Side view mirror with detachable flashlight

• US 6,079,858 A
• Filed: 08/17/1998
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Hicks, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/135,244
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 362/116, 362/493, 362/496, 362/486, 362/495, 362/494, 362/191, 362/190, 362/276, 362/802
• US Class Current: 362/486
• 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 removable light is mounted into an exterior mirror on a vehicle. The light selectively provides illumination when mounted in the mirror. When removed from the mirror, the light provides an optional flashlight accessory.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a light member to be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle;

a structure for removably mounting said light member on said exterior surface of said vehicle, and said light member being operable to provide illumination when mounted on said exterior surface of said vehicle, and

said light member being operable to provide illumination when removed from said structure,

wherein said light member is removable upon insertion of a coded member into a portion of said light member.

2. A lighting assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said light member is mounted in an exterior mirror on said vehicle.

3. A lighting assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said light member provides illumination downwardly from said exterior mirror.

4. A lighting assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said coded member is associated with a key for said vehicle.

5. A lighting assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said light member has a switch to be operated as a flashlight when removed from said structure.

6. A lighting assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein a battery in said flashlight is recharged when said light is mounted on said vehicle.

7. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said light member is actuated in conjunction with actuation of other vehicle accessories.

8. An assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said light member is actuated when a vehicle door is opened.

9. An assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said light member is actuated when a remote entry system is actuated to unlock the vehicle doors.

10. A lighting assembly and mirror combination comprising:

an exterior mirror housing to be mounted on an exterior of a vehicle;

a light member mounted within said housing, said light member being removably locked within said housing by a lock member, said light member having a light for providing illumination outwardly of said housing when mounted within said housing, and a control for actuating said light selectively while said light member is mounted within said housing; and

said light member being removable from said housing by unlocking said lock, and said light being operable for providing illumination once removed from said housing,

wherein said lock is selectively actuatable by a coded key member.

11. An assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein a battery is provided on said light member for providing power to said light member when said light member has been removed, and said battery being recharged when said light member is mounted in said mirror.

12. A lighting assembly as recited in claim 10, herein said lock includes a lock pin for locking said light member into an opening in said housing.

13. A lighting assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said lock includes a spring for biasing against said lock, and a solenoid for selectively biasing said lock against said spring.

14. A lighting assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a control sensor for detecting said coded key member when said coded key member selectively actuates said lock.