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Vehicular-exterior-rearview-mirror-system-with-signal-light-assembly

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Details

Inventors: Pastrick, Todd W.; Molenkamp, Linda K.; Koops, Roger L.;
Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Holland, MI)
Primary Examiner: Sember; Thomas M.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Van Dyke, Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP

A floodlight that is adapted to projecting a pattern of light from the housing of a vehicle exterior mirror on an area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in that area. The pattern extends laterally onto the vehicle and downwardly and rearwardly of the mirror housing. In this manner, the lighted security zone extends from the vehicle door to the rear of the vehicle. An actuator for the floodlight includes a base unit in the vehicle and a remote transmitter wherein the base unit is responsive to a signal from the remote transmitter in order to actuate the floodlight. The actuator may further include a lockout device in order to prevent actuation of the floodlight during operation of the vehicle. A signal light is additionally included in the exterior mirror housing in order to project a second pattern of light from the mirror housing extending laterally away from the vehicle and rearwardly of the vehicle. In this manner, the second pattern cannot be directly observed by the driver of the vehicle but may be observed by the driver of another vehicle passing the equipped vehicle. The signal light operates in unison with a turn signal, brake signal, or both, of the equipped vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is intended to provide a personal safety feature for a vehicle in the form of a floodlight adapted to projecting light generally downwardly on an area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in the area.
Advantageously, the floodlight is preferably positioned in the housing of an exterior mirror having a reflective element also positioned in the housing.
According to an aspect of the invention, an actuator is provided for the floodlight including a base unit in the vehicle and a remote transmitter.
The base unit is responsive to a signal from the remote transmitter in order to actuate the floodlight.
This allows the vehicle operator to actuate the floodlight from a distance in order to establish the security zone prior to approaching the vehicle.
According to another aspect of the invention, an actuator for the floodlight includes a lockout device in order to prevent actuation of the floodlight during operation of the vehicle.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention, a signal light that is adapted to projecting light generally rearwardly of the vehicle is included in the exterior mirror housing.
An actuator for the warning light is connected with the stoplight circuit, turn signal circuit, or both the stoplight and turn signal circuit, of the vehicle in order to actuate the warning light when either the stoplight or turn signal is being actuated.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the floodlight is adapted to projecting a pattern of light from the housing on an area adjacent a portion of the vehicle that extends laterally onto the vehicle and downwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle.
In this manner, a security zone is established from the vehicle door to the rear of the vehicle.
The signal light is adapted to projecting a pattern of light extending laterally away from the vehicle and rearwardly of the vehicle.
In this manner, the pattern generated by the signal light cannot be substantially observed by a driver of the vehicle

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