GB2521112A

GB2521112A - Roadmirror copilot vehicular visual safety device

Info

Publication number: GB2521112A
Application number: GB1317639.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gavin Whitfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-10-05
Filing date: 2013-10-05
Publication date: 2015-06-17
Also published as: GB201317639D0

Abstract

A vehicular visual safety device 1, which includes attachment means 10 for attaching the body 2 to the windscreen of a vehicle secured by pin 9, mirrors 3, 4 which can move using flexible arms 7,8 when adjusted by the driver using mounts 5, 6 such that the driver can see ahead of the vehicle from an area ahead of the passenger in the forwards direction.

Description

Vehicular visual safety device This invention relates to a device for improving driver awareness using mirrors in vehicles.

When drivers are driving vehicles, dead spaces comprising of blind spots around the vehicle are created in certain circumstances whereby the driver cannot see vehicles and other hazards potentially on a collision course with their vehicle.

Currently the driver must collect visual information from a disadvantageous position i.e. the driver's seat. This can lead to instances where the driver is unable to see oncoming traffic when parked or manoeuvring from the opposite side of the road without moving further out for line of sight. When this instance occurs, the vehicle in question exposes itself to risk arid accident, in particular cyclist collisions, head on collisions, glancing collisions and may force other road users into oncoming traffic. The tendency of humans is to lean sideways to gain better view. This moves the driver's line of sight so they can no longer see in side or rear view mirrors, it loosens the seat belt reducing its effectiveness in the event of impact and may make injury worse in the event of impact due to the leaning position pre compressing the driver's spinal discs.

The proposed device would attach to the windscreen of vehicles ahead on the passenger side of the driver and comprise of at least two mirrors to provide a view ahead from the passenger side and may comprise of additional mirrors to see blind spots to the side and rear. Whilst the vehicle may still need to protrude into a crossing lane to gain line of sight, the protrusion will be significantly reduced compared with not using the device as line of sight will be attained earlier, reducing the risk of collision. A combination of mirrors used to provide a double reflection arid a corrected view to the front or rear of the vehicle. The primary mirror being convex or aspheric and capturing the image ahead and the secondary mirror being flat and reflecting the image to the driver. Additional mirrors would be flat, convex or aspheric to provide additional blind spot views.

The mirrors will be adjustable by the driver by applying pressure at or around the desired area of movement.

The adjustment and support means will be provided by Loc-line modular hosing, providing a fuliy adjustable arm connecting the body to the mirrors. The adjustment and support means may also be provided by flexible long arms The method of affixation to the windscreen will ideally be using a suction cup, although the affixation may a'so be provided by other means, such as pre fabrication in the windscreen or adhesion.

The body will be used to hold the parts together, although a hollow inner space may be used to house various forms of technology induding but not limited to cameras, tracking devices, driving-style monitors, transmitters, GPS and scanners.

The mirrors will be flat, convex, aspheric or a combination of these The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the suction cup and body with mounted mirrored faces attached by flexible modular hosing.

In figure 1, a suction cup 1 holds the body 2 to the windscreen. The body 2 is used as a mounting for the two mirrored surfaces 3, 4 to the mounts 5,6 which are attached to the body by flexible modular hosing 7,8. The mirrors are adjustable by moving the flexible modular hosing.

Claims

Claims 1. A vehicular visual safety device comprising means for attaching the device to a windscreen, means for connecting the body to the attachment means and adjustable mirrors such that the user can gain a corrected line of sight ahead of the vehicle as seen by a person sat in the passenger seat.
2. A vehicular visual safety device according to claim 1, in which the attachment means is provided by a suction cup.
3. A vehicular visual safety device according to claim 1, in which the attachment means is provided by adhesion of a surface to the windscreen.
4. A vehicular visua' safety device according to daim 1, in which the attachment means is provided by integration of the device into the windscreen at manufacture.
5. A vehicular visua' safety device according to daim 1, in which the means for connecting the mirror mounts to the body is provided by arms made up of ball and socket joints i.e. modular hose.
6. A vehicular visual safety device according to claim 1, in which the means for connecting the mirror mounts to the body is provided by a combination of rigid parts and modular hose.
7. A vehicular visua' safety device according to daim 1, in which the means for adjusting the mirrors is a hinge.
8. A vehicular visual safety device according to claim i, in which the means for adjusting the mirrors is bail and socket joints affixing the mirrors to the body (Loc-Line(R)).
9. A vehicular visual safety device according to claim 1, in which the means for adjusting the mirrors is flexible long arms connecting the mirrors to the body.
10. A vehicular visua' safety device according to daims 7, 8 and 9, in which the method of adjustment of the mirrors is manually using tabs either side of the device.
ii. A vehicular visual safety device according to claims 7, 8 and 9, in which the method of adjustment of the mirrors is electronically using controls near the driver.
12. A vehicular visual safety device according to claims 7, 8 and 9, in which the method of adjustment of the mirrors is hydraulically using controls near the driver.
13. A vehicular visua' safety device according to daims 7,8 and 9, in which the method of adjustment of the mirrors is a knob handle attached to the mirrors.
14. A vehicular visual safety device according to claims 7, 8 and 9, fri which the method of adjustment of the mirrors is pneumatically using controls near the driver.
15. A vehicular visual safety device according to claim 7, in which the setting is dampened and held in place by internal rubber hinges.
16. A vehicular visual safety device according to claims 7, 8 and 9, fri which the setting is dampened arid held in place by pneumatic pistons.
17. A vehicular visua' safety device according to daims 7,8 and 9, in which the setting is dampened and held in place by hydraulic pistons.
18. A vehicular visual safety device according to claim 7, 8 and 9, fri which the setting is dampened and held in place by rack and pinion system.
19. A vehicular visual safety device according to claim 1, in which the mirrors are a combination of flat and convex.
20. A vehicular visual safety device according to claim 1, in which the mirrors are a combination of flat and aspheric.
21. A vehicular visua' safety device according to daim 1, in which electronic components are housed inside the body.