Light module for a vehicular exterior mirror assembly
DCFirst Claim
1. A light module adapted to be removably positioned in an opening in an exterior rearview mirror assembly, the exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to a side of a vehicle, said light module comprising:
- an enclosure having a wall defining a first enclosure cavity;
a first light-transmitting opening of said enclosure;
a first light-transmitting cover for said first light-transmitting opening;
a first light source in said first enclosure cavity radiating light through said first light-transmitting cover in said first light-transmitting opening when said light source is electrically powered;
a first structure of said light module configured to mate with a second structure of said exterior mirror assembly in order to at least partially retain said enclosure substantially within said exterior mirror assembly; and
wherein said enclosure can be received through an opening in said exterior mirror assembly and wherein said light module is releasably retained in said exterior mirror assembly by said first and second structures and removable from said opening as a unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light module for an exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to the side of a vehicle comprises an enclosure and a light-transmitting cover. A first light source in the enclosure radiates light through the light-transmitting cover when the light source is electrically powered. A first structure is preferably provided that is configured to mate with a second structure of the exterior mirror assembly in order to at least partially retain the light module substantially within the exterior mirror assembly. The enclosure can be received through an opening in the exterior mirror assembly and the light module may be releasably retained by the first and second structures.
109 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A light module adapted to be removably positioned in an opening in an exterior rearview mirror assembly, the exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to a side of a vehicle, said light module comprising:
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an enclosure having a wall defining a first enclosure cavity; a first light-transmitting opening of said enclosure; a first light-transmitting cover for said first light-transmitting opening; a first light source in said first enclosure cavity radiating light through said first light-transmitting cover in said first light-transmitting opening when said light source is electrically powered; a first structure of said light module configured to mate with a second structure of said exterior mirror assembly in order to at least partially retain said enclosure substantially within said exterior mirror assembly; and wherein said enclosure can be received through an opening in said exterior mirror assembly and wherein said light module is releasably retained in said exterior mirror assembly by said first and second structures and removable from said opening as a unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A light module for an exterior rearview mirror assembly, the exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for attachment to a side of a vehicle, said light module comprising:
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an enclosure defining an enclosure cavity; a light-transmitting cover; a plurality of light-emitting diodes within said enclosure cavity; wherein when the exterior mirror assembly is mounted to the side of the vehicle and when said plurality of light emitting diodes is electrically powered, at least one of said light emitting diodes radiates light generally through said light-transmitting cover and along a light-radiating axis that extends rearwardly away from the side of the vehicle to which the exterior mirror assembly is attached in order to at least partially shield the driver from direct view of light radiated by said at least one of said light emitting diodes, said light-radiating axis being at an angle of at least approximately 15 degrees away from a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein said radiated light of said at least one of said light emitting diodes generally does not directly impinge the side of the vehicle; and a first structure of said light module configured to mate with a second structure of said exterior mirror assembly in order to at least partially retain said enclosure substantially within said exterior mirror assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification