Exterior mirror having lamp and exterior rear-view mirror having lamp

• US 7,220,030 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Yagi, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US10/768,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20040213009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 362/487, 362/494, 362/245, 362/545, 362/516, 362/800, 362/303
• 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: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An exterior mirror for a vehicle includes a mirror housing that houses a mirror, a chassis that is put on the mirror housing to form a hollow space between the chassis and the mirror housing, the chassis having an opening former at a portion, and a lamp that is arranged in the hollow space. The lamp includes a light source that emits light, and a reflector that reflects the light toward the opening. The light source is arranged in such a manner that the light from the light source does not illuminate the opening directly.

Claims

1. An exterior mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a lamp that includes

a window that is formed at a portion of a chassis;

a reflector that reflects light toward the window, provided inside the chassis; and

a light source that emits the light toward the reflector, provided inside the chassis, the light source arranged in such a manner that the light from the light source does not illuminate the window directly, wherein the lamp includes multiple light sources and each light source of the lamp which is provided inside the chassis emits light toward the reflector, and each light source of the lamp is arranged in such a manner that the light from the light source does not illuminate the window directly.

2. The exterior mirror according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is a garnish.

3. The exterior mirror according to claim 1, wherein the multiple light sources include light emitting diodes that are surface-mounted on a flexible board.

4. The exterior mirror according to claim 3, wherein the multiple light sources including the light emitting diodes that are surface-mounted on the flexible board are arranged at an outer convex.

5. The exterior mirror according to claim 3, wherein

the window includes

a lens that transmits the light reflected from the reflector;

and

a cover that covers a backside surrounding-area,

the cover forms a space of a predetermined capacity, and

the reflector and the multiple light sources including the light emitting diodes that are surface-mounted on the flexible board are disposed in the space.

6. An exterior mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a lamp that includes

a window that is formed at a portion of a chassis;

a reflector that reflects light toward the window, provided inside the chassis; and

a light source that emits the light toward the reflector, provided inside the chassis, the light source arranged in such a manner that the light from the light source does not illuminate the window directly; and

a mirror housing that houses a mirror, wherein

the reflector is provided on a back side of the mirror housing.

7. The exterior mirror according to claim 6, wherein

the chassis is a garnish having a cover, and

the exterior mirror is formed by putting the garnish on the minor housing.

8. An exterior rear-view mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a lamp that includes

a window that is formed in a space between a chassis and an outside edge of the mirror at a portion of the chassis;

a reflector that reflects light toward the window, provided inside the chassis; and

a light source that emits the light toward the reflector, provided inside the chassis, the light source arranged in such a manner that the light from the light source does not illuminate the window directly, wherein the lamp includes multiple light sources and each light source of the lamp which is provided inside the chassis emits light toward the reflector, and each light source of the lamp is arranged in such a manner that the light from the light source does not illuminate the window directly.

9. The exterior rear-view mirror according to claim 8, wherein the multiple light sources include light emitting diodes that are surface-mounted on a flexible board.

10. The exterior rear-view mirror according to claim 8, wherein the window is displaced from surface of the mirror in a direction of movement of the vehicle.

11. An exterior mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror housing that houses a mirror;

a chassis that is disposed on the mirror housing to form a hollow space between the chassis and the mirror housing, the chassis having an opening formed at a portion; and

a lamp that is arranged in the hollow space, the lamp including

a light source that emits light; and

a reflector that reflects the light toward the opening, wherein

the light source is arranged in such a manner that the light from the light source does not illuminate the opening directly,

wherein the lamp includes multiple light sources and each light source of the lamp which is provided inside the chassis emits light toward the reflector, and each light source of the lamp is arranged in such a manner that the light from the light source does not illuminate the opening directly.