Outside rear view mirror

• US 6,315,437 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Schwed, Robert, Koske, Joerg-Uwe, Katz, Werner, Merz, Richard, Nickel, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/339,875
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 362/135, 362/494, 362/84, 362/800, 362/551, 362/555, 362/583, 340/468, 340/475
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide

Abstract

An outside rear view mirror is provided for vehicles. The outside rear view mirror has a mirror housing having an interior and exterior. There is provided at least one light exit opening in the mirror housing. Also included is a repeating flashing light having at least one light source associated with the light exit opening in the mirror housing. A luminous film is located on the exterior of the mirror housing. The light exit opening is filled at least partially with a light guide connected with the light source.

Claims

1. An outside rear view mirror for vehicles, comprising:

a mirror housing having a foot end adapted to be fastened to a vehicle and an opposite end spaced from the foot end,

a light source for a repeating flashing light disposed at said foot end of the mirror housing,

a light exit opening at said opposite end of the mirror housing,

a light guide operable to guide light from the light source to the light exit opening with said light radiating into a luminous area opposite a direction of travel when in an in use position on a forward traveling vehicle, and

a luminous film disposed on an exterior surface of the mirror housing spaced from the light exit opening and operable to radiate a flashing light,

wherein said light source and luminous film are activated in synchronization to produce a repeating flashing light.

2. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein the luminous film extends along an exterior of the mirror housing that is forward in a vehicle travel direction and covers the exterior at least partially.

3. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 2, wherein the area covered on the outside of the mirror housing by the luminous film is designed essentially as a stripe, with the lengthwise direction of the stripe extending approximately transversely to the travel direction.

4. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 3, wherein a light-permeable disk is mounted externally on the luminous film.

5. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 3, wherein said light guide and exit opening are configured to radiate the flashing light in a radiation area located between first and second angular directions with respect to the vehicle travel direction.

6. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 5, wherein said first angular direction is approximately 5°

and the second angular direction is approximately 60°

with respect to the vehicle travel direction.

7. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 2, wherein a light-permeable disk is mounted externally on the luminous film.

8. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein a light-permeable disk is mounted externally on the luminous film.

9. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 8, wherein the disk is located at least partially inside an outside contour of the mirror housing.

10. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 9, wherein the disk has optics that influence the light passing through the disk.

11. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 8, wherein the disk has optics that influence the light passing through the disk.

12. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light exit opening is filled at least partially with the light guide connected with the light source.

13. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 12, wherein the light guide extends at least partially along the exterior of the mirror housing that is forward in the travel direction and is located inside an outside contour of the mirror housing.

14. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 4, wherein the light exit opening is essentially formed by an end edge of the light guide that faces away from the light source.

15. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 13, wherein the luminous film is mounted externally on the area of the light guide that extends forward in the travel direction on the outside of the mirror housing.

16. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 15, wherein the light exit opening is essentially formed by an end edge of the light guide that faces away from the light source.

17. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 12, wherein the light exit opening is essentially formed by an end edge of the light guide that faces away from the light source.

18. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode (LED).

19. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein said light guide and exit opening are configured to radiate the flashing light in a radiation area located between first and second angular directions with respect to the vehicle travel direction.

20. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 19, wherein said first angular direction is approximately 5°

and the second angular direction is approximately 60°

with respect to the vehicle travel direction.

21. An outside rear view mirror according to claim 1,

wherein said light exit opening is configured to radiate the flashing light in a radiation area located between first and second angular directions with respect to a vehicle forward travel direction.

22. An outside rear view mirror for vehicles, comprising:

a mirror housing,

a light exit opening in the mirror housing,

a light source for supplying light to the light exit opening, and

a luminous film located on an exterior of the mirror housing at a position spaced from the light exit opening,

wherein said light exit opening is configured to radiate the flashing light in a radiation area located between first and second angular directions with respect to a vehicle forward travel direction,

wherein said mirror housing has a foot end adapted to be fastened to a vehicle and an opposite end spaced from the foot end,

wherein said exit opening is disposed at said opposite end of the mirror housing, and

wherein the at least one light source is disposed at said foot end of the mirror housing.

23. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 22, wherein said first angular direction is approximately 5°

and the second angular direction is approximately 60°

with respect to the vehicle travel direction.

24. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 22, wherein said luminous film is disposed intermediate said foot end and opposite end and faces in a forward vehicle travel direction.

25. Outside rear view mirror according to claim 24, wherein said light source and luminous film are activated in synchronization to produce a repeating flashing light.