Exit illuminator assembly for a motor vehicle

Details Exit illuminator assembly for a motor vehicle Exit illuminator assembly for a motor vehicle

2000-01-18

2001-03-27

Swarthout, Brent A. (Department: 2632)

Communications: electrical

Land vehicle alarms or indicators

Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...

C180S271000, C340S425500, C340S436000, C362S060000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06208241

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to illuminators and, more particularly, to an exit illuminator assembly for a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In certain situations, occupants in an occupant compartment of a motor vehicle need to exit the occupant compartment. At times, it is difficult to find the seat belt restraint release and/or the door handle due to the low levels of ambient light, unfamiliarity with the motor vehicle, and/or confusion resulting from an accident with the motor vehicle. An example of an illuminated door handle assembly is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,230, entitled “Illuminated Door Handle Assembly”. As in the illuminated door handle assembly, there is a need in a motor vehicle to provide illumination for low light and emergency situations. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide an exit illuminator assembly for a motor vehicle that offers illumination if conditions are suitable for exiting the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide illumination of an interior door handle for an occupant compartment of a motor vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide illumination of a seat belt restraint release mechanism for an occupant compartment of a motor vehicle.
It is still another object ofthe present invention to provide illumination in a motor vehicle if conditions are suitable for exiting the motor vehicle.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is an exit illumination assembly for a motor vehicle including an occupant compartment, at least one door having a door handle, and a restraint system having a restraint release mechanism. The exit illumination assembly includes a control unit for sensing a condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle. The exit illumination assembly also includes an illuminator electrically connected to the control unit. The illuminator illuminates either the door handle or the restraint release mechanism when the control unit senses the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment.
One advantage of the present invention is that an exit illumination assembly is provided for an occupant compartment of a motor vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the exit illuminator assembly has the ability to quickly identify the door handle and the release mechanism for the restraint system. Still another advantage of the present invention is that in the exit illumination assembly, power is conserved by only illuminating the door handle or release mechanism for the restraint system if conditions are right to exit the vehicle.
Other objects, features and advantages ofthe present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4122371 (1978-10-01), Talmage et al.
patent: 4123668 (1978-10-01), Pecota
patent: 4365285 (1982-12-01), Brundidge
patent: 4823239 (1989-04-01), Doty
patent: 5003437 (1991-03-01), Barrett
patent: 5581230 (1996-12-01), Barrett
patent: 5671996 (1997-09-01), Bos et al.
patent: 5709453 (1998-01-01), Krent et al.
patent: 6043735 (2000-03-01), Barrett

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Exit illuminator assembly for a motor vehicle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Exit illuminator assembly for a motor vehicle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Exit illuminator assembly for a motor vehicle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2460471