Exterior vehicle security light

A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle comprising:

• an exterior mirror assembly including a reflective element, a housing for said reflective element and a positioning device for adjustably positioning said reflective element in said first housing;
• a light module removably positioned substantially within said housing and wherein a portion of said light module is positioned behind said reflective element, said module projecting light from said housing on at least an area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in said area;
• and
• said light module including an enclosure having wail means defining a first enclosure cavity, a first light-transmitting opening in said first cavity facing at least one of generally downwardly and rearwardly of said vehicle, a first cover for said first light-transmitting opening, and a first light source in said first cavity radiating light generally along a first axis through said first light-transmitting opening, said enclosure positioned in an opening in a surface of said housing facing at least one of generally downwardly and rearwardly of said vehicle and said enclosure sloping generally upwardly from said first light-transmitting opening to a location behind said positioning device.

A light module adapted to be removably positioned in-an opening in a vehicle exterior mirror assembly having a reflective element, housing for said reflective element and a retaining structure located within said housing, comprising:

• an enclosure having wall means defining a first enclosure cavity;
• a first light-transmitting opening in said first enclosure cavity;
• a first cover for said first light-transmitting opening;
• a first light source in said first enclosure cavity radiating light through said first light-transmitting opening;
• and
• a retaining structure on an exterior surface of said enclosure configured to mate with the retaining structure within the exterior mirror housing in order to at least partially retain said enclosure substantially within the exterior mirror housing;
• wherein a portion of said enclosure is behind said reflective element, and wherein said enclosure can be slidably received through said opening in said housing and releasably retained by said retaining structures.

A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle comprising:

• an exterior mirror assembly attached to the vehicle including a reflective element, a housing for said reflective element, and a positioning device mounted to said reflective dement for adjustably positioning said reflective element in said housing;
• a light module removably positioned substantially within said housing and wherein a portion of said light module is positioned behind said reflective element, said light module projecting light from said housing on at least an area adjacent a portion of the vehicle in order to create a lighted security zone in said area;
• said light module including an enclosure having wall means defining an enclosure cavity, a light-transmitting opening in said cavity, a cover for said light-transmitting opening and a light source in said cavity radiating light through said light-transmitting opening;
• and
• mating retaining elements for at lest partially removably retaining said light module in said housing, said mating retaining elements including mating surface configurations on said enclosure and said housing.

A light module adapted to be removably positioned in an opening in a vehicle exterior mirror assembly having a housing comprising:

• an enclosure having walls defining an enclosure cavity;
• a light-transmitting opening in said enclosure cavity;
• said opening being covered with a lens;
• a light source in said enclosure cavity radiating light through said opening;
• and
• a first socket positioned in another opening in said enclosure and including a sealing means comprising a polymer material having a durometer hardness in the range of from about 50 to about 95 SHORE A for sealing said first socket in said opening, whereby said light source can be replaced by removing said light module from said housing and removing said first socket from said light module.

A signal light module adapted to be removably positioned in an opening in a vehicle exterior mirror assembly comprising:

• an enclosure having walls defining an enclosure cavity;
• a light-transmitting opening in said enclosure cavity;
• said opening being covered with a lens;
• and
• a plurality of light-emitting diodes with louvers therebetween in said enclosure cavity;
• wherein said light-emitting diodes radiate light generally along a light-radiating axis that extends rearwardly away from the passenger compartment of a vehicle in order to shield the driver from light radiated by said light-emitting diodes, said light-radiating axis being at an angle of at least approximately 15.degree. from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.