Exterior rear view mirror integral warning light

• US 7,108,410 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Original Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Incorporated (The Sumi Motherson Group)
• Inventors: Stidham, Mark, Furlotte, Charles, Gathergood, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/123,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/540, 362/544, 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 rear view mirror assembly is disclosed which incorporates a warning light actuatable in conjunction with the vehicle turn signals to alert adjacent motor vehicles of an anticipated turn. The warning light is integrated into a first decorative cover member and may be connected to the vehicle turn signal circuit by way of connectable electrical leads or by an integrally formed plug and outlet arrangement. A second decorative cover member may be substituted for the first decorative cover member when it is not desired to incorporate the warning light.

Claims

1. An exterior rear view mirror assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening, said housing adapted to be secured to an outer surface of a motor vehicle;

a mirror having a reflective surface disposed within said opening;

a first decorative cover member having a lens member, said first decorative cover member secured in overlying relationship to an outer surface portion of said housing;

a light assembly having a light source therein, said light source being operable to provide a signal visible through said lens member to an adjacent motor vehicle when actuated, said lens member being designed to direct light emitted from said light source outwardly from the mirror housing.

2. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light assembly includes a light housing, said light source including a light socket removably secured to said light housing.

3. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said light assembly is mounted on said decorative cover member.

4. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said light transmitting window is a lens and said light housing includes a light socket support member secured to said lens, said lens having an outer surface contour forming a substantially smooth continuation of the outer surface of said decorative member.

5. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said light socket support member includes a reflective inner surface, said inner surface being shaped to direct a maximum amount of light emitted from said light source to said lens.

6. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lens is operative to direct light through an arc extending substantially 90 degrees rearwardly from approximately a line passing through said mirror assembly and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle.

7. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mirror assembly includes an electrical connector adapted to be electrically connected to said vehicle turn signal system, said light source including a mating connector connected to said electrical connector whereby said light source may be actuated when said vehicle turn signal is actuated.

8. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said mating connector is integrally formed with said light source.

9. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light assembly is fixedly secured to said decorative cover member.

10. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mirror assembly includes a second decorative cover member, said second decorative cover member being interchangeable with said first decorative cover member, said second decorative cover member being secured to said housing when said light assembly is not desired.

11. An exterior rear view mirror assembly for mounting on a mirror vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

a housing open at a rearwardly facing portion, said rearwardly facing portion defined by an upper wall portion, a lower wall portion, a forwardly facing wall portion and inner and outer wall portion cooperating to define a generally enclosed area said housing also including a recessed portion, said recessed portion extending over at least a part of said upper, forwardly facing and outer wall portions;

a mirror movably positioned within said open rearwardly facing portion thereof;

a wiring harness disposed in an interior of said housing being adapted to be connected to a turn signal circuit of said motor vehicle;

an opening provided in said recessed portion of said outer wall portion, said connector being accessible through said opening;

a decorative cover member received within and substantially covering said recessed portion, said cover member including;

a light housing, said light housing including a lens forming a continuation of the outer surface of said decorative cover member;

a light source supported within said light housing, said light source being coupled to said wiring harness by way of a pigtail whereby said light may be actuated in response to actuation of said turn signal circuit of said motor vehicle.

12. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said light housing is fixedly secured to a portion of said decorative cover member overlying said outer wall portion.

13. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said light housing includes a surface operative to direct light from said light source to said lens.

14. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said lens is operative to direct light outwardly from said outer wall portion in a direction to be visible by other motor vehicles following and traveling alongside side motor vehicle.

15. An exterior rear view mirror assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing having interconnected upper wall, lower wall, forwardly facing wall, inner wall and outer wall portions said housing further having a recess extending across at least a part of said upper wall, forwardly facing wall and outer wall portions;

a wiring harness adapted to be connected to the turn signal circuit of said motor vehicle, disposed within said interconnected upper wall, lower wall, forwardly facing wall, inner wall and outer wall portions of said housing;

a connector provided in said recess of said outer wall portion;

a group of decorative cover members adapted to be received within and substantially cover said recess portion, said group of decorative cover members including

at least one decorative cover member including a light source having a pigtail in said recess of said wall portion,

a first decorative cover member adapted to be received within and substantially cover said recess portion;

a second decorative cover member adapted to be received within and substantially cover said recess portion, said second cover member including a light source provided thereon and said pigtail adapted for connecting to said wiring harness in said recess of said outer wall portion;

one of said group of said decorative cover members being disposed within said recess.

16. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said light source is provided in a portion of said decorative cover member received within said recess on said outer wall portion.

17. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said light source is actuable in response to actuation of said turn signal circuit.

18. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said recessed portion of said outer wall portion includes a cavity adapted to receive said light source when said second decorative member is assembled to said housing, said cavity being concealed when said first or said second decorative cover member is assembled to said housing.

19. An exterior rear view mirror assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said cavity includes an electrical outlet, said electrical outlet receiving a plug provided on said light source when said second decorative member is assembled to said housing.