EP0738627A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Mirror assembly
Assignee: Magna Donnelly Corp
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Filing: 1996-04-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly 26' and a light module 104 removably positioned within the exterior mirror housing. The light module is moisture impervious and includes an enclosure 116, a light-transmitting opening 122 in the enclosure facing generally downwardly and/or rearwardly of the vehicle, a cover 130 for the light-transmitting opening, and a light source 126 in the enclosure radiating light through the light-transmitting opening. The light source may be received in a socket which removably engages another opening in the enclosure.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd W. Pastrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:40
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/2661; B60Q1/2665; B60Q1/34; B60Q1/38; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/12; B60R1/1207; B60Q2300/00; B60Q2300/05; B60Q2300/054; B60Q2900/00; B60Q2900/30; B60R2001/1284; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising an exterior mirror assembly including a reflective element contained within a housing and a light module removably positioned in the first housing, the light module including an enclosure, a light-transmitting opening in the enclosure facing generally downwardly and/or rearwardly of the vehicle, a cover for the light-transmitting opening, and a light source in the enclosure radiating light through the light-transmitting opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
The mirror assembly claimed in claim 1 including a socket positioned in a further opening in the enclosure and including a means for sealing the socket in the further opening, whereby the light source can be replaced by removing the light module from the housing and removing the socket from the light module.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mirror assembly claimed in claim 1 or 2, further including a light-directing surface at least partially surrounding the light source in the enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mirror assembly claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the enclosure slopes from the cover rearwardly and upwardly to a location behind the reflective element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mirror assembly claimed in any preceding claim wherein the module is substantially moisture impervious.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mirror assembly claimed in any preceding claim including means defining an airflow path through the enclosure in order to dissipate heat from the light source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mirror assembly claimed in any preceding claim wherein the module is mounted in the housing in a manner that defines a drain from the housing for water in the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mirror assembly claimed in any preceding claim wherein the light source is at least one light emitting diode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The mirror assembly claimed in any preceding claim further including a second light-transmitting opening in the enclosure facing generally downwardly and/or rearwardly of the vehicle, a second cover for the second light-transmitting opening, and a second light source in the second enclosure radiating light through the second light-transmitting opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mirror assembly claimed in claim 9 wherein the first light-transmitting opening is facing generally downwardly of the vehicle and the second light-transmitting opening is facing generally rearwardly of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mirror assembly claimed in claim 10 wherein the second light source is a plurality of light-emitting diodes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mirror assembly claimed in claim 11 including louvers between the light-emitting diodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mirror assembly claimed in claim 12 wherein the louvers are skewed in a direction away from the vehicle passenger compartment in order to shield the driver from light radiated by the light-emitting diodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mirror assembly claimed in any preceding claim including mating surface configurations on the housing and the enclosure which at least partially retain the enclosure in the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
A light module adapted to be removably positioned in an opening in a part of a vehicle, comprising an enclosure, a light-transmitting opening in the enclosure, a cover for the light-transmitting opening, a light source in the enclosure radiating light through the light-transmitting opening, and a retaining structure on an exterior surface of the enclosure configured to mate with a retaining structure within the vehicle opening in order to at least partially retain the enclosure in the vehicle opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
112 words
A light module adapted to be removably positioned in an opening in a part of a vehicle, comprising an enclosure, a light-transmitting opening in the enclosure, the opening being covered with a lens, a light source in the enclosure radiating light through the opening, and a socket positioned in a further opening in the enclosure and including a sealing means comprising a polymer material having a durometer hardness in the range of from about 50 to about 95 SHORE A for sealing the socket in the further opening, whereby the light source can be replaced by removing the light module from the vehicle opening and removing the socket from the light module.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
A signal light module adapted to be removably positioned in an opening in a vehicle exterior mirror assembly comprising, an enclosure, a light-transmitting opening in the enclosure, the opening being covered with a lens, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes with louvers therebetween in the enclosure, wherein the light-emitting diodes radiate light generally along a light-radiating axis that extends rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of a vehicle in order to shield the driver from light radiated by the light-emitting diodes, the light-radiating axis being at an angle of at least approximately 15° from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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