Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-22
2001-03-27
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Automobile
C362S467000, C362S488000, C362S487000, C362S512000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206553
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mirror assembly with a light for installation on exterior of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various U.S. Patents have disclosed exterior vehicle mirror assemblies which incorporate a downwardly facing security light for providing a lighted area adjacent to the vehicle. The light is actuated by a remote transmitter that typically carried by the vehicle driver to remotely lock and unlock the doors and/or remotely start the engine. These lights are commonly called “puddle lamps” because light on the ground has the appearance of a puddle. Examples of such assemblies are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,823,654, 5,699,704, 5,669,699, 5,497,306, 5,497,305 and 5,371,659 and German Patent Appln. No. 3635471.
The problem with these known mirror assemblies and is that the light emitting components thereof are not readily adaptable for use in existing mirror assemblies. Specifically, the housing mirror assemblies disclosed in these patents are specially formed to accommodate the mounting of a light emitting component and have a larger forwardly facing profile than they would without the light emitting components. The larger profile results in increased wind resistance and require new toolings to form the housing because the light emitting components are not readily adaptable for existing mirror housings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mirror assembly having a lighting assembly incorporated therein which is otherwise similar to like mirror assemblies without such a lighting assembly. To achieve this object, the present invention provides a mirror assembly for installation on the exterior of a motor vehicle. The mirror assembly comprises a mirror housing and an electrically powered mirror adjusting mechanism mounted within the interior of the housing. A support structure is constructed and arranged to be fixedly mounted to the motor vehicle exterior. The support structure has a wire receiving passage. The mirror housing is mounted to the support structure with one end of the wire receiving passage communicating with the interior of the mirror housing.
The support structure has a wire passage access opening providing access to the wire receiving passage for handling the wiring through the when the access opening is open. A lighting assembly is constructed and arranged to be mounted to the support structure so as to close the wire access opening The lighting assembly has light one or more emitting elements operable to emit light therefrom and to be operatively connected to the remote signal receiver of the vehicle such that, when the support structure is fixedly mounted to the vehicle exterior, operation of the remote transmitter will signal the remote receiver to cause the light emitting elements to emit light towards the ground from the support structure towards the ground so as to provide a lighted zone.
The mirror assembly of the present invention provides the advantages of incorporating a lighting assembly into an existing mirror assembly. In particular, the lighting assembly can be provided without changing the construction of either the support structure or the housing of an existing mirror assembly, thus saving the costs of providing new tooling for mirror assembly components which will accommodate a lighting assembly, such as those in the prior art.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the foregoing detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4657362 (1987-04-01), Suzuki
patent: 5371659 (1994-12-01), Pastrick et al.
patent: 5497305 (1996-03-01), Pastrick et al.
patent: 5497306 (1996-03-01), Pastrick et al.
patent: 5669699 (1997-09-01), Pastrick et al.
patent: 5669704 (1997-09-01), Pastrick et al.
patent: 5669705 (1997-09-01), Pastrick et al.
patent: 5703732 (1997-12-01), Boddy et al.
patent: 5823654 (1998-10-01), Pastrick et al.
patent: 5863116 (1999-01-01), Pastrick et al.
patent: 5879074 (1999-03-01), Pastrick
patent: 36 14 882 (1987-11-01), None
patent: 36 35 471 (1988-04-01), None
patent: 2 155 876 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 2275329 (1994-01-01), None
patent: 2 275 329 (1994-08-01), None
Boddy Ian
Brinchek Robert
Janowicz Jeffrey
Magna Mirror Systems Inc.
O'Shea Sandra
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
Zeade Bertrand
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