Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIGHTED MIRROR ASSEM$LY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
The present invention pertains to mirror assemblies. More
particularly, the present invention pertains to vehicular mirror
assemblies. Even more particularly, the present invention
pertains to vehicular mirror assemblies including means for
illuminating.
Prior Art;
The present invention is directed to a mirror assembly for
use, primarily, with vehicles such as trucks, busses, and the
like. The present invention has particular utility in
association with transportation vehicles, such as school busses
and the like_ Typically, school. busses have exterior mirrors
mounted onto the front fender, or in proximity thereto, to enable
CA 02253127 1998-11-06
the driver to have a field of view extending both downwardly and
forwardly of the front end of the vehicle to ensure a viewzng of
any activity thereabout. Because these mirrors are exterior to
the vehicle, they are viewable by persons in other vehicles and
by pedestrians as well as by the driver of the vehicle.
Vehicles, especially large vehicles such as school busses,
are required in most, if not all, jurisdictions to have exterior
lights as a safet~r feature. Vehicles are also required to have
rear-view mirrors. The present invention enhances safety by
providing lights in exterior mirrors, which can t.rork either
independently or in conjunction with any other exterior lights
the vehicle may have. The present invention can, similarly, be
used in conjunction with interior mirrors.
BRIEF SUMMARY of THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a lighted mirror assembly
comprising:
(a) a mirror head, the mirror head comprising:
(1) a housing, the housing formed of a translucent
material, and
(2) a mirror surface,
the housing and the mirror surface cooperating to define a
hollow interior;
(b) means for illuminating the mirror head, the means for
illuminating disposed within the hollow interior; and
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tc) means for actuating the means for illuminating, the
means for actuating in electrical Communication with the means
for illuminating..
The present lighted mirror assembly is, preferably.~used as
a mirror assembly for a vehicle. Typically, a vehicular mirror
assembly includes a shaft to which the mirror head is mounted as
well as a mounting assembly.
The means for illuminating, such as a light bulb, is
disposed within the interior of the mirror head, so light can be
seen through the translucent housing. The means for actuating
the means for illuminating includes an electric socket disposed
at least partially within the mirror head, to which the means for
illuminating is secuzed, the socket being in electrical
communication.with an electrical system of the vehicle.
The means for actuating can be wired into the electric
system of the vehicle at a variety of points. including the turn
signal circuit, the headlamp circuit, or the vehicle's battery
directly.
In another aspect, the invention provides a lighted
mirror assembly, comprising (a) a mirror head, the mirror
head comprising (1) a housing formed of a translucent
material, and (2) a mirror surface, the housing having a
hollow interior, (b) means for illuminating, the means for
illuminating disposed within the hollow interior and
emitting light, (c) means for diffusing disposed within the
hollow interior to distribute emitted light evenly over
the housing, and (d) means for actuating the means for
illuminating, the means for actuating in electrical
communication with the means for illuminating.
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For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following detailed description and
accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference
characters refer to like parts through the several views, in
which:
3a
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a vehicle having a
mirror assembly in accordance with the present invention mounted
thereonto, and
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of
Figure 1.
DETAILED'DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Now, and with reference to the drawing, there is depicted
therein a lighted mirror assembly in accordance with the present
invention and, generally, denoted at l0.
The present lighted mirror assembly is, preferably, used as
an exterior mirror assembly for a school bus or like vehicle.
Typically, such an exterior vehicular mirror assembly includes a
shaft, such as is depicted at 24, to which a mirror head, such as
is depicted at 11, is mounted, as well as a mounting assembly,
such as is depicted at 36. In the practice of the present
invention, the type of shaft, the type of mount, and the type of
mirror are not critical hereto. Indeed, any type of mirror head
can b~ used in the~present invention, except that the mirror head
has a hollow interior. However, for purposes of illustrating the
present invention, a typical exterior school bus mirror, such as
that described in U.S. Fatent No, 4,830,326, is used. It is to
be understood, though, that the present invention is not
restricted to that specific type of mirror head. Moreover,
although the present invention is depicted with reference to a
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window mounted mirror assembly, it is to be understood that
fender mounted mirrors such as that shown in U.S. Patent No.
4,938,578, and other types of vehicle mirrors, both
interior mirrors and exterior mirrors, are amenable hereto.
As shown in the drawing, the mirror head 11 of the type
contemplated for use herein, generally, includes a reflective
mirror surface or mirror 12 and a housing 14. The mirrox 12 may
be formed from any suitable material, such as~glass, plastic, or
the like, Nhich has a reflective surface 16 deposited thereon.
Typically, the mirror 12 is an opaque surface 13 onto which the
reflective surface 16, which is usually a silver surface, is
deposited by any suitable technique. The actual formation of the
mirror, per se, is not critical hereto.
The housing l4 is a thin-walled member used to support the
mirror 12. Usually, in fabricating mirror heads of the type
contemplated for use herein, the housing is formed from a sturdy
metal or the like. Contrariwise, and in accordance with the
present invention, the housing 14 is fabricated from a
translucent material such as a plastic. Suitable translucent
plastics include polycarbonate, high density polyethylene, and
the like. Sueh plastic materials may include ultraviolet light
inhibitors,' etc_ It is to be understood with respect hereto that
the specific type of plastic employed for the manufacture of the
housing 14 is not critical hereto. The criticality attached
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hereto is that the housing 14 be translucent. The translucent
material may be cleaz,~i.e. transparent, or Golored_
As shown, the housing 14 and the mirror 12 cooperate to
define a hollow interior 20. Ordinarily, a gasket 18 is used to
Securely hold the mirror to the housing_ The housing 14 has an
aperture 38 formed therethrough which is used to mount the mirror
head 11 to the shaft 24, a5 detailed below.
Mear~.s for illuminating 21, which is used to illuminate the
mirror head 11, and particularly housing 14_ The means 21 may be
a light bulb 22 or the like and is disposed within the interior
20 at any convenient spot therewith.
As shown in the drawing, the mirror shaft 24, to whioh the
mirror head 11 is mounted via any convenient means foz mounting,
such as bolts, clamps, or the like, partially extends into the
interior 20 through the aperture 38. The shaft has a first end
40 and an opposed second end 42. The shaft extends between the
mounting assembly 36 and the mirror head 11, as shown. The
second end 42 is attached to the mounting assembly 36 by any
convenient means, such as bolts, clamps, or the like of the type
well known in the art. For convenience, the means for
illuminating 21 is seated upon the first end of the shaft 24,
Alternate modes for mounting the means for illuminating 21 may be
included, although not shown. For exa~.ple, the means for
illuminating 21 may be mounted by the disposition of a Suitable
mounting bracket within. the interior 20, or the like.
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It is to be appreciated that when the means for illuminating
21. is actuated, then, the light emitted thereby is transmitted
through the translucent housing. By selecting a light bulb or
other device of suitable wattage or lumens, a lighting signal may
then be provided such as to approaching traffic, or the like.
Referring, again, to the drawing, the present invention
further includes means for actuating 25. The means 25 actuals
the means for illuminating 21. The means for actuating 25
comprises an electric socket 26, lead wires 28, 30 extending from
the socket 26 and a suitable source of power, such as the ~rehicle
battery or ignition switch (not shown)_ The electrical socket 26
is, preferably, disposed atop and within the shaft 24 at the free
end thereof. Preferably, the means for illuminating 21 is
electrically connected to the fuse box of the vehicle 34, and
derives its power from a vehicle battery (not shown).
A suitable switch (not shown) may be interposed in the
circuit to turn. the means for illuminating 21 "on" and "off" in a
manner well known to the skilled artisan.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the means for illuminating 21 is electrically
connected to a flasher system 32 of the vehicle 34. Usually,
school busses and similar vehicles have flashing light systems 32
associated therewith which are actuated by the driver to signal
surrounding traffic that the school bus is stopped. By placing
the means for illuminating 21 in electrical communication with
the flashing light system, then, when the flashing system. is
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actuated, likewise, the means for illuminating 21 is so actuated
and begins to illuminate. Of course, it is possible to impose an
RC circuit intermediate of the means fo.r illuminating 21 so that
it "flashes°'. Such circuitry and wiring are well-known to the
skilled artisan.
It is, also, contemplated in the practice of the present
invention that the means for illuminating 21 be directly wired
into the turn signal switch of the vehicle so that when the turn
sig~.al is activated, simultaneously and concomitantly therewith,
the means for illuminating 21 is actuated. Again the actual
circuitry for achieving this is well known to the skilled
artisan.
It is further contemplated in the practice of the current
invention, and as is well known to the skilled artisan, that when
associated with a school bus or similar vehicle 34 and the like,
exterior fender mounted vehicular mirror assemblies of the type
contemplated for use herein are mounted xn pairs, one on the
driver°s side and one on the passenger side, each having a mirror
head, a mirror shaft, and means for mounting. Thus, it is
contemplated that when the flashers of the school bus are
actuated, then, both mirror heads are illuminated. Likewise,
when the left hand turn signal is actuated, then, the means for
illuminating 21 on the left hand mirror is actuated, and
conversely, when the right hand turn signal is actuated, then,
the means for illuminating 21 on the right hand mirror is
actuated.
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It is. also, possible to define the means for illuminating
21 as a tvo-way or three-way light bulb, thus providing more than
one degree of illumination, the degree of illumination being
directly related to the resistance of the filament. Thus, it is
possible to connect the bulb to the electrical system of the
vehicle such that when the headlamps are actuated, so too are the
means for illuminating 21 actuated.
In order to properly diffract the light rays, a shield or
similar diffraction member (not shown) may be disposed within the
interior of the housing 14 to dissipate the light rays over the
entire housing 14 to provide a more evenly,distributed light.
Alternatively, in lieu of the shield. coated light bulbs may be
used.
It is to be appreciated from the preceding that, when
deployed in connection with a school bus or similar vehicle, the
present lighted mirror assembly provides further enhanced safety
and warning to approaching traffic that the vehicle is either
turning or has come to a stop.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, the same is
to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in
character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment
has been shown arid described fully and that all changes and
modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are
desired to be protected.
Having, thus, described the invention, what is claimed is:
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