Abstract:
An external rearview mirror assembly is designed for a motor vehicle. The external rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror housing. A mirror glass carrier is operatively connected to the mirror housing. A piece of mirror glass is fixedly secured to the mirror glass carrier and is movable with respect to the mirror housing. The mirror glass defines a peripheral edge. An attaching part is fixedly secured to the mirror glass carrier wherein the attachment part extends about a portion of the peripheral edge.

Description:
BACKGROUND ART  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to an exterior rear view mirror for vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to an exterior rear view mirror with an attachment secured thereto.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     It is a known practice to provide signal, peripheral, or indicator lights on the exterior rear view mirror. They are either provided in the mirror housing or in the mirror foot. Many of these systems are completely integrated into the mirror housing. This design incorporation allows for a sleeker profile and good moisture sealing qualities. This type of combination does, however, render it difficult to change out light units that fail prematurely. Sonic welds and bonding materials need to be severed to access the light unit in order to service it.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     An external rearview mirror assembly is designed for a motor vehicle. The external rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror housing. A mirror glass carrier is operatively connected to the mirror housing. A piece of mirror glass is fixedly secured to the mirror glass carrier and is movable with respect to the mirror housing. The mirror glass defines a peripheral edge. An attaching part is fixedly secured to the mirror glass carrier wherein the attachment part extends about a portion of the peripheral edge. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded side view of one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded side view of a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view taken along the line III-III in  FIG. 2  with the attaching part mounted;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged representation a part of an additional form of embodiment of an exterior rear view mirror according to the invention in a section corresponding to  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0011]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are cross-sectional side views of alternative embodiments of the invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a view in the direction of the arrow X in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     The exterior rear view mirror  1 , represented in simplified form in  FIG. 1 , is provided for motor vehicles. It includes in a known manner a housing (not represented) in which a mirror glass carrier (also not represented) is disposed which carries a mirror glass  2  formed as EC or normal glass. The exterior rear view mirror  1  also includes an encircling mirror glass frame  3 . It is, however, also possible to form the mirror glass without a frame ( FIG. 3 ). As is represented in  FIG. 1 , the mirror glass frame  3  includes in a relatively narrow edge area.  
         [0014]     The mirror glass frame  3  defines an insertion opening  4  for a push-in module, or attaching part,  5  which can be pushed into the recess in the direction of the arrow P and engagable with a catch formed therein. The attaching part  5  can be a modular indicator, signal, or peripheral light. It includes a housing  6  in which a circuit board  7  with electrical/electronic components  8  and one or more light sources  23  is disposed. The light sources  23  are preferably formed by LEDs. They can also be incandescent lamps or the like which are disposed on the circuit board. The circuit board  7  can, in a known manner, be formed to be rigid or as a flexible foil. As is still to be described in the following, the light emitted by the light source  23  exits via at least one light exit surface of the module housing  6  above the mirror glass  2 . The light exit surface being formed as a light plate  9 , so that the light emitted from the attaching part  5 , which has the function of a display, can be seen clearly by the driver of the motor vehicle. If the attaching part  5  has no display function, e.g., serves as a blinking light or as a peripheral light, it is not necessary that the driver sees the light emitted by the attaching part  5 .  
         [0015]     Since the light source  23  is integrated into the mirror glass frame  3 , it needs only a little mounting space. And, along with the attaching part  5 , if the light source  23  and/or the attaching part  5  is damaged or if, for example, it is supposed to be replaced by another attaching part of a desired color, the attaching part  5  can be taken out of the insertion opening  4  simply and quickly at any time, and then another component can be pushed in the direction of the plug-in arrow P into the insertion opening  4 , until it is disposed in a form-locking manner on the frame  3 .  
         [0016]     In this position, the circuit board  7  lies with the components  8  below the mirror glass  2  (cf. the dashed lines in  FIG. 1 ) and is engaged so as to catch there, as is still to be described with the aid of the additional forms of embodiment. If a LED is used as the light source, it can be formed so that it also forms a light plate. In this instance, the light plate as a separate structure could be omitted.  
         [0017]     The housing  6  has a flat base  51  on which the circuit board  7  lies. The base  51  is formed so as to be approximately rectangular. The two longitudinal edges  52 ,  53  of the base  51  extend in the longitudinal plug-in direction P. Contacts  55  extend over the front, in the plug-in direction P, edge  54  of the base  51 . Upon insertion of the push-in part  5 , the contacts  55  engage counter contacts (not represented).  
         [0018]     On the opposite edge  56 , an edge section  57  stands out from the base  51 , the edge section of which being shaped and formed so that it forms, in the mounted position of the push-in module  5 , a continuous continuation of the mirror glass frame  3  in the area of the push-in opening  4 . More specifically, the edge section has the same contour as the mirror glass frame  3 .  
         [0019]     The edge section  57  has a side wall  58  which connects approximately perpendicularly to the base  51  and at a distance from the base  51  turns into a roof-like upper part  59  under which the light sources  23  are located. The upper part  59  can terminate a light plate (not represented) which reaches, in the mounted position of the push-in module  5 , up to the mirror glass  2  and through which the light emitted by the light sources  23  exits to the outside.  
         [0020]     The base  51  comprises near to the edge  54  on each of its two longitudinal edges  52 ,  53  a catch  60 ,  61  with which the push-in module  5 , in the mounted position, engages so as to catch in counter catch elements of the mirror glass carrier.  
         [0021]     If no display function is required, or this is not desired, merely a blind part can also be used instead of the attaching part  5 . The blind part includes no circuit board and no light source. This blind part has essentially the same form as the attaching part  5  so that, for a form-locking complementation of the mirror glass frame  3 , it can be pushed into the insertion opening  4  and engaged so as to catch there. The blind part, which needs no LED, is advantageously lower than the attaching part  5  so that it has the same height as the mirror glass frame  3 . If necessary, the blind part can be replaced at any time with an attaching module  5  with electrical/electronic components  8  and/or light sources  23  so that the exterior rear view mirror  1  can be used, depending on the attaching part used, for the most varied functions. The components  8  and the light sources  23  are disposed on the circuit board  7  in a known manner and connected to it.  
         [0022]     The form of embodiment according to  FIGS. 2 and 3  is distinguished from the previously described embodiment essentially by the fact that the attaching part  5  is not plugged into an insertion opening of the mirror glass frame  3 . Rather, the attachment part  5  is plugged onto an edge  11  of the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . It is bent approximately perpendicularly ( FIG. 3 ) and encircles the mirror glass  2  held on the carrier plate  10 . In this form of embodiment, an EC glass can be used. The EC glass may be glued on the edge side to the carrier plate  11 , whereby the is prevented from running out of the exterior rear view mirror  1  during manufacture. Obviously, a normal, economical glass can be used instead of the EC glass.  
         [0023]     The attaching part  5  is plugged or clipped on the edge  11  of the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . The mirror glass  2  is formed without an edge as a plane plate and advantageously lies, with the interposition of a heating foil  12 , on the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . At the connecting point for the attaching part  5 , the mirror glass carrier plate  10  includes a mounting bracket  26  projecting downwardly over the plane of its plate. The mounting bracket includes, for the catch element, a receiving space  31  into which, in the mounted position of the attaching part  5 , at least one catch element  32  of the housing  6  projects. The catch element  32  is provided on the base  51  of the housing  6 . The base in the mounted position is approximately flush with the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . On the base  51 , the circuit board  7  is disposed with electrical/electronic components  8  and the light sources  23 .  
         [0024]     The circuit board  7  is provided at its edge facing towards the side wall  58  of the housing  6  with an upwardly directed leg  20  which extends approximately parallel to the side wall  58  and ends at a distance from the upper part  59  of the housing  6 . Between the free end of the upper part  59  of the housing and the mirror glass  2  the light plate  9  extends over the width of the push-in module  5 , behind which the light sources  23  are located. The light plate  9  can be omitted if the light sources  23  are formed as a correspondingly shaped LED, which then serves as a light plate. The light sources  23  sit on the leg  20  of the circuit board on the side facing towards the light plate  9 . According to the previous form of embodiment, the light sources  23  are advantageously formed by at least one LED which emits its light in the area above the mirror glass carrier  2  through the light plate  9 .  
         [0025]     Between the front, in the plug-in direction P, edge  15  of the mounting bracket  26  and a neighboring edge  14  of the mirror glass carrier plate  10 , a gap  16  is formed through which at least one line  19  projects. The line  19  provides the current/voltage supply to the components seated on the circuit board  7 . It is, however, also possible in the exterior rear view mirror  1  to provide a plug-on connector strip (not represented) into which the plug-in contacts  55  of the circuit board  7  engage. In this way the current/voltage supply for the components  8  and the light sources  23  of the push-in module  5  is produced automatically in the plug-in process, as in the previous form of embodiment.  
         [0026]     The push-in module  5  is reliably held in the mounted position as a consequence of the catch connection described. The light plate  9  advantageously lies with its edge on the mirror glass  2  so that protection against the penetration of dirt, moisture, and the like into the push-in module  5  is, at least substantially, prevented.  
         [0027]     The upper part  59  of the housing is formed in plan view in the form of a sickle ( FIG. 2 ) and thus approximately adapted to the form of the edge  11  of the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . The sickle form has the advantage that the light emitted by the light sources  23  in the case of indicator functions of the attaching part  5  is deflected at least partially in the direction towards the driver side of the motor vehicle.  
         [0028]     As in the previous embodiment example, the push-in module  5  is disposed at an edge area of the exterior rear view mirror  1 , specifically the edge area lying furthest removed from the motor vehicle. In other words, the attaching part  5  is secured to the exterior rear view mirror  1  at its outboard surface. Therefore, the light emitted from the light sources  23  can be seen clearly by the driver of the motor vehicle.  
         [0029]     In the mounted position, the mounting bracket  26  lies with its leg  24  flat on a side of the base  51 , specifically that side facing away from the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . The push-in module  5  is supported securely thereby.  
         [0030]     If necessary, the catch connection can be released in a simple manner and the push-in module  5  can be withdrawn.  
         [0031]     In the embodiment example according to  FIG. 4 , the mirror glass  2  lies, with the interposition of the heating foil  12 , on the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . It has the edge  11  which is beveled in a rounded manner and encircles the mirror glass  2  at a slight distance from it. On the side facing away from the mirror glass  2 , the mirror glass carrier plate  10  is provided on the edge side with the mounting bracket  26 , which is formed according to the previous form of embodiment as one piece with the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . In contradistinction to the previous embodiment example, the mounting bracket  26  is not formed to be U-shaped but rather to be L-shaped. Its short leg  29  connects to the mirror glass carrier plate  10  at a right angle. The longer leg  28  lies at a distance from the mirror glass carrier plate  10  and parallel to it. The leg  28  reaches approximately up to the level of the edge  11  of the mirror glass carrier plate  10 .  
         [0032]     The leg  28  of the mounting bracket  26  is provided with a catch opening  62  into which the catch element  32  of the push-in module  5  engages. It has the flat base  51  on whose side facing away from the mirror glass  2  the catch element  32  is provided. Corresponding to the previous embodiment examples, the catch element  32  is advantageously formed as one piece with the base  51 .  
         [0033]     The base  51  turns through the form of an arc into the side wall  58 , which runs perpendicular to the base  51  and in the form of an arc into the upper part  59  of the housing. It extends at a distance from the mirror glass  2  beyond its edge. Between the free edge of the upper part  59  of the housing and the mirror glass  2 , the light plate  9  extends over the width of the push-in module  5 . Its inner side  22  facing toward the light sources  23  advantageously lies in a plane with the edge  2   a  of the mirror glass  2 .  
         [0034]     The edge  11  of the mirror glass carrier plate  10  extends up to the level of the outer side of the mirror glass and, as in the previous embodiment example, is projected over by the housing  6  of the push-in module  5 . The light source  23  is located in the area between the edge  11  of the mirror glass carrier plate  10  and the upper part  59  of the housing. The light source  23  is advantageously formed by at least one LED. It sits on the circuit board leg  20 , which has a slight spacing from the rear wall  58  of the housing and extends up to the upper part  59  of the housing. The circuit board  7  with the components  8  is fastened on the base  51 . The components  8  lie at a sufficient distance from the mirror glass carrier plate  10 .  
         [0035]     On the circuit board  7 , plug-in contacts  55  are provided which extend in the plug-in direction P of the push-in module  5  beyond the base  51 . When pushing on the push-in module  5 , the plug-in contacts  55  reach into push-through openings  30  in the leg  29  of the mounting bracket  26 . During mounting, the push-in module  5  is guided with its base  51  on the leg  28  of the mounting bracket  26  so that the plug-in contacts  55  reach reliably into the push-through openings  30 . Behind the leg  29 , a plug-in connector jack  25  is located, in which the plug-in contacts  55  engage and which ensure the current/voltage supply of the components  8  and the light sources  23  of the circuit board  7 .  
         [0036]     The mounting bracket  26  can be formed so that it extends over the entire circumference of the mirror glass carrier plate  10 , therefore the legs  29  are formed as a ring and the legs  28  as an annular disk. In such a case the push-in module  5  can be mounted at any point of the edge  11 .  
         [0037]     In the form of embodiment according to  FIG. 5  the attaching part  5  is fastened to the frame  3  of an EC mirror glass  2 . The frame  3  has an approximately L-shaped cross section and lies with its free end  13  on the EC glass  2 . As in the previous embodiment examples, it is, with the interposition of a heating foil  12 , fastened to the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . Its edge  21  is set back relative to the edge  14  of the mirror glass  2 . The heating foil  12  projects over the mirror glass carrier plate  10  and extends up to near the edge  14  of the mirror glass  2 .  
         [0038]     To the underside of the mirror glass carrier plate  10 , the base  51  of the module housing  6  is fastened in some manner, such as gluing, welding, or engaging with a catch. For this, the base  51  has an approximately z-shaped edge  15  slanted outwards, which with its free edge  16  lies flat on the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . The push-through opening  30  for the plug-in contacts  55  is disposed near to the edge  15  the base  51 . It carries the electronic components  8  and, in the area of the rear wall  58  of the housing  6 , the light sources  23 .  
         [0039]     The circuit board  7  lies on the base  51  of the housing  6  and extends up to the housing&#39;s side wall  58 , which runs in the form of a curve approximately in the area above the EC mirror glass  2  and extends up to beyond the edge  3  of the EC mirror glass  2 . Between the housing&#39;s side wall  58  and the frame  3 , at least one light conductor or wave guide  42  is disposed, which extends from the light sources  23  up to the free edge  43  of the housing&#39;s side wall  58 . As stated above, a specially formed LED can be provided instead of the light conductor  42 .  
         [0040]     The light emitted from the light sources  23  enters the light conductor  42 , which conducts the light up to the light exit surface  42 ′. It lies at the level of the free edge  43  of the housing&#39;s side wall  58  and in the area of the highest point of the mirror glass edge  3 . The light shines, as in the previous embodiment examples, approximately parallel to the mirror glass&#39;s outer side in the direction towards the driver side of the motor vehicle.  
         [0041]     The mirror glass edge  3  is not formed thinner at the point at which the attaching part  5  is supposed to be mounted. The attaching part  5  is formed so that to the light exit surface  42 ′ lies above the frame  3 . With this configuration, the attaching part  5  can be mounted in a simple manner at any desired point of the frame  3 .  
         [0042]     In the embodiment example 1 according to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the push-in module  5  is engaged in such a manner that it catches on the mirror glass carrier plate  10 . It has the U-shaped mounting bracket  26 , on whose leg  24  the push-in module  5  is engaged in such a manner that it catches with at least one hook-like catch element  32 . It is formed as one piece with the base  51  of the module housing  6  and provided at the edge  15  of the housing base  51  and at a right angle in the direction of the mirror glass carrier plate  10 .  
         [0043]     The edge  15  is provided with at least one push-through opening  36  for the plug-in contacts  55  of the circuit board. The components  8  are provided on a side of the circuit board  7 , specifically the side  7  facing away from the EC mirror glass  2 , in contradistinction to the previous embodiment examples. The circuit board  7  extends through a plane and lies at a distance from the mirror glass carrier plate  10  and the base  51  of the housing  6 .  
         [0044]     The housing base  51  connects, via an edge  37  with a z-shaped cross section, to the housing&#39;s side wall  58 . It has an opening  63  into which the edge  37  projects with its free end  45 ′. The side wall  58  turns into the upper part  59  of the housing, said upper part lying at a distance from the EC mirror glass  2 . An edge  3  which is L-shaped in cross section engages over the upper part.  
         [0045]     Near to an edge of the circuit board  7 , specifically the edge neighboring the housing&#39;s side wall  58 , the light source  23  is fastened with contact feet  38 . The light source  23  is disposed in the area between the housing&#39;s side wall  58  and the frame  3  of the EC mirror glass  2 . The light source  23  connects to the light conductor  42  which extends between the housing&#39;s side wall  58  and the housing&#39;s upper part  59  as well as the frame  3  of the EC mirror glass  2 . At the level of the free end of the housing&#39;s upper part  59  the light conductor  42  is provided with an edge section  44  extending perpendicularly from the EC mirror glass  2 . The edge section lying with its plane front side  45  directly abutting the frame  3  on the EC mirror glass  2 . Through the plane light exit surface  48  of the edge section  44 , the light exit surface lying perpendicular to the EC mirror glass  2 , the light emitted by the light source  23  and conducted further in the light conductor  42  exits in the direction of the driver side of the motor vehicle.  
         [0046]     The EC mirror glass  2  lies, with the interposition of the heating foil  12 , on the carrier plate  10 .  
         [0047]     As  FIG. 7  shows, two light sources are housed in the housing  6 , where the light beams emitted by said lighting means and exiting from the light exit surface  45  can be seen.  
         [0048]     The mirror head and/or the mirror foot of the exterior rear view mirror  1  can include additional elements, such as blinking lights, a camera, a GPS module, a washing unit for the mirror glass, a loudspeaker, an antenna, a part of the garage door opener, and the like. These elements can be provided in any combinations with one another in addition to the attaching part  5 .  
         [0049]     The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.  
         [0050]     Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.