Exterior rearview mirror for vehicles, in particular, for motor vehicles

• US 6,695,465 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Apfelbeck, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Quach-Lee, Y. My
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy A
• Application Number:
  US09/771,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20010010633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 362/444, 362/516, 362/519, 362/543, 362/545, 362/540, 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

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror for vehicles has a mirror head housing having a light-transmitting plate arranged therein. At least one lighting unit is received in the mirror head housing and has at least one light source emitting light rays so as to pass through the light-transmitting plate to the exterior of mirror head housing. At least one reflector is positioned between the at least one light source and the light-transmitting plate. The at least one reflector has at least one opening, and the at least one light source is positioned in the at least one opening. The at least one lighting unit has a lighting unit housing and the at least one light source is arranged in the lighting unit housing which is received in a receptacle of the mirror head housing.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror for vehicles, said exterior rearview mirror comprising:

a mirror head housing having a light-transmitting plate arranged therein;

at least one lighting unit received in said mirror head housing and comprising at least one light source configured to emit light rays passing through said light-transmitting plate to the exterior of said mirror head housing (2);

at least one reflector positioned between said at least one light source and said light-transmitting plate;

said at least one reflector having at least one opening, wherein said at least one light source is positioned in said at least one opening; and

wherein said at least one reflector has an end remote from the vehicle and wherein said end has a wall extending transverse to said light-transmitting plate, wherein said at least one opening is positioned in said wall and accommodates a first one of said at least one light sources.

2. The rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said at least one lighting unit has a lighting unit housing and wherein said at least one light source is arranged in said lighting unit housing.

3. The rearview mirror according to claim 2, wherein said lighting unit housing and said light-transmitting plate together form an enclosure of said lighting unit.

4. The rearview mirror according to claim 3, wherein said lighting unit housing has at least one projection pointing toward said light-transmitting plate.

5. The rearview mirror according to claim 4, wherein said at least one reflector has at least one depression and wherein said at least one projection projects into said at least one depression.

6. The rearview mirror according to claim 5, wherein said at least one opening is arranged in said at least one depression.

7. The rearview mirror according to claim 6, wherein said at least one depression has sidewalls and wherein said at least one opening is arranged in said sidewalls.

8. The rearview mirror according to claim 5, wherein said at least one projection is covered by said at least one depression in a direction toward said light-transmitting plate.

9. The rearview mirror according to claim 8, wherein said at least one depression has a bottom configured to cover said at least one projection.

10. The rearview mirror according to claim 4, wherein said at least one projection has two sidewalls angularly positioned relative to one another, wherein on each one of said sidewalls one of said light sources is positioned.

11. The rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said first light source is configured to emit light rays substantially transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle.

13. The rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said at least one projection has a V-shaped cross-section.

14. The rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said lighting unit housing has a plug configured to supply electric current to said at least one light source.

15. The rearview mirror according to claim 14, comprising at least one conductive foil connected to said plug and said at least one light source for supplying electric current to said at least one light source.

16. The rearview mirror according to claim 15, wherein said at least one conductive foil is fastened to said lighting unit housing.

17. The rearview mirror according to claim 16, wherein said at least one conductive foil extends across said at least one projection.

18. The rearview mirror according to claim 15, further comprising at least one cover arranged in said lighting unit housing and configured to protect said at least one conductive foil.

19. The rearview mirror according to claim 18, wherein said at least one cover covers a longitudinal extension of said at least one conductive foil.

20. The rearview mirror according to claim 18, wherein said at least one cover covers said at least one light source.

21. The rearview mirror according to claim 20, wherein said at least one cover projects into said at least one opening of said at least one reflector.

22. The rearview mirror according to claim 21, wherein said at least one cover is comprised of a transparent material at least in the area of said at least one light source.

23. The rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said at least one lighting unit is detachably mounted in said mirror head housing.

24. The rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said mirror head housing has a receptacle configured to receive said at least one lighting unit.

25. The rearview mirror according to claim 24, wherein said receptacle is a recessed portion of said mirror head housing.

26. The rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is a light-emitting diode.

12. An exterior rearview mirror for vehicles, said exterior rearview mirror comprising:

a mirror head housing having a light-transmitting plate arranged therein;

at least one lighting unit received in said mirror head housing and comprising at least one light source configured to emit light rays passing through said light-transmitting plate to the exterior of said mirror head housing;

at least one reflector positioned between said at least one light source and said light-transmitting plate;

said at least one reflector having at least one opening, wherein said at least one light source (31) is positioned in said at least one opening;

wherein said at least one lighting unit has a lighting unit housing and wherein said at least one light source is arranged in said lighting unit housing;

wherein said lighting unit housing and said light-transmitting plate together form an enclosure of said lighting unit;

wherein said lighting unit housing has at least one projection pointing toward said light-transmitting plate; and

wherein said at least one projection has two sidewalls angularly positioned relative to one another, wherein on each one of said sidewalls one of said light sources is positioned.