicle having an entire engine in front of a vehicle windshield, the mirror mount assembly comprising;

a mirror housing for mounting onto the vehicle in front of the entire engine;

a first reflective surface secured within the mirror housing, the first reflective surface having a substantially convex shape, the first reflective surface being positioned in the mirror housing providing a vehicle driver with an expanded field-of-view of objects alongside the vehicle; and

a second reflective surface having a substantially convex shape, the second reflective surface being distinct from the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface being primarily positioned in the mirror housing proximate to the first reflective surface providing the vehicle driver with an expanded field-of-view of objects in front of the vehicle.

10. The mirror mount assembly of claim 9, wherein the first reflective surface provides a field-of-view that is greater than a reflective angle of the reflective surface.

11. The mirror mount assembly of claim 9, wherein the first reflective surface is adjustable within the mirror housing.

12. The mirror mount assembly of claim 9, wherein the second reflective surface is adjustable within the mirror housing.

13. The mirror mount assembly of claim 9, wherein one reflective surface has an oval ellipsoidal shape.

14. The mirror mount assembly of claim 9, wherein one reflective surface has a variable radius of curvature.

15. A mirror mount assembly for mounting upon a vehicle having an entire engine behind a vehicle windshield, the mirror mount assembly comprising;

a mirror housing for mounting in front of and above the vehicle windshield;

a first reflective surface secured within the mirror housing, the first reflective surface having a substantially convex shape, the first reflective surface being positioned in the mirror housing providing a vehicle driver with an expanded field-of-view of objects alongside the vehicle; and

a second reflective surface having a substantially convex shape, the second reflective surface being distinct from the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface being primarily positioned in the mirror housing proximate to the first reflective surface providing the vehicle driver with an expanded field-of-view of objects in front of the vehicle.

16. The mirror mount assembly of claim 15, further comprising a rear-view mirror having a flat surface, the flat rear-view mirror being disposed within the mirror housing.

17. The mirror mount assembly of claim 15, wherein the first reflective surface is adjustable within the mirror housing.

18. The mirror mount assembly of claim 15, wherein the second reflective surface is adjustable within the mirror housing.

19. The mirror mount assembly of claim 15, wherein one reflective surface has an oval ellipsoidal shape.

20. The mirror mount assembly of claim 15, wherein one reflective surface has a variable radius of curvature.