Rear-view mirror and interior lighting system

• US 6,746,140 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Jinushi, Kenichi, Ichikawa, Takashi, Kato, Hiroyuki, Aoki, Masakazu, Hosono, Masami, Ejiri, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Application Number:
  US09/968,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 362/135, 362/140-144, 362/183, 362/396, 362/418-421, 362/486, 362/494, 362/515, 362/528, 362/492
• US Class Current: 362/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/258 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/59 Lighting devices mounted in the vehicle interior and adapted for portability
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators

Abstract

A rear-view mirror for a vehicle. The rear-view mirror has a mirrow body at which is formed an accommodating member. A lamp house containing a lamp bulb and a secondary battery is accommodated in the accommodating member by holders for holding the lamp house from below. The lamp house is pulled out from the accommodating member to illuminate a desired position.

Claims

1. A rear-view mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror body, mounted inside the vehicle, for holding a mirror having a reflecting surface, and

a lighting device including a light source on one end, and a mounting mechanism on another end that movably mounts said light source directly onto said mirror body such that said light source may be pointed in any direction downwardly and to the side, wherein said mounting mechanism includes a semi-rigid cable connected to said body that supports said light source and is bendable to point and maintain said light source in any direction.

2. A rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein said cable is extendible out of and retractable into said mirror body.

3. A rear-view mirror according to claim 1, further comprising a reflector behind said light source for directing light radiated from said source into a beam.

4. A rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein said flexible cable includes an electrical wire for conducting power to said light source from said vehicle.

5. A rear-view mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror body, mounted inside the vehicle, for holding a mirror having a reflecting surface, and

a lighting device including a light source on one end, and a mounting mechanism on another end that movably mounts said light source directly onto said mirror body such that said light source may be pointed in any direction downwardly and to the side, wherein said mounting mechanism includes a ball joint swivably mounted into a socket located on said mirror body, said ball joint being able to direct said light source straight down.

6. A rear-view mirror according to claim 5, wherein said lighting device includes a battery for powering said light source, and said ball joint includes a means for detachably connecting said joint to said socket so as to be removable.

7. A rear-view mirror according to claim 5, further comprising a reflector behind said light source for directing light radiated from said source into a beam.

8. A rear-view mirror according to claim 6, wherein said battery is rechargeable, and said ball joint and socket conduct electrical power from a vehicle power source to recharge said battery.

9. A rear-view mirror according to claim 5, wherein said mirror body includes a reflector that reflects light from said lighting device below said mirror body when said lighting device is positioned into a retracted position and said light source of said device is actuated.

10. A rear-view mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror body, mounted inside the vehicle, for holding a mirror having a reflecting surface, said body including a bottom wall having a recess;

a lighting device including a lamp housing having a lamp, and a clip that detachably and frictionally connects said lamp housing within said recess when said housing is slid into said recess;

an electrical cable that electrically and mechanically connects said lighting device to said mirror body, and

an urging device for urging the cable into the mirror body.

11. A rear-view mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror body, mounted inside the vehicle, for holding a mirror having a reflecting surface, said body including a recess;

a lighting device including a housing having a means for detachably mounting the lighting device within said recess of said mirror body and having a light source at one end, and a battery for powering said light source, and

a light reflector at one end of said recess that is detached from said lighting device housing for directing light radiated by said lighting device downwardly from said mirror body when said lighting device is positioned within said recess and actuated.

12. A rear-view mirror according to claim 11, wherein said lighting device includes a switch means for actuating said light source operable by rotating one end of said device relative to another end.

13. A rear-view mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror body, mounted inside the vehicle, for holding a mirror having a reflecting surface, said body including a recess;

a lighting device detachably mountable within said recess of said mirror body and having a light source at one end, and

a light reflector at one end of said recess for directing light radiated by said lighting device downwardly from said mirror body when said lighting device is positioned within said recess and actuated;

wherein said lighting device includes a switch means for actuating said light source when said lighting device is removed from said recess in said mirror body.

14. A rear-view mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror body, mounted inside the vehicle, for holding a mirror having a reflecting surface, said body including a recess defined by bottom and side openings in said mirror body;

a lighting device having a housing substantially complementary in shape to said recess and slidable into and out of retaining engagement with the side opening of the recess,

wherein said housing of said lighting device includes a wall registrable with said bottom opening of said recess, said wall including a light source and a switch accessible through said bottom opening.

15. A rear-view mirror according to claim 14, wherein said recess includes retaining rails on opposing sides of said bottom opening for retaining said lighting device.

16. A rear-view mirror according to claim 14, wherein opposing side walls of said recess are tapered toward bottom edges of one another to retain said lighting device.