Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-04
2001-09-04
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Automobile
C362S479000, C362S471000, C362S490000, C362S544000, C362S245000, C362S328000, C362S337000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283621
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to lamp assemblies. In particular, the present invention is directed to a vehicle interior lamp assembly which provides illumination within the interior of a vehicle. While the lamp assembly may find application in a wide range of vehicles, it is particularly adapted for use with a recreational vehicle, an outfitted van, a shuttlebus and the like.
Lamp assemblies are normally provided in the interior of a motor vehicle in order to provide illumination so as to enable occupants of the motor vehicle to read books, maps and other materials, locate objects within the vehicle and accomplish other tasks which require the interior to be illuminated. When illuminating the passenger side of the vehicle, these lamp assemblies must be capable of projecting light in a discrete area of the interior so as to provide sufficient illumination for one passenger while avoid illuminating the entire vehicle interior so as to avoid interfering with another passenger's ability to sleep, watch television, or the like. Consequently, the industry has advanced lamp assemblies which attempt to concentrate illumination within a particular area, such as the lap of a passenger in a particular seat, a table top or the like.
One common design advanced by the industry is a swivel or “globe type” lamp assembly, wherein the direction of illumination may be selectively altered by the vehicle occupant. A swivel lamp assembly normally includes a housing into which is placed a light housed within a spherical body or globe. The globe is movably positioned within the housing such that when desired, the occupant may move the globe within the housing to thereby aim the lamp in a particular direction. Although the “globe type lamp” is relatively successful in directing the light in a particular direction, it suffers from many disadvantages. The interconnection between the parts, specifically the housing and the globe is relatively expensive and complicated and may cause the lamp assembly to rattle or vibrate. Any tendency to vibrate would increase with the age of the lamp assembly, and would be most noticeable when the vehicle is driven at high speeds or on uneven terrain. Furthermore, since the illumination is focused upon a particularly narrow area, the globe type lamp often provides illumination about a narrow area which is too bright, and fails to provide uniform illumination within a large enough area to avoid the necessity for the ability to direct the beam. Furthermore, as these globe type lamps comprise a series of interconnected parts, at least one of which is moveable, the assembly is susceptible to mechanical failure and is often relatively expensive. Additionally, the lamp is housed in a relatively narrow cylindrical chamber which, if used continuously for prolonged periods of time, has a tendency to become hot to the touch and to discolor. Furthermore, these lighting assemblies are relatively difficult to install, due to the number of parts comprising the assembly.
Consequently, there exists a need for vehicle interior lamp assembly which is economical to produce, easily installed, and capable of providing a sufficient, uniform illumination pattern.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the difficulties encountered by the prior art by providing an interior vehicular lamp assembly which is economical to manufacture, easily installed and provides a uniform and broad, evenly distributed illumination pattern which provides sufficient light to the selected occupants of the vehicle. These features are accomplished with a minimum number of components that are easily assembled, thereby minimizing the potential for mechanical failure, enabling facial installation, and minimizing vibration of the assembly when the vehicle is in operation. The present invention may be configured as a single lamp assembly or a dual lamp assembly having a pair of lighting assemblies, each of which is configured to provide directed illumination toward a passenger seat, table or the like.
The lamp assembly, according to an aspect of the present invention, is comprised of a housing, into which is placed a lighting assembly, and a cover attached to the housing. The cover carries a lens in registration with the lighting assembly. A light switch actuator is captured by the cover and thereby precluded from separation from the cover. When the cover is attached to the housing, the light switch actuator is in operational connection with the light switch of the lighting assembly positioned within the housing. Capturing the light switch actuator holds the light switch actuator in place within the cover, thereby permitting assembly of the lamp assembly by simply attaching the cover to the housing. This in turn simplifies assembly and installation of the lamp assembly.
According to another aspect of the invention, the lamp assembly includes a light reflector nested within the housing. The light reflector has a non-linear, dome shape which partially surrounds a light bulb. The shape of the reflector is defined by its absence of sharp corners, while its perimeter is contoured to conform approximately to the irregularly shaped housing. By providing a light reflector having a dome shape without sharp corners, the light reflected therefrom is uniformly scattered to thereby avoid light intensity gradients. Avoidance of light intensity gradients provides a uniform broadcast of illumination. Furthermore, configuring the light reflector to have approximately the same peripheral shape as the interior surface of the housing maximizes the quantity of light reflected by the light reflector. Also, less light is permitted to contact the housing and thereby avoids thermal degradation of the housing material.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the lens attached to the cover has a first region and at least one second region. The first region provides a substantially uniform and distributed light pattern about a defined area, while the second region reflects the light back toward the light reflector, and hence prevents illumination beyond the area defined by the first region. Preferably, the first region is a middle region having a double convex shape, while the second region is a pair of outer regions having a plurality of serrations projecting from the inner surface of the lens. Providing serrations about the outer region of the lens enables the lens to be manufactured having a variety of aesthetically desired shapes while providing a light illumination pattern which is defined by the double convex shaped middle region.
These and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 124607 (1941-01-01), Hutt
patent: D. 358674 (1995-05-01), Ramsey
patent: D. 393729 (1998-04-01), Tuttle
patent: 3305168 (1967-02-01), Ramniceanu
patent: 3748458 (1973-07-01), Morrison et al.
patent: 4086483 (1978-04-01), Freund et al.
patent: 5582474 (1996-12-01), Van Order et al.
patent: 5938321 (1999-08-01), Bos et al.
patent: 6015222 (2000-01-01), Schindler
Three sheets of photographs containing a pictorial representation of a partially disassenbledglobe type lamp assembly that has been on sale in the United States more than one year before the application filing date.
Alavi Ali
ASC Industries, Inc.
Sember Thomas M.
Van Dyke Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP
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