Vehicle exterior mirror system with turn signal light assembly
First Claim
1. A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle comprising:
- a first exterior mirror assembly including a first reflective element and a first housing for said first reflective element;
a first light module removably positioned in said first housing, said first light module projecting light from said first housing on at least a first area adjacent a first portion of the vehicle in order to create a first lighted security zone in said first area; and
said first light module including a first enclosure, a first light-transmitting opening in said first enclosure facing at least one of generally downwardly and rearwardly of said vehicle, a first cover for said first light-transmitting opening, and a first light source in said first enclosure radiating light through said first light-transmitting opening.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly and a light module removably positioned within the exterior mirror housing. The light module is moisture impervious and includes an enclosure, a light-transmitting opening in the enclosure facing generally downwardly and/or rearwardly of the vehicle, a cover for the light-transmitting opening, and a light source in the enclosure radiating light through the light-transmitting opening. The light source may be received in a socket which removably engages another opening in the enclosure. In this manner, the light source may be replaced by removing the module from the exterior mirror housing, removing the socket from the enclosure and replacing the light source. The enclosure and mirror housing preferably are configured to self-retain the module in the exterior mirror moving with no, or fewer than one or two, separate fasteners.
88 Citations
106 Claims
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1. A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle comprising:
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a first exterior mirror assembly including a first reflective element and a first housing for said first reflective element;
a first light module removably positioned in said first housing, said first light module projecting light from said first housing on at least a first area adjacent a first portion of the vehicle in order to create a first lighted security zone in said first area; and
said first light module including a first enclosure, a first light-transmitting opening in said first enclosure facing at least one of generally downwardly and rearwardly of said vehicle, a first cover for said first light-transmitting opening, and a first light source in said first enclosure radiating light through said first light-transmitting opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 97, 98)
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43. A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly including a reflective element, a housing for said reflective element and a positioning device for adjustably positioning said reflective element in said first housing;
a light module removably positioned in said housing, said module projecting light from said housing on at least an area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in said area; and
said light module including an enclosure having wall means defining a first enclosure cavity, a first light-transmitting opening in said first cavity facing at least one of generally downwardly and rearwardly of said vehicle, a first cover for said first light-transmitting opening, and a first light source in said first cavity radiating light generally along a first axis through said first light-transmitting opening, said enclosure positioned in an opening in a surface of said housing facing at least one of generally downwardly and rearwardly of said vehicle and said enclosure sloping generally upwardly from said first light-transmitting opening to a location behind said positioning device. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A light module adapted to be removably positioned in an opening in a vehicle exterior mirror assembly having a housing and a retaining structure located within said housing, comprising:
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an enclosure having wall means defining a first enclosure cavity;
a first light-transmitting opening in said first enclosure cavity;
a first cover for said first light-transmitting opening;
a first light source in said first enclosure cavity radiating light through said first light-transmitting opening; and
a retaining structure on an exterior surface of said enclosure configured to mate with the retaining structure within the exterior mirror housing in order to at least partially retain said enclosure in the exterior mirror housing. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 99, 100)
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94. A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle comprising:
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an exterior mirror assembly attached to the vehicle, a reflective element, a housing for said reflective element, and a positioning device mounted to said reflective element for adjustably positioning said reflective element in said housing;
a light module removably positioned in said housing, said light module projecting light from said housing on at least an area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in said area;
said light module including an enclosure having wall means defining an enclosure cavity, a light-transmitting opening in said cavity, a cover for said light-transmitting opening and a light source in said cavity radiating light through said light-transmitting opening; and
mating retaining elements for removably retaining said light module in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96)
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101. A light module adapted to be removably positioned in an opening in a vehicle exterior mirror assembly having a housing comprising:
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an enclosure having walls defining an enclosure cavity;
a light-transmitting opening in said enclosure cavity;
said opening being covered with a lens;
a light source in said enclosure cavity radiating light through said opening; and
a first socket positioned in another opening in said enclosure and including a sealing means comprising a polymer material having a durometer hardness in the range of from about 50 to about 95 SHORE A for sealing said first socket in said opening, whereby said light source can be replaced by removing said light module from said housing and removing said first socket from said light module. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103)
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104. A signal light module adapted to be removably positioned in an opening in a vehicle exterior mirror assembly comprising:
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an enclosure having walls defining an enclosure cavity;
a light-transmitting opening in said enclosure cavity;
said opening being covered with a lens; and
a plurality of light-emitting diodes with louvers therebetween in said enclosure cavity;
wherein said light-emitting diodes radiate light generally along a light-radiating axis that extends rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of a vehicle in order to shield the driver from light radiated by said light-emitting diodes, said light-radiating axis being at an angle of at least approximately 15°
from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106)
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Specification