REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A mirror element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror element sub-assembly comprising:
- a mirror reflective element;
a mirror back plate, wherein said mirror back plate is formed by injection molding of a polymeric material;
wherein said mirror back plate has a front side and a rear side and wherein said rear side is opposite said front side;
wherein said front side of said mirror back plate comprises a reflective element attaching portion and wherein said rear side of said mirror back plate comprises (i) an actuator attaching portion and (ii) an indicator attaching portion;
wherein said reflective element attaching portion, said actuator attaching portion and said indicator attaching portion are integrally formed as parts of said mirror back plate during injection molding of said mirror back plate;
wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at said reflective element attaching portion of said front side of said mirror back plate;
an indicator having a light source that is electrically activatable to emit light, and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode;
wherein said indicator attaching portion comprises structure extending outward from said rear side of said mirror back plate and wherein said structure has a passageway therethrough;
wherein said indicator is attached at said structure, and wherein light emitted by said light source of said indicator passes through said passageway and through an opening of said mirror back plate and through said mirror reflective element so as to exit from said mirror reflective element;
wherein said structure is configured to orient said indicator at an angle relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate and wherein said angle is less than 90 degrees and greater than zero degrees relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate; and
wherein, when said light source is activated, light exiting from said mirror reflective element is one of (a) principally viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle and (b) principally viewed by drivers of other vehicles.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror element sub-assembly for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and an indicator. The front side of the mirror back plate includes a reflective element attaching portion and the rear side of the mirror back plate includes (i) an actuator attaching portion and (ii) an indicator attaching portion, all of which are integrally formed during injection molding of the mirror back plate. The indicator attaching portion includes structure extending from the rear side of the mirror back plate and having a passageway therethrough. The indicator is attached at the structure, and light emitted by the indicator passes through the passageway and through an opening of the mirror back plate and through the mirror reflective element so as to exit from the mirror reflective element at an angle relative to the reflective element attaching portion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mirror element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror element sub-assembly comprising:
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a mirror reflective element; a mirror back plate, wherein said mirror back plate is formed by injection molding of a polymeric material; wherein said mirror back plate has a front side and a rear side and wherein said rear side is opposite said front side; wherein said front side of said mirror back plate comprises a reflective element attaching portion and wherein said rear side of said mirror back plate comprises (i) an actuator attaching portion and (ii) an indicator attaching portion; wherein said reflective element attaching portion, said actuator attaching portion and said indicator attaching portion are integrally formed as parts of said mirror back plate during injection molding of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at said reflective element attaching portion of said front side of said mirror back plate; an indicator having a light source that is electrically activatable to emit light, and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said indicator attaching portion comprises structure extending outward from said rear side of said mirror back plate and wherein said structure has a passageway therethrough; wherein said indicator is attached at said structure, and wherein light emitted by said light source of said indicator passes through said passageway and through an opening of said mirror back plate and through said mirror reflective element so as to exit from said mirror reflective element; wherein said structure is configured to orient said indicator at an angle relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate and wherein said angle is less than 90 degrees and greater than zero degrees relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate; and wherein, when said light source is activated, light exiting from said mirror reflective element is one of (a) principally viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle and (b) principally viewed by drivers of other vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A mirror element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror element sub-assembly comprising:
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a mirror reflective element; a mirror back plate, wherein said mirror back plate is formed by injection molding of a polymeric material; wherein said mirror back plate has a front side and a rear side and wherein said rear side is opposite said front side; wherein said front side of said mirror back plate comprises a reflective element attaching portion and wherein said rear side of said mirror back plate comprises (i) an actuator attaching portion and (ii) an indicator attaching portion; wherein said reflective element attaching portion, said actuator attaching portion and said indicator attaching portion are integrally formed as parts of said mirror back plate during injection molding of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at said reflective element attaching portion of said front side of said mirror back plate; an indicator having a light source that is electrically activatable to emit light, and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said indicator attaching portion comprises structure extending outward from said rear side of said mirror back plate and wherein said structure has a passageway therethrough; wherein said indicator is attached at said structure, and wherein light emitted by said light source of said indicator passes through said passageway and through an opening of said mirror back plate and through said mirror reflective element so as to exit from said mirror reflective element; wherein said indicator comprises a turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle; wherein said structure is configured to orient said indicator at an angle relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate and wherein said angle is less than 90 degrees and greater than zero degrees relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate; and wherein said structure supports said indicator at said angle relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate such that when said mirror element sub-assembly is mounted and used at a side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically activated, light exiting from said mirror reflective element is directly principally away from the side of the equipped vehicle at which said mirror element sub-assembly is mounted and wherein said exiting light is principally viewed by drivers of other vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A mirror element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror element sub-assembly comprising:
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a mirror reflective element; a mirror back plate, wherein said mirror back plate is formed by injection molding of a polymeric material; wherein said mirror back plate has a front side and a rear side and wherein said rear side is opposite said front side; wherein said front side of said mirror back plate comprises a reflective element attaching portion and wherein said rear side of said mirror back plate comprises (i) an actuator attaching portion and (ii) an indicator attaching portion; wherein said reflective element attaching portion, said actuator attaching portion and said indicator attaching portion are integrally formed as parts of said mirror back plate during injection molding of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at said reflective element attaching portion of said front side of said mirror back plate; an indicator having a light source that is electrically activatable to emit light, and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said indicator attaching portion comprises structure extending outward from said rear side of said mirror back plate and wherein said structure has a passageway therethrough; wherein said indicator is attached at said structure, and wherein light emitted by said light source of said indicator passes through said passageway and through an opening of said mirror back plate and through said mirror reflective element so as to exit from said mirror reflective element; wherein said indicator comprises a blind spot alert indicator of the equipped vehicle; wherein said structure is configured to orient said indicator at an angle relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate and wherein said angle is less than 90 degrees and greater than zero degrees relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate; and wherein said structure supports said indicator at said angle relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate such that when said mirror element sub-assembly is mounted and used at a side of the equipped vehicle and when said light source is electrically activated, light exiting from said mirror reflective element is directly principally towards the side of the equipped vehicle at which said mirror element sub-assembly is mounted and wherein said exiting light is principally viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification