Donnelly Corporation

William P Lantz

Kenneth Schofield

Barry W Hutzel

Edward R Adams

Craig M Miller

Howard W Fant, Jr

Eldon J Nyhof

Paul C Belding

Brian I Skogler

Troy I VanderHoof

Charles M Flowerday

Anton C Bastiaanse

Dorothy J Helder

Ricky L Berens

A rearview mirror with lighting assembly for use in a vehicle, has a molded case adapted to support lights for illuminating portions of the vehicle interior, to support electrical switches, wiring, and electrical connectors, to support optical lenses for directing light, and to support a mirror element. The case includes ventilation around the lenses, past the lights, and out of the case for dissipating heat from the lighting. The electrical switches and connectors are mounted into the case. A preferred light arrangement provides illumination of areas below and outwardly of the case ends with targeted lighting areas in the lap areas of persons seated in the front seats of the vehicle, without allowing light to be directed toward the vehicle windshield or instrument panel to cause glare. A resilient sealing material is adhered to the back of the lens element for sealing with the case to prevent or minimize the emission of uncontrolled, stray light from the case. The sealing material is preferably adhered to the mirror element by an adhesive carrier layer which preferably also provides an antiscatter function for the mirror element in the event of breakage.

Rearview mirror with lighting assembly

A carrier module is disclosed for supporting lights for illuminating portions of a vehicle interior, instruments such as directional compasses or the like, and controls such as switches or instrument adjustment units. The carrier modules may be mounted in housings on the vehicle interior. Each module preferably includes a rigid body or support and a pair of spaced mounting projections thereon for removably mounting the carrier module in a housing or other support. One of the mounting projections is resilient. An opening is provided in the body adjacent the resilient projection to allow insertion of a tool for releasing the module from the housing or support.

Interior light/carrier module for vehicles

A case assembly for vehicular rearview mirrors adapted to support lights for illuminating portions of the vehicle interior, instruments such as directional compasses or the like, and controls such as switches or instrument adjustment units. The case includes one, and preferably two, spaced, removable carrier modules fitted generally flush with the bottom of the mirror case. The carrier modules may include varying combinations of light assemblies for map reading, courtesy or console illumination, switches, and controls for compasses, clocks, electronic or other instruments. A preferred light arrangement provides illumination of areas below and outwardly of the case ends with brighter, targeted lighting areas in the lap areas of persons seated in the front seats of the vehicle.

Lighted/information case assembly for rearview mirrors

Growing community of inventors

Holland, MI, United States of America

William P Lantz