Outer mirror assembly

Abstract

An outer mirror assembly for a vehicle is provided, which includes a mirror base extending outwardly from a side of a vehicle body, a mirror housing that is suspended from the mirror base so that a space between the vehicle body and the mirror housing can be provided and a rear view mirror is disposed in the mirror housing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An outer mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising: 
 a mirror base extending outwardly from a side of a vehicle body;    a mirror housing which is suspended from the mirror base so that a space between the vehicle body and the mirror housing can be provided; and    a rear view mirror disposed in the mirror housing.    
     
     
         2 . An outer mirror assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the mirror base comprises a mounting plate which is attached to a forward end of a side window of the vehicle body.  
     
     
         3 . An outer mirror assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the mirror base is attached to one of a pillar of a front window of the vehicle body and a vertical frame partitioning a side window of the vehicle body.  
     
     
         4 . An outer mirror assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a window frame is disposed in a forward end of a side window, and the mirror base is attached to an upper portion of the window frame above an opening surrounded by the window frame.  
     
     
         5 . An outer mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising: 
 a mirror base extending outwardly from a side of a vehicle body; and    a mirror housing suspended from the mirror base,    wherein the mirror base has a base lens cover which diffuses light irradiated by a light source, and    wherein the light source is installed in one of the mirror base and the vehicle body.    
     
     
         6 . An outer mirror assembly according to  claim 5  wherein the base lens cover is disposed on at least one of forward and backward sides of the mirror base.  
     
     
         7 . An outer mirror assembly according to claims  5  wherein the mirror housing has a housing lens cover which diffuses the light irradiated by the light source.  
     
     
         8 . An outer mirror assembly according to  claim 5  wherein a bottom wall of the mirror base has a first hole through which a fastener for suspending the mirror housing is inserted, and wherein the base lens cover has an attachment portion which is secured to the bottom wall of the mirror base and the. attachment portion has a second hole, through which the fastener is inserted, being aligned with the first hole.  
     
     
         9 . An outer mirror assembly according to  claim 8  wherein the mirror base has a first engagement element and the base lens cover has a second engagement element, and wherein when the first and second engagement elements are engaged, the first and second holes are adapted to be aligned.  
     
     
         10 . An outer mirror assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the base lens cover is slid from the opposite side of the first engagement element relative to the first hole so that the second engagement element can be engaged with the first engagement element.