Integrated lighting

• US 10,227,034 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2017
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emergency Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Emergency Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Litke, Mark, Baker, Douglas V., Doenges, Scott, Karel, Randall Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US15/705,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20180079353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 362488, 362487, 362459
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10339 Specific parts of the laminated safety glass or glazing being colored or tinted tinted glass sheet B32B17/1011; tinted interlayer B32B17/10651
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10541 comprising a light source or a light guide
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/263 Snap-in fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5035 electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/252 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/78 for generating luminous strips, e.g. for marking trim component edges
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/88 Means for plugging to the electrical power supply of the vehicle, e.g. by using cigarette lighter sockets

Abstract

A lighting system for specialty lighting, which may be attached to a motor vehicle with a window (e.g., glass, plastic, etc.) that is light transmissive. The lighting system may include one or more light assemblies attached to the window in an interior of the vehicle or an exterior area of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a light assembly may be internal to the window.

Claims

1. A lighting system for mounting a light assembly to a window of a vehicle, the lighting system comprising:

a lighting attachment separable from the light assembly, said lighting attachment having an attachment surface constructed to be substantially bonded and/or molded to the window, said lighting attachment having a light assembly interface that removably connects with said light assembly in an interior of the vehicle;

said light assembly configured to removably connect with said light assembly interface of said lighting attachment, said light assembly having a light element that generates light in response to application of power to the light element;

a shroud that substantially shields the interior of the vehicle from light output from the light element; and

wherein an edge surface of said shroud interfaces with the window to substantially prevent direct leakage of light output from the light element into the interior of the vehicle, whereby light output from the light element and resulting reflected light indirectly enters the interior of the vehicle.

2. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein the light assembly includes the shroud.

3. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said lighting attachment is configured to be substantially bonded to the window in conjunction with an adhesive.

4. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein a headliner edge surface of said shroud interfaces with a headliner of the interior of the vehicle so that, in conjunction with said edge surface, an entire perimeter edge of said shroud substantially prevents direct leakage of light from the light element into the interior of the vehicle.

5. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said shroud substantially shields said lighting attachment from view within the interior of the vehicle.

6. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said light assembly is held in place solely by coupling to the window via at least one of said lighting attachment.

7. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said lighting attachment includes a plurality of buttons, each of said plurality of buttons including a lighting assembly engagement surface, wherein said plurality of buttons engage a plurality of plurality of attachment interfaces for a planar or nonplanar window.

8. The lighting system of claim 7 wherein said plurality of attachment interfaces are formed in said shroud.

9. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein the window includes one or more masked areas aligned with the light assembly to facilitate transmission of light output from the light element.