Indicator-integrated rearview mirror for vehicle

• US 8,272,753 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kitajima, Takeshi, Nakamura, Masanori, Kitamura, Ryohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Chwasz, Jade R
• Application Number:
  US11/896,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 359/842, 359/841
• US Class Current: 359/841
• 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

An indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle in which the number of components are reduced to simplify and lighten the structure thereof. A housing of a rearview mirror is divided into two of a front housing and a rear housing which are made of resin, an indicator system is supported by the front housing, and a mirror part is supported by the rear housing. Both housings are attached to each other by engagement of locking pawls with locking holes. A spherical-shaped engaging part supports the mirror part while the angle thereof can be adjusted. The rear housing is configured by integrally forming an accommodation part for the mirror part and an attachment stay part attached to the vehicle body-side, and the front housing is configured by integrally forming an accommodation part for the indicator system and a cover for covering the attachment stay part.

Claims

1. An indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle comprising:

a front housing and a separate rear housing which are connectable to each other to form a housing for the indicator-integrated rearview mirror;

an indicator system disposed inside the front housing and a mirror part attached to the rear housing;

said indicator system including a casing with an indicator lens, said casing accommodating an indicator bulb for selectively illuminating the indicator lens;

said front housing includes a window on a front side thereof for accommodating the indicator lens;

said casing being removably attached to the front housing with the indicator lens being positioned within the window of the front housing,

wherein the casing includes;

a planar side wall which is arranged vertically and extends rearwardly from the front side of the front housing in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the mirror part, and

a circular hole formed in a central portion of the planar side wall, and

wherein a socket is inserted at least part way through the circular hole so as to be secured directly onto the planar side wall.

2. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a spherical-shaped engaging part for supporting the mirror part while the angle thereof can be adjusted is formed integrally with the rear housing.

3. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the front housing and the rear housing are attached to each other by engagement of locking pawls with locking holes.

4. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the socket and the indicator bulb have axes that extend substantially parallel to a planar surface of the mirror.

5. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rear housing has a plane part facing the front housing and locking holes are formed in the plane part of the rear housing at positions along edges thereof.

6. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the indicator system is mounted on a central portion of the front housing in a position inward from a portion of the mirror part furthest away from the vehicle.

7. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rear housing is configured by integrally forming an accommodation part for the mirror part and an attachment stay part attached to a vehicle body-side.

8. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the front housing is configured by integrally forming an accommodation part for the indicator system and a cover for covering an attachment stay part of the rear housing attached to a vehicle body-side.

9. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the indicator bulb is positioned off-center with respect to the central portion of the indicator lens.

10. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the indicator lens has an irregular surface with a portion closest to a vehicle body-side that is larger in area than a portion furthest away from the vehicle body-side.

11. An indicator-integrated rearview mirror adapted for use with a vehicle comprising:

a housing for the indicator-integrated rearview mirror, said housing being made of resin and being divided into a front housing and a rear housing which are connectable to each other;

an indicator system supported by and disposed inside the front housing, and a mirror part supported by the rear housing;

said indicator system including a casing with an indicator lens, said casing accommodating an indicator bulb for selectively illuminating the indicator lens;

said front housing includes a window on a front side thereof for accommodating the indicator lens;

said casing being removably attached to the front housing,

wherein the casing includes;

a planar side wall of the casing which is arranged vertically and extends rearwardly from the front side of the front housing in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the mirror part, and

a circular hole formed in a central portion of the planar side wall, and

a socket having a hole into which the indicator bulb is inserted,

wherein the socket is inserted at least part way through the circular hole so as to be secured directly onto the planar side wall.

12. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the indicator system is mounted on a central portion of the front housing in a position inward from a portion of the mirror part furthest away from the vehicle.

13. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror adapted for use with a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein a spherical-shaped engaging part for supporting the mirror part while the angle thereof can be adjusted is formed integrally with the rear housing.

14. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the socket and the indicator bulb have axes that extend in a widthwise direction of the mirror part and of the vehicle.

15. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the rear housing has a plane part facing the front housing and locking holes are formed in the plane part of the rear housing at positions along edges thereof.

16. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the indicator lens has an irregular shape with a portion closest to a vehicle body-side that is larger in area than a portion furthest away for the vehicle body-side.

17. An indicator-integrated rearview mirror adapted for use with a vehicle comprising:

a housing made of resin and being divided into a front housing and a rear housing;

an indicator system supported by and disposed inside the front housing,

a front side of said front housing including a window for accommodating an indicator lens; and

a mirror part supported by the rear housing;

said indicator system including a casing with a planar side wall which is arranged vertically and extends rearwardly from the front side of the front housing in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the mirror part,

the planar side wall of the casing having a circular hole into which a socket is directly fitted, said casing accommodating an illuminating member for selectively illuminating the indicator lens;

said casing being removably attached to the front housing with the indicator lens being positioned within the window of the front housing,

wherein the illuminating member is an indicator bulb disposed directly in front of a rear wall of the casing and the mirror part is disposed behind the rear wall of the casing.

18. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the socket and the indicator bulb have axes that extend in a widthwise direction of the mirror part and of the vehicle.

19. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the rear housing has a plane part facing the front housing and locking holes are formed in the plane part of the rear housing at positions along edges thereof.

20. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the indicator system is mounted on a central portion of the front housing in a position inward from a portion of the mirror part furthest away from the vehicle.

21. The indicator-integrated rearview mirror for a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the indicator lens has an irregular surface with a portion closest to a vehicle body-side that is larger in area than a portion furthest away from the vehicle body-side.