Rear view mirror

Abstract

A rear view mirror assembly is disclosed in which the mirror has a viewing section and an alignment section meeting to form a reflex angle. The alignment section is etched with a targeting image: a cross-hair or the side surface of the vehicle. When the targeting image is aligned with appropriate feature on the side of the vehicle, the reflex angle is such that the mirror is properly aligned. Also disclosed is a mirror assembly having viewing section and an alignment section with a clear protective outer layer a selective acceptance layer below the clear protective outer layer, and a colored substrate below the selective layer. When the vehicle operator can see the colored substrate through the selective acceptance layer, which transmits only normal light, the mirror is properly aligned.

1 . A mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 an angle adjusting mechanism;   a mirror having a viewing section and an alignment section that are oriented to form a reflex angle;   wherein the alignment section is marked with a targeting feature that is visually aligned with a selected portion of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is properly aligned.   
     
     
         2 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1  wherein the targeting feature comprises a cross-hair. 
     
     
         3 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1  wherein the targeting feature comprises an outline of part of the side of the vehicle and the selected portion of the vehicle is an image of the outline of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1  wherein the viewing section is more than five times larger than the alignment section in cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         5 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1  wherein the adjusting mechanism is coupled to a mirror housing and the mirror housing is coupled to a side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mirror assembly is attached to a side of a vehicle, the viewing section is contiguous and continuous with respect to the alignment section, and the viewing section is located outboard of the alignment section with respect to the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1  wherein the reflex angle is such that when the targeting feature is visually aligned with a side surface of the vehicle, the viewing section provides an image that excludes all parts of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1  wherein the targeting feature is etched into the alignment section. 
     
     
         9 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1  wherein the alignment section has lower reflectivity than the viewing section. 
     
     
         10 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1  wherein the viewing and alignment sections abut each other and the abutting interface is generally vertical. 
     
     
         11 . A mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 an adjustable mounting structure;   a mirror having a viewing section and an alignment section with the viewing section contiguous with the alignment section, the alignment section having a visual alignment feature that may be viewed to confirm that the viewing section is properly aligned with the adjustable mounting structure.   
     
     
         12 . The mirror assembly of  claim 11  wherein the visual alignment feature comprises a selective acceptance layer that reflects light in a limited field of view. 
     
     
         13 . The mirror assembly of  claim 12  wherein the selective acceptance layer covers an opaque colored layer. 
     
     
         14 . The mirror assembly of  claim 13  further comprising a clear protective layer over the selective acceptance layer. 
     
     
         15 . The mirror assembly of  claim 14  wherein the selective acceptance layer and the opaque colored layer are embedded in the viewing section. 
     
     
         16 . The mirror assembly of  claim 11  wherein the alignment section abuts with the viewing section forming a reflex angle and the visual alignment feature comprises a targeting feature and the viewing section and the alignment section interface in an unbroken manner. 
     
     
         17 . The mirror assembly of  claim 16  wherein the targeting feature comprises an outline of the side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The mirror assembly of  claim 16  wherein the alignment section has a lower reflectivity than the viewing section. 
     
     
         19 . A method to provide a mirror assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
 installing a mirror adjustment mechanism to a mirror frame, the mirror frame having a mirror mounted wherein the mirror has a flat surface with a facet, the facet having an alignment feature to indicate when the mirror is properly aligned; and   installing the mirror frame on an outside surface of the vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the alignment feature is an outline of the outside edge of the vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the mirror is uninterrupted by the facet and the facet and mirror abut each other with the facet being inboard of the mirror with respect to the vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the facet comprises:
 a clear protective outer layer;   a selective acceptance layer below the clear protective outer layer; and   an opaque colored substrate below the selective layer; and the selective acceptance layer transmits light rays which are normal to its surface and absorbs non normal light rays.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the plane of the mirror and the plane of the facet form an obtuse angle in the range of 135 to 175 degrees. 
     
     
         24 . A mirror assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 a mirror having a viewing section and an alignment section that are oriented to form a reflex angle;   an angle adjusting mechanism coupled between the vehicle and the mirror;   
       wherein:
 the alignment section is marked with a targeting feature that is visually aligned with a selected portion of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is properly aligned; 
 an interface between the viewing section and the alignment section is oriented substantially vertically and is continuous; and 
 the viewing section is located outboard of the alignment section. 
 
     
     
         25 . The mirror assembly of  claim 24  wherein the targeting feature is etched onto the alignment section. 
     
     
         26 . The mirror assembly of  claim 24  wherein the targeting feature is painted onto the alignment section. 
     
     
         27 . The mirror assembly of  claim 24  wherein the alignment section is of lower reflectivity than the viewing section. 
     
     
         28 . The mirror assembly of  claim 24  wherein the targeting feature is an outline of the side of the vehicle.