Back up rear view mirror light

• US 4,916,430 A
• Filed: 11/03/1988
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George Spector, Thuan D. Vu
• Original Assignee: George Spector, Thuan D. Vu
• Inventors: Spector, George, Vu, Thuan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tumm, Brian R.
• Application Number:
  US07/266,578
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/468, 340/472, 340/815.17, 340/815.16, 362/83, 362/83.1, 362/135, 362/80, 350/600, 350/631
• US Class Current: 340/463
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• 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

Abstract

A backup sideview mirror light for a motor vehicle is provided and consists of a housing that has a rearwardly facing opening mounted to underside of a sideview mirror which is adapted for attachment to a door of the motor vehicle, with an auxiliary lamp mounted within the housing. A reflector mirror and a transparent lens each cover a portion of the opening. Reflected light beams from the auxiliary lamp cause the reflector mirror to serve as an auxiliary backup warning light while direct light beams from the auxiliary lamp coming through the transparent lens are directed rearwardly to illuminate rear fender of the motor vehicle to help driver to see at night when parking.

Claims

1. A backup sideview mirror light for a motor vehicle which comprises:

(a) a framed sideview mirror adapted for attachment to a door of the motor vehicle;

(b) a housing having an opening, said housing mounted to the underside of said sideview mirror so that said opening is facing rearwardly;

(c) an auxiliary lamp mounted within said housing;

(d) a reflector mirror mounted in said housing and aligned with a portion of said opening wherby reflected light beams from said auxiliary lamp on said reflector mirror causes said reflector mirror to glow thus serving as a clearly visible auxiliary backup warning light; and

(e) a transparent lens to cover another portion of said opening whereby direct light beams from said auxiliary lamp coming through said transparent lens are directed rearwardly to illuminate rear fender of the motor vehicle to help a driver see at night when parking.

2. A backup sideview mirror light as recited in claim 1, further including:

(a) a backup switch electrically connected between a battery and standard backup lamps in the motor vehicle, said backup switch is mechanically connected to a gear shift lever in the motor vehicle so that when the gear shift lever is placed into reverse said backup switch will close activating the standard backup lamps and

(b) said auxiliary lamp is electrically connected to said backup switch so that when said backup switch closes said auxiliary lamp will also be activated.

3. A backup sideview mirror light as recited in claim 2, further including a manual switch adapted to be mounted on dashboard of the motor vehicle, said manual switch is electrically connected between the battery and said auxiliary lamp so that when said manual switch is closed said auxiliary lamp will be activated thus bypassing said backup switch.

4. A backup sideview mirror light as recited in claim 3 further including:

(a) said housing having a slot formed as said opening thereof; and

(b) a hinge disposed within said housing and connected at one end of said reflector mirror, with the other end of said reflector mirror extending through said slot so that said reflector mirror can be manually adjusted with respect to said housing to pivot therein allowing some of the reflected light beams from said auxiliary lamp to be directed rearwardly to aid in illuminating the rear fender of the motor vehicle.