GB2193940A - A driver's visual aid device - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable a driver seated on the nearside of a vehicle to gain a clear view of the road ahead when travelling behind another vehicle, a mirror (16) is adjustably attached to a generally upright post (17) fixed to the outside of a vehicle and spaced therefrom by adjustable outriggers (18) with feet (24) to be located in the upper and lower horizontal window channels of the offside front door. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A driver's aid device THIS INVENTION concerns a driver's visual aid device to enable the driver when seated on the nearside of a vehicle to have a clear view of oncoming traffic when travelling behind another vehicle otherwise obscuring such view.

The device is particularly intended for temporary use on a vehicle taken abroad where the traffic flow is opposite to that in the country where the vehicle is normally used, for example when a British-made car is driven in France. In these circumstances, it is usually necessary for the driver to pull out from behind the vehicle in front in order to gain a clear view of the road ahead and any oncoming traffic, or alternatively to ask the front seat passenger to state when the road is clear and it is appropriate to overtake.

An object of the present invention is to provide a visual aid device which can be temporarily attached to a vehicle to avoid the above problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a driver's visual aid device comprising a mirror adjustably attached to a member adapted to stand off from a side of a vehicle, and locating means attached to the member to enable the device to be removably attached to a vehicle with the locating means entrapped within the offside front window channel.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a typical driving condition where an oncoming vehicle would prevent overtaking with safety; Fig. 2 is a schematic rear elevation of a device made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 3 is a view thereof in the direction of arrow Ill; Figs. 4 and 4a are front elevation and partial perspective views respectively of a modified form of the device; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a further modified form of the device.

Referring now to the drawings in Fig. 1 there is shown a typical situation in which vehicle 10 proceeding behind vehicle 11 in the direction of arrow 12 is to overtake vehicle 11 but is prevented from doing so by oncoming traffic such as vehicle 13 proceeding in the opposite direction. If vehicle 10 is one having a right-hand driving position then the driver is seated on the nearside as indicated by reference numeral 14. This driver is therefore unable to gain a clear view of the road ahead to any great distance without pulling out from behind vehicle 11. The device to be described will enable the driver of vehicle 10, without moving the lateral position of his vehicle, to gain a view in a direction indicated by dotted lines 15, of the oncoming traffic.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the device comprises a mirror 16 adjustably mounted on an upright post 17 which is in the form of a hollow sleeve. A pair of outriggers 18 one at the top and one at the bottom of- post 17, extend generally at right-angles thereto in relative parallel disposition.

Each outrigger 18 comprises a rod 19 which extends into post 17 and is adjustable therein by means of a clamping screw 20, and a pair of diverging arms 21 as can be seen from Fig. 3. Each arm 21 is adjustably positioned within a sleeve 22 by means of clamping screw 23, and there is attached to the free end of each sleeve 22 a foot 24 of a flexible and deformable material, which extends at right-angles to sleeve 22 generally parallel to post 17.

In use therefore the device is removably attached to the vehicle by locating the feet 24 in the upper and lower window channels of the front passenger door, clamping screws 20 being used to extend and fix the device to ensure that it is tightly clamped in the window recess.

Clamping screws 23 can be used to position the post 17 as near vertical as possible.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 4a, in a modified form of the device, the mirror 16 is adjustably attached to a telescopically extendible post or member 25 whose effective length is determined by the positioning of clamping screw 26 in one of a row of threaded apertures 27. Member 25 is preferably tubular in construction and is pivotally attached at its upper end to a further tubular member 28.

The free end of member 28 and the lower end of member 25 have attached thereto transversely extending locating feet 29 which, as of the case of feet 24 in the previous embodiment are located within the window channels on the vehicle. The length of locating feet 29 avoids the necessity for a pair of outriggers as provided in the previous embodiment.

In a still further modified form (not illustrated in the drawings) an arrangement generally similar to that depicted in Fig. 2 may be provided but in this case the pairs of outriggers 21 may be replaced by single tubular arms with elongate locating feet as illustrated at 29 in Fig. 4a.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that adjustment of the mirror 16 about a generally vertical axis will enable the driver positioned at 14 to see the reflection of a view looking forwardly from the opposite side of the vehicle, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The mirror may have a flat or convex surface according to the field of view required and according to the particular preference of the driver. When the device is not in use it may be rapidly removed from the vehicle by removing the feet 24 or 29 from the window channel. The whole device can be made from metal or rigid plastics, and the construction must be such that vibration of the mirror, in use, is minimised.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above details only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, in relation to the first embodiment, adjustment of the length of outriggers 18 may not be necessary in all cases, or if required, there may be a pivotal connection between the rods 19 and arms 21 of the outriggers to permit a more precise adjustment.

Furthermore, the length of post 17 may be adjustable with outriggers 18 rigidly fixed thereto. Again, the effective length of feet 24 may be adjustable as an alternative arrangment to accommodate all sizes of vehicle window.

Still further, the lengths of outriggers 18 may be fixed and mirror 16 may be clamped to post 17 so as to be adjustable about horizontal and vertical axes, or universally about a ball joint connection. Yet again, the angle between arms 21 of outriggers 18 may be adjustable with appropriate swivel adjustment of feet 24 to vary the effective length of outriggers 18.

Referring now to Fig. 5, in another embodiment generally similar to that illustrated in Fig.

2, the outriggers 18 are in the form of simple right-angled rods 30, preferably of aluminium to which are attached locating feet 31 similar in shape to feet 29 illustrated in Figs. 4 and4a. Whilst clamping screws 32 are provided to lock the outriggers 30 relative to the post 17, a compression spring 33 is positioned between the innermost ends of outriggers 30 to force them apart. In this way, by releasing clamping screws 32 the device may be attached to the vehicle by forcing outriggers 30 together compressing spring 33 and subsequently allowing them to return under the action of the spring once feet 31 are located in the vehicle window channels.

In many cases the pressure of the spring will be sufficient to hold the device in place but screws 32 may be tightened if preferred to afford extra rigidity.

As described above there may be many forms of adjustmant incorporated in the device whose construction, however, should be kept as simple as possible to minimise the cost of manufacture and to enhance simplicity and rigidity in use. The feet or another part can be made to fail, for safety, in the event of a collision of the device with an object.

Whilst the device has been illustrated and described for use on a so-called right-hand drive vehicle, the same device may be applied to the right-hand side of a left-hand drive vehicle when the driver is positioned at the nearside.

Claims (11)

1. A driver's visual aid device comprising a mirror adjustably attached to a member adapted to a stand off from a side of a vehicle, and locating means attached to the member to enable the device to be removably attached to a vehicle with the locating means entrapped within the offside front window channel.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the member comprises a generally upright post to which the mirror is adjustably attached for pivotal movement about one or more axes, and at least one outrigger to space the post from the side of the vehicle, said locating means comprising at least one foot of a rigid or semi-rigid material attached to said outrigger for location within the upper and lower window channels of a vehicle door, said post being adjustable in length according to the height of the window.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein said outrigger is adjustable in length in order to select the distance by which the member stands of f f rom the side of the vehicle.

4. A device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the assembly of said post and the or each said outrigger comprises one or more rods adjustably located in sleeves with clamping screws for adjustment.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the or each said outrigger comprises a pair of divergent arms extending substantially at right-angles to said post.

6. A device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the or each said outrigger and said post are pivotally connected together.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said member and said locating means are made from a rigid plastics material.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said member is of aluminium or other light metal alloy.

9. A device according to Claim 2, including two outriggers one above and one below the mirror and having feet for location respectively within the upper and lower window channels of a vehicle door, the outriggers being slidably located within a sleeve containing, between the outriggers a compression spring whereby they may be forced together against the action of the spring in order to locate the feet in the window channels, there being clamping screws to hold the outriggers in fixed disposition.

10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein at least one part thereof is adapted readily to give or fail in the event of a collision of the device with an object.

11. A driver's visual aid device substantialiy as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 and Figs. 2 and 3 or Figs. 4 and 4a or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.