U.S. patent application number 11/399932 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-24 for light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle.
Invention is credited to William H. JR. Dalton, Steven W. Neufeglise.
Application Number | 20060187670 11/399932 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33158794 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060187670 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dalton; William H. JR. ; et
al. |
August 24, 2006 |
Light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle
Abstract
A light bar contains one or more rows of light-emitting diodes
(LED's) in a housing which extends across substantially the entire
width of a windshield of a vehicle and is narrow in width to
minimize interference with visibility through the windshield. The
housing has an interior forming a channel with a throat; the throat
acting as a hood which directs the illumination out of the
windshield and minimizes stray light. The LED's are arranged in
banks generally symmetrically arrayed about the center of the
length of the housing. Two of the banks, preferably equidistant
from the center, are tilted in opposite directions to each other so
as to project light toward the right side and left side of the
vehicle. The LED's may be illuminated continuously or in selected
sequence, as established by the user with a switch on the housing.
Attached to the housing in a separate compartment is another bank
of LED's which may direct light inside the vehicle for use as a
dome or map light. A mechanism is provided for displacing and
tilting the housing and may use pivotal arms attached to the end of
the housing or adjustable Z-shaped hangers attached preferably to
clamps such as visor clips already on the vehicle.
Inventors: |
Dalton; William H. JR.;
(Tulsa, OK) ; Neufeglise; Steven W.; (Rochester,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KENNETH J. LUKACHER
SOUTH WINTON COURT
3136 WINTON ROAD SOUTH, SUITE 301
ROCHESTER
NY
14623
US
|
Family ID: |
33158794 |
Appl. No.: |
11/399932 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10414896 |
Apr 16, 2003 |
7036965 |
|
|
11399932 |
Apr 7, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/503 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60Q 3/74 20170201; B60Q
1/268 20130101; B60Q 1/28 20130101; B60Q 3/88 20170201; B60Q 3/252
20170201; Y10S 362/80 20130101; B60Q 3/78 20170201; B60Q 3/51
20170201; B60Q 3/80 20170201 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/503 |
International
Class: |
B60Q 1/26 20060101
B60Q001/26 |
Claims
1. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle,
through a window of the vehicle, said window being of a width
extending laterally across the window, said window being of a
height extending from bottom to top of the window, said light bar
comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least
one row of length corresponding substantially to the width of said
window, a housing defining a channel containing said row of LED's,
said channel having a throat which directs illumination from said
row of LED's in a beam restricted by said throat through said
window.
2. The light bar according to claim 1 wherein said window is a
windshield of said vehicle and said housing being disposed
immediately adjacent the top of said windshield.
3. The light bar according to claim 2 wherein said windshield is
guarded by visors extending laterally in a direction across the
width of said windshield and being movable between a position
generally perpendicular to generally paralleling said windshield,
said light bar housing being sufficiently narrow to fit between
said visors and top of said window.
4-12. (canceled)
13. The light bar according to claim 1 wherein said housing has
upper and lower walls closed at opposite ends, said walls defining
said channel and said throat thereof and a back between said walls
and ends.
14. The light bar according to claim 13 wherein a light source is
attached to a lower one of said walls for projecting light for
selective illumination inside said vehicle.
15-19. (canceled)
20. The light bar according to claim 13 wherein said walls have
edges defining where said throat opens, said LED's being disposed
inwardly of said edges.
21. The light bar according to claim 1 wherein said LED's are in
rows selected from the group consisting of a single row, two
parallel rows and three parallel rows.
22. The light bar according to claim 1 wherein said LED's are
provided in banks constituting said row or a plurality of rows of
LED's.
23-31. (canceled)
32. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle
through a window thereof having a width and height, comprising a
housing defining a channel extending laterally, said channel having
an elongated throat, a plurality of banks of LED's each having one
or more rows of height less than said channel disposed in said
housing facing said throat, at least one of said banks being
oriented to project illumination in a different direction through
said window than others of said banks.
33. (canceled)
34. The light bar according to claim 32 wherein the color of
illumination from certain of said banks is different from the color
of illumination from other of said banks.
35. The light bar according to claim 32 wherein first and second
pluralities of said banks are disposed about a region centrally of
said housing.
36. The light bar according to claim 35 wherein the disposition of
said banks is generally symmetrically about said centrally disposed
region.
37. The light bar according to claim 36 wherein two of said
symmetrically disposed banks are tilted angularly with respect to
each other away from said window to project illumination in
directions angularly corresponding to the tilt thereof.
38. The light bar according to claim 37 wherein said banks disposed
between said tilted banks are oriented generally in the same
direction to project illumination in the same general direction out
through said window.
39. The light bar according to claim 32 further comprising means
for energizing said banks to selectively provide continuous and
different sequences of flashing illumination.
40. The light bar according to claim 32 further comprising optics
attached to said banks for each LED thereof for focusing
illumination provided from said banks.
41. The light bar according to claim 40 wherein said optics
represent separate plates of transparent material carrying lenses
disposed on the LED's of each bank.
42. A light bar mountable in the interior of a vehicle comprising:
a housing extending substantially across a window of said vehicle
having a plurality of LED's for projecting light through said
window in which said LED's are oriented to project said light in
different directions; said housing being sufficiently narrow to be
located adjacent the top of said window without substantial
obstruction of view through said window; and means for energizing
said LED's to provide one or more patterns of the light from said
LED's.
43. A method for providing an interior light bar for a vehicle,
having a windshield comprising the steps of: providing a light bar
much narrower than said windshield in height, said bar having LED's
for projecting light in different directions; and attaching said
light bar between the roof and visors of the vehicle to direct
light from said light bar out of the windshield of the vehicle.
44. (canceled)
45. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle,
through a window of the vehicle, said light bar comprising a
plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least one row, a
housing containing said row of LED's, illumination from said row of
LED's being projectable through said window, and wherein said
housing has at least one wall and opposite ends, and a back along
said wall and between said ends, and wherein said wall and ends are
plates of flexible material.
46. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle,
through a window of the vehicle, said light bar comprising a
plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least one row, a
housing containing said row of LED's, illumination from said row of
LED's being projectable through said window, and at least one
member for adjustably mounting said housing with respect to said
window.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to light bars providing
illumination from the inside of the vehicle through a window, such
as the windshield of the vehicle, whereby the illumination provides
signaling or warning functions. More particularly, the light bar
provided by the invention contains light emitting diodes (LED's)
arrayed and contained so as to minimize interference with
visibility through a window via which light from the LED's
projects, such light being projectable over a wide angle, as from
the right to left sides of a vehicle.
[0002] Light sources mounted inside a vehicle have heretofore been
proposed. See for example, Nock, U.S. Pat. No. 1,674,340, issued
Jun. 19, 1928; Gillespie, U.S. Pat. No. 2,017,798, issued Oct. 15,
1935; Annas, U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,392, issued May 23, 1972;
Serizawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,335, issued May 28, 1988; Lipman,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,363, issued Jan. 1, 1991; Kondo, U.S. Pat. No.
5,099,401, issued Mar. 24, 1992; Pederson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,008,
issued Oct. 8, 2002 (FIGS. 13 and 14 thereof); and Strickland, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,511,216, issued Jan. 28, 2003.
[0003] LED's have been used in brake or collision lights which are
adapted to be located in the vicinity of the rear window of a
vehicle. See Serizawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,335 (noted above);
Machida, U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,051, issued Sep. 17, 1991; Bartilluci,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,707, issued Sep. 2, 1997; Matsumura, U.S. Pat.
No. Des. 314,244, issued Jan. 29, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 315,218,
issued Mar. 5, 1991; and Lee, U.S. Pat. No. D447,825, issued Sep.
11, 2001. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed in the
name of Steven Neufeglise, having priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/375,385, filed Apr. 25, 2002, and assigned to
the same assignee as this application, various inside light bars
are disclosed which are adapted to be adjustably positioned against
the windshield so as to minimize stray illumination.
[0004] Notwithstanding the efforts manifested by the
above-referenced documents, a practical interior light bar has not
been made commercially available. A practical interior light bar
capable of producing illumination approaching that provided by
external light bars, usually mounted on the top of the roof of the
vehicle, is provided by this invention.
[0005] Further features of the present invention are to provide an
improved interior light bar containing LED's which can extend
substantially across the entire width of a window of a vehicle,
especially the windshield thereof, and which:
[0006] a) can provide wide-angle illumination from the right to
left sides of the vehicle as well as straight ahead;
[0007] b) is sufficiently small to avoid interference with
visibility through the window or windshield;
[0008] c) contains the LED's in a manner to avoid stray light, as
in a housing which acts as a hood; and is adjustable vertically and
angularly so as to be held in proximity to the windshield or window
at a desired position, which may be near the top of the windshield;
and
[0009] d) is user controllable to provide different sequences of
illumination, such as constant and flashing, which flashing may be
of different colors, such as red, blue and amber and in selected
sequence suitable for warning applications.
[0010] Briefly described, a light bar in accordance with the
invention provides illumination from inside a vehicle through a
window thereof, especially the windshield. The light bar has a
width extending laterally across substantially the entire window
and a narrow height. The light bar contains a plurality of LED's in
one or more rows arrayed substantially across the entire width of
the window in a housing defining a channel having a throat, which
directs illumination from the rows of LED's in a beam restricted or
hooded by the throat. The beam extends through the window. The
LED's may be in banks on opposite sides of the center of the
window. At least a pair of these banks, which are preferably
symmetrical with respect to the center of the housing, are tilted
in opposite directions so as to direct illumination therefrom in a
wide angle which extends between the right and left sides of the
vehicle. Arms or hangers adjustably mount the housing so as to
provide vertical displacement and tilting about a horizontal axis
so as to locate the throat in proximity to the window and aim the
illumination projected through the window. Circuitry connected to
the LED's energizes the banks to selectively provide continuous
light or flashing illumination from the banks in sequences as
selected by the user.
[0011] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of
the invention will become more apparent from a reading of the
following description in connection with the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle showing a light bar
provided by the invention mounted therein and illustrating the
narrow height of the light bar so that it occupies a space between
the visors and the top of the windshield of the vehicle (or the
ceiling, or overhead of the vehicle's passenger compartment);
[0013] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view from the inside of the vehicle
through the windshield and showing the light bar illustrated in
FIG. 1 from the rear thereof;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the front of the light bar
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the light bar shown in FIG.
3 from the rear;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an exploded view in perspective of the light bar
of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken from the front;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of the vehicle showing the light bar
of FIGS. 1 and 2 and how it is suspended on a mechanism attached to
the windshield;
[0018] FIG. 7 is an expanded view of the side of the light bar
illustrating the mechanism shown in FIG. 6 for attaching the light
bar to the windshield;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the light bar shown in
the previous figures tilted downwardly to show the top of the
housing thereof and also front views of adjustable hangers for
attaching the light bar to the inside of the vehicle;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a sectional plan view taken along line 9-9 in FIG.
8 so that the top or cover of the housing is not shown;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the light bar shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9 taken from the rear;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the light bar
shown in FIG. 10 taken from the right side;
[0023] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the light bar shown in FIGS.
10 and 11 taken from the front illustrating the banks of LED's and
optics in the form of lens assemblies assembled with the banks of
LED's at the light projecting ends thereof;
[0024] FIG. 12a is a fragmentary end view illustrating how the
hanger of the light bar of the present invention is attached to
visor clips on the inside of the vehicle above the windshield
thereof;
[0025] FIG. 13 is an electrical circuit diagram schematically
illustrating the circuitry of the LED's but simplified to show only
three banks of LED's each having a single row of LED's; and
[0026] FIGS. 13a and 13b are schematic diagrams of the banks of
LED's which are connectable to the outputs of the flasher circuit
shown in FIG. 13 to illustrate that the banks may have two or three
rows of LED's.
[0027] Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7 of the
drawings, there is shown a passenger car type vehicle 10 having a
windshield 12. Vehicle sun visors 14 are attached in the
conventional way to the vehicle body near the roof of the passenger
compartment above the windshield 12 by mounting brackets 17 via
rods 15 (see FIG. 12a). FIG. 12a best show rods 15 mounted to
brackets 17 in which visors 14 can pivot with the rods 15. Visor
clips 13 are mounted to the roof inside of the vehicle. The clips
13 grasp the inside edges 19 of the visors 14. A rearview mirror 16
is attached to the windshield 12 and located between the visors
14.
[0028] A light bar 18 provided by the invention is a narrow
structure, sufficiently narrow to fit between the visors 14, when
in their horizontal or up position, and the roof of the passenger
compartment. The light bar 18 has one or more rows of LED's 24, two
rows being illustrated in FIGS. 3-5. A housing 26 containing the
rows, the housing is shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7, the ends 56 of the housing
26 are connected to light bar mounts 28. The mounts 28 include pads
32 cemented to the windshield 12, much like the pads to which the
rearview mirror 16 is connected. The mounts 28 include arms 30
which are pivotally connected to posts extending from the pads 32
and also to journals or pivots 34 in the ends of the housing 26, as
best shown in FIG. 7. These journals or pivots 34 have significant
friction so as to maintain the arms 30 in the position to which
they are pivoted. The arms 30 allow the light bar 18 to be raised
and lowered (displaced vertically) and to be tilted so as to
project the illumination in the desired direction through the
windshield 12.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows three buttons 36 which project from switches 39
on the back wall 40 of the bottom 38 of the housing 26. A small
housing 42 mounted under the bottom wall 38 or on the back wall 40
of the housing may contain several LED's or other light source(s)
which provide interior illumination and function as a dome or map
light. See also FIG. 7.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, more particularly, there is
shown the housing 26, which is made up of the bottom 38 and a top
cover 48 which may be attached by screws 50 to thread holes in
blocks 52, also serving as spacers, to the bottom 38. The bottom
also provides the ends 56 of the housing 26.
[0032] The housing 26 is constructed of plates or sheets of
flexible material by virtue of their thickness and also by virtue
of the use of plastic, such as polycarbonate or PVC materials for
the plates. Such material provides some flexibility and resilience
against the inside of the windshield. However, it may be desirable
to use a rubber gasket 60 attached to the outside surface of the
bottom 38, if desired (see FIG. 11 and FIG. 12a).
[0033] The top 48 and bottom 38 of the housing 26 define a channel
37 having a throat 41. The LED's 24 are arranged in banks 62, 64,
66, 68, 70, and 72 and project from circuit boards 74 which are
attached to the mounting blocks 52. More or fewer LED banks may be
provided and additional bank shown at 76 in FIG. 12 may be mounted
between banks 66 and 68 and bisected by the center of the light
bar. This center may be a plane perpendicular to the base 38 and
cover 48, centrally between the ends 56 of the bottom 38.
[0034] The mounts 28 (FIGS. 6 and 7) also position the open end or
throat 41 of the light bar 18 in proximity to the windshield 12 as
best shown in FIG. 7.
[0035] The banks are preferably symmetrically disposed about the
center of the housing 26. It is a significant feature of the
invention to provide wide-angle illumination towards the left and
right sides of the vehicle 10 as well as straight ahead. The banks
62, 66, 68 and 72 face ahead through the throat 41. The banks 64
and 70 are tilted in opposite directions so as to project
illumination towards the right and left sides of the vehicle. The
end banks 62 and 72 may be displaced rearward of the forward arrays
66 and 68. The tilted banks 64 and 70 are at such angles as to
connect the ends of the banks 62 and 66, and 68 and 70,
respectively. All LED's have an optical axis which point outwardly
through the throat 39 and may be mounted perpendicularly to the
plane of the base 38 and cover 48.
[0036] A plug 80, which may be received in an accessory or
cigarette lighter socket, provides power to the LED's 24 through a
helical electrical cord 82. Internally of the housing and
preferably mounted on the bottom 38 is a box containing a flasher
circuit 84 which is also shown in the schematic diagram (FIG.
13).
[0037] Another important feature of the invention is that the banks
of LED's are in the channel behind the front edges 86 and 88 of the
top 48 and bottom 38 (FIG. 3). The throat 39 therefore directs the
illumination from the LED's outwardly through the windshield and
reduces stray light. In other words, the throat acts as a hood for
the LED's 24.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 12a, there is shown
a light bar 100 which has a housing of design similar to the light
bar 18 and like parts are identified with like reference numerals
to those used in connection with FIGS. 1-7. The improvements in the
design are apparent from the figures showing the light bar 100.
Specifically, the banks are mounted on a bar 104 which defines the
angle or tilt of the banks 62-72. This bar may also serve as a
spacer and receive the screws 50 for attaching the cover 48 to the
bottom 38.
[0039] The light projecting ends of the LED's in each bank are
assembled with its own lens array 63, 65, 67, 71, 73, 75, and 77.
The lens arrays are transparent plates 101 which carry lenses in
barrels 103 which fit over the ends of the LED's in their
respective banks.
[0040] Another improvement is the mountings 128, which like the
mountings 28 provide for vertical and angular adjustment. These
mountings are hangers having slotted (forked) ends 130 and
overlapping segments 132 and 134 which are clamped together by
screws extending through a slot 136 in at least one of the sections
132. This slot allows for vertical adjustment up and down of the
light bar 100 and the forked ends 130 allow for adjustment toward
and away from the windshield of the light bar. The ends 130 and the
overlapping segments 132 and 134 define a Z-shaped structure with
the center leg of the Z (provided by the segments 132 and 134)
inclined at an angle so as to provide fine adjustment toward and
away from the windshield (vertically) as the segments are moved
toward each other along the slot 136. The upper fork 130 is adapted
to fit between the clip 13, which holds the visor, and the roof of
the vehicle where the clip 13 is attached thereto. The clip 13 then
serves a dual function of mounting the visor as well as the light
bar.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 13, 13a and 13b, there is shown the power
cord connected through one of the switches 39 to a flasher circuit
84 having two outputs, output one to the LED banks 62, 64 and 66
(FIGS. 3 and 5) on one side of the center of the light bar, and
output two to the LED arrays 68, 70, and 72 on the opposite side. A
switch 39 selects the pattern or sequence of flashing of the LED
banks. Another switch controls LED's in the map/dome light 42. The
LED's in the symmetrically disposed banks 62, 64, 66, and 68, 70,
72 may be of different color, such as red, white and blue. The
flasher circuit 84 may include a microprocessor which upon each
depression of the pattern selection switch 39 provides a different
sequence of flashing from constant to various combinations as may
be selected by the user by executing a cycle of closures of the
pattern selection switch 39.
[0042] From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that
there has been provided an improved interior light bar. Variations
and modifications in the herein disclosed light bar and various
aspects thereof, within the scope of the invention, will
undoubtedly become apparent to those skilled in the art.
Accordingly, the foregoing description should be taken as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *