Mirror mounting bracket with illumination means

• US 7,682,056 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Furtwangler, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron; Ismael
• Application Number:
  US10/537,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20060133101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,309 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/545, 362/547
• 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 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/10 Protection of lighting devices cooling of lighting devices F21S45/40; waterproofing of lighting devices F21S45/50
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/50 Waterproofing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror including a mirror mounting bracket for attachment to a vehicle, and at least one perimeter light with a light source arranged on a thermally conductive carrier (e.g. a printed circuit board) in thermally conductive connection with the mirror mounting bracket. The light source is preferably an LED.

Claims

1. An external rearview mirror for a vehicle, said external rearview mirror comprising:

a mirror mounting bracket adapted to be fixedly secured to the vehicle, said mirror mounting bracket defining an interior and a receptacle extending through a portion of said interior;

a mirror head movably secured to said mirror mounting bracket, said mirror head including a reflective surface to view rearward of the vehicle; and

a perimeter light fixedly secured to said receptacle within said mirror mounting bracket, said perimeter light including a light source and thermally conductive carrier extending radially out from said light source to optimize dissipation of thermal energy created by said light source throughout said mirror mounting bracket.

2. An external rearview mirror as set forth in claim 1 including a hole in the mirror mounting bracket above said thermally conductive carrier.

3. An external rearview mirror as set forth in claim 2 wherein said thermally conductive carrier engages said mirror mounting bracket at a periphery of said thermally conductive carrier to enhance thermal transfer away from said light source.

4. An external rearview mirror as set forth in claim 3 wherein said perimeter light defines an annular groove for receiving a portion of said receptacle therein to enclose said light source in said perimeter light.

5. An external rearview mirror as set forth in claim 3 wherein said light source is an LED.

6. An external rearview mirror as set forth in claim 5 wherein said perimeter light includes a printed circuit board.

7. An external rearview mirror as set forth in claim 6 wherein at least a portion of thermally conductive carrier is connected to said printed circuit board.