Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Portable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-19
2001-12-25
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Portable
C362S399000, C362S506000, C362S500000, C362S362000, C362S387000, C362S375000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332700
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a lighting assembly for illuminating the wheel well area of a vehicle when changing a tire.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
While driving a vehicle, the tires are prone to damage from nails and other objects on the roadway. A flat tire must be replaced with a properly inflated tire before travel can resume regardless of the time of day. During daylight hours, changing a tire on the shoulder of a roadway is merely inconvenient, but during nighttime hours it is treacherous for at least two reasons. The first reason is that at night it is difficult to see clearly enough to ensure that the tire is replaced properly, and it usually takes longer to replace the tire than during daylight. The second reason is that it is more difficult for other drivers to see at night and thereby avoid a collision with a vehicle or person close to the roadway. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a light for a driver to use to illuminate the wheel area when changing a tire at night.
There are flashlights with support stands, lanterns, plug-in lights with support stands, and other lighting devices that can be used to illuminate the wheel area of a vehicle when changing a tire a night. To be useful, a driver must have the device in the vehicle with the batteries charged. The devices are not standard, or even optional, equipment for the vehicle; so, a driver must acquire and install the device to have it ready for use in an emergency. It is therefore desirable to have a lighting device that is part of the vehicle and always ready for use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, a lighting assembly comprises a base member having first and second flexible sidewalls and first and second end walls with the base member defining an opening near the first end wall forming a finger pull. A lamp holder is mounted on the base member near the second end wall. A lens covering the lamp holder is removably attached to the base member. An extensible power cable is attached to the lamp holder.
The lighting assembly is detachable from the wheel well of an vehicle to illuminate the wheel when changing a tire. The power cord extends allowing the lamp holder to be positioned to cast light on the tire to be changed. The power cord retracts for storage.
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2671848 (1954-03-01), Swayne
patent: 2802932 (1957-08-01), Lambert
patent: 4369487 (1983-01-01), Carlow
patent: 4458304 (1984-07-01), Imsdahl
patent: 4789348 (1988-12-01), Hampton
patent: 4894755 (1990-01-01), Chandler
patent: 5133144 (1992-07-01), Formica
patent: 5521806 (1996-05-01), Hutzel et al.
patent: 5558426 (1996-09-01), Cabanatan et al.
Baines Albert L
Lee Guiyoung
O'Shea Sandra
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