CA2156564C - Courtesy light fixture of the rearview mirror - Google Patents
Courtesy light fixture of the rearview mirror Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2156564C CA2156564C CA002156564A CA2156564A CA2156564C CA 2156564 C CA2156564 C CA 2156564C CA 002156564 A CA002156564 A CA 002156564A CA 2156564 A CA2156564 A CA 2156564A CA 2156564 C CA2156564 C CA 2156564C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- flaps
- vertical
- electrical
- lamp
- lamp holder
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
- B60Q3/20—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments
- B60Q3/258—Rear-view mirrors
Abstract
The present patent has an object a courtesy light system for rearview mirrors, formed by a courtesy illumination fixture for the driver (4) and for the passenger (4') contained within the respective recesses (20) incorporated in the housing (3) of the rearview mirror, and each of them comprising, basically; a lamp of the cartridge or torpedo type (21); two lamp holder-electrical connectors (22); a electrical wiring set (23);
an on-off switch (24); a reflector (25) and a lens (26): each of the lamp holder-electrical connectors (22) being formed by an elastic, electrical conducting metal strip with the general shape of an inverted "U", in such a way that it may be shaped and connected to the electrical wire set (23) through a progressive die, formed by portions arranged in sequence, namely; a first vertical leg (41); a second horizontal upper portion (42) and a third vertical leg (43); with the first (41) and the third (43) vertical legs being parallel and substantially equal to each other, with the first one having a device (44) to connect it to the electrical wire (23) formed, basically, by pairs of "V"
shaped flaps, (60) and (61) which extends outside the space defined by the vertical legs (41) and (43) and which receive the lamp (21), and said pair of flaps extending beyond the outward bent end portion (50) of said vertical leg (41); with the upper horizontal portion (42) being crosswise to the vertical legs (41), (43) and providing: part of a fixing device 45 formed by the fitting of the lamp holder-electrical connectors (22) to the supporting flaps (27) of the housing (3) of the rear view mirror, the other part of said device (45) being provided in the supporting flaps (27) and with said portion (42) having also a hole (46) which may receive assembling means.
an on-off switch (24); a reflector (25) and a lens (26): each of the lamp holder-electrical connectors (22) being formed by an elastic, electrical conducting metal strip with the general shape of an inverted "U", in such a way that it may be shaped and connected to the electrical wire set (23) through a progressive die, formed by portions arranged in sequence, namely; a first vertical leg (41); a second horizontal upper portion (42) and a third vertical leg (43); with the first (41) and the third (43) vertical legs being parallel and substantially equal to each other, with the first one having a device (44) to connect it to the electrical wire (23) formed, basically, by pairs of "V"
shaped flaps, (60) and (61) which extends outside the space defined by the vertical legs (41) and (43) and which receive the lamp (21), and said pair of flaps extending beyond the outward bent end portion (50) of said vertical leg (41); with the upper horizontal portion (42) being crosswise to the vertical legs (41), (43) and providing: part of a fixing device 45 formed by the fitting of the lamp holder-electrical connectors (22) to the supporting flaps (27) of the housing (3) of the rear view mirror, the other part of said device (45) being provided in the supporting flaps (27) and with said portion (42) having also a hole (46) which may receive assembling means.
Description
~ 156564 IMPROVEMENT IN A COURTESY LIGHT FIXTURE OF THE
REARVIEW MIRROR
The present patent has an object a courtesy light system for rearview mirrors, a part of the automotive vehicle accessory field, which has been improved in order to facilitate its manufacture and to improve its performance.
Another internal rearview mirror with courtesy light has already been the object of an application for patent, of the same applicant, filed under No. PI 9302188, with said mirror being formed by two courtesy light illumination kits; one on the driver's side, and the other in the passenger side, each of them being formed essentially by a cartridge type lamp, two brackets to hold the lamps and to provide the electrical connection; an electric feeding cable harness; on-off switch, reflector and lenses.
In the original canstruction, each electrical connector bracket for the lamps is formed by a strip of electrical conducting material substantially "U" shaped, formed by essentially parallel sides, between which there is a pressure fitted lamp socket; the end of one of the "U" legs has an eyelet to which the electrical harness is connected, and the transversal portion of said support has an extension, which defines a fixing flap, which extends beyond the parallel side opposite to the side which receives the harness, and which connects itself between the supporting flaps projecting from the inner face of the back side 2~i ~b5b4 wall of the mirror housing, with said fixing flap provided with fixing dents, which is pressed against said supporting flaps of the housing, therefore fixing the bracket.
Even considering the good performance of the lamp holding brackets with the above mentioned construction, either from the mechanical point of view, for the fixing of the lamp to the housing, or from the electrical point of view, in respect to the capacity of feeding the lamp, a problem may be attributed to them, namely: the difficulty found in manufacturing, in connecting it to the electrical harness and in assembling the mirror housing.
Considering this inconvenient, and trying to overcome it, an improvement was developed in the illumination fixture of the internal rear viewmirror, object of this patent, which includes the fact that each lamp holder-electrical connector is composed by an elastic, electrical conducting metal strip, with a configuration which is essentially equal to an inverted "U", formed by portions arranged in sequence, namely: a first vertical portion or leg; a second horizontal upper portion; and a third vertical portion or leg, with the first and the third vertical portions being parallel and substantially equal one to the other, with the first one having a device formed by two pairs of "V"
shaped flaps, to connect the electrical wire, with one of said flaps being used to fix the insulated lead, and the other to fix the bare lead of the wire, which fixes said wire in two places, in such a way that each flap of said pairs extends from the 2i 5654 respective opposite longitudinal edges of the end of the first vertical leg of the electrical connector: the upper horizontal portion is placed crosswise in respect to the vertical legs and provides part of a fixing device which fits said lamp holder brackets to the supporting portions of the rearview mirror housing, and said central portion may receive also a hole for assembling means.
This configuration of the lamp holder-electrical connector allows its production and connection to the electrical wires, through the method of progressive die, which facilitates the manufacture and assembly of the mirror as a whole.
The assembly of this lamp holder-electrical connector to the rearview mirror housing is also an easy operation, a fact which collaborates to improve the production process.
On the other hand, this form of construction of the lamp holder-electrical connector allows for the mechanical fixing of said lamp holder-electrical connector to the housing and the electrical connection to the wire harness, which are not affected by vibration and/or by other stresses typically related to the use of rearview mirrors.
The attached drawings show the improvement in a courtesy light fixture in the rearview mirror, subject of this patent, in which:
REARVIEW MIRROR
The present patent has an object a courtesy light system for rearview mirrors, a part of the automotive vehicle accessory field, which has been improved in order to facilitate its manufacture and to improve its performance.
Another internal rearview mirror with courtesy light has already been the object of an application for patent, of the same applicant, filed under No. PI 9302188, with said mirror being formed by two courtesy light illumination kits; one on the driver's side, and the other in the passenger side, each of them being formed essentially by a cartridge type lamp, two brackets to hold the lamps and to provide the electrical connection; an electric feeding cable harness; on-off switch, reflector and lenses.
In the original canstruction, each electrical connector bracket for the lamps is formed by a strip of electrical conducting material substantially "U" shaped, formed by essentially parallel sides, between which there is a pressure fitted lamp socket; the end of one of the "U" legs has an eyelet to which the electrical harness is connected, and the transversal portion of said support has an extension, which defines a fixing flap, which extends beyond the parallel side opposite to the side which receives the harness, and which connects itself between the supporting flaps projecting from the inner face of the back side 2~i ~b5b4 wall of the mirror housing, with said fixing flap provided with fixing dents, which is pressed against said supporting flaps of the housing, therefore fixing the bracket.
Even considering the good performance of the lamp holding brackets with the above mentioned construction, either from the mechanical point of view, for the fixing of the lamp to the housing, or from the electrical point of view, in respect to the capacity of feeding the lamp, a problem may be attributed to them, namely: the difficulty found in manufacturing, in connecting it to the electrical harness and in assembling the mirror housing.
Considering this inconvenient, and trying to overcome it, an improvement was developed in the illumination fixture of the internal rear viewmirror, object of this patent, which includes the fact that each lamp holder-electrical connector is composed by an elastic, electrical conducting metal strip, with a configuration which is essentially equal to an inverted "U", formed by portions arranged in sequence, namely: a first vertical portion or leg; a second horizontal upper portion; and a third vertical portion or leg, with the first and the third vertical portions being parallel and substantially equal one to the other, with the first one having a device formed by two pairs of "V"
shaped flaps, to connect the electrical wire, with one of said flaps being used to fix the insulated lead, and the other to fix the bare lead of the wire, which fixes said wire in two places, in such a way that each flap of said pairs extends from the 2i 5654 respective opposite longitudinal edges of the end of the first vertical leg of the electrical connector: the upper horizontal portion is placed crosswise in respect to the vertical legs and provides part of a fixing device which fits said lamp holder brackets to the supporting portions of the rearview mirror housing, and said central portion may receive also a hole for assembling means.
This configuration of the lamp holder-electrical connector allows its production and connection to the electrical wires, through the method of progressive die, which facilitates the manufacture and assembly of the mirror as a whole.
The assembly of this lamp holder-electrical connector to the rearview mirror housing is also an easy operation, a fact which collaborates to improve the production process.
On the other hand, this form of construction of the lamp holder-electrical connector allows for the mechanical fixing of said lamp holder-electrical connector to the housing and the electrical connection to the wire harness, which are not affected by vibration and/or by other stresses typically related to the use of rearview mirrors.
The attached drawings show the improvement in a courtesy light fixture in the rearview mirror, subject of this patent, in which:
~ ~ 5b5b4 Figure 1 shows the internal rearview mirror with the courtesy light fixture, in an exploded perspective view:
Figure 2 shows a detail of the internal rearview mirror where the right side recess, the receiving socket for the courtesy light of the passenger side is seen:
Figure ~ shows the A-A sectional view of Figure 2 , with a section of the courtesy light fixture, in the same level of one of the lamp holder-electrical connector.;
Figure 4 shows a lamp holder-electrical connector for the lamp, which is part of the courtesy light fixture, according to this invention, in a frontal and isolated view:
Figure 5 is a plan view showing the above mentioned lamp holder-electrical connector: and Figure 6 is the detailed and enlarged "B" view of Figure 2, showing the frontal view of the extended flaps of the back side of the housing, intended for the assembly of the lamp holder-electrical connector, and the respective connection.
In accordance with the figures listed above, the courtesy light fixture, object of this patent, is part of the internal rearview mirror, abject of the application for patent of the same applicant mentioned above, which includes essentially (Figure 1) the set of mirror 1, fixed to an anti glaring mechanism 2, both of them accommodated within the housing 3, which contains also the 4-4' courtesy illumination fixture for the driver 4 and for the passenger 4', fed by an electronic feeding-timer module 5, which controls also the ceiling light 6;
the courtesy lights 7 and 8 located in the door compartments, and the trunk light 9; said housing 3 is hinged to a retractable support 10, formed by a spring loaded neck portion 11 and a base 12, mounted on the ceiling of the vehicle cabin, close to the upper middle point of the front windshield and/or directly on said windshield.
The elements which constitute the internal rearview mirror mentioned above, are not described in details because, except for the courtesy lights 4-4' described hereinafter, they have been sufficiently described in the above mentioned application for patent, and are not part of the main purpose of this application for patent.
Therefore, each set of courtesy lights, for the driver 4 or for the passenger 4', is located within the respective recess 20, incorporated to the housing 3 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) and it is formed, basically, by a cartridge or torpedo type lamp 21;
two lamp holder-electrical connectors 22 to support and provide the electrical connection for the lamp 21; an electrical feeding wire harness 23 for the lamp 21 connected to the lamp holder-electrical connectors 22; an on/off switch 24 (Figure 1) connected to the wire harness 23; a reflector 25 and a lens 26.
The lamp holder-electrical connectors 22 are assembled in their _ 6 _ 2~ 56564 respective sets of supporting flaps 27, which project from the back face of the housing 3. The on-off switch 24 is assembled in a recess 28 of the housing 3. The reflector 25 assembled on turrets 29 which project from the back face of housing 3.
In the present improvement, each lamp holder-electrical connector 22 (Figures 4 and 5) is formed by an elastic, electrical conducting metal strip with the general shape of an inverted "U", in such a way that it may be shaped and connected to the electrical wire harness 23 through a progressive die, formed by portions arranged in sequence namely; a first vertical leg 41; a second horizontal upper portion 42 and a third vertical leg 43; with the first 41 and the third 43 vertical legs being parallel and substantially equal to each other, with the first one having a device 44 to connect it to the electrical wire 23;
with the upper horizontal portion 42 being crosswise to the vertical legs and providing; part of a fixing device 45 formed by the fitting of the lamp holder-electrical connectors 22 to the supporting flaps 27 of the housing 3 of the rearview mirror, with said portion 42 having also a hole 46 which may receive assembling means.
In more details, the first 41 and third 43 vertical legs are formed by free ends which are bent in an outward angle 50, defining a receiving bracket for the respective electrical terminal 51 of the cartridge or torpedo type lamp 21 and by three in-line portions for receiving the electrical. contact 51: the first portions, in a straight line 52, mutually spaced by a _ 7 _ distance "e" which is less than the diameter "d" of the electrical contact 51; the second, intermediate, convex curved portions 53, defining a circular portion which receives under pressure the electrical contact of the lamp 51; and finally, the last, diverging portions 54 , which are separated one from the other by an "e" distance, less than the "d" diameter of the electrical contact 51, with said distance increasing to the maximum value, where they connect the upper horizontal portion 42.
The device 44 which connects the first vertical leg 41 to the electrical wire 23 includes two pairs of "V" shaped flaps, disposed in sequence one after the other, namely; the first pair of wider flaps 60, for fixing the insulated portion of the electric wire 23, on the free end of the outward turned end 50 of the first vertical leg 41, and the second pair, of narrower flaps 61, for fixing the bare end of the wire through the bent flaps 23' and 23"; said pair of "V" shaped flaps 60 and 61 extends outside the space defined by the vertical legs 41 and 43 which receive the lamp 21, and said pair of flaps extend beyond the outward bent end portion 50.
The device 45 for fixing the lamp holder-electrical connector 22 to the supporting flaps 27 of the housing 3 of the rearview mirror includes the second horizontal portion 42 of the lamp holder-electrical connector 22, slightly wider than the first one 41 and of the third vertical leg 43, defining the opposite flaps 47 for the fitting and supporting between the _ g supporting flaps 27, with cuneiform dents 70-70' for mounting to the supporting flaps 27, with sharp protuberant edges and angles, which face the opposite direction of the insertion movement of the lamp holder-electrical connector 22 between the supporting flaps 27.
The device 45 for fixing the lamp holder-electrical connector 22 to the supporting flaps 27 of the housing 3 of the rearview mirror, includes also the supporting flaps 27 (Figures 2, 3 and 6) formed by four upper vertical flaps, symmetrical in respect to an "x" geometric axis, namely: two outside 80, 80' and two inside ones 81, 81'; an intermediate horizontal flap 82 and a central, lower vertical flap 83.
The intermediate horizontal flap 82 has its free front edge with an indentation 84, symmetrical in respect to an "x"
geometric axis, with its width being just a little larger than the width of the vertical 41 and 43 legs of the lamp holder-electrical connector 22 and with its depth substantially equal to the distance between said legs 41 and 43, in such a way that said indentation 84 may receive the extreme portions 54 of said vertical legs 41, 43 which follow the horizontal portion 42, in such a way that the portion 41, provided with the connecting device 44, connected to the wire 23, is in the same plane of the free edge portion of the intermediate horizontal flap 82, adjacent to the indentation 84.
The internal, upper vertical flaps 81, 81' have the 2~ 56564 area of their lower edges, in the same level of the indentation 84, provided with the respective indentations 85, the depth of which is a little more than the thickness of the metal strip which forms the lamp holder-electrical connector 22.
The outside, upper, vertical flaps 80, 80' have their ends connected to the intermediate horizontal flap 82, provided with outward bends 86.
The bends 86 of the outside upper vertical flaps 80, 80' and said indentation 84 of the intermediate horizontal portion 82 and indentations 85 of the internal upper vertical flaps 81, 81' define a housing 87 for the fitting of the upper horizontal portion 42 of the lamp holder-electrical connector 22, for the support of the side flaps 47 of said upper horizontal portion 42 on the regions of said intermediate horizontal flap 82 adjacent to the indentation 84 and for the setting of the dents 70, 70' of the side flaps 47 of said upper horizontal portion 42 in the bottom of said bends 86 of the outside upper vertical flaps 80, 80'.
The central lower vertical flap 83 supports the lamp holder-electrical connector 22 and helps in avoiding its oscillations.
Figure 2 shows a detail of the internal rearview mirror where the right side recess, the receiving socket for the courtesy light of the passenger side is seen:
Figure ~ shows the A-A sectional view of Figure 2 , with a section of the courtesy light fixture, in the same level of one of the lamp holder-electrical connector.;
Figure 4 shows a lamp holder-electrical connector for the lamp, which is part of the courtesy light fixture, according to this invention, in a frontal and isolated view:
Figure 5 is a plan view showing the above mentioned lamp holder-electrical connector: and Figure 6 is the detailed and enlarged "B" view of Figure 2, showing the frontal view of the extended flaps of the back side of the housing, intended for the assembly of the lamp holder-electrical connector, and the respective connection.
In accordance with the figures listed above, the courtesy light fixture, object of this patent, is part of the internal rearview mirror, abject of the application for patent of the same applicant mentioned above, which includes essentially (Figure 1) the set of mirror 1, fixed to an anti glaring mechanism 2, both of them accommodated within the housing 3, which contains also the 4-4' courtesy illumination fixture for the driver 4 and for the passenger 4', fed by an electronic feeding-timer module 5, which controls also the ceiling light 6;
the courtesy lights 7 and 8 located in the door compartments, and the trunk light 9; said housing 3 is hinged to a retractable support 10, formed by a spring loaded neck portion 11 and a base 12, mounted on the ceiling of the vehicle cabin, close to the upper middle point of the front windshield and/or directly on said windshield.
The elements which constitute the internal rearview mirror mentioned above, are not described in details because, except for the courtesy lights 4-4' described hereinafter, they have been sufficiently described in the above mentioned application for patent, and are not part of the main purpose of this application for patent.
Therefore, each set of courtesy lights, for the driver 4 or for the passenger 4', is located within the respective recess 20, incorporated to the housing 3 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) and it is formed, basically, by a cartridge or torpedo type lamp 21;
two lamp holder-electrical connectors 22 to support and provide the electrical connection for the lamp 21; an electrical feeding wire harness 23 for the lamp 21 connected to the lamp holder-electrical connectors 22; an on/off switch 24 (Figure 1) connected to the wire harness 23; a reflector 25 and a lens 26.
The lamp holder-electrical connectors 22 are assembled in their _ 6 _ 2~ 56564 respective sets of supporting flaps 27, which project from the back face of the housing 3. The on-off switch 24 is assembled in a recess 28 of the housing 3. The reflector 25 assembled on turrets 29 which project from the back face of housing 3.
In the present improvement, each lamp holder-electrical connector 22 (Figures 4 and 5) is formed by an elastic, electrical conducting metal strip with the general shape of an inverted "U", in such a way that it may be shaped and connected to the electrical wire harness 23 through a progressive die, formed by portions arranged in sequence namely; a first vertical leg 41; a second horizontal upper portion 42 and a third vertical leg 43; with the first 41 and the third 43 vertical legs being parallel and substantially equal to each other, with the first one having a device 44 to connect it to the electrical wire 23;
with the upper horizontal portion 42 being crosswise to the vertical legs and providing; part of a fixing device 45 formed by the fitting of the lamp holder-electrical connectors 22 to the supporting flaps 27 of the housing 3 of the rearview mirror, with said portion 42 having also a hole 46 which may receive assembling means.
In more details, the first 41 and third 43 vertical legs are formed by free ends which are bent in an outward angle 50, defining a receiving bracket for the respective electrical terminal 51 of the cartridge or torpedo type lamp 21 and by three in-line portions for receiving the electrical. contact 51: the first portions, in a straight line 52, mutually spaced by a _ 7 _ distance "e" which is less than the diameter "d" of the electrical contact 51; the second, intermediate, convex curved portions 53, defining a circular portion which receives under pressure the electrical contact of the lamp 51; and finally, the last, diverging portions 54 , which are separated one from the other by an "e" distance, less than the "d" diameter of the electrical contact 51, with said distance increasing to the maximum value, where they connect the upper horizontal portion 42.
The device 44 which connects the first vertical leg 41 to the electrical wire 23 includes two pairs of "V" shaped flaps, disposed in sequence one after the other, namely; the first pair of wider flaps 60, for fixing the insulated portion of the electric wire 23, on the free end of the outward turned end 50 of the first vertical leg 41, and the second pair, of narrower flaps 61, for fixing the bare end of the wire through the bent flaps 23' and 23"; said pair of "V" shaped flaps 60 and 61 extends outside the space defined by the vertical legs 41 and 43 which receive the lamp 21, and said pair of flaps extend beyond the outward bent end portion 50.
The device 45 for fixing the lamp holder-electrical connector 22 to the supporting flaps 27 of the housing 3 of the rearview mirror includes the second horizontal portion 42 of the lamp holder-electrical connector 22, slightly wider than the first one 41 and of the third vertical leg 43, defining the opposite flaps 47 for the fitting and supporting between the _ g supporting flaps 27, with cuneiform dents 70-70' for mounting to the supporting flaps 27, with sharp protuberant edges and angles, which face the opposite direction of the insertion movement of the lamp holder-electrical connector 22 between the supporting flaps 27.
The device 45 for fixing the lamp holder-electrical connector 22 to the supporting flaps 27 of the housing 3 of the rearview mirror, includes also the supporting flaps 27 (Figures 2, 3 and 6) formed by four upper vertical flaps, symmetrical in respect to an "x" geometric axis, namely: two outside 80, 80' and two inside ones 81, 81'; an intermediate horizontal flap 82 and a central, lower vertical flap 83.
The intermediate horizontal flap 82 has its free front edge with an indentation 84, symmetrical in respect to an "x"
geometric axis, with its width being just a little larger than the width of the vertical 41 and 43 legs of the lamp holder-electrical connector 22 and with its depth substantially equal to the distance between said legs 41 and 43, in such a way that said indentation 84 may receive the extreme portions 54 of said vertical legs 41, 43 which follow the horizontal portion 42, in such a way that the portion 41, provided with the connecting device 44, connected to the wire 23, is in the same plane of the free edge portion of the intermediate horizontal flap 82, adjacent to the indentation 84.
The internal, upper vertical flaps 81, 81' have the 2~ 56564 area of their lower edges, in the same level of the indentation 84, provided with the respective indentations 85, the depth of which is a little more than the thickness of the metal strip which forms the lamp holder-electrical connector 22.
The outside, upper, vertical flaps 80, 80' have their ends connected to the intermediate horizontal flap 82, provided with outward bends 86.
The bends 86 of the outside upper vertical flaps 80, 80' and said indentation 84 of the intermediate horizontal portion 82 and indentations 85 of the internal upper vertical flaps 81, 81' define a housing 87 for the fitting of the upper horizontal portion 42 of the lamp holder-electrical connector 22, for the support of the side flaps 47 of said upper horizontal portion 42 on the regions of said intermediate horizontal flap 82 adjacent to the indentation 84 and for the setting of the dents 70, 70' of the side flaps 47 of said upper horizontal portion 42 in the bottom of said bends 86 of the outside upper vertical flaps 80, 80'.
The central lower vertical flap 83 supports the lamp holder-electrical connector 22 and helps in avoiding its oscillations.
Claims (8)
1. A rearview mirror, comprising a rearview mirror housing having recesses with supporting flaps; a courtesy light fixture for a driver and a second courtesy light fixture for a passenger located within a respective one of said recesses, each of said courtesy light fixtures including a lamp, two lamp holder-electrical connectors supporting and providing electrical connection to said lamp, an electric wire for feeding electrical current to said lamp and connected to said lamp holder-electrical connectors, an on/off switch connected with said electrical wire, a reflector, and a lens, each of said lamp holder-electrical connectors being formed by an elastic electrical conducting metal strip having a substantially inverted U-shape so that it can be formed and connected to said electrical wire by a progressive die, said metal strip having a first vertical portion, a second horizontal upper portion, and a third vertical portion located one after the other, said first and third vertical portions extending parallel to and being substantially equal to one another, said first vertical portion being provided with a device for connecting said electrical wire, said device for connecting said electrical wire being formed substantially by a pair of V-shaped flaps which extend outside a space defined between said vertical portions for receiving said lamp, said flaps extending from opposite edges and being turned outwards from said first vertical portion, said upper horizontal portion extending transversely relative to said vertical portions and having a part of a fixing device to be fitted to said lamp holder-electrical connector through said supporting flaps of said housing, with another part of said fixing device defined by said supporting flaps, said upper horizontal portion being provided with a hole for receiving an assembly means.
2. A rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said lamp is a cartridge type lamp.
3. A rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said lamp is a torpedo-type lamp.
4. A rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said lamp has electrical contacts, said first and third vertical legs being formed by free ends bent in an outward angle defining a receiving bracket for a respective one of said electrical contacts of said lamp, and including three in-line portions for receiving said electrical contacts, said three in-line portions including first straight portions spaced from one another by a distance which is smaller than a diameter of said electrical contacts, second intermediate convex curved portions defining a circular portion which receives under pressure said one of said electrical contacts of said lamp, and diverging portions which are separated from one another by a distance smaller than the diameter of said electrical contacts, said distance increasing to a maximum value where said vertical portions connect to said upper horizontal portion.
5. A rearview mirror as defined in claim 4, wherein said V-shaped flaps of said device for connection of said first vertical leg to said electric wire has a pair of wider flaps for fixing an insulated portion of said electrical wire on a free end of said outward turned end of said first vertical leg, and a second pair of narrower flaps for fixing a bare end of said wire through bent flaps.
6. A rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said device for fixing said lamp holder-electrical connector to said supporting flaps of said housing includes said second horizontal portion of said lamp holder-electrical connector which is somewhat wider than the said first and said third vertical portions defining opposite flaps for fitting and supporting between said supporting flaps, said lateral flaps being provided with cuneiform dents for mounting said supporting flaps with sharp protuberant edges and angles facing an opposite direction of an insertion movement of said lamp holder-electrical connector between said supporting flaps
7. A rearview mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said device for fixing said lamp holder-electrical connectors to said supporting flaps of the housing includes also said supporting flaps formed by four upper vertical flaps which are symmetrical relative to an "x" geometric axis and including two outside flaps, two inside flaps, an intermediate horizontal flap, and a central, lower vertical flap, said intermediate horizontal flap having a front free edge provided with an indentation symmetrical relative to said "x" geometrical axis and a width which is somewhat greater than a width of said vertical legs of said lamp holder-electrical connector and with a depth which is substantially equal to a distance between said vertical legs, so that said indentation can receive extreme portions of said vertical legs which follow said horizontal portion so that said first vertical portion provided with said connecting device connected to said wire is in a same plane of a free edge portion of said intermediate horizontal flap adjacent to said indentation.
8. A rearview mirror as defined in claim 7, wherein said internal upper vertical flaps have lower edges and provided in an area of said lower edges at a same level of said indentation, with respective indentations having a width which is somewhat greater than a thickness of said metal strip which forms said lamp holder-electrical connector, said outside upper vertical flaps having ends connected to said intermediate horizontal flap provided with outward bends, said outward bends of said outside upper vertical flaps and said indentation of said intermediate horizontal portion and said indentations of said internal upper vertical flaps defining a housing a fitting of said upper horizontal portion of said lamp holder-electrical connector for supporting said side flaps of said upper horizontal portion in regions of said intermediate horizontal flap adjacent to said indentation and for setting of said dents of said side flaps of said upper horizontal portion in a bottom of said bends of said outside upper vertical flaps, said central lower vertical flaps supporting said lamp holder-electrical connector.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| BR9403037A BR9403037A (en) | 1994-09-02 | 1994-09-02 | Improvement together with courtesy lighting of internal rear-view mirror |
| BR9403037-5 | 1994-09-02 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2156564A1 CA2156564A1 (en) | 1996-03-03 |
| CA2156564C true CA2156564C (en) | 2005-12-20 |
Family
ID=4059373
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002156564A Expired - Fee Related CA2156564C (en) | 1994-09-02 | 1995-08-21 | Courtesy light fixture of the rearview mirror |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5590948A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9403037A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2156564C (en) |
Families Citing this family (29)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5178448A (en) * | 1991-09-13 | 1993-01-12 | Donnelly Corporation | Rearview mirror with lighting assembly |
| US5820245A (en) * | 1995-12-11 | 1998-10-13 | Donnelly Corporation | Rearview mirror assembly |
| US6000823A (en) | 1995-12-11 | 1999-12-14 | Donnelly Mirrors Limited | Rearview mirror assembly |
| JP4493861B2 (en) * | 2001-01-19 | 2010-06-30 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Lamp unit wire connection structure |
| US10878646B2 (en) * | 2005-12-08 | 2020-12-29 | Smartdrive Systems, Inc. | Vehicle event recorder systems |
| US20070150138A1 (en) | 2005-12-08 | 2007-06-28 | James Plante | Memory management in event recording systems |
| US8996240B2 (en) | 2006-03-16 | 2015-03-31 | Smartdrive Systems, Inc. | Vehicle event recorders with integrated web server |
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Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3665392A (en) * | 1970-08-24 | 1972-05-23 | John T Annas | Vehicle driver-actuated safety signal light assembly |
| US4000404A (en) * | 1973-03-21 | 1976-12-28 | Prince Corporation | Visor illuminated mirror |
| JPS6331817A (en) * | 1986-07-28 | 1988-02-10 | Koito Mfg Co Ltd | Sun visor with vanity mirror |
| JP2601334B2 (en) * | 1988-10-07 | 1997-04-16 | 株式会社小糸製作所 | Vanity mirror |
| CA2006170C (en) * | 1988-12-21 | 1993-07-20 | Tsunesuke Takano | Clamp type connection device |
| US5108314A (en) * | 1990-04-25 | 1992-04-28 | Daiichi Denso Buhin Co., Ltd. | Connector assembly for electrical components |
| US5188446A (en) * | 1991-08-09 | 1993-02-23 | Plasta Fiber Industries Corp. | Circuit assembly for illuminated visor |
| BR9302188A (en) * | 1993-06-25 | 1995-01-17 | Metagal Ind & Comercio | Improvement in internal rear view mirror with courtesy lights |
-
1994
- 1994-09-02 BR BR9403037A patent/BR9403037A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1995
- 1995-06-13 US US08/489,895 patent/US5590948A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-08-21 CA CA002156564A patent/CA2156564C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| BR9403037A (en) | 1996-09-03 |
| US5590948A (en) | 1997-01-07 |
| CA2156564A1 (en) | 1996-03-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |