Vehicle light assembly

• US 10,583,775 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2018
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Garcia, Jose Vladimir Garcia
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, William J
• Application Number:
  US15/961,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20190329701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 362523-537
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/05 retractable
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/24 for lighting other areas than only the way ahead
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2642 with provision for adjusting the alignment of the device housing with respect to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2653 with arrangement for sealing the device with respect to the vehicle body, or for concealing gaps between the device and the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2692 retractable lights retractable headlights B60Q1/05

Abstract

A vehicle light assembly is provided herein. The light assembly includes a housing operably coupled with a roof structure of a vehicle and movable between a first position and a second position. An arm is pivotably coupled to the roof structure on a first end portion and operably coupled with the housing on a second end portion. A bracket extends from the housing. The bracket is configured to retain a light bar. One or more light sources are disposed within the light bar.

Claims

1. A vehicle light assembly comprising:

a housing operably coupled with a roof structure of a vehicle and movable between a first position and a second position;

an arm including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion pivotably coupled to a first support and the second end portion directly and fixedly coupled in a stationary connection to an interior surface of the housing at a rear edge of the housing, wherein the first end portion extends upward from the roof structure;

a bracket extending downwardly from the housing, the bracket configured to retain a light bar; and

one or more light sources disposed within the light bar.

2. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the roof structure defines a cavity and a rearward extension extending forward from the roof structure, wherein the rearward extension is substantially aligned with the housing when the housing is in the first position.

3. The vehicle light assembly of claim 2, wherein the first support extends downwardly from the rearward extension, the arm pivotable about a first axis of the first support.

4. The vehicle light assembly of claim 3, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to the housing on a first end portion and to an interior surface of the cavity on a second end portion.

5. The vehicle light assembly of claim 4, wherein the actuator is coupled to the housing in an intermediate position between the arm and the bracket.

6. The vehicle light assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a user interface configured to activate at least one of the one or more light sources and the actuator.

7. The vehicle light assembly of claim 2, wherein the light bar is concealed within the cavity in the first position and disposed vertically above a portion of the roof structure in the second position.

8. The vehicle light assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

a grommet disposed within a boundary of the cavity, the grommet defining an opening through which one or more wires operably couple the light bar to a controller.

9. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a peripheral seal disposed around an upper portion of the housing.

10. The vehicle light assembly of claim 9, wherein a rear portion of the peripheral seal is configured to maintain contact with the roof structure in the first and second positions.

11. The vehicle light assembly of claim 9, wherein the roof structure defines a forward extension and the peripheral seal is configured to contact the forward extension when the housing is in the first position and a bracket seal is configured to contact the forward extension in the second position.

12. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a bracket seal disposed on a lower member of the bracket, the bracket seal configured to interact with the roof structure when the housing is disposed in the second position.

13. A vehicle light assembly comprising:

a housing concealable within a body structure of a vehicle and movable between a first position and a second position;

a bracket extending downwardly from the housing, the bracket configured to retain a light bar;

a support extending downwardly from, and directly and fixedly coupled in a stationary connection to, an interior surface of the body structure and defining a pivot axis;

an arm pivotable about the pivot axis and including first and second end portions, the first end portion pivotably coupled with the support;

one or more light sources disposed within the light bar;

a peripheral seal disposed around and coupled with an upper portion of the housing; and

a bracket seal disposed on a bottom portion of the bracket.

14. The vehicle light assembly of claim 13, wherein the body structure defines a cavity and a rearward extension extending vehicle forward of the body structure.

15. The vehicle light assembly of claim 14, wherein the second end portion of the arm is coupled with an interior surface of the housing.

16. The vehicle light assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to the housing on a first end portion and to an interior surface of a cavity defined by the body structure on a second end portion.

17. A vehicle light assembly comprising:

a housing concealable within a cavity defined by a body structure of a vehicle and movable between a first position and a second position;

a bracket extending downwardly from, and directly and fixedly coupled in a stationary connection to, an interior surface of the housing, the bracket positioned at a front edge of the housing and configured to retain a light bar;

one or more light sources disposed within the light bar; and

an actuator including a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is pivotably coupled to a first support and the second end portion is pivotably coupled to a second support, the first support extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the cavity and the second support extending downwardly from the interior surface of the housing.

18. The vehicle light assembly of claim 17, wherein the one or more light sources are operably coupled with a lens for directing light emitted from the one or more light sources in a predefined direction.

19. The vehicle light assembly of claim 17, wherein the actuator is configured as a linear actuator.

20. The vehicle light assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

a peripheral seal disposed around an upper portion of the housing; and

a bracket seal disposed on a bottom portion of the bracket.