Illumination element for a vehicle

• US 10,145,145 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Buschmann, Gerd, Metzner, Thomas, Klameth, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US15/129,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20180179783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 362496, 362501
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/18 for car boot lids or rear luggage compartments
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 by hand
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/106 Lighting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an illumination element for a vehicle. The illumination element comprises an outer trim part, illumination means, and a transparent cover arrangement between the trim part and the illumination means. The disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one such illumination element, and a control element for a device for opening or unlocking a vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle incorporating a lighting element comprising:

an external trim part;

a lighting means operable to produce light; and

a transparent cover arrangement located between the trim part and the lighting means,

wherein the lighting means is operable to omit different colors based on a state of a locking mechanism of a vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the trim part includes an insignia.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the insignia is an emblem of a vehicle manufacturer.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the trim part includes a chrome-plated surface.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the chrome-plated surface is located on a visible side of the trim part.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lighting element is integrated into a trunk lid of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lighting element is connected to a lock arrangement of a device for opening or unlocking the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lighting means is operable to omit different light colors.

9. A control element for a device for opening or unlocking the vehicle of claim 1.

10. The control element of claim 9, further comprising at least one sensor for detecting motions of a user.

11. The control element of claim 10, wherein the lighting element is operable to produce a light signal based on a function executed by the device on account of motions of the user.

12. The control element of claim 9, wherein the lighting element is operable to produce a light signal based on a state of the device.

13. A control element for a device for opening or unlocking a vehicle including a lighting element comprising:

an external trim part;

a lighting means operable to produce light; and

a transparent cover arrangement located between the trim part and the lighting means.

14. The control element of claim 13, further comprising at least one sensor for detecting motions of a user.

15. The control element of claim 14, wherein the lighting element is operable to produce a light signal based on a function executed by the device on account of motions of the user.

16. The control element of claim 13, wherein the lighting element is operable to produce a light signal based on a state of the device.

17. The control element of claim 13, wherein the lighting means is operable to omit different colors based on a state of a locking mechanism of the vehicle.