Abstract:
A lighted exterior rearview mirror system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element and an electrically-operable actuator. The exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a breakaway joint assembly. The reflective element has an electrically powered heater operable to remove ice or dew from the reflective element. The exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a turn signal indicator lamp that has a light source and a lens. The lamp is included in the exterior rearview mirror assembly and unaffected by operation of the actuator. The breakaway joint assembly includes a wire-way through which a wire cable passes. The wire cable includes wires for operating the actuator, the heater and the lamp. The light source includes at least one light emitting diode.
Abstract:
A lighted exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprises an exterior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a vehicle. The exterior mirror assembly includes a reflective element having a heater and a breakaway joint assembly having stationary member and a pivoting member that comprises a bracket supporting an electrically-operable actuator for positioning the reflective element about at least one axis. The exterior mirror assembly comprises a ground illumination or a signal light. The breakaway joint assembly includes a wire-way through which a wire cable passes carrying vehicle control signals and electrical power.
Abstract:
A vehicle door handle assembly for opening a door of a vehicle includes a base which is mountable at the door of the vehicle and a handle portion which is operable to open the door via movement of the handle portion relative to the base. The handle portion includes a first portion having a first material hardness and a second portion having a second material hardness. The first material hardness is greater than the second material hardness, such that the second portion provides a softer feel to a user of the door handle assembly when opening the door of the vehicle. The door handle assembly may further include an illumination source for illuminating the handle portion and/or a heating element for heating the handle portion.
Abstract:
A safety release assembly for a trunk or compartment of a vehicle is provided which is positionable within the trunk or compartment space of the vehicle so as to allow for opening of the trunk or compartment lid from within the trunk or compartment. The safety assembly comprises a handle for activating a release mechanism of the lid in order to open the compartment, a release assist device, at least one illumination source, which is at least occasionally activated to provide illumination of the handle, and a control for activating the assist device or the illumination source in response to an occurrence of at least one activating event such as when the deck lid is closed, motion is sensed by a sensor within the trunk/compartment, an object having a predetermined temperature is detected within the trunk/compartment, or the like. The handle is interconnected with the release mechanism of the compartment, such that movement of the handle results in activation of the release mechanism and thus opening of the lid. The assist device is operable to activate the handle or the release mechanism to ease the opening of the trunk or to automatically open the trunk in response to the control, and may be electrically powered, mechanically powered or gas powered. The control is operable to activate the illumination source for a period of time following occurrence of at least one activating event, and subsequently to deactivate the illumination source upon completion of that time period. The handle of the present invention is designed for easy visibility in minimal lighting conditions and easy recognition even by a young child who may become trapped within the trunk space of the vehicle. This allows easy recognition and activation of the handle and release mechanism of the lid of the vehicle compartment in order to escape from within a trunk space.
Abstract:
A safety release handle assembly for a trunk of a vehicle is positionable within the trunk or compartment space of the vehicle to allow for opening of the trunk or compartment lid from within the trunk or compartment. The safety release assembly comprises a housing and a handle positioned within a recess of the housing. The handle is connectable to a release mechanism of the trunk lid and is movable to actuate the release mechanism to open the trunk lid from within the trunk space. The handle provides a mechanical advantage such that the release mechanism may be actuated upon exertion of less than or equal to approximately 20 Newtons at the handle. The safety release assembly may further include an illumination source, whereby the handle may be illuminated to assist viewing of the handle when the trunk lid is closed.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
A panel/window assembly for vehicles adapted to be raised and lowered by a window regulator mechanism. The assembly includes at least one regulator mechanism attachment member molded directly on one peripheral edge of a preferably transparent sheet from a resinous material, preferably reaction injection molded polyurethane. The attachment member may include either a generally C-shaped channel having an elongated slot opening to one side or an elongated opening extending entirely through the attachment member. The opening or channel in each attachment member is adapted to receive a roller or slide mechanism coupled to the regulator mechanism. Preferably, the slide is coupled to the regulator arm by a cap received over the end of the arm and includes a pivot joint allowing movement about multiple axes. The panel/window assembly allows installation on existing or new regulator assemblies and requires less time and fewer tools to install than conventional window assemblies.
Abstract:
A lighted exterior rearview mirror system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element and an electrically-operable actuator. The exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a breakaway joint assembly. The reflective element has an electrically powered heater operable to remove ice or dew from the reflective element. The exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a turn signal indicator lamp that has a light source and a lens. The lamp is included in the exterior rearview mirror assembly and unaffected by operation of the actuator. The breakaway joint assembly includes a wire-way through which a wire cable passes. The wire cable includes wires for operating the actuator, the heater and the lamp. The lens of the lamp has a portion that faces rearward of the vehicle and a portion that wraps around an outward side of a casing of the exterior rearview mirror assembly.
Abstract:
A lighted exterior rearview mirror system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element and an electrically-operable actuator. The exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a breakaway joint assembly. The reflective element has an electrically powered heater operable to remove ice or dew from the reflective element. The exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a turn signal indicator lamp that has a light source and a lens. The lamp is included in the exterior rearview mirror assembly and unaffected by operation of the actuator. The breakaway joint assembly includes a wire-way through which a wire cable passes. The wire cable includes wires for operating the actuator, the heater and the lamp. The lens of the lamp has a portion that faces rearward of the vehicle and a portion that wraps around an outward side of a casing of the exterior rearview mirror assembly.
Abstract:
A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly has a reflectance element that is positionable by operation of electrically-operable actuator, and a turn signal light that is separate from the reflectance element and configured to project a beam of light that is directed at least rearward and that is observable to a driver of a second vehicle overtaking in an adjacent side lane. The beam of light is substantially unobserved by a driver of the equipped vehicle and provides a warning indication to the driver of the overtaking second vehicle that a lane change is intended. The mirror assembly includes a ground illumination light, separate from the reflectance element, configured to project abeam downwardly on at least one of (a) the side of the equipped vehicle and (b) a ground area adjacent an ingress or egress portion of the equipped vehicle.