Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent
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Re: Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent
#2In the United States, regulations dictate that cars coming off of the assembly line must have a flat mirror on the driver's side. Curved mirrors are allowed for cars' passenger-side mirrors only if they include the phrase "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear."
Because of these regulations, Hicks's mirrors will not be installed on new cars sold in the U.S. any time soon. The mirror may be manufactured and sold as an aftermarket product that drivers and mechanics can install on cars after purchase. Some countries in Europe and Asia do allow slightly curved mirrors on new cars. Hicks has received interest from investors and manufacturers who may pursue opportunities to license and produce the mirror.
Re: Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent
#3In the United States, regulations dictate that cars coming off of the assembly line must have a flat mirror on the driver's side. Curved mirrors are allowed for cars' passenger-side mirrors only if they include the phrase "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." Because of these regulations, Hicks's mirrors will not be installed on new cars sold in the U.S. any time soon. The mirror may be manufactured and so…
so the question becomes, is his patent valid in Europe and Asia?
Re: Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent
#4In the United States, regulations dictate that cars coming off of the assembly line must have a flat mirror on the driver's side. Curved mirrors are allowed for cars' passenger-side mirrors only if they include the phrase "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." Because of these regulations, Hicks's mirrors will not be installed on new cars sold in the U.S. any time soon. The mirror may be manufactured and so…
so the question becomes, is his patent valid in Europe and Asia?
Pretty much all cars where I live (Finland) already have non-flat mirrors.
The most common type of mirror on the driver's side in new cars seems to be one which has a flat part (to show objects in their "true size") and a curved part at (to show a wider field of view).
Re: Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent
#5Earlier quoted context omitted.
so the question becomes, is his patent valid in Europe and Asia?
Pretty much all cars where I live (Finland) already have non-flat mirrors. The most common type of mirror on the driver's side in new cars seems to be one which has a flat part (to show objects in their "true size") and a curved part at (to show a wider field of view).
yeah my old polo from the 90s has a drivers mirror that has a flat part and then a second, differently angled section that lets you see the blind spot.
Re: Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent
#6Mirrors for ignorant people who don't adjust theirs properly.
Your car does not have a "blind spot.". Fix your mirror position and move on.
Re: Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
so the question becomes, is his patent valid in Europe and Asia?
Pretty much all cars where I live (Finland) already have non-flat mirrors. The most common type of mirror on the driver's side in new cars seems to be one which has a flat part (to show objects in their "true size") and a curved part at (to show a wider field of view).
In India, we have stick-on blind spot mirrors that you can attach on your driver side mirror.
Re: Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent
#8In the United States, regulations dictate that cars coming off of the assembly line must have a flat mirror on the driver's side. Curved mirrors are allowed for cars' passenger-side mirrors only if they include the phrase "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." Because of these regulations, Hicks's mirrors will not be installed on new cars sold in the U.S. any time soon. The mirror may be manufactured and so…
I am an easy sell to jump to conclusions about gov't idiocy but this one is so audacious it seems like there must a relevant reason - so why can't I have a curved mirror that is more efficient?
Re: Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent
#9In the United States, regulations dictate that cars coming off of the assembly line must have a flat mirror on the driver's side. Curved mirrors are allowed for cars' passenger-side mirrors only if they include the phrase "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." Because of these regulations, Hicks's mirrors will not be installed on new cars sold in the U.S. any time soon. The mirror may be manufactured and so…
Maybe since it is based on tiny flat mirrors (like a disco ball), that law can somehow be loopholed. If the law was based on wanting to avoid distortions, whether the law applies to these new mirrors should be reconsidered? Surely, _some_ common sense exists in US legislature?
Re: Math professor's side mirror that eliminates 'blind spot' receives US patent
#10A lot of new cars I've seen have partial curve to alleviate the blind spot.
But what often goes unmentioned is adjusting an older, flat mirror correctly in the first place. I used to adjust mine so that a tiny portion of my car was in the lower right hand corner of the mirror. After a few years, I realised that adjusting the mirror out, further away from the car, gave me the widest and most practical view for driving of the lane to the left of me.