OUTSIDE MIRROR LIGHTING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME

• US 20130003405A1
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Darin D. Tuttle, David J. Cammenga, Edmund Fehn, Mark A. Snyder, Richard T. Fish Jr
• Original Assignee: Darin D. Tuttle, David J. Cammenga, Edmund Fehn, Mark A. Snyder, Richard T. Fish Jr
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Fish, Richard T. Jr., Tuttle, Darin D., Snyder, Mark A., Fehn, Edmund
• Granted Patent: US 8,550,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/551
• 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: G02B 6/0091 of the light source relative to the light guide G02B6/0021 takes precedence

Abstract

An outside mirror lighting assembly (100) and method includes a housing (108) and a first glass panel (101) where one or more light emitting devices (107) are positioned at an edge of the first glass panel (101). Light rays from the at least one light emitting device (107) propagate within the glass panel for illumining its outer periphery. Words, logos, or other indicia (125) may be also be illuminated by direct or indirect light emitted into an etched area of the glass. The mirror assembly supplies a soft illuminated glow around the outer periphery and/or the indicia for proving a unique and pleasing appearance to the user.

Claims

1. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly comprising:

a housing;

a mirror element; and

an optical light pipe extending about the perimeter of the housing for illuminating the periphery of the mirror element.

2. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly as in claim 1, further comprising at least one LED supplying light to the optical light pipe at at least one optical input.

3. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly as in claim 1, wherein the mirror element is electrochomatic (EC) glass.

4. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly as in claim 1, wherein an optical light pipe is positioned within a channel located within a cover bezel.

5. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a heater for providing heat to the mirror element.

6. An outside vehicular mirror lighting assembly as in claim 1, wherein the optical light pipe is illuminated with colored light.