Abstract:
A light emitting mirror assembly for a vehicle is intended to side mount to the vehicle and includes a support element that provides a backing for the mirror and a trim portion that encompasses at least in part the perimeter of a mirror. The trim portion has a transparent or translucent light source housing cavity. A light source is disposed in the light source housing cavity and electrically connected to the vehicle such that light is emitted from the light source in response to an activation signal. A trim portion can include multiple light source housing cavities each of which can contain one or more light sources. The illuminated trim ring offers a mirror mounted turn signal indicator, puddle light, brake light, or decorative displays without resort to modifying the mirror face or reflections from the mirror face.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/515,633 filed Oct. 30, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to a side view vehicle mirror that incorporates a turn indicator signal, and in particular to a side view vehicle mirror that incorporates a turn indicator signal in a trim ring about the mirror.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     While turn indicators have traditionally been located at the corners of a vehicle to signal lane change or vehicle turning, there is now an appreciation that additional turn indicators are needed on side view mirrors. A side view mirror mounted turn indicator affords added visibility to a following vehicle, especially in situations where the following vehicle is close or when the equipped vehicle is pulling a trailer.  
         [0004]     There have been numerous devices developed that incorporate light emitting diode (LED) indicator lights into the face of a side view mirror. Representative examples are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,353; and U.S. Patent Application Publications U.S. 2002/0171954 and U.S. 2001/0024371. Additionally, devices have been contemplated that use a lens or reflector to project a turn indicator signal onto or through a mirror face. Representative examples are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,699 and U.S. Patent Application Publication U.S. 2003/0107827. These prior art attempts have met with limited success owing to the increased complexity associated with modifying mirror surfaces to accommodate LEDs or the alignment of components. Thus, there exists a need for a side view mirror that incorporates a turn indicator independent of mirror modification or reflection therefrom. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an inventive exterior rearview mirror having an illuminated trim ring;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the mirror of  FIG. 1  showing the backing portion and the electrical connections to the trim ring;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of an alternate embodiment of a support element and mirror combination operative in the instant invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of an inventive trim ring along the line  4 A- 4 A of  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view in the vicinity of a light source along line  4 B- 4 B according to  FIG. 3 .  
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     A light emitting mirror assembly for a vehicle is intended to side mount to the vehicle and includes a support element that provides a backing for the mirror and a trim portion that encompasses at least in part the perimeter of a mirror. The trim portion has a transparent or translucent light source housing cavity. A light source is disposed in the light source housing cavity and electrically connected to the vehicle such that light is emitted from the light source in response to an activation signal. A trim portion can include multiple light source housing cavities each of which can contain one or more light sources. The preferred light source is a light emitting diode. A light source within the trim ring is activated into emission based on a variety of stimuli such as engagement of a lock and key mechanism, receipt of a wireless signal, or vehicle operator activation of a turn signal mechanism. The illuminated trim ring offers a mirror mounted turn signal indicator, puddle light, brake light, or decorative displays without resort to modifying the mirror face or reflections from the mirror face.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     A light emitting mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing and a support element for supporting a mirror disposed within the housing. The housing has a proximal side which is proximal to an exterior side portion of a vehicle, and a distal side which is distal to the exterior side portion of the vehicle. The mirror has a front reflective surface, a rear surface, and edges, the combined lengths of the edges defining the perimeter of the mirror. The proximal side edge is proximal to an exterior side portion of a vehicle, and the distal side edge is distal to the exterior side portion of the vehicle.  
         [0012]     The support element includes a backing portion and a trim portion. The backing portion is in connection with the rear surface of the mirror. Typically, the backing portion is adhered to the rear surface of the mirror by an adhesive such as glue, double-sided adhesive tape, and the like. The trim portion is connected to and extends along at least a portion of the perimeter of the mirror. Preferably, the trim portion extends along the entire perimeter of the mirror. Optionally, the trim portion is in contact with the front surface of the mirror.  
         [0013]     The trim portion may be manufactured as an integral part of the support element. Alternatively, the trim portion is attached to the backing portion.  
         [0014]     The trim portion is adapted to transmit light emitted from a light source included in the assembly. Thus, at least part of the trim portion is transparent to light emitted from the light source. In a preferred embodiment the trim portion proximal to the exterior side of the car is opaque to the light emitted from the light source. Optionally, regions of the trim portion are rendered opaque in order to achieve a patterned light effect, for example, regions of the trim portion may be alternately opaque and transparent. In a further option, regions of the trim portion may be made opaque and reflective, for instance to direct light away from the interior of the housing. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the distal region of the trim portion is transparent to light emitted to the light source.  
         [0015]     In a preferred embodiment, the trim portion is adapted to include a light source housing. A light source housing is a region of the trim portion adapted to receive a light source. In a preferred embodiment, the light source housing is an area of the trim portion defined by a space for insertion of a light source and a circuit board to which the light source is attached. Optionally, a focusing element such as a lens or reflector is included in the light source housing. A mirror assembly according to the present invention includes at least one light source and optionally multiple light sources. Thus, optionally included in an inventive mirror assembly are multiple light source housings. More than one light source may be inserted in a light source housing.  
         [0016]     Referring now to the figures, a mirror assembly according to the present invention is shown generally at  10 . The assembly  10  includes a housing  11 . The housing includes a side  12  which is proximal to an exterior side portion of a vehicle V, and a distal side  13  which is distal to the exterior side portion of the vehicle V. Preferably, disposed within the housing  11  is a support element  14  having a backing portion  15  (shown in cutaway view) for supporting a mirror  26 . The support element includes a trim portion shown at  42  bounding a portion of the mirror  26 . The trim portion includes a light source housing cavity  16 . The light source housing cavity  16  has a light source  31  residing therein. The light source housing cavity  16  is transparent or translucent. Optionally, the cavity  16  has a focusing element such as cube corners or other light reflective structures as detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,332,327. It is appreciated that light reflection from the cavity  16  is also enhanced by applying reflective coatings therein, as detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,515.  
         [0017]     A light source is any of various types, illustratively including an incandescent bulb, an LED, and a cold cathode light emitter. An LED is the preferred light source  31 . An inventive assembly typically has from one to twenty light sources and more preferably, two to ten light sources. An LED light source  31  is attached to a circuit board  32 . Multiple LEDs  31 ,  31 ′ and  31 ″ are optionally connected by separate wire harnesses  33 ,  33 ′, and  33 ″ to a single circuit  35  as shown in  FIG. 3  or alternatively, each light source  31  and  31 ′ may be attached to an individual circuit board  32  and  32 ′ as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , a light source  31  is attached to a circuit board  32  and the circuit board  32  is adjacent to the light source housing  16 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4B , a circuit board forms a wall of the light source housing.  
         [0018]     A light source  31  is powered by a vehicle electrical system as shown at  37  schematically. The light source may be activated in response to various stimuli, illustratively including engagement of a lock and key mechanism and transmission/reception of a wireless signal. In a preferred embodiment, activation of the light is in response to a vehicle operator&#39;s activation of a turn signal mechanism. Preferably a light source  31  included in a mirror assembly of the present invention flashes to signal to an observer outside the vehicle of an imminent movement of the vehicle in the general direction of the flashing light, for example, to indicate that the vehicle driver anticipates turning or changing lanes. The flashing light source may be connected such that it flashes in synchrony with a mirror and/or front turn signal indicator. It is understood that a light source  31  included in the mirror assembly  10  may be alternatively connected to indicate other functions of the vehicle. For instance, the light source  31  may be connected so as to indicate braking or rearward movement of the vehicle. In a further alternative embodiment, the light source  31  may be activated by wireless means; for instance, in response to a transmitter positioned on a key fob. Such activation may serve, for instance, as a visual indication to a vehicle owner of the position of the car in a parking garage or through directing the emission from the light source  31  downward to serve as a puddle light. It is also appreciated that activation of light source  31  may also serve a decorative function.  
         [0019]     In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of light sources  31 ,  31 ′, and  31 ″ are included in an inventive mirror assembly. The plurality of light sources  31 ,  31 ′, and  31 ″ may be activated simultaneously or may be activated in a predetermined patterned fashion. For example, a plurality of light sources  31 ,  31 ′, and  31 ″ positioned along a trim portion  42  may be activated sequentially according to their respective position. The period of time between the activation of a first light source  31  of the plurality of light sources and a second light source  31 ′ may be varied to produce various effects, including a stroboscopic effect.  
         [0020]     A light source  31  may be configured to have constant or variable intensity. For instance, in a variable intensity light source, the intensity of the light source may be conditioned on ambient light conditions by including a light sensor in the vehicle to which the light source is responsive.  
         [0021]     A light source  31  emits any of various colors, depending on user preference and/or on local governmental regulations regarding vehicles. In a preferred embodiment, the light source emits red light. In an embodiment including more than one light source, generally all light sources will emit the same colored light; however, multiple colors may be used in a single assembly according to the invention. In general, where activation of the light serves an informational function such as an indication of turning, braking or backing, the light source will emit white, yellow, orange or red light, or combinations of these. However, colors such as green or blue are also contemplated.  
         [0022]     As best illustrated in the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , the housing  11  has therein a mounting flange  17  adapted to engage complementary securement fittings  19  on the rear face  23  of the backing  14 . While the mounting flange  17  is typically electrically powered by a motor within the housing  11 , it is appreciated that the flange  17  is also readily repositioned by way of a manual control rod extending into the vehicle interior. Optionally, springs  25  are provided to tension the mounting flange  17  against a mechanical fastener  27  retaining the flange  17  to the interior  29  of the housing  11 . Preferably, the backing portion  15  and the trim portion  42  are integral as a single support element  14 . In instances where the backing portion  15  and the trim portion  42  are formed from different materials, joinder is accomplished with adhesives, sonic welding and other conventional joining techniques. More preferably, the support element  14  is injection molded from a conventional optically transparent thermoplastic. The mirror is retained in position with an adhesive  39 . The housing  11  optionally has a transparent window  29  in the base thereof such that light emission from an inventive trim portion  42  reaches the ground beneath the assembly  10  and provides a puddle light function. It is appreciated that light source orientation dictates whether the light emission projects rearward in an indicator mode or downward in a puddle light mode. Additionally, it is appreciated that separate light sources may exist in concert within an assembly that operates in both modes.  
         [0023]     The trim portion  42  proximal to the housing side  12  of the vehicle is optionally opaque to the light emitted from the light source  31 . For example, in  FIG. 1 , the region of the trim portion  42  intermediate between light housings  16  and  17  in the direction towards the proximal side of the housing shown at  12 . Where part of the trim portion is opaque, the trim portion may be composed of multiple pieces. Alternatively, a region of the trim portion may be rendered opaque by any various methods including application of paint, filling a bore of the trim portion with an opaque substance and the like. Additionally, it is appreciated that the backing portion  15  of the support element  14  may be opaque as well, as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 4A  depicts a sectional view of an inventive assembly  10 , taken along the line  3 A- 3 A of the mirror  26  and support element  14  subassembly in the region of light source  31 ′ as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The trim portion  42  has a front surface at  43  and a rear surface  44 . The light source housing cavity  16  includes an opening  56  in the rear surface  44  adapted to allow passage of a light source  31 ′ into the cavity  16  and an adjacent circuit board  32 ′, if needed for the particular light source  31 ′, namely an LED. The opening  56  is optionally sealed with an adhesive or the light source  31 ′ friction fit therethrough.  
         [0025]     Optionally, a lens or focusing element  46  is included in the light source housing cavity  16 . The lens or focusing element  46  is preferably in position between a light source  31 ′ and the front surface  43 . A reflector  47  is optionally positioned within the cavity  16  or proximal thereto to lessen light scatter. Optionally, rear surface  44  has a texture matched to the appearance of the lens  46  when viewed from the front.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a view identical to that of  FIG. 4A  in an alternative embodiment in which no lens or textured rear surface is included where like numerals correspond to those detailed with respect to previous figures. The trim portion  62 , a rear surface  64 , and an opening  72  in the rear surface  64  has a front surface  63  through which a light source  31  is introduced into an area between the front surface  62  and the rear surface  64  to provide a light source housing. The trim portion has a central bore  66 . The bore  66  is exploited to render a section of the trim portion  42  opaque, or alternatively a mirror defrosting heating element extends therethrough.  
         [0027]     Patent documents and publications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. These documents and publications are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual document or publication was specifically and individually incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0028]     The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the invention.