Patent ID: 9469252
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: B32B,B60R,G02F

Claim Text:
1. A mirror element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said mirror element sub-assembly comprising: a mirror reflective element; a mirror back plate, wherein said mirror back plate is formed by injection molding of a polymeric material; wherein said mirror back plate has a front side and a rear side and wherein said rear side is opposite said front side; wherein said front side of said mirror back plate comprises a reflective element attaching portion and wherein said rear side of said mirror back plate comprises (i) an actuator attaching portion and (ii) an indicator attaching portion; wherein said reflective element attaching portion, said actuator attaching portion and said indicator attaching portion are integrally formed as parts of said mirror back plate during injection molding of said mirror back plate; wherein said mirror reflective element is fixedly attached at said reflective element attaching portion of said front side of said mirror back plate; an indicator having a light source that is electrically activatable to emit light, and wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said indicator attaching portion comprises structure extending outward from said rear side of said mirror back plate and wherein said structure has a passageway therethrough; wherein said indicator is attached at said structure, and wherein light emitted by said light source of said indicator passes through said passageway and through an opening of said mirror back plate and through said mirror reflective element so as to exit from said mirror reflective element; wherein a heater pad is disposed at a rear surface of said mirror reflective element, and wherein said heater pad comprises a light transmitting portion that coincides with said opening of said mirror back plate; wherein said structure is configured to orient said indicator at an angle relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate and wherein said angle is less than 90 degrees and greater than zero degrees relative to said reflective element attaching portion of said mirror back plate; wherein said indicator comprises a planar circuit board having said light source disposed thereat; wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode disposed at said planar circuit board such that, when said light source is activated, a principal axis of light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode is perpendicular to a plane of said planar circuit board; and wherein, when said light source is activated, light exiting from said mirror reflective element is one of (a) principally viewed by a driver of the equipped vehicle and (b) principally viewed by drivers of other vehicles.