Lighted vehicular mirror assembly

• US 6,331,066 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2000
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lawlor, Patrick J., Desmond, John P., McCormack, Sean, Mousseau, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US09/712,742
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/544, 362/543, 362/135, 362/140, 362/144
• 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 3/258 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators

Abstract

A lighted vehicular mirror assembly includes a mirror case, a reflective element, a support for mounting the assembly on a vehicle, and two lamp assemblies, each having a light source, a reflector member, and a lens. Each reflector member is shaped to direct light emitted by the light source to form a pattern of light directed generally downwardly and rearwardly when the light source is electrically activated. The reflector and lens in each lamp assembly work with one another to collect and direct light to different areas of the vehicle, preferably the lap areas of the driver and front seat passenger of the vehicle. Each reflector member preferably minimizes at least one of light bending, shaping and diffusing of light by its respective lens.

Claims

1. A lighted vehicular mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror case including a reflective element;

a support for mounting said vehicular mirror assembly on a vehicle;

a first lamp assembly comprising a first light source, a first reflector member, and a first lens;

a second lamp assembly comprising a second light source, a second reflector member, and a second lens;

said first lens fixedly attached to said first reflector member, and said second lens fixedly attached to said second reflector member;

each of said reflector members being shaped to direct light emitted by the respective one of said first and second light sources to form a pattern of light directed generally downwardly and rearwardly when that respective light source is electrically activated and said mirror assembly is mounted on the vehicle with said support, said first reflector member having a shape different from the shape of said second reflector member, said first lamp assembly directing light generally toward the lap area of the driver of the vehicle, said second lamp assembly directing light generally toward the lap area of a front seat passenger of the vehicle;

said reflector member and said lens in each of said first and second lamp assemblies working in conjunction with one another to collect and direct light to the respective area in the vehicle, said reflector member in each of said first and second lamp assemblies minimizing at least one of light bending, shaping and diffusing of light by its respective lens.

2. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said reflector members has an aperture for receiving its respective light source.

3. The light vehicular mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said light sources comprises a bulb.

4. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein each of said bulbs projects downwardly into its respective reflector member.

5. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said first reflector member and said second reflector member is removably mounted within said mirror case.

6. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly further includes a circuit board having mounted thereon at least one switch.

7. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 6 wherein said reflective element has a variable reflective condition;

said circuit board containing an electrical circuit for controlling said reflective condition of said reflective element.

8. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said reflective element is actuatable between at least two reflective conditions.

9. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said reflective element comprises an electro-optic rearview mirror element.

10. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 9 wherein said electro-optic rearview mirror element comprises an electrochromic element.

11. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein a resilient material abuts a rear surface of said reflective element.

12. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 11 wherein said resilient material comprises a layer of foam material adhered to a rear surface of said reflective element.

13. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 12 wherein said foam material has an adhesive rear surface.

14. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 13 wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromic element, said assembly further including a circuit board having an electrical circuit for controlling the reflective condition of said electrochromic element, said circuit board being attached to said adhesive rear surface.

15. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second lamp assemblies is disposed in a bottom region of said mirror case.

16. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second lamp assemblies comprise a driver'"'"'s side lamp assembly and a passenger side lamp assembly, respectively.

17. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 16 wherein said assembly further includes a circuit board, said circuit board having a first electrical switch for controlling the reflective condition of said reflective element and second and third electrical switches for controlling said driver'"'"'s side lamp assembly and said passenger side lamp assembly, respectively.

18. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly further includes a circuit board and an electrical spring contact to electrically connect said circuit board to said reflective element.

19. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 18 including a flat electrical terminal on said circuit board;

said spring contact abutting said flat electrical terminal on said circuit board.

20. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second reflector members comprises a metalised reflector member.

21. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said shape of said first reflector member directs light more rearwardly of said assembly than said shape of said second reflector member.

22. The lighted vehicular mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein said shape of said second reflector member directs light more laterally of said assembly than said shape of said first reflector member.

23. A lighted vehicular mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror case including a reflective element;

a support for mounting said vehicular mirror assembly on a vehicle;

a first lamp assembly comprising a first light source, a first reflector member, and a first lens;

a second lamp assembly comprising a second light source, a second reflector member, and a second lens;

each of said reflector members being shaped to direct light emitted by the respective one of said first and second light sources to form a pattern of light directed generally downwardly and rearwardly when that respective light source is electrically activated and said mirror assembly is mounted on the vehicle with said support, said first reflector member having a shape different from the shape of said second reflector member, said first lamp assembly directing light generally toward the lap area of the driver of the vehicle, said second lamp assembly directing light generally toward the lap area of a front seat passenger of the vehicle;

said reflector member and said lens in each of said first and second lamp assemblies working in conjunction with one another to collect and direct light to the respective area in the vehicle, said reflector member in each of said first and second lamp assemblies minimizing at least one of light bending, shaping and diffusing of light by its respective lens;

at least one of said first lens and said second lens including an opaque area to reduce illumination in predetermined areas.

24. A lighted vehicular mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror case including a reflective element;

a support for mounting said vehicular mirror assembly on a vehicle;

a first lamp assembly comprising a first light source, a first reflector member, and a first lens;

a second lamp assembly comprising a second light source, a second reflector member, and a second lens;

each of said reflector members being shaped to direct light emitted by the respective one of said first and second light sources to form a pattern of light directed generally downwardly and rearwardly when that respective light source is electrically activated and said mirror assembly is mounted on the vehicle with said support, said first reflector member having a shape different from the shape of said second reflector member, said first lamp assembly directing light generally toward the lap area of the driver of the vehicle, said second lamp assembly directing light generally toward the lap area of a front seat passenger of the vehicle;

said reflector member and said lens in each of said first and second lamp assemblies working in conjunction with one another to collect and direct light to the respective area in the vehicle, said reflector member in each of said first and second lamp assemblies minimizing at least one of light bending, shaping and diffusing of light by its respective lens;

each of said reflector members having an aperture for receiving its respective light source, each of said light sources comprising a bulb, each of said bulbs projecting downwardly into its respective reflector member;

each of said bulbs projecting downwardly at an inclined angle.

25. A lighted vehicular mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror case including a reflective element;

a support for mounting said vehicular mirror assembly on a vehicle;

a first lamp assembly comprising a first light source, a first reflector member, and a first lens;

a second lamp assembly comprising a second light source, a second reflector member, and a second lens;

each of said reflector members being shaped to direct light emitted by the respective one of said first and second light sources to form a pattern of light directed generally downwardly and rearwardly when that respective light source is electrically activated and said mirror assembly is mounted on the vehicle with said support, said first reflector member having a shape different from the shape of said second reflector member, said first lamp assembly directing light generally toward the lap area of the driver of the vehicle, said second lamp assembly directing light generally toward the lap area of a front seat passenger of the vehicle;

said reflector member and said lens in each of said first and second lamp assemblies working in conjunction with one another to collect and direct light to the respective area in the vehicle, said reflector member in each of said first and second lamp assemblies minimizing at least one of light bending, shaping and diffusing of light by its respective lens;

at least one of said first reflector member and said second reflector member having at least one resilient flange for engaging a complementary flange in said mirror case to releasably mount said one reflector member in said mirror case.