THIN VEHICLE LAMP ASSEMBLY PRESENTING ILLUMINATED HOMOGENOUS ELEMENT

1 . A lamp assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a lens overlying the housing, the lens including: a planar portion with a generally planar shape, and a projecting portion that protrudes perpendicular to the planar portion to define a given shape, wherein the projecting portion of the lens defines a pocket that is recessed therein; and

a cover of opaque material disposed within the pocket and fastened to the lens.

2 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed between the housing and the lens and having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereto for illuminating the lens, and

wherein the lens includes a rear surface facing toward the housing, and wherein the lens and the housing together define a chamber therebetween, and wherein the PCB is disposed within the chamber, adjacent to the rear surface of the lens and surrounded by the projecting portions.

3 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover is affixed to the lens via a 2-shot molding process.

4 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover is affixed to the lens by welding.

5 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed between the housing and the lens and having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereto for illuminating the lens, and

wherein the housing defines a molded-in connector for an electrical connection to the PCB.

6 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed between the housing and the lens and having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereto for illuminating the lens, and

wherein the plurality of LEDs face rearward, opposite from a target direction for light to be directed.

7 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed between the housing and the lens and having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereto for illuminating the lens, and

wherein the lens includes a rear surface facing toward the housing, and wherein the PCB is fastened to the rear surface of the lens using at least one of: screws, heat stakes, and/or snaps.

8 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lens and the cover, together present an illuminated appearance defining an outline of the given shape, with the cover defining a darkened interior of the given shape.

9 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed between the housing and the lens and having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted to a surface thereof for illuminating the lens, and

wherein the plurality of LEDs are configured to emit light in a direction parallel to the surface of the PCB.

10 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the projecting portion defines a top surface that is generally parallel to and spaced apart from the planar portion, and wherein light is emitted from the top surface.

11 . The lamp assembly of claim 10 , wherein the projecting portion further defines a beveled surface that extends from the top surface and is sloped back toward the planar portion, and wherein light is emitted from the beveled surface.

12 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the projecting portion defines a side surface that is generally perpendicular to the planar portion, and wherein light is emitted from the side surface.

13 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed between the housing and the lens and having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereto for illuminating the lens, and

wherein the housing defines a reflective surface facing toward the lens, and wherein the reflective surface is configured to reflect light from the plurality of LEDs and out of an emission surface of the lens.

14 . An illuminated lamp for a vehicle including one or more lamp assemblies as set forth in claim 1 .

15 . The illuminated lamp of claim 14 , wherein the one or more lamp assemblies include two or more of the lamp assemblies.

16 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed between the housing and the lens and having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereto for illuminating the lens, and

wherein the housing defines a reflective surface facing toward the lens, and wherein the reflective surface is configured to reflect light from the plurality of LEDs and out of an emission surface of the lens as an internal sub-assembly to another lamp.

17 . The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lens is configured to diffuse light passing therethrough.

18 . A lamp assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing having a side edge and defining a reflective surface;

a lens overlying the housing; and

a cover of opaque material adjacent to the lens and defining a recessed portion facing toward the housing and containing a printed circuit board (PCB) and one or more LEDs.

19 . The lamp assembly of claim 18 , wherein the cover of opaque material is spaced apart from the side edge to define an illuminated shape outline between the cover and the side edge of the housing.

20 . The lamp assembly of claim 18 , wherein the cover of opaque material is adjacent to the side edge to define an illuminated shape spaced apart from the side edge of the housing.

21 . The lamp assembly of claim 18 , wherein the one or more LEDs are at least partially exposed to the lens, and wherein the lens includes a diffusive material.

22 . The lamp assembly of claim 18 , wherein the recessed portion of the cover is configured to shield substantially all light from the one or more LEDs from directly reaching the lens.

23 . The lamp assembly of claim 18 , wherein the lens defines a grain texture on a surface thereof for diffusing light passing therethrough.