IES81066B2

IES81066B2 - Mirror for a commercial vehicle

Info

Publication number: IES81066B2
Authority: IE
Inventors: John Mcandrew; Michael Gallagher
Original assignee: John Mcandrew; Michael Gallagher
Priority date: 1998-04-03
Filing date: 1998-04-03
Publication date: 2000-01-12
Also published as: GB9907821D0; GB2335898A; IES980248A2

Abstract

A viewing system comprises a convex conical mirror (2) mounted on the vehicle (41) so as to be positioned at the front of the vehicle towards the side of the vehicle opposite from the driver's driving position. As a result, the driver can view the area adjacent the wheel at the opposite side from the driver's position. The mirror is preferably mounted on the outside of the cab of the vehicle.

Description

MIRROR FOR A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE.

This invention relates to a mirror for improving a driver’s field of vision, in particular for wide bodied commercial vehicles where the height and width of the vehicle limit the driver’s view at the side opposite and down from their normal sitting position.

Since the development of transportation vehicles, the problem of blind spots has continued to cause problems for the vehicle operators. These blind spots are a safety risk to both the driver and all other road users and a satisfactory solution to many of these problems has not been found. With the development of large commercial trucks, a new set of blind spots had to be considered due to the size of the vehicle.

The present invention concerns the blind spot located on the opposite side of a truck from the driver. Due to the height and width of the cab of a normal articulated truck, the driver has no view of this area and any vehicle or pedestrian immediately in front of, down from and directly to the rear of the side view minor will not be seen. This blind spot is particularly dangerous when the truck is turning towards the blind spot e.g. when a right hand drive truck is turning to the left, especially in a situation where there is a lot of interaction between people and trucks, for example in a city or a large town. The main object of the present invention is to afford a panoramic view of the area on the opposite side of the vehicle to the driver and forwardly and rearwardly from that position.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a convex mirror of a conical shape (hereinafter referred to as a convex conical mirror) which is attachable onto the outside of the front of the cab roof on the opposite side of the driver, by an elongate support element, the mirror being tiltable to the required angle to display the blind spot clearly to the driver from the sitting position.

This view gives the driver a complete view around the front of the cab and removes the possibility of the truck hitting any obstacle positioned in the blind spot. For example if the truck stops in traffic and a young child steps out onto the road just in front of the truck the driver will see the danger in the additional mirror.

Advantageously the support element is securable to the roof of the cab and extends beyond the windscreen of the cab.

Alternatively the support element is mountable to and is extendable from the mirror support system at the side of the truck.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment of a minor according to the invention in various mountings.

Figure 1 is a side view showing a convex conical mirror housed in a plastic moulding and attached to a support bar and Figure la is an underneath plan view of the mirror when mounted.

Figure 2 is a partly cross-sectioned side view of the mirror showing an alternative mounting.

Figure 3 is a side view of the mirror and a portion of the mounting unit and Figure 3a is a plan view of the socket used to attach the mirror housing to the support bar and Figure 3b is a side view of the socket.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the cab showing one mounting position of the front view mirror from the top of the truck; Figure 5 is a front view of the cab showing its mounting position of Figure 4 from the front of the truck; Figure 6 is an isometric view of the truck showing a second mounting position of the front view mirror.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, the convex conical mirror 21 and plastic-housing unit 22 incorporates a ball 23 and socket 24 joint between the mirror 21 and the housing unit 22 to provide the tilting ability to the mirror. A support bar 14 can be shaped to the requirements of the individual truck and is manufactured from a lightweight material such as aluminium.

In Figure 2, the convex conical mirror 21 is housed in the plastics moulding 22 and attached to the support bar 14 by a ball 23 and socket 24. An additional attachment bar 25 and fastening device 26 are included in order to attach the mirror to a vehicle.

Referring to Figure 3, the convex conical mirror 21 is held in the plastics mould 22. Figure 3a is a plan view of the socket 24 that is used to attach the mirror 21 and plastics moulded housing 22 to the support bar 14. The socket 24 comprises two slots 31, 32 at right angles to one another centrally located about an orifice 33 which is slightly smaller than ball 23 so as to provide a good interference fit.

Referring to Figure 4 the convex conical mirror 21 is attached to the side mirror fixture 42 at a different location to the side mirror 43.

Referring to Figure 5 the convex conical mirror 21 is attached to the wing mirror fixture 42 and tilted at the relevant angle to show the front and side view of the truck T.

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the truck T with the attached convex conical mirror 21 in the desired position opposite from the driver attached to the cab R by a number of fastening clips 63 and a support member 64 secured to the top of the cab R.

This positioning and location of the mirror 21 significantly improves the driver's field of vision and can provide a major contribution to road safety.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A viewing system for a commercial vehicle comprising a convex conical mirror mountable on the vehicle so as to be positioned at the front of the vehicle towards the side of the vehicle opposite from the driver’s driving position, whereby the driver can view the area adjacent the vehicle wheel at the opposite side from the driver’s position.

2. A viewing system as claimed in claim 1, in which the mirror is adjustably mounted on one end of an elongate support element which is mountable to the outside of the cab of the vehicle.

3. A viewing system as claimed in claim 2, in which the elongate support element is fixed to the roof of the vehicle cab or to a wind deflector mounted on the cab roof.

4. A viewing system as claimed in claim 2, in which the elongate support element is mountable on and extendable from a mirror support system at the said opposite side of the commercial vehicle.

5. A viewing system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.