Exterior rearview mirror for vehicles, preferably motor vehicles

• US 6,139,171 A
• Filed: 03/11/1999
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH
• Original Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Waldmann, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): HUSAR, STEPHEN F
• Application Number:
  US09/267,146
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/511, 362/540, 362/545
• 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: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror for a motor vehicle has a mirror head having a housing and a mirror pane mounted in the housing. The housing has a light window. At least one light source is mounted in the housing and positioned behind the light window. The light window consists at least partially of a light guide material in order to ensure complete and uniform illumination.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror for a motor vehicle, said mirror comprising:

a mirror head (1) having a housing (2) and a mirror pane mounted in said housing (2);

said housing having a light window (3);

at least one light source (18,

     21) mounted in said housing (1) and positioned behind said light window (3);

wherein said light window (3) is at least partially comprised of a light guide material.

2. A mirror according to claim 1, wherein said light window (3) has a rim (5) extending at least over a portion of a periphery of said light window (3), wherein said rim (5) rests at an inner side of said housing (2).

3. A mirror according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is an LED (18).

4. A mirror according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is a fluorescent tube (21).

5. A mirror according to claim 1, further comprising at least one cover (7) positioned inside said housing (2) to cover said light window (3) relative to the interior of said housing (2), wherein said at least one light source (18, 21) is positioned behind said cover (7) in said interior of said housing (2).

6. A mirror according to claim 5, wherein said cover (7) has at least one opening (19) for light emitted by said at least one light source (18, 21).

7. A mirror according to claim 6, wherein said at least one opening (19) has a transparent covering (16).

8. A mirror according to claim 7, wherein said covering (16) is a foil or a plastic disk.

9. A mirror according to claim 7, wherein said covering (16) is spaced from said light window (3).

10. A mirror according to claim 7, wherein said covering (16) is uncolored.

11. A mirror according to claim 7, wherein said covering (16) is colored.

12. A mirror according to claim 7, wherein said covering (16) is position-secured by said cover (7).

13. A mirror according to claim 5, wherein said cover (7) has a projecting edge (9) resting at a rim (5) of said light window (3).

14. A mirror according to claim 13, wherein said cover (7) presses said rim (5) against an inner side (6) of said housing (2).

15. A mirror according to claim 5, further comprising a seal (8) positioned between said cover (7) and said inner side of said housing (2).

16. A mirror according to claim 15, wherein said seal (8) surrounds said rim (5) of said light window (3).

17. A mirror according to claim 5, wherein said at least one light source (18) is an LED, wherein said cover (7) has at least one opening (19) for light emitted by said LED (18) and wherein said LED penetrates partially into said at least one opening (19).

18. A mirror according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of said LEDs (18) are positioned behind said light window (3) at a side of said light window (3) facing away from the vehicle.

19. A mirror according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of said LEDs (18) are arranged behind said light window (3) across a width and/or height of said light window (3).

20. A mirror according to claim 3, further comprising a Fresnel lens (29) wherein a plurality of said LEDs (18) are positioned behind said Fresnel lens (29).

21. A mirror according to claim 20, further comprising at least one cover (7) positioned inside said housing (2) to cover said light window (3) relative to the interior of said housing (2), wherein said LEDs (18) are positioned behind said cover (7) in said interior of said housing (2), wherein said Fresnel lens (29) is arranged between said cover (7) and said light window (3).

22. A mirror according to claim 21, wherein said Fresnel lens (29) is connected to said cover (7).

23. A mirror according to claim 20, further comprising an LED housing (31) in which said LEDs (18) are positioned.

24. A mirror according to claim 23, wherein said LED housing (31) is connected to said cover (7).

25. A mirror according to claim 24, wherein said LED housing (31) is positioned at a side of said cover (7) facing away from said light window (3).

26. A mirror according to claim 4, wherein said fluorescent tube (21) is U-shaped.

27. A mirror according to claim 4, wherein said fluorescent tube (21) is at least partially embedded in said light window (3).

28. A mirror according to claim 4, further comprising a reflector (33) positioned behind said fluorescent tube (21) inside said housing (2).

29. A mirror according to claim 28, further comprising at least one cover (7) positioned inside said housing (2) to cover said light window (3) relative to the interior of said housing (2), wherein said reflector (33) is a part of said cover (7).

30. A mirror according to claim 29, wherein said reflector (33) is a formed portion of said cover (7).

31. A mirror according to claim 5, wherein said light window (3) is at least partially heated.

32. A mirror according to claim 31, further comprising at least one heating element (34) for heating said light window (3).

33. A mirror according to claim 32, wherein said heating element (34) is located at a side of said light window (3) facing away from said cover (7).

34. A mirror according to claim 32, wherein said heating element (34) forms at least part of said cover (7).

35. A mirror according to claim 32, wherein said heating element (34) is a heating foil.