Hybrid laser/LED modular light source with enhanced directional illumination

• US 10,641,472 B1
• Filed: 10/25/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bestop Baja, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bestop Baja, LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Harris, William N
• Application Number:
  US16/664,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20200132284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0483 mounted on a bracket, e.g. details concerning the mouting of the lamps on the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/068 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2676 Helmets
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/143 the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/18 Combination of light sources of different types or shapes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/321 the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/322 the reflector using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/50 Waterproofing
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/036 by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/013 the housing being an extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/745 the fins or blades being planar and inclined with respect to the joining surface from which the fins or blades extend
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 : characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 : Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0083 : Array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more reflectors F21V7/0025
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 : using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/06 : with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/20 : of different form
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 : Semiconductor lasers

Abstract

An improved vehicle light apparatus including an auxiliary light having a housing defining a front opening extending in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. A light emitting device is mounted in the housing. A transparent cover is mounted over the front opening. A rib extends rearwardly from the housing opposite the front opening and a plurality of fins are mounted on the rib.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an auxiliary light including;

a housing defining a front opening extending in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction;

a light emitting device mounted in the housing;

a transparent cover mounted over the front opening;

a rib extending rearwardly from the housing opposite the front opening; and

a plurality of fins mounted on the rib;

wherein the auxiliary light includes a plurality of light emitters distributed along the horizontal direction, the light emitting device being one of the plurality of light emitters; and

wherein the plurality of light emitters include one or more lasers and one or more light emitting diodes.

2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the rib is oriented substantially parallel to the horizontal direction and a longitudinal direction parallel to the horizontal direction; and

the plurality of fins are mounted to the rib extending along the rib substantially parallel to the horizontal direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fins are angled and extend away from the housing in a plane parallel to the horizontal direction and a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction and the longitudinal direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fins include first fins positioned on a first side of the rib and second fins positioned on a second side of the rib.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the housing further includes third fins positioned on a top of the housing and fourth fins positioned on a bottom of the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mount having a first arm pivotally secured to a first pivot on a first side of the housing and a second arm pivotally secured to a second pivot on a second side of the housing opposite the first side, the first pivot and the second pivot defining an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the horizontal direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a first extension on the first arm and extending rearwardly from the first arm;

a second extension on the second arm and extending rearwardly from the second arm;

wherein a distal end of the first arm is selectively securable to a distal end of the rib at a plurality of orientations of the rib; and

wherein a distal end of the second arm is selectively securable to the distal end of the rib at the plurality of orientations of the rib.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the distal end of the first arm defines a first arcuate slot;

the distal end of the second arm defines a second arcuate slot;

a first protuberance extends from the first side of the housing and into the first arcuate slot; and

a second protuberance extends from the second side of the housing and into the second arcuate slot.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the first side defines a first opening extending along the rib and the plurality of fins;

the second side defines a second opening extending along the rib and the plurality of fins;

the first extension defines a third opening overlapping the first opening; and

the second extension defines a fourth opening overlapping the second opening.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a first side of the housing defines a first opening extending along the rib and the plurality of fins; and

a second side of the housing defines a second opening extending along the rib and the plurality of fins.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent cover extends across all of the plurality of light emitters in the horizontal direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transparent cover contains regions with different optical properties positioned over different light emitters of the plurality of light emitters along the horizontal direction.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the different optical properties comprise different degrees of spreading of light from the different light emitters.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bezel secured to the housing, the transparent cover being positioned between the bezel and the housing.

15. An apparatus comprising:

an auxiliary light including;

a housing defining a front opening extending in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction;

a light emitting device mounted in the housing;

a transparent cover mounted over the front opening;

a rib extending rearwardly from the housing opposite the front opening; and

a plurality of fins mounted on the rib and extending outwardly from top and bottom surfaces of the rib; and

a mount having a first arm pivotally secured to a first pivot on a first side of the housing and a second arm pivotally secured to a second pivot on a second side of the housing opposite the first side, the first pivot and the second pivot defining an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the horizontal direction;

wherein the auxiliary light includes a plurality of light emitters distributed along the horizontal direction, the light emitting device being one of the plurality of light emitters; and

wherein the plurality of light emitters include one or more lasers and one or more light emitting diodes.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the rib is oriented substantially parallel to the horizontal direction and a longitudinal direction parallel to the horizontal direction;

the plurality of fins are mounted to the rib extending along the rib substantially parallel to the horizontal direction;

the plurality of fins are angled and extend away from the housing in a plane parallel to the horizontal direction and a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction and the longitudinal direction; and

the plurality of fins include first fins positioned on a first side of the rib and second fins positioned on a second side of the rib.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a first extension on the first arm and extending rearwardly from the first arm;

a second extension on the second arm and extending rearwardly from the second arm;

wherein a distal end of the first arm is selectively securable to a distal end of the rib at a plurality of orientations of the rib; and

wherein a distal end of the second arm is selectively securable to the distal end of the rib at the plurality of orientations of the rib.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

the first side defines a first opening extending along the rib and the plurality of fins;

the second side defines a second opening extending along the rib and the plurality of fins;

the first extension defines a third opening overlapping the first opening; and

the second extension defines a fourth opening overlapping the second opening.