Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Truck – trailer – or wagon
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-07-17
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Truck, trailer, or wagon
C362S459000, C362S487000, C362S496000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260990
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to exterior lights for vehicles, more particularly, to a retractable light assembly for trucks.
2. Description of Prior Art
Typically, trucks employ additional rearward lighting for increased motor vehicle safety and visibility when towing trailers for carrying additional cargo, boats, recreational vehicles, and the like. Historically, additional rearward lighting for trucks has been achieved by electrically connecting trailer lights to the truck's existing built-in lighting system. This solution has been problematic because of the additional time required for connecting and disconnecting trailer lights. Furthermore, the risk of misconnection and/or malfunction of the trailer lights is not readily observable by the operator of the vehicle. Thus, trailer lighting, being both time consuming and introducing possibility of error, inadequately addresses the problem of providing convenient and reliable additional rearward lighting for trucks towing trailers. Therefore, there remains a need for effective and efficient additional rearward lighting for trucks.
Additionally, prior art lighting for use on vehicles have attempted to provide additional lighting for cars and trucks whereby additional lights are incorporated in luggage rack bars and light bars extending the length and/or width of the vehicle. These prior art solutions introduce the use of a fixed light bar mounted onto the roof or rear end of the vehicle. Because these light bars extend substantially either the length or width of the vehicle, they must be permanently attached to the vehicle, or require significant time to attach and detach. Furthermore, the size, shape, and position of these prior art light bars substantially alter and diminish the aerodynamics of the vehicle, with or without trailer in tow. Also, the prior art light bars do not extend far enough away from the body of the vehicle to ensure increased visibility, and therefore safety. Thus, there remains a need for effective and efficient additional rearward lighting for trucks.
CONCISE EXPLANATION OF PRIOR ART
U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,006 to Gustav E. Arndt discloses a pickup bed protector with a red taillight lens and a yellow side light lens with strap tie down means.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,760 to Herb Izuno, Assignee Paccar, Inc. of Bellevue, Wash. discloses a turn signal assembly that is built into the body of the truck.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,400 to Joseph E. Currie discloses an optical fiber illuminating device that can be mounted on the bed of a pickup truck and includes brake lights, parking lights and turn signals.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,521 to Richard C. Hathaway, Merl K. Bridges and Donald R. Klein, Assignee CR&I, Inc. of Greenville, Ohio is a vehicle modular rail system that supports accessories on a pickup truck bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,083 to Lawrence D. Rich, Assignee LTC Roll & Engineering Co., of Mt. Clemens, Mich. is a combination luggage rack and concealed lights for vehicle roof which pivots outwardly when the lights are turned on.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,270 to John David Ricker and Kim S. Ricker is a quick connect and disconnect light bar for container trucks.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,164 to Gabriel Eidelman, Assignee Gabriel Eidelman of Rockville, Md. is a safety light marker system for motor vehicles that are mounted on the sides and the roof of such vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a truck light assembly, more particularly, for a retractable light assembly for trucks that provides increased rearward lighting and visibility when a truck is towing a trailer. The truck light assembly includes a retractable light housing that is affixed to the truck bed side wall. The housing further includes a pivotal mount whereby the truck light housing swivels outward from the truck body to an extended position and swivels inward to the truck body to a retracted position. The truck light assembly further includes an adjustable rod attachable to the truck bed side wall. The adjustable rod includes a concave receptor shaped and positioned to receive the truck light housing in its retracted position such that the truck light housing does not substantially protrude beyond the aerodynamic plane of the truck bed side wall. In the preferred embodiment, the truck light system includes a pair of truck light assemblies for positioning on the driver and passenger sides of the truck, respectively.
Thus, the present invention provides a retractable light assembly for trucks having increased safety via increased rearward lighting and visibility when a truck is towing a trailer.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a retractable light assembly for trucks that increases rearward lighting and visibility when a truck is towing a trailer.
Another object of the present invention to provide a retractable light assembly for trucks that does not substantially diminish the aerodynamics of the truck body, with or without the trailer in tow.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable light assembly that easily and quickly retracts and extends via pivotal connection with the truck bed wall.
Another object of the present invention to provide a detachable light assembly for mounting onto and into a removable and adjustable truck light rod that is removably attached to the truck bed wall and/or body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4692845 (1987-09-01), Widhalm et al.
patent: 4791535 (1988-12-01), Sclafani et al.
patent: 4818006 (1989-04-01), Arndt
patent: 5023760 (1991-06-01), Izuno
patent: 5171083 (1992-12-01), Rich
patent: 5255164 (1993-10-01), Eidelman
patent: 5495400 (1996-02-01), Currie
patent: 5584521 (1996-12-01), Hathaway et al.
patent: 5795051 (1998-08-01), Galanski
patent: 5871270 (1999-02-01), Ricker et al.
patent: 5904458 (1999-05-01), Bundy
Mills Law Firm PLLC
O'Shea Sandra
Truong Bao
LandOfFree
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