Vehicle rearview mirror with multiple signal means

• US 6,049,271 A
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ching-Ti Chu
• Original Assignee: Ching-Ti Chu
• Inventors: Chu, Ching-Ti
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/342,209
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 362/473, 362/494, 362/543, 362/544, 362/549, 340/463, 340/464, 340/465, 340/466, 340/468, 340/471, 340/472, 340/475
• US Class Current: 340/463
• 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: B62J 29/00 Adaptations or arrangements of mirrors for use on cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/055 Electrical means, e.g. lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/26 warning or informing other road users, e.g. police flash lights

Abstract

A vehicle rearview mirror, which includes a casing, the casing having a front mirror for reflecting the image of traffic approaching from behind, a rectangular back opening at a back side wall thereof, a corner opening at a rear corner thereof remote from the motor vehicle in which the vehicle rearview mirror is installed, a substantially U-shaped holder frame at a top side wall thereof, and power contacts provided at the top side wall within the U-shaped holder frame and connected to the battery power supply circuit of the motor vehicle, a speeding signal lamp installed in the rectangular back opening in the casing and electrically connected to the battery power supply circuit of the motor vehicle, a turn signal lamp installed in the corner opening in the casing and electrically connected to the battery power supply circuit of the motor vehicle, and a warning signal lamp, which can be a rotary warning signal lamp or a flashing signal lamp, installed in the U-shaped holder frame at the casing and disposed in contact with the power contacts at the casing.

Claims

1. A vehicle rearview mirror comprising:

a rearview mirror body formed of a casing and a mirror at a front side of said casing and installed in a motor vehicle so that the driver can see traffic approaching from behind, said casing comprising a rectangular back opening at a back side wall thereof opposite to said mirror, a corner opening at a rear corner thereof remote from the motor vehicle in which the vehicle rearview mirror is installed, a substantially U-shaped holder frame provided at a top side wall thereof and defining a coupling groove, positive and negative power contacts provided at the top side wall and surrounded by said U-shaped holder frame, and an electric wire extended from said positive and negative power contacts and connected the battery power supply circuit of the motor vehicle in which the vehicle rearview mirror is installed;

a speeding signal lamp installed in the rectangular back opening in said casing;

a turn signal lamp installed in the corner opening in said casing; and

a removable warning signal lamp be installed in said U-shaped holder frame at said casing, said warning signal lamp comprising a power connector inserted into the coupling groove in said U-shaped holder frame and electrically connected to the positive and negative power contacts at said casing.

2. The vehicle rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said casing comprises a coupling flange raised from an inside wall thereof around said rectangular back opening, and a plurality of plug holes at a recessed portion at the back side wall around said rectangular back opening;

said speeding signal lamp comprises a lens fitted into the recessed portion at the back side wall of said casing and covered on said rectangular back opening, said lens having a plurality of backward plugs respectively plugged into the plug holes at the back side wall of said casing, a lamp bulb mounted inside said casing and controlled to emit light through said lens, an electric wire extended from said lamp bulb and connected to the battery power supply circuit of the motor vehicle in which the vehicle rearview mirror is installed, and a reflector covered around said lamp bulb to reflect light from said lamp bulb toward said lens.

3. The vehicle rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said warning signal lamp is a rotary warning signal lamp.

4. The vehicle rearview mirror of claim 1 wherein said warning signal lamp is a flashing signal lamp.