EXTERIOR MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT SUB-ASSEMBLY WITH SIGNAL INDICATOR
First Claim
1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:
- a mirror reflective element;
a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation and having (i) a generally planar portion and (ii) an indicator receiving portion, both established by said plastic injection molding operation;
wherein said indicator receiving portion of said mirror back plate comprises a wall structure extending at an angle from said generally planar portion adjacent to an aperture established through said mirror back plate, and wherein said wall structure of said indicator receiving portion extends from said generally planar portion at an angle less than ninety degrees relative to said generally planar portion;
a signal indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light, wherein said signal indicator comprises a housing and wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said aperture at said indicator receiving portion;
wherein said light source is disposed at a circuit element and said housing substantially encases said circuit element therein, said circuit element comprising an electrical connector for electrically connecting said circuit element to a power source of the vehicle;
wherein said electrical connector protrudes from said circuit element and is accessible at a connector portion of said housing and wherein said connector portion of said housing comprises one of a plug connector and a socket connector for connecting to a connecting end of electrical wiring of the vehicle; and
wherein said signal indicator comprises an indicia element at a forward end thereof, and wherein, when said light source is activated, light emitted by said light source emanates through said aperture of said mirror back plate and through said mirror reflective element at an angle relative to said generally planar portion of said mirror back plate and is transmitted through said indicia element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and a signal indicator. The mirror back plate includes (i) a generally planar portion and (ii) an indicator receiving portion. The indicator receiving portion has a wall structure extending at an angle from the generally planar portion adjacent to an aperture established through the mirror back plate. The signal indicator has a light source disposed at a circuit element and a housing substantially encases the circuit element therein. An electrical connector protrudes from the circuit element and is accessible at a connector portion of the housing for connecting to electrical wiring of the vehicle. The signal indicator includes an indicia element at a forward end thereof. When the light source is activated, light emitted by the light source emanates through the aperture and through the mirror reflective element and is transmitted through the indicia element.
1 Citation
22 Claims
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1. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:
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a mirror reflective element; a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation and having (i) a generally planar portion and (ii) an indicator receiving portion, both established by said plastic injection molding operation; wherein said indicator receiving portion of said mirror back plate comprises a wall structure extending at an angle from said generally planar portion adjacent to an aperture established through said mirror back plate, and wherein said wall structure of said indicator receiving portion extends from said generally planar portion at an angle less than ninety degrees relative to said generally planar portion; a signal indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light, wherein said signal indicator comprises a housing and wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said aperture at said indicator receiving portion; wherein said light source is disposed at a circuit element and said housing substantially encases said circuit element therein, said circuit element comprising an electrical connector for electrically connecting said circuit element to a power source of the vehicle; wherein said electrical connector protrudes from said circuit element and is accessible at a connector portion of said housing and wherein said connector portion of said housing comprises one of a plug connector and a socket connector for connecting to a connecting end of electrical wiring of the vehicle; and wherein said signal indicator comprises an indicia element at a forward end thereof, and wherein, when said light source is activated, light emitted by said light source emanates through said aperture of said mirror back plate and through said mirror reflective element at an angle relative to said generally planar portion of said mirror back plate and is transmitted through said indicia element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:
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a mirror reflective element; a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation and having (i) a generally planar portion and (ii) an indicator receiving portion, both established by said plastic injection molding operation; wherein said indicator receiving portion of said mirror back plate comprises a wall structure extending at an angle from said generally planar portion adjacent to an aperture established through said mirror back plate, and wherein said wall structure of said indicator receiving portion extends from said generally planar portion at an angle less than ninety degrees relative to said generally planar portion; a heater pad disposed at the rear surface of said mirror reflective element and between said mirror back plate and said mirror reflective element, wherein said heater pad has a light transmitting portion that generally corresponds with said aperture of said mirror back plate; a signal indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light, wherein said signal indicator comprises a housing and wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said aperture at said indicator receiving portion; wherein said signal indicator is associated with a blind spot detection system of the vehicle; wherein said light source is disposed at a circuit element and said housing substantially encases said circuit element therein, said circuit element comprising an electrical connector for electrically connecting said circuit element to a power source of the vehicle; wherein said electrical connector protrudes from said circuit element and is accessible at a connector portion of said housing and wherein said connector portion of said housing comprises one of a plug connector and a socket connector for connecting to a connecting end of electrical wiring of the vehicle; and wherein said signal indicator comprises an indicia element at a forward end thereof, and wherein, when said light source is activated, light emitted by said light source emanates through said aperture of said mirror back plate and through said mirror reflective element at art angle relative to said generally planar portion of said mirror back plate and is transmitted through said indicia element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A mirror reflective element sub-assembly suitable for use for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror reflective element sub-assembly comprising:
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a mirror reflective element; a mirror back plate attached at the rear of said mirror reflective element, said mirror back plate comprising a plastic molding formed in a plastic injection molding operation and having (i) a generally planar portion and (ii) an indicator receiving portion, both established by said plastic injection molding operation; wherein said indicator receiving portion of said mirror back plate comprises a wall structure extending at an angle from said generally planar portion adjacent to an aperture established through said mirror back plate, and wherein said wall structure of said indicator receiving portion extends from said generally planar portion at an angle less than ninety degrees relative to said generally planar portion; a signal indicator having a light source that is activatable to emit light, wherein said signal indicator comprises a housing and wherein said light source is activatable to emit light through said aperture at said indicator receiving portion; wherein said signal indicator substantially seals at said wall structure of said indicator receiving portion when attached thereto such that said signal indicator and said indicator receiving portion are substantially water impervious; wherein said light source is disposed at a circuit element and said housing substantially encases said circuit element therein, said circuit element comprising an electrical connector for electrically connecting said circuit element to a power source of the vehicle; wherein said electrical connector protrudes from said circuit element and is accessible at a connector portion of said housing and wherein said connector portion of said housing comprises one of a plug connector and a socket connector for connecting to a connecting end of electrical wiring of the vehicle; wherein said signal indicator comprises an indicia element at a forward end thereof, and wherein, when said light source is activated, light emitted by said light source emanates through said aperture of said mirror back plate and through said mirror reflective element at an angle relative to said generally planar portion of said mirror back plate and is transmitted through said indicia element; and wherein said signal indicator is associated with at least one of (i) a blind spot detection system of the vehicle and (ii) a turn signal of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification