Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Plural light sources
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-09
2003-07-22
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Plural light sources
C362S240000, C362S241000, C362S247000, C362S307000, C362S310000, C359S015000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06595671
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the lighting, and in particular to a lighting system suitable for utilization with vehicles, including particularly a marine/utility trailer, as well as any environmental use entailing harsh environment exposure, water immersion and occasional impact, such as lighting in hot tubs, whirlpools, Jacuzzis, and swimming pools. Alternatively, the lighting system of the present invention is suitable for use as a light source in various diverse applications including interior/exterior lighting, and may be formed as a component of a structure wall or building block. Lastly, the present invention is suitable for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, such as grain silos, mines, chemical plants, and the like.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates an array of LED's directed towards a reflective surface having diffractive or holographic properties, the system encased in a block of light transmissive resin. The light reflective surface, in conjunction with the light transmissive resin, is configured to diffuse and disperse the reflective light to provide a “light pipe” effect wherein the entire block glows to provide a relatively bright, uniform light which is an efficient, waterproof, rugged, and reliable unit, which requires little operational maintenance.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELEVANT ART
While the prior art contemplates extensive variations of vehicle lighting, most utilize traditional incandescent bulbs, and certain applications, including conventional marine trailer lighting systems, continue to require extensive maintenance to insure continued operations. The exposure to saline inherent in marine applications deteriorates the mounting of conventional automotive light bulbs, frames, and connectors. With time, corrosion shows on the lead/socket/light bulb assembly and stop electrical conductivity, thereby disabling the light.
Further, corrosion is often so extensive that it seizes the bulb to the socket assembly, making the replacement of the bulb difficult and often resulting in physical damage to the socket. It is for this reason that marine trailer light systems may have to be replaced on several occasions over the life of the trailer.
The typical marine taillight protects its electrical components with the creation of a sealed air pocket that restricts the ingress of water in its housing to a certain level. This air pocket is achieved by making the housing of the assembly air tight with an open base. However, if the seals from the lenses are leaking, or the housing is cracked, nothing keeps the water from getting in contact with the bulb/socket assembly. Similar constructions are found with lights utilized in potentially explosive atmospheres; however, if the seals encapsulating the light bulb fail, and the atmosphere is allowed to leak into the enclosure, potentially catastrophic consequences can result.
Lighting systems found in whirlpools, Jacuzzis, hot tubs, and swimming pools, which also form a wet, inhospitable environment for electrical equipment, suffer similar problems.
Most lighting assemblies are fabricated from polyethylene or the like, and eventually develop cracks due to excessive UV exposure, corrosion of the screw holding it together, and excessive vibration and breakage from travel and positioning when used in vehicles or trailers. Marine trailers are often subjected to impacts from many different sources; tie down gear, boat launch apparatus and unintentional collisions with foreign objects while backing up for launch.
When water permeates the housing, in most cases the bulb is destroyed on contact, due to the thermal stresses. The hot glass of the bulb shatters in contact with the cool water, rendering the light inoperative and useless.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,457 teaches a “Rear Window Stop Lamp for Motor Vehicles” wherein an LED chip is disposed in a resin molded body substantially at a focal point of a curved reflective surface, with the light passing through a light distributing fresnel lens to form a “rear window stop lamp for motor vehicles”.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,474 teaches an “LED Array Vehicle Lamp” illustrating an array of LED's mounted to a circuit board which is fully embedded in resin material. In manufacture, resin is poured in a mold to encase the LED array and circuit board, the resin then being allowed to cure to form a solid, monolithic structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,434 teaches an LED and circuit encased in an “encapsulating material” to form a lens while protecting the circuit in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,696 teaches a flat LED array encased in light transmissive PVC.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,837 teaches a sign comprising a light source which is encapsulated in a housing.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,632,798 and 4,826,896 are examples on patents involving encapsulation of electronic components.
In summary, the improvement of LED technology in terms of photometric performances in the recent years has given this technology practical uses in the automotive and other fields, wherein there has been taught in the prior art various configurations wherein LEDs are arrayed to emit light through a clear or diffused lens.
In other cases LED light beams are isolated and oriented on a reflective surface to enlarge the effective lighted area produced by each entity. Like other electronic components, encapsulation by resin has been shown in the prior art, albeit not in the manner contemplated in the present invention. Further, none of the prior art systems are believed to have taught or contemplated the present invention.
GENERAL, SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the use of light emitting diodes (LED) technology to facilitate a fluid impermeable, solid-state, multi-purpose lighting system.
The present invention has been made in effort to solve the above problems of conventional marine trailer stop and signal light assembly using LED technology with an innovative approach heretofore not contemplated by the prior art.
The present invention is much more than simply an array of LEDs encapsulated in resin. Each LED forming the array is positioned within a specified parameter so as to deflect its full light output upon a specially configured and surfaced light diffusion reflector, this combination encased in a solid light transmissive medium so as to achieve a particular illumination effect.
The type, color, and color concentration of the resin or other material forming the block, in combination with the positioning of the LEDs and diffusive rear reflector surface causes the entire light transmissive block of resin to glow in a light pipe effect which provides an efficient, bright, and environmentally pleasing lighting effect, not only for utilitarian applications (such as employed in vehicles), but also provides a suitable construction for use in diverse outdoor/indoor lighting projects.
The “light pipe” effect is such that a viewer does not particularly distinguish the LED sources, as there is a decreased perception of any LED, instead a general, bright glowing effect of the monolithic block, almost providing a glow similar to that of a neon light, in the desired shape of a block, or other monolithic shape of the unit.
This is in comparison to the prior art, wherein the light source on the LEDs were either aimed directly through the lens at the observer, or oriented at a conventional reflector, both arrangements providing the observer with readily discernable, pinpoint light sources comprising the vast percentage of the illumination from the units. The result is a somewhat harsh lighting effect, when compared to the present invention.
Not only is the monolithic block construction of the present invention rugged and waterproof, the diffusing reflective surface and “glow pipe” effect of the system provide an excellent “mood” lighting for decorative purposes, while the monolithic block construction and long life LED source provide can be incorporated into a building or other structure, including walls, ceilings, floors, as well as outdoor use (including aisles,
Lefebvre Maxime
Moreau Kenneth
Cariaso Alan
Joseph T Regard Ltd
LandOfFree
Rugged, waterproof LED array lighting system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Rugged, waterproof LED array lighting system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Rugged, waterproof LED array lighting system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3050584