Abstract: A surface-coated, molded resin article for vehicles composed of a substrate (100) made of a resin, a plate layer (101) formed on the surface of the substrate (100) and coating films formed on the surface of the plate layer (101) wherein two or more different silicone-based coating films (102), (103) containing UV absorbers are laminated on each other. The lower coating film (102) is a light-reflective pearl film, while the upper coating film (103) is a film having a desired color. The UV rays are absorbed by the UV absorber contained in each coating film, to reduce the amount of UV rays that reach the interface between the plate layer 101 and the coating film 102, thus, peeling of the coating films can be effectively prevented. The lower coating film 102 reflects the external rays and provides a glossy appearance, thus contributing to the improvement in the appearance as a metallic coating.

Abstract: A lamp for use in adverse conditions such as in a headlamp for a vehicle includes a coating for preventing mist, condensation or other haze from forming on a front lens and/or for preventing discoloration of the front lens caused by UV light emitted from a light source. The lamp has a discharge-lamp bulb serving as the light source, the discharge-lamp bulb being disposed in the lamp chamber. The lamp chamber can be defined by the lamp body and the front lens. The coating can comprise an anti-haze/UV film that is prepared by mixing a UV absorbing material with an anti-haze material.

Abstract: A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly and a light module removably positioned within the exterior mirror housing. The light module is moisture impervious and includes an enclosure, a light-emitting opening in the enclosure, a light source in the enclosure radiating light through the light-emitting opening, and a cover for the light-emitting opening adapted to direct the light from the light source to an area adjacent the vehicle to create a security area. The light source may be supported by a pair of electrical contacts provided on the inner surface of the enclosure. The enclosure wall supporting the electrical contacts is preferably flexible, in order to allow the light source to be captured by the contacts. Attachment of the cover adds rigidity to the enclosure to prevent further flexure of the enclosure wall in order to firmly retain the light source.

Abstract: A mirror assembly security system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly and a light module removably positioned within the exterior mirror housing. The light module is moisture impervious and includes an enclosure, a light-transmitting opening in the enclosure facing generally downwardly and/or rearwardly of the vehicle, a cover for the light-transmitting opening, and a light source in the enclosure radiating light through the light-transmitting opening. The light source may be received in a socket which removably engages another opening in the enclosure. In this manner, the light source may be replaced by removing the module from the exterior mirror housing, removing the socket from the enclosure and replacing the light source. The enclosure and mirror housing preferably are configured to self-retain the module in the exterior mirror moving with no, or fewer than one or two, separate fasteners.

Abstract: A vehicle light assembly includes: a lamp body having a mounting groove; and a plastic lens having a fitting part to be fitted into the mounting groove of the lamp body; and a flange portion protruding outwardly on a fore side of the fitting part; and a hard coat film formed over the outer surface of the lens except the rear face of the flange portion and the fitting part.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes an amber light bulb covered with a cup-shaped colorless transparent cap, thus emitting an amber light beam. A colorless, transparent, plain lens is employed. Furthermore, the inner surface of the cylindrical portion of the transparent cap is formed into a plurality of side steps, and the inner surface of the front end portion of the transparent cap is shaped into a Fresnel lens, and the outer surface of the front end portion is shaped into a plurality of fisheye lenses, which makes it more difficult to see the amber light bulb. Therefore, the vehicle lamp appears deep and glittering.

Abstract: A soft shelled lamp shade comprising: a shade body formed of soft plastics having good light transmission and heat resistance, the shade body having a bottom surface with a hollow cylindrical body projected therefrom, a recess being formed on the bottom surface around the cylindrical body, a receiving chamber being further formed within the shade body, the receiving chamber being opened at a hollow end of the cylindrical body, and a double-sided adhesive tape being in the shape of a sheet and having an upper and a lower surfaces, the upper surface being at least partially adhered into the recess on the bottom surface of the shade body. Since the shade body is formed of soft light conducting and heat resistant plastics, the shade body can be made into any desired shape. When the soft shelled lamp shade and a set of bulbs are secured to an automobile or a motorcycle, light can be emitted through the shade body from the bulbs.

Abstract: A light assembly for a motor vehicle has a reflector with an opening at the rear and a collar extending from about the opening, and a socket which fits through the opening and has a first end for holding a bulb and a second end with a locking device thereon which engages with another locking device in the outer surface of the collar, with a supplemental reflector also preferably provided at the first end of the socket.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for providing user selectable multi-color illumination to automotive instrument panel instruments. In one embodiment, an instrument panel or individual instrument is supplied with a plurality of differently colored illumination sources. The intensity of each color is individually controllable, allowing the user to select both intensity and hue of instrument illumination. In one embodiment, an instrument panel illumination system comprises three light sources that produce nominally white light and three associated diffusing filters, one red, one green, one blue. In another embodiment different colors of illumination are provided by light sources producing different colors of light, such as, for example, a plurality of high intensity red, green, and blue light emitting diodes ("LED's"). In one embodiment, a plurality of triplets of red, green and blue high intensity LED's are mounted above a white diffusing filter.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp including a bulb for emitting a light, a reflector having an optical axis and a reflecting surface for reflecting light received from the bulb in a forward direction, for a shade fitted to the reflector and shielding the light emitted from the bulb. The shade includes a light-shielding section which shields the light traveling from the bulb to lower right and left regions on the reflecting surface, a bridge section extending in a circumferential direction of the optical axis of the reflector, and mounting legs, each having a front end and a rear end, which are connected at the front ends to the bridge section and are connected at the rear ends to the reflector.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp, suitable for use as a headlight for land, rail, water, aircraft, and motor vehicles in particular. The lamp includes glass containing Neodymium Oxide, a rare earth compound. The Neodymium Oxide filters out the yellow light portion of the spectrum, thereby producing a color corrected light. Incorporation of yellow light in the light spectrum desaturates colors and reduces contrast. Improvement in contrast and a reduction in glare permits, for example, a motor vehicle driver to better discriminate the contrast of objects when there is no daylight and the only illumination is artificial. For drivers, in particular, elimination of the yellow light lessens eye strain currently resulting from light emitted by the conventional headlights of oncoming vehicles during hours of darkness.

Abstract: A multilayered lens for a lamp, e.g., an automotive lamp. The lens includes a transparent, unitary, polymeric lens blank having an inner surface and an outer surface; a thin, translucent, color layer disposed on, conforming to, and bonded to the inner or outer lens blank surface; and a thin, transparent, protective coating disposed on and over-lying the color layer. The color layer includes a thermoplastic polymer film of at least one color. Optionally, the film may be patterned to include two or more colored regions and/or indicia. Also disclosed are a lamp assembly, e.g., an automotive lamp assembly including the multilayered lens and methods for fabricating the multilayered lens and the lamp assembly by heat transfer of the color layer to the lens blank from a heat transfer carrier film.

Abstract: A reflector 11 to which a discharge bulb 16 is attached is made of a conductive material, and a casing (turn-on circuit casing 30) made of a conductor is attached to a rear-side opening portion of a lamp body enclosing the reflector so that the opening is closed. A grounded shielding tube 21 is provided to enclose the discharge bulb 16, and a grounded extension reflector 3B is disposed at the opening of the reflector 11. At least the reflector 11 and the casing 30 are collectively grounded so that it becomes possible to suppress the electromagnetic waves radiated from the discharge bulb 16 to its circumference.

Abstract: An exterior vehicle mirror system having a reflective element and a housing for the reflective element includes a turn signal having a lens incorporated in the housing. A portion of the lens faces rearward of the vehicle and the lens further wraps around the outward side of the housing and functions as a side marker for the vehicle.

Abstract: A headlamp system for an automotive vehicle is provided having a light source generating light, a reflector, a generally transparent light shield, an electrostatic shutter and a lens. The light shield has a surface and laterally displaced edges. The reflector has a predetermined relationship with the light shield and the light source and directs a portion of light from the light source to the surface of the light shield. The electrostatic shutter means is adjacent the surface of the light shield to selectively blocking a portion of the light from the light source. A lens between the light shield and the image surface directs light passing the light shield.