Patent ID: 7195382

Claim:
A ground illuminator mounted in a motor vehicle rearview mirror to illuminate an area external to the rearview mirror, the ground illuminator comprising: a housing enclosing a light source, the housing having an opening through which light from the light source is emitted; a primary lens in register with the opening and positioned to transmit light from the light source; a secondary lens also in register with the opening in the housing and positioned between the light source and the primary lens; at least one mounting leg on one of the primary lens and the secondary lens and at least one mounting recess on the other of the primary lens and the secondary lens aligned with the at least one mounting leg, wherein the primary lens is mounted to the secondary lens by insertion of the at least one mounting leg into the aligned at least one mounting recess and a thermal protector located between the primary lens and the secondary lens to minimize the heat generated by the light source from being directly transmitted to the primary lens.