Exterior rearview mirror with turn signal

• US 7,419,199 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Safe Fleet Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hadley Products Corporation
• Inventors: Dutton, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyjak; Lori L
• Application Number:
  US11/426,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20080036230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1.11, 362/494, 362/540, 362/545, 362/548
• US Class Current: 296/1.11
• 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

Abstract

A signal mirror assembly including a convex mirror and a signal indicator. The convex mirror defines a recess or cutout region. The signal indicator fits within the cutout region. The assembly can include a housing, and the convex mirror can include a perimeter extending substantially to the housing, except where the cutout region exists. A gasket can circumferentiate the housing, the mirror and a portion of the signal indicator to prevent water and debris from entering the assembly. The signal indicator also can include a surface parallel to the convex mirror surface. The cut out region and the corresponding signal indicator can be positioned in the housing such that the signal indicator is located at a position distal from the vehicle to enhance its visibility to the vehicle operator.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing including an outer periphery;

a mirror joined with the housing, the mirror including a convex reflective surface so that the mirror provides substantially only a wide angle viewing perspective to an occupant of the vehicle, the mirror including a first portion proximal to the vehicle, a second portion distal from the vehicle, and a central portion;

a cut-out region defined by the mirror in the second region distal from the vehicle, the cut-out region bounded by at least one edge of the mirror that projects a distance inward and toward the central portion;

a signal indicator located within and substantially filling the cut-out region defined by the mirror; and

a gasket substantially surrounding the outer periphery of the housing, the gasket sealingly engaging at least a portion of the convex reflective surface and at least a portion of the signal indicator, whereby the gasket inhibits at least one of moisture and debris from entering the assembly.

2. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a ledge and a flange adjacent the ledge.

3. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein the convex mirror is adhered with an adhesive to the ledge.

4. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein the flange circumferentiates substantially all of an outer perimeter of the mirror.

5. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the cutout region includes a first edge that projects toward the central region and a second edge that projects outward and away from the central portion.

6. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 5 comprising an intermediate edge contiguous with the first edge and the second edge.

7. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing including a ledge and a peripheral flange, a spacer connected to the ledge;

a mirror adhered to at least one of the ledge and the spacer, the mirror including a convex reflective surface so that the mirror provides substantially only a wide angle viewing perspective to an occupant of the vehicle, the mirror including a central portion, the mirror bounded by a perimeter, the perimeter adjacent and substantially circumferentiated by the flange;

a recess defined by the mirror, a portion of the mirror perimeter within the recess projecting toward the central portion of the mirror;

a signal indicator located within the recess defined by the mirror; and

a gasket sealingly engaging at least a portion of the housing, at least a portion of the mirror perimeter and at least a portion of the signal indicator, whereby the gasket inhibits at least one of moisture and debris from entering the assembly.

8. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7 wherein the signal indicator includes an exterior surface that is adjacent the convex reflective surface and continues a contour of the convex reflective surface.

9. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7 wherein the mirror includes a first portion proximal to the vehicle and a second portion distal from the vehicle, and wherein the recess is defined by the mirror in substantially only the second region distal from the vehicle.

10. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7 wherein the signal indicator includes a flange, the flange overlapping a portion of the convex reflective surface.

11. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10 wherein the signal housing includes an outer surface that is parallel to the convex reflective surface.

12. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7 wherein the mirror perimeter is substantially circular, except for the recess.

13. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 12 wherein the recess is arc-shaped.

14. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 7 wherein the mirror perimeter includes a first portion located in the recess that projects toward the central region and a second portion located in the recess that extends away from the central region.

15. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14 wherein the mirror perimeter includes a third region located in the recess that extends between the first and second regions.

16. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a convex mirror that provides substantially only a wide angle viewing perspective to an occupant of the vehicle, the mirror including a substantially circular perimeter except for a cut-out region that interrupts the circular perimeter and that projects toward a central portion of the mirror, the cut-out region being distal from the vehicle; and

a signal indicator located within and substantially filling the cut-out region defined by the mirror.

17. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16 wherein the signal indicator includes an exterior surface that is adjacent the convex mirror and includes a convex contour.

18. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16 comprising a housing which houses the convex mirror and the signal indicator, and a gasket that sealingly engages at least a portion of the housing, at least a portion of the convex mirror and at least a portion of the signal indicator, whereby the gasket inhibits at least one of moisture and debris from entering the assembly.

19. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16 wherein the signal indicator is translucent and includes at least one LED.

20. The exterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16 wherein the cut-out region is substantially arc shaped and the signal indicator is substantially correspondingly arc-shaped so that it interfits the cut-out region.