Cap for external side view mirror of a motor vehicle

• US 6,003,996 A
• Filed: 05/22/1996
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Hohe GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Hohe GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Furst, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US08/651,577
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 359/530, 359/533, 359/548, 359/549, 359/550, 359/871, 362/83.1, 362/84
• US Class Current: 359/549
• 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: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A cap for an external side view mirror for a motor vehicle which facilitates the ability of an observer to determine the position of the vehicle. To accomplish this, a light-reflecting strip or triangular pyramidal reflector prisms, for example, are applied to the cap.

Claims

1. An external mirror for mounting to the side of a motor vehicle comprising a reflective mirror facing in a first direction and a convex cap forming a housing for the reflective mirror, the convex cap having an external main surface facing substantially in a second direction opposite to the first direction and having a wrap-around edge portion facing substantially laterally outwardly, the convex cap formed of a continuous hard plastic material having a color matching the color of the vehicle, wherein said external main surface of said convex cap includes a substantially "V" shaped light-reflecting surface with the apex of the "V" pointing away from the vehicle when the mirror is mounted to the side of the vehicle.

2. The external mirror of claim 1 wherein the light-reflecting surface is generally of the same color as the convex cap.

3. The external mirror of claim 2 wherein the light reflecting surface includes reflecting pellets.

4. An external mirror for mounting to the side of a motor vehicle comprising a reflective mirror facing in a first direction and a convex cap forming a housing for the reflective mirror, the convex cap having an external main surface facing substantially in a second direction opposite to the first direction and having a wrap-around edge portion facing substantially laterally outwardly, the convex cap formed of a continuous hard plastic translucent material covering triangular pyramidal reflecting prisms disposed on the entire internal wall of said convex cap.

5. The external mirror of claim 4 wherein said triangular pyramidal reflecting prisms are coated with a metallic coating.

6. The external mirror of claim 5 wherein the metallic coating is electrolytically deposited chromium.

7. The external mirror of claim 5 wherein the metallic coating is vapor-deposited aluminum.