(12) United States Patent
`Yamabe
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,984,048 B2
`Jan. 10, 2006
`
`USOO6984.048B2
`
`DE
`GB
`GB
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`WO
`
`(54) DOOR MIRROR
`75 (75) Inventor: Hideyasu Yamabe, Osaka (JP)
`(73) Assignee: Atras Auto Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/699,181
`1-1.
`(22) Filed:
`(65)
`
`Oct. 31, 2003
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2004/0090689 A1
`May 13, 2004
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`Nov. 1, 2002
`(JP)
`............................. 2002-319405
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G02B 7/182
`(2006.01)
`B60R I/06
`(2006.01)
`B60R I/08
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 359/841; 359/872; 359/877
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 359/850,
`359/851, 855, 865, 866, 874, 876, 841, 843,
`35 9/872,877
`See application file for complete Search history.
`
`(56)
`
`:
`
`8/2001 Englander
`2001/0012164 A1
`2/2002 Belaire ....................... 359/866
`2002/0015241 A1
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3839322
`5/1990
`2 200 609 A * 8/1988
`2223724. A * 4/1990
`08-058473 A * 3/1996
`08-198010 A * 8/1996
`09-301.072 A * 11/1997
`11-115631 A * 4/1999
`2000-052862 A * 2/2000
`2000-108786 A * 4/2000
`2003-040037 A * 2/2003
`WO 03/O11641 A1 * 2/2003
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“Correct Car Mirror Adjustment for YOUR Safety”, Popular
`Science, p. 43, Dec. 1992.*
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner John Juba, Jr.
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-D. Peter Hochberg; Sean
`Mellino; Katherine R. Vieyra
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A door mirror which is installed on a motor vehicle's body
`in Such a manner as to project laterally from the vehicle's
`body so as to reflect on a surface of the mirror what is behind
`the vehicle's body, wherein the mirror Surface of the door
`mirror is divided into two parts, and thus divided mirror
`Surfaces are respectively provided with reflection angle
`References Cited
`adjusting mechanisms. So that reflection angles of the divided
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`mirror Surfaces can be independently and arbitrarily
`:
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - E. adjusted, and the divided mirror Surface positioned on the
`3. A : 1. 1959
`2. A 3. SN, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 359/8
`outer Side can be turned to project laterally from the door
`
`4,502.759 A 3/1985 Herzog et al. .............. 350876
`5,760,978 A * 6/1998 Smith ......................... 359/855
`6,193,377 B1 *
`2/2001 Spigner ...................... 359/602
`
`mirror to face outward.
`10 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
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`US 6,984,048 B2
`
`1
`DOOR MIRROR
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to a door mirror, in particular, to an
`improvement in a door mirror which is installed on the
`outside Surface of a motor vehicle's door on each side of the
`driver's Seat in Such a manner as to project laterally relative
`to the vehicle's body so that it can reflect what is behind the
`vehicle's body.
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A door mirror for reflecting what is behind the vehicle's
`body is installed as a kind of Safety device on the outside
`Surface of a motor vehicle's door on each side of the driver's
`Seat.
`In general, however, there exists a driver's blind Spot
`behind the vehicle's body, which is not reflected in the door
`mirror. When altering the reflection angle of the mirror So as
`to make Such blind Spot visible, an antinomic problem
`occurs of permitting a spot having been visible to become a
`blind Spot. Accordingly, to make Sure of the Safety behind
`the vehicle's body with the door mirror, care must be taken
`of the above characteristic of the mirror. In addition, there
`has occurred another problem that when adjusting the reflec
`tion angle of the mirror So as to make Visible what is in the
`distance behind the vehicle's body, it becomes difficult to
`view the rear wheel portion so as to prevent the vehicle from
`running onto the shoulder of a road due to the difference in
`distance from the shoulder between the front wheel and the
`rear wheel.
`Further, when two vehicles pass each other on a narrow
`road or when a vehicle is put in a Small garage, the door
`mirror is often folded so as to make the vehicle's width as
`Small as possible; however, this also causes a problem in that
`once the door mirror is folded, what is behind the vehicle's
`body, that has been seen in the mirror until then, becomes
`completely invisible, making it difficult to make Sure of the
`safety behind the vehicle's body.
`Still further, when adjusting the reflection angle of the
`mirror So as to make visible what is in the distance behind
`the vehicle's body, as described above, it also becomes
`difficult to make sure of the safety around the rear wheels,
`causing a problem of permitting accidents, Such as wheels
`coming off, to be more likely to occur.
`In order to overcome these problems, there have been
`proposed Some types of door mirrors: for example, proposed
`in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000
`272419 is a door mirror of which mirror Surface has its outer
`portion convexly curved to broaden the driver's view so that
`the driver's blind Spot is decreased as much as possible; and
`proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
`2000-108782 is a door mirror of which side Surface has
`another mirror affixed thereon So that it can be used, when
`the door mirror is fold down, to see what is behind the
`vehicle's body and make Sure of the safety there.
`However, in the former invention, that is, the door mirror
`of which mirror Surface has its outer portion convexly
`curved to broaden the driver's view, since the flat mirror
`Surface, as a main portion, and the convexly curved mirror
`Surface are continuously formed, the images reflected in the
`door mirror Seem to the driver to change from a natural State
`at the main portion to a distorted State at the outer portion,
`which causes a problem of making the images leSS readable,
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`and moreover, a problem of the driver's getting confused by
`the distortedly changing images and being unable to look
`carefully frontward.
`Further, even with Such a door mirror, the problem cannot
`be overcome of making invisible what is in the distance
`behind the vehicle's body when adjusting the reflection
`angle of the door mirror to make the rear wheels and their
`vicinities visible with an intention of preventing the rear
`wheels from running onto the shoulder of a road.
`In the latter invention, that is, the door mirror of which
`Side Surface has another Smaller mirror affixed thereon,
`when using the door mirror in the unfolded State, the Smaller
`mirror affixed on its side Surface is not only useleSS for
`making sure of the safety behind the vehicle's body, but
`liable to be an obstacle of other drivers safe driving because
`it reflects in an unexpected direction the Sunlight or head
`lamp lights of oncoming cars. Further, Such a door mirror
`has another problem of being more likely to come in contact
`with Some other things during the vehicle's moving, and
`once having come in contact with others, it is easily broken,
`as a result, it will never be able to be utilized again.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention is intended to solve the above mentioned
`problems, and has an object to develop a door mirror which
`can easily eliminate driver's blind spots produced beyond
`the limits of coverage by the door mirror during the vehicle's
`movement, and can permit a driver of the vehicle to easily
`make Sure of the safety behind the vehicle's body even when
`the driver drives the vehicle backward with its door mirror
`folded down.
`In order to accomplish the above object, the door mirror
`of this invention is such that it is installed on the outside
`Surface of the door of a vehicle on each side of the driver's
`Seat in Such a manner as to project laterally from the door So
`that it can reflect what is behind the vehicle's body and its
`mirror Surface is divided into two parts, each divided part of
`the mirror Surface being provided with a reflection angle
`adjusting mechanism So that the reflection angle of each
`divided part is variable independently and arbitrarily.
`Accordingly, by remote-controlling the reflection angle of
`each divided part of the mirror Surface arbitrarily, a main
`reflected image is visible on one divided part while another
`image in the direction that the driver wants to observe, for
`example, an image of what is on the lateral Side of the
`vehicle's body is visible on the other part of the mirror
`Surface, leading to reduction in driver's blind spots or
`elimination of driver's blind spots.
`The line that divides the mirror Surface may be a hori
`Zontal line to divide the Surface into the upper and lower
`parts, or a vertical line to divide the Surface into the right and
`left parts.
`In the former case, what is beneath and behind the
`vehicle's body is visible on the lower part of the divided
`mirror Surface while what is in a distance behind the
`vehicle's body is visible on the upper part of the divided
`mirror Surface. In the latter case, what is in a distance behind
`the vehicle's body is visible on the inner-side part of the
`divided mirror Surface while what is in the vicinity of the
`lateral side of the vehicle's body is visible on the outer-side
`part of the divided mirror surface.
`In the latter case, the outer-Side part of the door mirror can
`be turned to project laterally So that the mirror Surface
`thereof faces outward.
`In this case, not only the reflection angle of the mirror
`Surface can be adjusted to eliminate the driver's blind Spots
`
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`US 6,984,048 B2
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`3
`behind the vehicle's body, but also what is behind the
`vehicle's body can be observed on the outer-side part mirror
`surface of the door mirror that has been turned laterally to
`project outward, even when the door mirror is folded down.
`Thus, it becomes possible to make sure of the safety behind
`the vehicle's body.
`The above door mirror may also be constructed in Such a
`manner that the two divided parts of the mirror surface be
`Supported by a common base of which reflection angle is
`variable to any desired angle by a first reflection angle
`adjusting mechanism, and the reflection angle of either one
`of the divided parts of the door mirror is adjustable inde
`pendently by a Second reflection angle adjusting mechanism
`provided on the common base.
`Since the angles of the divided parts of the mirror surface
`are integrally adjustable as a whole, even if the mirror
`Surface is divided into two parts, the divided mirror Surfaces
`can be used as a Single Surface in a continuously connected
`State, whereas the angles of the divided parts of the mirror
`Surface can be independently varied, thus rendering the door
`mirror to be highly adaptable.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a front view of a door mirror in accordance with
`embodiment 1 of the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a front view of the door mirror in accordance
`with embodiment 1, showing another Structural example,
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the door mirror in
`accordance with embodiment 1, showing Still another Struc
`tural example,
`FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a door mirror in accordance
`with embodiment 2, illustrating a mechanism of the door
`mirror;
`FIG. 5 is a front view of a main part of the door mirror in
`accordance with embodiment 2, illustrating the mechanism
`of the Same;
`FIG. 6 is a side view of the main part of the door mirror
`in accordance with embodiment 2, illustrating the mecha
`nism of the same;
`FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the main part of the door
`mirror in accordance with embodiment 2, illustrating an
`operation of the door mirror;
`FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the door mirror in accordance
`with embodiment 2, showing another Structural example,
`FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the door mirror in accordance
`with embodiment 2, showing Still another Structural
`example,
`FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a door mirror in accordance
`with embodiment 3,
`FIG. 11 is a side view of the door mirror in accordance
`with embodiment 3,
`FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the door mirror in accor
`dance with embodiment 3, showing another Structural
`example,
`FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a door mirror in accordance
`with embodiment 4,
`FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the door mirror in
`accordance with embodiment 4, showing another structural
`example,
`FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a door mirror in accordance
`with embodiment 5; and
`FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a door mirror in accordance
`with embodiment 6.
`
`4
`DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
`
`In the following, embodiments of a door mirror of this
`invention will be described.
`
`Embodiment 1
`
`In a door mirror 1 shown in FIG. 1, its mirror Surface 4
`for reflecting what is behind a vehicle's body is divided into
`two parts: an inner part which is nearer to the vehicle's body;
`and an outer part which is farther away from the vehicle's
`body, and reflection angles of the two divided mirror Sur
`faceS 4a, 4b can be arbitrarily changed respectively by
`reflection angle adjusting mechanisms 2, 3 mounted on the
`rear faces of the inner part and outer part divided mirror
`surfaces 4a, 4b, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1. The
`mechanisms for adjusting the reflection angles of the mirror
`Surfaces are of the Same types as the conventionally used
`ones, and their structures may be explained as follows. The
`reflection angle adjusting mechanism 2 includes a vertical
`shaft 2a and a horizontal shaft 2b interSecting croSSwise in
`a croSS shape. The vertical shaft 2a is Supported by bearings
`2c fixed to a casing 1c of the door mirror, while the
`horizontal shaft 2b is supported by bearings 2d fixed to the
`rear face of the mirror surface 4a. Each shaft is provided
`with a spring (not shown) and is urged to rotate in a fixed
`direction. Projections 2e, 2fare fixed to the inner face of the
`casing 1C, respectively at positions on virtually extended
`lines of the vertical shaft 2a and the horizontal shaft 2b
`interSecting croSSwise to each other, the projections 2e, 2f
`being capable of protruding. When the projections 2e, 2fare
`caused to protrude against the urging forces of the Springs
`while pushing the rear face of the mirror Surface 4a, the
`reflection angle of the mirror Surface 4a can be changed in
`a three-dimensional direction.
`According to this door mirror 1, driver's blind spots that
`cannot be eliminated by one mirror Surface 4a can be
`eliminated with the aid of the other mirror Surface 4b if the
`reflection angles of the mirror SurfaceS 4a, 4b are indepen
`dently adjusted by the reflection angle adjusting mechanisms
`2, 3. Moreover, the reflection angles can be arbitrarily
`adjusted when a driver remote-controls the reflection angle
`adjusting mechanisms 2, 3 while observing the mirror Sur
`faces 4a, 4b; thus, the use of the door mirror 1 makes it
`possible to eliminate much more of the driver's blind spots.
`In the above-mentioned embodiment, the mirror Surface
`of a door mirror is divided into right-hand and left-hand
`parts, but the mirror Surface of the door mirror may be
`divided into upper and lower parts, as shown in FIG. 2, Such
`that the reflection angles of the divided mirror Surfaces 4c,
`4d are independently adjusted by reflection angle adjusting
`mechanisms 2, 3.
`In this case, what is in the distance behind the vehicle's
`body is visible in the upper part of the divided mirror surface
`4c while what is in the lower part behind the vehicle's body
`is visible in the lower part of the mirror surface 4d, so that
`the obstacles behind the vehicle's body can be observed
`regardless of the distance, which makes possible prevention
`of the vehicle's running over the shoulder of a road due to
`the difference in the distance from the shoulder between the
`front wheel and the rear wheel when driving forward and
`prevention of wheels coming off when driving backward.
`Further, the door mirror may be So designed that its mirror
`Surface is composed of a combination of right-hand and
`left-hand divided mirror Surfaces, as shown in FIG. 1, and
`upper and lower divided mirror Surfaces, as shown in FIG.
`2. For example, the mirror Surface 4a shown in FIG. 1 is
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`further divided into upper and lower mirror Surfaces, and the
`reflection angles of thus divided mirror Surfaces are made
`adjustable independently.
`Further, the door mirror may be So designed that its mirror
`Surface having an outer-Side portion curved to face outward,
`as shown in FIG. 3, is divided into right-hand and left-hand
`two parts, and the reflection angles of thus divided mirror
`SurfaceS 4a, 4b are made adjustable independently.
`In this case, the curved mirror Surface is divided by a
`division line 4e into two parts visually clearly, which allows
`the driver to avoid getting confused by reflected images
`distortedly continuous from a flat Surface to a curved Sur
`face.
`AS described above, according to this door mirror, the
`reflection angles of the respective divided mirror Surfaces
`are arbitrarily adjusted, so that a driver's blind spot that
`cannot be covered by one part of the mirror Surfaces can be
`can be covered by the other part of the mirror surfaces. Thus,
`what is distant behind the vehicle's body is reflected on the
`door mirror visibly more discernably.
`
`5
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`Embodiment 2
`
`The door mirror in accordance with embodiment 2, a
`croSS Section of which is shown in FIG. 4, is So designed that
`the reflection angles of the right-hand and left-hand divided
`mirror Surfaces are arbitrarily adjustable by reflection angle
`adjusting mechanisms 2, 3, and the outer-Side mirror Surface
`4b can be extended, integrally with the reflection angle
`adjusting mechanism 3, to project outward of a lateral face
`1a of the door mirror 1 by a turning mechanism 7 including
`a slide link mechanism, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
`This turning mechanism 7 is co-axially Supported by the
`shaft of a pinion 8 together with a guide rail 7a provided on
`the inside face of a casing 1c pendicularly to the mirror
`surface 4b, a slider 7b that slides along the guide rail 7a, the
`pinion 8 Supported by a shaft perpendicular to the sliding
`direction of the slider 7b, and a rack 9 provided at the end
`of the stroke of the slider 7b. A turning arm 10 of which front
`portion is bent in a reversed J shape as shown in FIG. 4, a
`mirror Surface 4b attached to a reversed-J-shaped tip portion
`of the turning arm 10 via the reflection angle adjusting
`mechanism 3 having the same Structure as that of embodi
`ment 1, and a crank arm 11 for slidably driving the slider 7b
`along the guide rail 7a, are pivotally Supported by the
`rotating shaft 12 which is perpendicular to the sliding
`direction of the slider 7b. And a slotted groove 11a is
`engaged with a pin 7c provided to the slider 7b so as to
`slidingly move the slider 7b by the rotation of the crank arm
`11. The rotating shaft 12 is operatively connected with a rod
`14 and a crank 13 for rotationally moving the rotating shaft
`12 according to the turning motion of the body of the
`rear-view mirror 1 and a rod 14, and the rod 14 is rotatably
`supported by a shaft 16 Supported by a bearing 15 provided
`on a vehicle's body 5.
`In FIG. 4, reference numeral 17 denotes a motor for
`driving the door mirror 1 to turn, and the shaft of the motor
`is provided with a gear 18 which drives a driven gear 19 on
`the door mirror side. When it is given a rotational motion by
`remote-controlling the motor 17, the door mirror 1 is
`allowed to be folded parallel to the vehicle's body or
`reversely unfolded.
`The operation of this door mirror will be described.
`During the vehicle's ordinary running, the door mirror is
`used to reflect what is behind the vehicle's body while
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`US 6,984,048 B2
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`6
`adjusting the reflection angles of the divided mirror Surfaces
`4a, 4b by controlling the turning angle around the horizontal
`and vertical shafts.
`When there arises a need to fold the door mirror, for
`example, when two vehicles pass each other on a narrow
`road or when a vehicle is moved into a Small garage, the
`door mirror is folded by hand or by remote-controlling the
`motor 17.
`At this point, once the door mirror 1 is turned in the
`direction in which it is folded, the relative spacing between
`the rotating Shaft 12 and the Supporting shaft 16 on the
`vehicle's body side is gradually widened, which allows the
`rod 14 to pull the crank 13, causing the shaft 12 to rotate, as
`a result, the slider 7b is pushed by the rotating crank arm 11
`via the pin 7c and moved frontward of the mirror Surface 4b.
`Since the slider 7b and the divided mirror Surface 4b are
`connected by the turning arm 10, the divided mirror surface
`4b is caused by the movement of the slider 7b to protrude
`frontward in a parallel manner to its mirror Surface, as
`shown by the arrow A in FIG. 7.
`When the divided mirror Surface has protruded to a
`position where it can turn without causing a Space 10a
`enclosed by the reverse-J-shaped arm 10 for giving a rota
`tional motion, to interfere with the opening end of the casing
`1c, the pinion 8 Starts to engage with the rack 9 and rotate,
`causing the arm 10 to turn counterclockwise, as indicated by
`the arrow B in FIG. 7, and after the arm has turned to project
`the divided mirror surface 4b laterally outward, the divided
`mirror Surface 4b Stops with its Surface facing outward, as
`indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 7.
`The projected distance of the divided mirror Surface 4b
`shown in FIG. 7 is adjusted according to the width of the
`space 10a enclosed in the turning arm 10.
`At this point, the entire door mirror 1 has been folded
`down parallel to the lateral-side face of the vehicle's body,
`while the mirror surface 4b has been projected laterally
`outward of the door mirror 1, in other words, projected to a
`position where it can reflect what is behind the vehicles
`body. Thus, even when the door mirror 1 is folded down, the
`driver can make sure of the safety behind the vehicle's body.
`Furthermore, since the divided mirror Surface 4b is
`attached to the turning arm 10 via the reflection angle
`adjusting mechanism 3, even after it is turned to project
`outward of the lateral face of the door mirror 1, its reflection
`angle can be adjusted.
`When the folded door mirror 1 is unfolded again, contrary
`to the above described operation, with the rotational motion
`of the shaft 12 caused by the pushing motion of the rod 14,
`the slider 7b is pulled by the crank arm 11 and driven in the
`direction in which it is restored to its original position, and
`with this motion of the slider 7b, the pinion 8 engaging with
`the rack 9 starts to rotate, causing the arm 10 to turn in the
`direction of restoring its original position, and then with the
`movement of the slider 7b toward its original position, the
`divided mirror surface 4b is moved in parallel to its own
`Surface to be accommodated in the casing 1c and finally
`allowed to be in the same plane as the original divided
`mirror Surface 4a. In this State, the reflection angles of the
`divided mirror Surfaces are adjusted, if necessary.
`Thus, according to the door mirror of the embodiment 2,
`Since the reflection angles of the divided mirror SurfaceS 4a,
`4b can be arbitrarily adjusted, the effect obtained is that the
`driver's blind spots that have been unable to be eliminated
`by one mirror Surface can be eliminated by the provision of
`the other mirror Surface. Moreover, when folding down the
`door mirror 1 parallel to the lateral-side face of the vehicle's
`body, since the divided mirror surface 4b is automatically
`
`SMR USA
`Exhibit 1038
`Page 019
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`

`

`US 6,984,048 B2
`
`7
`unfolded and projected laterally outward of the door mirror
`1 along with the folding operation of the door mirror, Such
`an effect can be obtained that the driver can make Sure of the
`safety behind the vehicle's body even when the door mirror
`1 is folded down.
`While the door mirror 1 of embodiment 2 has been
`described taking an example in which the divided mirror
`surface 4b is protruded with the aid of a link mechanism, the
`divided mirror 1 may also be unfolded or folded by provid
`ing a Shaft 12 and a gear rotating Shaft 19 with pulleys 22,
`23, respectively, and winding a power transmission belt 24
`around the pulleys, as shown in FIG. 8, so that the rotational
`motion to unfold or fold the door mirror is transmitted to the
`shaft 12 through the belt. Reference numeral 25 in FIG. 8
`denotes an idler which is used to press the belt 24 as shown
`by the arrow.
`This embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 4
`except that the pulleys 22, 23 and the power transmission
`belt 24 are used instead of the rod 14, the crank 13, and the
`shaft 16. Therefore, the same parts are denoted with the
`Same reference numerals and the detailed description will be
`omitted.
`Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, the divided mirror
`Surface 4b may be rotated and projected via gears 20a, 12a
`as shown by an arrow in the same figure by providing a
`driving motor 20 for the rotating Shaft 12 and actuating the
`driving motor 20 by remote-controlling.
`This embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 4
`except that the driving motor 20 is provided instead of the
`rod 14, the crank 13, and the shaft 16. Therefore, the same
`parts are denoted with the same reference numerals and the
`detailed description will be omitted.
`
`Embodiment 3
`
`In the door mirror 1 in accordance with embodiment 3, the
`reflection angles of its divided mirror SurfaceS 4a, 4b are
`made adjustable by reflection angle adjusting mechanisms 2,
`3 having the same Structure as those of embodiment 1 and
`the divided mirror Surface 4b on the outer side, together with
`the outer Side face 1d of the casing 1c, can be turned to
`project from the casing 1c laterally outward of the Outer Side
`face of the door mirror 1.
`In other words, the divided mirror Surface 4b of the door
`mirror 1 in accordance with the embodiment 3 is attached to
`a curved arm 10b extended from the shaft 12 toward the
`outer periphery via the reflection angle adjusting mechanism
`3, and its outside portion is integrated with a side face
`member 1d that forms the side face portion of the door
`mirror 1.
`The shaft 12 is provided with the pulley 22 and the gear
`rotating shaft 19 of the door mirror 1 is coaxially provided
`with the pulley 23, the power transmission belt 24 is wound
`around the pulley 22, 23, and the divided mirror surface 4b
`is turned outward with the turning motion of the door mirror
`1, as shown by hypothetical lines in FIG. 10. Reference
`numeral 25 in the same figure denotes an idler which is used
`to press the belt 24 as shown by an arrow.
`In this embodiment, too, the rotating Shafts may be
`provided with motor 17, 20, as shown in FIG. 12. The door
`mirror shown in FIG. 13 is the same as that shown in FIG.
`10 except that none of the power transmission belt 24 and
`the pulleys 22, 23 are used. Therefore, the same parts are
`denoted with the same reference numerals and the detailed
`description will be omitted.
`
`8
`Although the illustration is omitted, the shaft 12 may be
`rotationally driven by a rod and a crank which are connected
`to the vehicle's body.
`The door mirror of the embodiment 3 has such an advan
`tage that its mechanism for projecting the divided mirror
`surface 4b laterally outward of the body of the door mirror
`1 is easier and Simpler as compared with that of the door
`mirror 1 of the embodiment 2.
`As described above, when folding down the door mirror
`1 in parallel to the side face of the vehicle's body, the
`divided mirror Surface is driven to project outward. Accord
`ingly, what is behind the vehicle's body is visible on the
`divided mirror Surface, and the driver can make Sure of the
`safety behind the vehicle's body even when a driver must
`drive a vehicle with its door mirrors folded down, for
`example, when two vehicles pass each other on a narrow
`road or when a vehicle is moved into a Small garage.
`
`Embodiment 4
`
`In the door mirror 1 in accordance with embodiment 4, the
`reflection angles of the divided mirror surfaces 4a, 4b can be
`adjusted by reflection angle adjusting mechanisms 2, 3 and
`the casing 1c is also divided into an outer part 31 and an
`inner part 32, as shown in FIG. 13. The divided mirror
`Surface 4b on the outer side is constituted to turn toward the
`outside face of the door mirror 1 integrally with the divided
`part 31 of the casing 1c.
`In other words, in the door mirror 1 in accordance with the
`embodiment 4, the outer-side divided part 31 of the casing
`1c can be turned separately from the inner-side divided part
`32. Specifically, the divided part 31 is pivotally Supported to
`be rotatable around the shaft 34, by a shaft 34 erected on a
`base 33 extended from the inner-side divided part 32.
`A power transmission belt 24 is wound around the shaft
`34 and the rotating shaft 19 of the door mirror 1. The power
`transmission belt 24 is provided with an idler 25 so as to
`adjust the tension of the belt to reliably perform the power
`transmission.
`In this case of embodiment 4, whenever the divided
`mirror Surface 4b on the outer Side is turned, it is being
`accommodated in the casing 31 of the door mirror 1, So that
`it can be protected from rainwater or the like.
`In the door mirror 1 of this embodiment, too, the turning
`motion of the divided part 31 may be performed by an
`independent driving motor 20, as shown in FIG. 14. Since
`the door mirror 1 shown in FIG. 14 is the same as that of
`FIG. 13 except that none of the power transmission belt 24
`and the pulleys 22, 23 are used, the same parts are denoted
`with the same reference numerals and the detailed descrip
`tion will be