Vehicle exterior mirror system with signal light assembly

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a first vehicle;
• said exterior mirror assembly comprising a housing, said housing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element being moveably mounted with respect to said housing on an actuator for providing remote positioning of said reflectance element;
• said exterior mirror assembly further comprising a signal light assembly, said signal light assembly fixedly mounted with respect to said housing separate from said positionable reflectance element;
• said signal light assembly adapted to project a pattern of light from said housing directed at least generally rearwardly of said first vehicle and observable to a driver of a second vehicle passing from behind said side of said first vehicle equipped with said signal light assembly, said pattern of light of said signal light assembly shielded from view by a driver of said first vehicle when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted to said side of said first vehicle;
• said signal light adapted for connection with a turn signal circuit of the first vehicle such that said signal light actuates when said turn signal circuit is being actuated in order to provide a warning light to the driver of the second vehicle passing the first vehicle that a lane change by the first vehicle is intended, said warning light being substantially unobserved by the driver of the first vehicle;
• said signal light assembly being substantially resistant to environmental conditions, such as water splash, rain and car washes;
• and
• wherein said signal light assembly fits within the cavity defined by said housing in a manner that conforms to the styling and aerodynamic lines defined by said housing.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a first vehicle;
• said exterior mirror assembly comprising a housing, said housing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element being moveably mounted with respect to said housing on an actuator for providing remote positioning of said reflectance element;
• said exterior mirror assembly further comprising a signal light assembly, said signal light assembly fixedly mounted with respect to said housing separate from said positionable reflectance element;
• said signal light assembly adapted to project a pattern of light from said exterior mirror assembly directed at least generally rearwardly of said first vehicle and observable to a driver of a second vehicle passing from behind said side of said first vehicle equipped with said signal light assembly, said pattern of light of said signal light assembly shielded from view by a driver of said first vehicle when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted to said side of said first vehicle;
• said signal light adapted for connection with a turn signal circuit of the first vehicle such that said signal light actuates when said turn signal circuit is being actuated in order to provide a warning light to the driver of the second vehicle passing the first vehicle that a lane change by the first vehicle is intended, said warning light being substantially unobserved by the driver of the first vehicle;
• said signal light assembly is selected from the group consisting of an incandescent lamp, a vacuum fluorescent lamp, a light-emitting diode and a light pipe;
• and
• wherein said signal light assembly is substantially resistant to environmental conditions, such as water splash, rain and car washes.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror system comprising:

• an exterior mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a side of a first vehicle;
• said exterior mirror assembly comprising a housing, said housing defining a cavity, a reflectance element incorporated in said cavity, said reflectance element being moveably mounted with respect to said housing on an actuator for providing remote positioning of said reflectance element;
• said exterior mirror assembly further comprising a signal light assembly, said signal light assembly fixedly mounted with respect to said housing separate from said positionable reflectance element;
• said signal light assembly adapted to project a pattern of light from said exterior mirror assembly directed at least generally rearwardly of said first vehicle and observable to a driver of a second vehicle passing from behind said side of said first vehicle equipped with said signal light assembly, said pattern of light of said signal light assembly shielded from view by a driver of said first vehicle when said exterior mirror assembly is mounted to said side of said first vehicle;
• said signal light adapted for connection with a turn signal circuit of the first vehicle such that said signal light actuates when said turn signal circuit is being actuated in order to provide a warning light to the driver of the second vehicle passing the first vehicle that a lane change by the first vehicle is intended, said warning light being substantially unobserved by the driver of the first vehicle;
• said signal light assembly removably attached to said exterior mirror assembly;
• and
• wherein said signal light assembly is substantially resistant to environmental conditions, such as water splash, rain and car washes.