Rear view mirror assembly

• US 20040145903A1
• Filed: 12/03/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Arakawa, Kuniaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,048,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 29/00 Adaptations or arrangements of mirrors for use on cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/056 characterised by control means

Abstract

A turn indicator light and a position light are provided for a rear mirror assembly mounted in a vehicle body. A light body for the turn indicator light is a filament light bulb and a light body for the position light is a light emitting diode. Positioning the lights in the rear mirror permits the width of the vehicle to be more recognizable. The turn indicator light and the position light are provided with individual light bodies, respectively, for allowing independent service to be performed with respect to each light.

Claims

1. A rear view mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror housing adapted for mounting on a vehicle body;

a mirror mounted to face rearwardly on the vehicle body; and

a turn indicator light and a separate position light mounted to face forwardly of the vehicle body.

2. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein a light body of said turn indicator light is a filament light bulb and a light body of said position light is a light emitting diode.

3. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said position light is kept OFF while said turn indicator light is flashing OFF and ON for direction indication.

4. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 2, wherein said position light is kept OFF while said turn indicator light is flashing OFF and ON for direction indication.

5. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mirror housing includes a first lens for covering said turn indicator light for enabling illumination therethrough.

6. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mirror housing includes a second lens for covering said position light for enabling illumination therethrough.

7. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of said light emitting diodes are provided for providing illumination.

8. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, and further including a base member for mounting the turn indicator light and the separate position light within the mirror housing.

9. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 8, wherein the base includes a wall surface disposed between the turn indicator light and the separate position light, said wall surface forming a reflector surface reflecting light from the turn indicator light forwardly.

10. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one lens is provided for covering said turn indicator light and the separate position light, and further including a sealing member operatively mounted between the mirror housing and the at least one lens for providing a water tight closure.

11. A rear view mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror housing having a forward surface and a rearward surface;

a mirror mounted relative to said rearward surface of the mirror housing for viewing in a rearward direction; and

a turn indicator light and a separate position light mounted relative to said forward surface of the mirror housing for selectively providing illumination in a forward direction.

12. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 11, wherein a light body of said turn indicator light is a filament light bulb and a light body of said position light is a light emitting diode.

13. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 11, wherein said position light is kept OFF while said turn indicator light is flashing OFF and ON for direction indication.

14. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said position light is kept OFF while said turn indicator light is flashing OFF and ON for direction indication.

15. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 11, wherein said mirror housing includes a first lens for covering said turn indicator light for enabling illumination therethrough.

16. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 11, wherein said mirror housing includes a second lens for covering said position light for enabling illumination therethrough.

17. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of said light emitting diodes are provided for providing illumination.

18. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 11, and further including a base member for mounting the turn indicator light and the separate position light within the mirror housing.

19. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 18, wherein the base includes a wall surface disposed between the turn indicator light and the separate position light, said wall surface forming a reflector surface reflecting light from the turn indicator light forwardly.

20. The rear view mirror assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least one lens is provided for covering said turn indicator light and the separate position light, and further including a sealing member operatively mounted between the mirror housing and the at least one lens for providing a water tight closure.