Combined rear exterior lamp and cleaning system for cleaning a rear window of a vehicle

#The present patent application/patent claims the benefit of priority of co-pending European Patent Application No. 18166503.5, filed on Apr. 10, 2018, and entitled “A COMBINED REAR EXTERIOR LAMP AND CLEANING SYSTEM FOR CLEANING A REAR WINDO OF A VEHICLE,” the contents of which are incorporated in full by reference herein.

#The present invention relates to a combined rear exterior lamp and cleaning system for cleaning a rear window of a vehicle. The present invention also relates to a vehicle including a combined rear exterior lamp and cleaning system.

#Generally, a cleaning system for cleaning the rear window of a vehicle includes a nozzle for spraying a washer fluid to the window. The nozzle may for example be integrated in a spoiler or in the vehicle trunk door. The location of the nozzle thus requires holes through e.g. the trunk door or spoiler which increases the risk of fluid leakage into the vehicle.

#These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing example embodiments of the invention, wherein:

#FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle including a combined rear exterior lamp and cleaning system;

#FIGS. 2A-B show conceptual views of example embodiments of the invention;

#In the present detailed description, various embodiments of inventive concept are mainly described with reference to a vehicle in the form of a car. However, the present invention may equally be used for any other type vehicle such as e.g. a bus, a truck, etc. This invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout.

#FIG. 1 shows a vehicle in the form of a car 102. The car 102 includes a rear exterior lamp 104 arranged to provide illumination to the rear side of the car 102. The rear exterior lamp 104 is generally in communication with a vehicle electrical system such that an operator of the car 102 may control the lighting state of the rear exterior lamp 104. For example, such lighting state may be a brake light signal activated by a braking action by the operator of the car 102. The brake light signal provides an indication for drivers of vehicles or pedestrians behind the car 102 that a braking action has been initiated. In this exemplary embodiment, the rear exterior lamp 104 is arranged above the rear window 106 of the car 102. The rear exterior lamp 104 is shown as a center high mount stop lamp.

#The rear exterior lamp 104 includes a lens (not numbered in FIG. 1, better seen in e.g. FIGS. 2A-B) having an outer surface facing outside of the rear exterior lamp 104. The lens includes a cleaning arrangement for providing a cleaning fluid to the rear window 106 of the car 102. The cleaning arrangement and the lens will be described further with reference to subsequence drawings.