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Rear-view mirror with forward facing warning light

  • US 5,938,322 A
  • Filed: 08/19/1998
  • Issued: 08/17/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A warning light for integration with a fixed position, externally mounted rear-view mirror of a vehicle, the vehicle having a front and a rear and a pair of lateral sides which extend between the front and rear, the rear-view mirror including a mirror adjustably supported within a non-adjustable mirror housing, the mirror housing having an open side through which the mirror may be viewed, the mirror housing open side including a rim portion which circumscribes a periphery of the mirror, the mirror housing open side generally facing in a same direction as the vehicle rear, said warning light comprising:

  • a hollow housing, said hollow housing having oppositely disposed leading and trailing ends interconnected by a side wall which defines a smooth outer surface, said hollow housing trailing end being sized and shaped to receive the mirror housing and form a radial extension of the mirror housing rim portion, said hollow housing defining an aerodynamically contoured forward extension of the received mirror housing, said hollow housing leading end having a smaller cross-section area compared to said hollow housing trailing end and being provided with a mounting surface, said hollow housing further having an opening which extends through said mounting surface;

    a light head, said light head in part extending through said opening in said hollow housing mounting surface, said light head having a rearwardly facing surface which is complementary in size and shape to said mounting surface, said light head releasably secured to said mounting surface, said light head including;

    a selectively energizable high intensity light source;

    a reflector for intercepting and redirecting at least some light emitted by said light source, said reflector having a focal point and a generally concave reflective surface;

    a lens for directing light emitted by said light source including light reflected from said reflector, said reflector and lens cooperating with said light source to produce a light beam which diverges in a horizontal plane, an angle of such divergence exceeding 90°

    ; and

    means for supporting said light source between said lens and said reflector, said light source positioned by said supporting means to intersect said focal point; and

    means for adhesively bonding an interior of said side wall of said hollow housing to a exterior of the mirror housing such that light provided by said light head will be radiated generally in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle on which the mirror is mounted.

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