Vehicular wing mirror having a light-transmitting housing

• US 6,250,784 B1
• Filed: 07/14/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yasuhiro Kawasaki
• Original Assignee: Yasuhiro Kawasaki
• Inventors: Kayama, Takanari
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELGIZZI, RONALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US09/352,786
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/545, 362/311, 362/140, 362/135, 362/355, 362/246, 340/468
• 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: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators

Abstract

A wing mirror for use in a vehicle in which a mirror is housed includes a body case in which at least a front structural wall is formed of a light-transmitting material. A light emitting element is housed in the body case at a portion thereof opposing said light-transmitting material, so that radiation of the light emitting element can be visible from at least the front of the vehicle through the light-transmitting material.

Claims

1. A wing mirror projecting from a vehicle, said wing mirror comprising:

a body case formed of one of a transparent resin and a translucent resin, said body case having an outer surface and a front wall, said outer surface of said body case having a light-transmitting coating formed thereon, said light-transmitting coating comprising one of a light-transmitting paint film and a light-transmitting deposition film;

a mirror housed in said body case;

a light emitting element arranged in said body case so as to oppose at least said front wall such that light is radiated from said light emitting element through at least said front wall of said body case.

2. The wing mirror of claim 1, wherein at least said outer surface of said body case has the same color as a body of the vehicle.

3. The wing mirror of claim 1, wherein said body case has an inner surface including a light-diffusing surface on at least a portion of said inner surface.

4. The wing mirror of claim 3, wherein an entirety of said inner surface includes a light-diffusing surface.

5. The wing mirror of claim 1, wherein said body case includes a rear wall, at least a portion of said light emitting element being arranged in said body case so as to radiate light through said rear wall toward a rear portion of the vehicle.

6. The wing mirror of claim 1, wherein said light emitting element is adapted so as to radiate light when traffic indicator signals of the vehicle radiate light.

7. The wing mirror of claim 1, wherein said light emitting element is adapted so as to radiate light when hazard flasher signals of the vehicle radiate light.

8. A wing mirror projecting from a vehicle, said wing mirror comprising:

a body case having an outer surface and a front wall, said outer surface of said body case having a light-transmitting coating formed thereon, said light-transmitting coating having the same color as a body of the vehicle, said front wall being formed of a light-transmitting material;

a mirror housed in said body case;

a light emitting element arranged in said body case so as to oppose at least said front wall such that light is radiated from said light emitting element through at least said front wall of said body case.

9. The wing mirror of claim 8, wherein said body case has an inner surface including a light-diffusing surface on at least a portion of said inner surface.

10. The wing mirror of claim 9, wherein an entirety of said inner surface includes a lightdiffusing surface.

11. The wing mirror of claim 8, wherein said body case includes a rear wall formed of a light-transmitting material, at least a portion of said light emitting element being arranged in said body case so as to radiate light through said rear wall toward a rear portion of the vehicle.

12. The wing mirror of claim 8, wherein said light emitting element is adapted so as to radiate light when traffic indicator signals of the vehicle radiate light.

13. The wing mirror of claim 8, wherein said light emitting element is adapted so as to radiate light when hazard flasher signals of the vehicle radiate light.

14. A wing mirror projecting from a vehicle, said wing mirror comprising:

a body case having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a front wall, said outer surface of said body case having a light-transmitting coating formed on an entirety thereof, said inner surface having a non-light-transmitting coating formed on a portion thereof, said front wall being formed of a light-transmitting material;

a mirror housed in said body case;

a light emitting element arranged in said body case so as to oppose at least said portion of said inner surface having said non-light-transmitting coating such that light is radiated from said light emitting element through at least said front wall of said body case.

15. The wing mirror of claim 14, wherein at least said outer surface of said body case has the same color as a body of the vehicle.

16. The wing mirror of claim 14, wherein said inner surface includes a light-diffusing surface on at least a portion of said inner surface.

17. The wing mirror of claim 16, wherein an entirety of said inner surface includes a light-diffusing surface.

18. The wing mirror of claim 14, wherein said body case includes a rear wall formed of a light-transmitting material, at least a portion of said light emitting element being arranged in said body case so as to radiate light through said rear wall toward a rear portion of the vehicle.

19. The wing mirror of claim 14, wherein said light emitting element is adapted so as to radiate light when traffic indicator signals of the vehicle radiate light.

20. The wing mirror of claim 14, wherein said light emitting element is adapted so as to radiate light when hazard flasher signals of the vehicle radiate light.

21. A wing mirror projecting from a vehicle, said wing mirror comprising:

a body case having an outer surface and a front wall, said outer surface of said body case having a light-transmitting coating formed thereon by metallizing, said front wall being formed of a light-transmitting material;

a mirror housed in said body case;

a light emitting element arranged in said body case so as to oppose at least said front wall such that light is radiated from said light emitting element through at least said front wall of said body case.

22. The wing mirror of claim 21, wherein at least said outer surface of said body case has the same color as a body of the vehicle.

23. The wing mirror of claim 21, wherein said body case has an inner surface including a light-diffusing surface on at least a portion of said inner surface.

24. The wing mirror of claim 23, wherein an entirety of said inner surface includes a light-diffusing surface.

25. The wing mirror of claim 21, wherein said body case includes a rear wall formed of a light-transmitting material, at least a portion of said light emitting element being arranged in said body case so as to radiate light through said rear wall toward a rear portion of the vehicle.

26. The wing mirror of claim 21, wherein said light emitting element is adapted so as to radiate light when traffic indicator signals of the vehicle radiate light.

27. The wing mirror of claim 21, wherein said light emitting element is adapted so as to radiate light when hazard flasher signals of the vehicle radiate light.