Bicycle Rearview Mirror Integrated Reflective Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rearview mirrors for bicycles are expensive to manufacture and pose safety risks due to breakable glass, while legal requirements restrict design flexibility by mandating minimum sizes that clash with customer desires for smaller, more compact mirrors.
Innovation Solution
The rearview mirror integrates the reflecting surface as part of the housing, machined from a single piece of metal, eliminating the need for separate glass and allowing for a more compact, unbreakable design with a protective coating, and enabling flexible customization and integration of additional features like LEDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate mirror glass is used in conventional rearview mirrors, then the reflecting surface can be achieved, but the mirror glass breaks easily causing safety risks and requires additional assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing and reflecting surface into a single integrated component. The housing is machined from a solid block of material with the reflecting surface formed as an integral part, eliminating the need for separate mirror glass and damping materials. This integration removes multiple assembly steps and eliminates the safety risks associated with breakable glass while maintaining the reflective function.
2Manufacturing precision
If the minimum legal size of 69 cm² is required for the reflecting surface, then compliance with standards is achieved, but the mirror becomes larger than customers desire
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the shape parameters of the reflecting surface by implementing a convex curvature instead of a flat surface. This curvature allows the mirror to provide a wider field of view within the same physical footprint, effectively meeting the 69 cm² minimum requirement while keeping the overall mirror size compact and aesthetically pleasing for customer acceptance.
3Illumination intensity
If conventional mirror glass with reflecting coating is used, then the reflecting function is achieved, but production becomes expensive requiring separate manufacturing lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the housing manufacturing and reflecting surface creation into a single machining process. Instead of separately manufacturing mirror glass with reflecting coatings and then assembling it into the housing, the reflecting surface is machined directly from the housing material itself, eliminating the need for separate glass manufacturing lines and reducing production costs.
4Strength
If a rim surrounding the reflecting surface is added to protect the mirror glass, then protection is achieved, but the mirror diameter increases by at least 5 mm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for a separate protective rim by integrating the protecting function into the housing structure itself. The housing is machined to provide inherent structural support and protection to the reflecting surface, removing the need for additional peripheral rim elements that would increase the overall mirror diameter.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies and cost-reduces production, enhances safety by eliminating breakable glass, and allows for a more compact, customizable design that meets legal requirements while offering improved optical quality and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanically machined surface of the housing or the machined part of the surface has a degree of reflection that is equal to or better than that of a conventional mirror glass
Implementation Method 2
allowing for a more compact, unbreakable design with a protective coating
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a rearview mirror (1) for a two-wheeled vehicle, the rearview mirror (1) comprising a housing (2) and a reflective surface (11). The method comprises the following steps: - manufacturing a blank for the housing (2) from a metal, preferably aluminum, and - forming the reflective surface (11) as an integral part of the housing (2) by mechanically machining at least a portion of a surface of the housing (2), so that the reflective surface (11) is formed integrally with the housing (2). Subsequently, the reflective surface (11) can be provided with a transparent protective layer (15). Furthermore, the housing (2) can be given any desired outer contour (30) by mechanical machining.