U.S. patent application number 09/961749 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-28 for mirror mount assembly with dual reflective surfaces.
Invention is credited to Schmidt, William P., Schmidt, William P. JR., Swain, Daniel M..
Application Number | 20050161573 09/961749 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34798465 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050161573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmidt, William P. ; et
al. |
July 28, 2005 |
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.
Inventors: |
Schmidt, William P.;
(Newport, MI) ; Schmidt, William P. JR.; (Monroe,
MI) ; Swain, Daniel M.; (Wyandotte, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gerald R. Black, Esq.
Suite 160
30590 Southfield Road,
Southfield
MI
48076
US
|
Family ID: |
34798465 |
Appl. No.: |
09/961749 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60254640 |
Dec 10, 2000 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/475.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 1/007 20130101;
B60R 1/006 20130101; B60R 1/082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/475.1 |
International
Class: |
A47G 001/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
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.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] 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
[0002] 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.
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.degree. to 220.degree. while minimizing the size
of any blindspot behind the mirror mount assembly.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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).
[0011] 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).
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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
[0018] 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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.
[0021] 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.
[0022] 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.
[0023] 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
[0024] 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;
[0025] FIG. 1B discloses a second prior art mirror assembly having
a wide-angle reflective surface for mounting upon the hood of the
school bus;
[0026] 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;
[0027] 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;
[0028] 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;
[0029] 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;
[0030] FIG. 3C shows a side view of the mirror mount assembly of
FIG. 3B complete with a conventional mounting bracket;
[0031] 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;
[0032] 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;
[0033] 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;
[0034] 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
[0035] 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
[0036] 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.
[0037] 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.
[0038] 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.
[0039] 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.
[0040] 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.
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] 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.
[0045] 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.
[0046] 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.
[0047] 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.
[0048] 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
63/4" to 91/4" and preferably, about 8" high.
[0049] 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.
[0050] 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.
[0051] 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.
* * * * *