Side flashing lamp

• US 6,637,917 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: REBO Lighting & Electronics GmbH (PTC Inc.)
• Original Assignee: REBO Lighting & Electronics GmbH (PTC Inc.)
• Inventors: Matthie, Daniel, Kuenstler, Rolf, Schwanz, Martina, Braeutigam, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zeade, Bertrand
• Application Number:
  US09/969,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 362/487, 362/494, 362/531, 362/512, 362/546, 362/800, 362/511, 362/509, 362/222, 362/545, 362/540, 362/140, 362/143, 362/543, 362/544
• US Class Current: 362/487
• 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 43/243 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A side flashing lamp (4, 4′) for fitting in the cover cap (2) of an external rear view mirror (1) for motor vehicles, comprising

a lamp housing having an elongate light exit opening (3) which in the installed condition extends from the outward side of the cover cap (2), which is remote from the vehicle, substantially horizontally towards the vehicle,

at least one group of light sources (12) which are arranged distributed substantially uniformly along a line which in the installed condition extends substantially horizontally over the width of the light exit opening (3), and

at least one optically active device (10) which focuses the light of the at least one group of light sources (12) in a main radiation direction which in the installed condition faces substantially in the direction of travel.

To ensure the required strength of light in all emission directions and to achieve a small installation depth it is provided that

at least one elongate light guide (8, 8′; 18) which is substantially of the same length as the line along which said group of light sources (12) is arranged extends parallel to said line, and

the light of the at least one further light source (15) is coupled into the end (14; 26) of the light guide (8, 8′; 18) closer to the vehicle, the light guide passing the light almost completely to its opposite end (16; 27) where said light is emitted in a direction extending substantially inclinedly rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel.

Claims

1. A side flashing lamp for fitting in the cover cap of an external rear view mirror for a motor vehicle, comprising

a lamp housing having an elongate light exit opening which in the installed condition extends from an outward side of the cover cap, which is remote from the vehicle, substantially horizontally towards the vehicle,

at least one group of light sources which are arranged distributed at least substantially uniformly along a line and which in the installed condition extend at least substantially horizontally over the length of the light exit opening,

at least one optically active device which focuses the light of the at least one group of light sources in a main radiation direction which in the installed condition faces substantially in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle,

at least one elongate light guide which is at least substantially of the same length as the line along which said group of light sources extends, said light guide extending parallel to said line and having a first end which is towards said vehicle in the installed condition on the vehicle, and a second end remote from the first end, and

at least one further light source positioned for coupling of the light of the at least one further light source into said first end of said light guide which is thereby operable to pass said light at least almost completely to its second end where said light is emitted in a direction extending substantially inclinedly rearwardly with respect to said direction of travel,

wherein the light guide is of a substantially bar-shaped configuration, and

wherein said optically active device is a converging lens of a bar-shaped configuration.

2. A lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein the light guide has a bevel at its second end.

3. A lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein the at least one group of light sources comprises light emitting diodes.

4. A lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein the at least one further light source is a light emitting diode.

5. A lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein the converging lens is disposed in front of said at least one group of light sources focusing in a vertical direction light from said light sources.

6. A lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein said light guide at the same time forms the optically active device and is arranged in front of said at least of group of light sources, said light guide being in the form of a converging lens and focusing in a vertical direction the light from the light sources.

7. A lamp as set forth in claim 1 and including

more than one said light guide.

8. A lamp as set forth in claim 1 and including

a plurality of groups of said light sources, which groups are arranged distributed substantially uniformly along respective lines, said lines extending in at least substantially mutually parallel relationship.

9. A lamp as set forth in claim 5 including

a plurality of said light guides;

and

at least one converging lend arranged in front of said light sources, the light guides and the converging lens being arranged alternately in a vertical direction and in immediately mutually adjoining relationship and each being of at least substantially the same height.

10. A lamp as set forth in claim 5 including

a plurality of said light guides, and

a plurality of converging lenses arranged in front of said light sources, the light guides and the converging lenses being arranged alternately in a vertical direction and in immediately mutually adjoining relationship and each being of at least substantially the same height.

11. A lamp as set forth in claim 9

wherein the light guides are in one piece with the at least one lens arranged therebetween.

12. A lamp as set forth in claim 10

wherein the light guides are in one piece with the lenses.

13. A lamp as set forth in claim 1 and including

a vapor-deposited reflector aperture means arranged between the light sources and behind said light guide.

14. A lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein said light guide at its second end is also operable to emit light from said further light source in a direction facing rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel.

15. A lamp as set forth in claim 1 and including

a translucent light cover which covers the light exit opening and which is arranged in front of said at least one elongate light guide and said at least one optically active device.

16. A motor vehicle external rear view mirror assembly including

a mirror housing for accommodating a mirror, and

a side flashing lamp in the mirror housing comprising

a lamp housing having an elongate light exit opening which in the installed condition extends from an outward end of the cover cap, which is remote from the vehicle, substantially horizontally towards the vehicle,

at least one group of light sources which are arranged distributed at least substantially uniformly along a line and which in the installed condition extend at least substantially horizontally over the width of the light exit opening,

at least one optically active device which focuses the light of the at least one group of light sources in a main radiation direction which in the installed condition faces substantially in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle,

at least one elongate light guide which is at least substantially of the same length as the line along which said group of light sources extends, said light guide extending parallel to said line and having a first end which is towards said vehicle in the installed condition on the vehicle, and a second end remote from the first end, and

at least one further light source arranged for coupling of the light of the at least one further light source into said first end of said light guide which is thereby operable to pass said light at least almost completely to its second end where said light is radiated in a direction extending substantially inclinedly rearwardly with respect to said direction of travel.