Sideview mirror assembly with utility features

• US 6,811,288 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hutzel, Barry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US10/184,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 362/135, 362/142-144, 362/190, 362/191, 362/208, 362/486, 362/494, 362/183, 359/864, 359/865
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1292 with holding means for personal articles

Abstract

An exterior sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing or casing and a reflective element, which is supported in the casing. The casing includes a storage space, which provides storage for at least one accessory. The accessory is retrievable from the storage space and useable exteriorly of the mirror assembly.

Claims

1. An exterior sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

a fixed portion adapted to mount to a vehicle;

a movable portion movably mounted to said fixed portion;

a reflective element positioned in said movable portion;

said mirror assembly including a closed storage compartment; and

a light assembly positionable in and adapted to be supported in said compartment and generally hidden from view when stored in said closed storage compartment, said light assembly including a power supply and being removable from said compartment and being adapted to be operable independent of said mirror assembly when removed from said storage compartment to provide a light source at a location remote from said mirror assembly.

2. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said compartment is defined by a recessed portion of said movable portion.

3. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 2, wherein said recessed portion is positioned below said reflective element.

4. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 3, wherein said movable portion includes a cover, said cover closing said recessed portion to provide said closed compartment.

7. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mirror assembly includes a pair of contacts for coupling to a rechargeable battery positionable in said light assembly, said rechargeable battery comprising said power supply.

8. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said movable portion includes a bottom wall, said compartment provided at said bottom wall.

9. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said movable portion includes a mirror casing and a modular housing, said modular housing including said compartment.

10. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein said movable portion includes a second reflective element.

11. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 10, wherein said second reflective element comprises a curved reflective element.

5. An exterior sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

a fixed portion adapted to mount to a vehicle;

a movable portion movably mounted to said fixed portion;

a reflective clement positioned in said movable portion;

said mirror assembly including a storage compartment, said compartment being defined by a recessed portion of said movable portion;

a light assembly positionable in and adapted to be supported in said compartment, said light assembly being removable from said compartment and being adapted to be useable when removed from said storage compartment; and

a second recessed portion, said second recessed portion housing an accessory which is accessible exteriorly of the vehicle.

6. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 5, wherein said accessory comprises a power socket.

12. An exterior sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

a fixed portion adapted to mount to a vehicle;

a movable portion movably mounted to said fixed portion;

a reflective element positioned in said movable portion;

said mirror assembly including a storage compartment; and

a light assembly position in and adapted to be supported in said compartment, said light assembly being removable from said compartment and being adapted to be useable when removed from said storage compartment, said light assembly including a pair of contacts for coupling to a rechargeable battery positionable in said light assembly, said compartment including a pair of contacts for connecting to a power source, said pair of contacts of said compartment positioned to align with and make contact with said contacts of said light assembly for recharging a rechargeable battery contained in said light assembly when said light assembly is positioned in said compartment.

13. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said movable portion includes a bottom wall, said compartment provided at said bottom wall.

14. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said movable portion includes a mirror casing and a modular housing, said modular housing including said compartment.

15. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said movable portion include a second reflective element.

16. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 12, wherein said second reflective element comprises a curved reflective element.

17. An exterior sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

a fixed portion adapted to mount to a vehicle;

a movable portion movably mounted to said fixed portion, said movable portion including a mirror casing and a modular housing;

a reflective element positioned in said movable portion;

said mirror assembly including a storage compartment, wherein said modular housing includes said compartment;

a light assembly positionable in and adapted to be supported in said compartment, said light assembly being removable from said compartment and being adapted to be useable when removed from said storage compartment; and

wherein said movable portion includes a second compartment.

18. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 17, wherein said second compartment is provided in said modular housing.

19. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 18, wherein said second compartment houses a power supply plug whereby said power supply plug is accessible exteriorly of the vehicle.

20. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 19, wherein said power supply plug is adapted for coupling to a vehicle ignition voltage.

21. An exterior sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

a casing having a reflective element;

a light assembly having a housing, a light source positioned in said housing, and a cord, said cord coupling said light assembly to said mirror assembly; and

said casing including a casing wall, said casing wall having a recess formed therein, said recess defining a storage space for storing said light assembly wherein said light assembly is positionable in said recess for storage, said light assembly being removable and extendible from said recess and being adapted for use as a flashlight exteriorly of said storage space to provide a light assembly at a location remote from said casing, and said light assembly being adapted to include a power source whereby said light assembly can be used independently of said casing.

22. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 21, wherein said light assembly is coupled to said casing by said cord.

23. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 21, wherein said cord comprises a power cord, said power cord for electrically coupling said light assembly to a vehicle based power source.

24. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 21, wherein said cord comprises a retractable cord.

25. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 21, wherein said casing wall includes an outboard end, said outboard end including said recess.

26. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 25, wherein said outboard end includes an upper portion, said upper portion including said recess.

27. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 26, wherein said recess includes a profile, said light assembly including a corresponding profile whereby said light assembly forms a unitary part of said mirror assembly when said light assembly is positioned and mounted in said recess.

28. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 25, wherein said outboard end includes a lower portion, said lower portion including said recess.

29. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 28, wherein said light assembly is rotatably mounted to said casing.

30. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 29, wherein said light assembly includes a rotatable connection with said casing, said mirror assembly further comprising a break-away mechanism at said connection whereby said light assembly may be manually rotated.

31. An exterior sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

a first mirror casing having a first reflective element;

a second mirror easing having a second reflective element, one of said reflective elements comprising a curved reflective element, and said first mirror casing being movable about a first pivot axis, and said second mirror casing being movable about a second pivot axis whereby said second mirror casing may be rotated about said second pivot axis independent from said first mirror casing and said first mirror casing may be rotated about said first pivot axis independent of said second mirror casing for repositioning said reflective elements independently, said second pivot axis comprising a generally vertical pivot axis, and said second mirror casing including a light assembly, said light assembly adapted to direct light from said mirror assembly.

32. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 31, wherein said first pivot axis and said second pivot axis are co-linear.

33. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 31, further comprising a support adapted to mount said first and second mirror casings to a vehicle.

34. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 33, wherein said first and second mirror casings are rotatably mounted to said support.

35. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 34, wherein said pivot axes of said first and second mirror casings are co-liner.

36. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 31 wherein said light assembly is positioned at a wall of said second mirror casing wherein said light assembly directs light generally downwardly.

37. An exterior sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

a first mirror casing having a first reflective clement; and

a second mirror casing having a second reflective element, one of said reflective elements comprising a curved reflective element, and said first mirror casing being movable about a first pivot axis, and said second mirror casing being movable about a second pivot axis whereby said second mirror casing may be rotated relative to said first mirror casing for repositioning said second reflective element relative to said first reflective element, said second pivot axis comprising a generally horizontal pivot axis, said second mirror casing including a light assembly to direct light from said mirror assembly, said light assembly being positioned at an end wall of said second mirror casing wherein said light assembly directs light generally downwardly when said second minor casing is rotated in air extended position, and wherein said second mirror casing is rotatable approximately 180°

about said generally horizontal pivot axis wherein said second reflective element is moved between a rearward facing orientation to a forward facing orientation.

38. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 37, wherein said second mirror casing is pivotally mounted to said first mirror casing at a lower end of said first mirror casing.

39. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 37, wherein said first mirror casing includes a recessed portion, said second mirror casing pivoting into said recessed portion when said second mirror casing is pivoted to said rearward facing orientation.

40. The exterior sideview mirror assembly according to claim 39, wherein said first and second mirror casings together form a generally rectangular perimeter when said second mirror casing is pivoted into said recessed portion.