Vehicle external rearview mirror with rear facing blinker light

• US 6,280,068 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Zwick, Hubert, Mertens, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEGRON, ISMAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/430,233
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 362/459, 362/487, 362/494, 362/540, 362/546, 362/548, 362/135, 362/136, 362/138
• US Class Current: 362/494
• 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

Abstract

An external rearview mirror for a vehicle includes a base for attachment to a vehicle, a mirror head connected to the base, and a holder for a mirror glass. A blinker light on the mirror head provides light which is radiated rearwardly, as viewed in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle. The rearward light is radiated at an angle of at least 55 degrees relative to a straight line that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and that substantially extends beyond the contour of the mirror head.

Claims

1. An external rearview mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror base for attachment to a vehicle;

a mirror head connected to said mirror base and being provided with a light window and a holder for a mirror glass, wherein said mirror head is provided with a reflector and a housing, wherein a partition is disposed within said housing, and wherein said reflector and said partition are components that are separate from one another; and

a blinker light disposed in said mirror head in front of said reflector, wherein light given off by said blinker light is radiated rearwardly, as viewed in a direction of forward travel of said vehicle, over an angle of at least 55°

relative to a first straight line that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of said vehicle and that substantially extends beyond a contour of said mirror head.

2. An external rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said blinker light radiates over an angular range of at least 60°

.

3. An external rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said partition delimits an installation chamber within said housing, said installation chamber being provided for at least one further blinker light that radiates light toward the front when viewed in said direction of forward travel of said vehicle.

4. An external rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said mirror head is further provided with a reflector, and wherein said blinker light is disposed in front of said reflector.

5. An external rearview mirror according to claim 4, wherein said mirror head is provided with a housing, wherein a partition is disposed within said housing, and wherein said reflector is integrally formed with said partition.

6. An external rearview mirror according to claim 5, wherein said partition delimits an installation chamber within said housing, said installation chamber being provided for at least one further blinker light that radiates light toward the front when viewed in said direction of forward travel of said vehicle.

7. An external rearview mirror according to claim 4, wherein said light window has a free end portion that is disposed remote from said mirror base, and wherein said reflector has a straight wall portion that adjoins said free end portion of said light window and extends approximately perpendicular to a connection surface of said mirror base to said vehicle.

8. An external rearview mirror according to claim 7, wherein said straight wall portion of said reflector adjoins a partition within said mirror head by means of a portion of said reflector that has a cross-sectional configuration that is curved in the shape of a partial circle.

9. An external rearview mirror according to claim 4, wherein said reflector is an ellipsoid reflector.

10. An external rearview mirror according to claim 9, wherein said blinker light is disposed in a focal point of said reflector.

11. An external rearview mirror according to claim 10, wherein said two focal points of said reflector are disposed on a second straight line that is disposed at an acute angle to said first straight line that extends parallel to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle.

12. An external rearview mirror according to claim 10, wherein light rays of said blinker light reflected by said reflector intersect one another in another focal point of said reflector.

13. An external rearview mirror according to claim 12, wherein said other focal point of said reflector is essentially disposed beyond said contour of said mirror head.