Patent ID: 6439755
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: B60Q,B60R

Abstract:
A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:a mirror element; a mirror case for housing said mirror element, said mirror case having a top surface, a bottom surface, a side surface, and a back surface, said mirror case having an interior space enveloped by said top surface, said bottom surface, said side surface, and said back surface; a first lamp fixedly positioned in said interior space, said first lamp comprising a first light bulb and a first reflector, said first light bulb comprising a cartridge style bulb positioned at a first location in said interior space, said first reflector comprising a reflective surface, at least a portion of said first reflector disposed at a location in said interior space closer to at least one of said top surface and said back surface than said first location of said first light bulb in said interior space; a first light opening in said bottom surface for passing light out of said mirror case into a passenger compartment of a vehicle when said mirror assembly is mounted therein, said light opening including a first lens positioned therein, said first lens directing light projected from said first light bulb into the passenger compartment of the vehicle; at least one ventilation opening provided in a surface of said mirror case in order to dissipate heat generated by said first light bulb when electrically operated in said interior space of said mirror case; and said at least one ventilation opening being positioned at a location selected from at least one of said back surface of said mirror case, said top surface of said mirror case and said bottom surface of said mirror case; wherein the direction of the light out of said mirror case and into the passenger compartment from said fixedly positioned first lamp is non-adjustable with respect to said mirror case.