Lighted vehicular exterior rearview mirror system
First Claim
1. An exterior rearview mirror system for vehicle comprising:
- an exterior mirror assembly including a housing, a mounting member, and a reflective element, said mounting member being adapted to mount to the vehicle, said housing being pivotally mounted on said mounting member and being movable between a normal viewing position and a folded position, and said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one light assembly, said light assembly projecting a first light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle when said housing is in said normal operating position and projecting a second light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly when said housing is in said folded position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a signal light that provides an advanced notification system to approaching vehicles that the driver of the vehicle intends to turn or make a lane change. The exterior mirror assembly includes a housing with a reflective element and a positioning device for adjusting the position of the reflective element in the housing, and at least one signal light positioned in the housing. The signal light includes a light source and a light conduiting member which is adapted to project a pattern of light from the housing and yet restrict light from extending into the vehicle so that a driver seated in the vehicle does not directly observe the pattern of light. The light source may be provided by a light pipe which is optically coupled to a remote light source located, for example, in the vehicle. Preferably, the pattern of light extends at least rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle. In one form, the light conduiting member includes a light input surface on one end and at least one light emitting surface for directing light outwardly from the housing of the exterior mirror assembly. In another form, the exterior mirror assembly includes a powerfold mirror system which incorporates a security light which directs light in a first light pattern when mirror assembly is in its normal use position and a second pattern when the mirror assembly is in its folded position.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An exterior rearview mirror system for vehicle comprising:
an exterior mirror assembly including a housing, a mounting member, and a reflective element, said mounting member being adapted to mount to the vehicle, said housing being pivotally mounted on said mounting member and being movable between a normal viewing position and a folded position, and said exterior mirror assembly further including at least one light assembly, said light assembly projecting a first light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly from the vehicle when said housing is in said normal operating position and projecting a second light pattern from said exterior mirror assembly downwardly and rearwardly when said housing is in said folded position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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19. An exterior rearview mirror system for vehicle comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly including a housing and a reflective element, said housing being adapted to mount to the vehicle, said reflective element comprising a substrate and a reflective coating on said substrate, a portion of said reflective coating being removed from said substrate to form a window; and
at least one signal light assembly, said signal light assembly being positioned behind said reflective element and projecting a pattern of light through said window and being adapted to restrict light from extending into the vehicle so that a driver seated in the vehicle does not directly observe said pattern of light, and said pattern of light extending at least rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle.
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33. An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror housing including a cavity with rearward facing opening;
a reflective element located in said housing; and
a signal light assembly co-located in said housing laterally with respect to said reflective element, and said signal light assembly being adapted to direct light in a light pattern and to restrict light from entering into the vehicle so that the driver of the vehicle does not directly observe said light pattern, and said light pattern extending rearwardly and laterally from the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification