Mirror head for vehicle with visual and/or audio indicators and illumination system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12337758-B1
Application number	US-202318175749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 28, 2023
Priority date	Mar 8, 2019
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

A mirror assembly for vehicle is disclosed. The mirror assembly includes a housing, a retaining rim, and a mirror lens that is secured between the housing and the retaining rim. In one embodiment, the mirror has a visual indicator mounted to the retaining rim or housing. When an object or pedestrian is detected in a lane next to or in front of a vehicle, the visual indicator provides light signals or other type of warning to an operator driving the vehicle. In one embodiment, the mirror assembly has a speaker mounted to the housing. When an object or pedestrian is detected in a lane next to or in front of the vehicle, the speaker provides audio signals to warn an operator driving the vehicle. In another embodiment, the mirror assembly includes a housing, a shield attached to the housing, a mirror lens, and a visual indicator securely located, for example, in a channel of the shield, retaining rim and/or housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cross view mirror for a vehicle, comprising:
a housing having a rear side and a front side opposing to the rear side;
a retaining rim positioned on the front side of the housing having a top side and a bottom side opposing to the top side;
a convex mirror lens secured between the housing and the retaining rim with said retaining rim configured to be positioned around the outside peripheral surface of the convex mirror lens; and
a visual indicator comprising a light emitting diode device that extends along the top side of the retaining rim for providing light signals to warn an operator driving the vehicle when an object or person is detected in a lane next to or in front of a vehicle, wherein the visual indicator is mounted to a visual indicator mount which in turn is attached to at least one of the retaining rim or the housing.

2. The cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator is mounted by screws.

3. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said visual indicator is mounted to an upper area of said housing.

4. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1 , and wherein said cross view mirror further comprises a plurality of light sources mounted to or disposed within a lower area of said housing emitting light to illuminate areas or ground near the vehicle to enable a driver to visually determine a presence of a person or object.

5. The cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of light sources is secured by plastic snap bushings.

6. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein said plurality of light sources are activated independent of the presence of the person or the object.

7. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein said plurality of light sources are activated responsive to at least one vehicle operation or operating characteristic prior to detection of the presence of the person or the object.

8. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 4 , further comprising an activation device configured to activate said plurality of light sources to provide the light signals responsive to one or more activation or triggering signals.

9. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein one of the one or more activation or triggering signals comprises one or more of a backup signal, a stop-completed signal, an opening of a door signal, hazard light activation signal, vehicle gear in park signal or exterior side strip signal.

10. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 4 , further comprising an activation device configured to activate said plurality of light sources to provide the light signals responsive to one or more activation or triggering signals after a predetermined vehicle operation or vehicle operating characteristic.

11. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the predetermined vehicle operation or vehicle operating characteristic comprises the vehicle in a stopped state or the vehicle parking gear in park.

12. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising an activation device configured to activate said visual indicator to provide the light signals responsive to one or more activation or triggering signals.

13. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein one of the one or more activation or triggering signals comprises a backup signal.

14. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein one of the one or more activation or triggering signals comprises a stop-completed signal.

15. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein one of the one or more activation or triggering signals comprises vehicle operation characteristics including one or more of engagement, disengagement, adjustment, sensitivity adjustment or field of view adjustment for one or more object detectors or sensors.

16. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the activation device is configured to activate said visual indicator to provide the light signals responsive to said one or more activation or triggering signals including detection of a person or object when the vehicle is stopped, moving, speeding up or slowing down.

17. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 12 , further comprising an activation device configured to activate one or more devices responsive to an activation signal generated by said visual indicator.

18. A cross view mirror for a vehicle, comprising:
a housing having a rear side and a front side opposing to the rear side, the housing is configured to be secured to a mounting arm which is mountable to the vehicle;
a retaining rim positioned on the front side of the housing having a top side and a bottom side opposing to the top side;
a convex mirror lens secured between the housing and the retaining rim; and
a visual indicator comprising a light emitting diode device that extends along the top side of the retaining rim for providing light signals to warn an operator driving the vehicle when an object or person is detected in a lane next to or in front of a vehicle, wherein the visual indicator is mounted to at least one of the retaining rim or the housing.

19. A cross view mirror for a vehicle according to claim 18 , wherein the housing is secured to the mounting arm by a tunnel clamp.

20. A cross view mirror for a vehicle, comprising:
a housing having a rear side and a front side opposing to the rear side, the housing further has a bottom side configured to receive a first end of a mounting arm which is configured to be mounted to the vehicle through a second end of the mounting arm;
a retaining rim positioned on the front side of the housing having a top side and a bottom side opposing to the top side;
a convex mirror lens secured between the housing and the retaining rim; and
a visual indicator comprising a light emitting diode device that extends along the top side of the retaining rim for providing light signals to warn an operator driving the vehicle when an object or person is detected in a lane next to or in front of a vehicle, wherein the visual indicator is mounted to a visual indicator mount which in turn is attached to at least one of the retaining rim or the housing.

Assignees

• Rosco Inc

Inventors

• Englander Benjamin
• Serer Julian
• Lipani Michael
• Polimeni John

Classifications

• B60R1/06

  mounted on vehicle exterior {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R1/1207

  with lamps; with turn indicators · CPC title

• B60R1/082 Primary

  using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors · CPC title