Vehicle lamp

• US 7,357,549 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: REBO Lighting & Electronics GmbH (PTC Inc.)
• Original Assignee: REBO Lighting & Electronics GmbH (PTC Inc.)
• Inventors: Gunther, Thilo
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US11/470,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20070058383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/375, 362/491, 362/494, 362/511, 362/540, 362/541, 362/542, 362/551, 362/555, 362/559
• US Class Current: 362/551
• 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: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/195 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/255 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre

Abstract

A vehicle lamp, for example for installation in a cover cap of an external rear view mirror, includes an elongate light guide and a light source whose light is coupled into the light guide. The vehicle lamp has a light guide-cover plate unit which is formed in one piece and which includes the at least one light guide and at least one cover plate portion for concealing a part of the lamp interior.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising

at least one elongate light guide,

a light source positioned to couple its emitted light into the light guide in a longitudinal direction, and

a light guide-cover plate unit which is formed in one piece and which includes the at least one light guide and at least one cover plate portion,

wherein the light guide-cover plate unit includes a plurality of light guide portions arranged in adjacent relationship in the longitudinal direction,

the arrangement being such that the light of at least one light source is coupled into the light guide portions between first and second longitudinally adjacent light guide portions in opposite directions.

2. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein the light guide-cover plate unit is an injection molding.

3. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein the light guide-cover plate unit is provided in a two-component injection molding process in which the at least one light guide is injected from a first material and the cover plate portion is injected from a second material.

4. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein the light guide-cover plate portion includes an element which is opaque at least in a region of the light guide-cover plate unit.

5. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein the cover plate portion is of a thinner cross-section than the light guide.

6. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein the cover plate portion is made from a colored plastic material.

7. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 1 including

a lamp means carrier between two longitudinally adjacent light guide portions.

8. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 7

wherein the lamp carrier means is a circuit board.

9. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 7 including

a holding means for a lamp means carrier between first and second longitudinally adjacent light guide portions.

10. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 9

wherein the holding means is formed integrally with the light guide.

11. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 1

wherein the light guide-cover plate unit includes first and second light guides extending in substantially mutually parallel relationship.

12. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 1

which is devoid of any farther cover plate.

13. A vehicle lamp as set forth in claim 1 including

means for installation thereof in a cover cap of an external rear view mirror of a vehicle.