Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Visual identification light
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-09
2003-05-13
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Visual identification light
C362S240000, C362S245000, C362S545000, C362S800000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06561689
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to automotive lighting. More specifically, the present invention relates to an assembly for an automotive center high mount stop lamp (“CHMSL”).
Automotive stop or brake lighting is an important safety feature of vehicles. Such lighting on a vehicle provides notice and warning to surrounding vehicles, especially to drivers located behind the particular vehicle, that the vehicle is slowing or coming to a stop. In fact, the functionality of vehicular stop lamps is so important that such lighting must meet strict government requirements regarding the placement, brightness, and photometrics for such lamps.
For a long period of time, automobiles were generally equipped with only two (2) stop lamps. Usually, such lamps were located on or near the left and right rear corners of a vehicle. More recently, the use of CHMSLs, stop lamps located in the center of the rear of a vehicle and at a height generally higher than the corner-located stop lamps, has also become required and regulated by government agencies.
A variety of CHMSL assemblies are known in the art. Some CHMSL assemblies utilize conventional light bulbs and reflectors to achieve the required brightness and photometrics. More recently, the use of an array of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) in CHMSL assemblies has also become known. LEDs provide the advantages of reduced size and increased functional longevity. Such advantages are extremely important in the design of automobile lighting. Generally, in such a LED CHMSL assembly, an array of LEDs is mounted to an electrical circuit board and the circuit board is attached to a housing of the assembly. Several methods are known in the art for mounting the LED circuit board to a housing. For example, mechanical attachment means such as screws can be used to mount the circuit board to a housing. However, the use of mechanical attachment means increases the number of parts in the CHMSL assembly, which in turn results in higher costs to manufacture the assembly. Additionally, the use of sonic stake welding to mount the LED circuit board to a housing is also known. However, sonic stake welding requires an additional assembly operation that can be time consuming and expensive. Additionally, both mechanical means and sonic stake welding have the disadvantage of allowing the circuit board to become loose after use of the vehicle through vibrations during vehicle travel. Finally, current mounting methods can result in assemblies in which the circuitry of the LED arrays are visible even after the part has been fully assembled. Such a result is not aesthetically pleasing or desired.
Thus, a need exists for a LED CHMSL assembly that may be manufactured and assembled in a manner that securely attaches a LED circuit board within such assembly without the need of, additional parts or additional assembly operations, and that effectively conceals the electrical circuitry of the LED array.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention presents a solution to the above problems by providing CHMSL assemblies which do not require additional parts or additional assembly operations. More specifically, the present invention provides for a CHMSL assembly utilizing a trapping panel to secure a LED array circuit board in place within the assembly. This trapping panel also serves to conceal the electrical circuitry of the LED array circuit board.
The CHMSL assembly of the present invention comprises a housing, a LED array circuit board, a lens/reflector, and a cover. The housing comprises a base and trapping panel foldably connected to each other by a living hinge. The housing is configured such that when the LED array circuit board is placed upon the base, the living hinge allows the trapping panel to be folded over the LED array circuit board. In this folded position the trapping panel secures the LED array circuit board in position, and the LEDs of the LED array circuit board project through apertures in the trapping panel. Once the LED array circuit board is secured, the lens/reflector is mounted on the housing using one of a number of various means of attachment known in the art. Some embodiments may utilize mounting tabs and mounting clips which frictionally interfere with the housing to attach the lens/reflector. Finally, a cover is attached over the top of the assembly.
In various embodiments of the present invention, the housing may be comprised of a single molded piece of polypropylene. Additionally, the trapping panel may comprise various means for retaining the living hinge in the folded position including the use of panel locking clips which frictionally interfere with the base. The present invention may also utilize a lens/reflector comprising a reflective hood and a substantially translucent lens portion. Like the housing, the components of the lens/reflector may be molded as a single piece. The reflective hood may be coated with a reflective material to improve its reflectivity. Current safety regulations require the light exiting the CHMSL to be red in color. The present invention may utilize red LEDs or a red lens portion in the lens/reflector to comply with these regulations. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, detailed description and claims.
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Kidd R. Andrew
Smith Clayton E.
Cariaso Alan
Guide Corporation
Ice Miller
Ster Brian T.
Taylor Jay G.
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