Pinch warning and illumination system

• US 20050073852A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Closures Company Limited (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nicholas Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Ward, Kenneth H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/501
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/101 for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/324 for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/44 responsive to changes in electrical conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/59 Travel display
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/106 Lighting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

A light source is incorporated into a weatherstrip or pinch strip assembly mounted on a movable panel or at the opening in a frame or panel which receives the movable panel. The light is illuminated to warn that a movable panel of a vehicle is about to close or open, is closing or opening, or that an obstruction has been encountered. The light can operate intermittently during opening or closing, and continuously when the movable panel is open.

Claims

1. A pinch strip device for mounting on one of a movable member or a stationary member, said pinch strip comprising:

a resiliently compressible member;

a sensor operably connected to said compressible member, which senses when said compressible member has been deflected; and

lighting operably connected to and extending along at least a portion of the length of said compressible member;

whereby said lighting can be actuated to emit light continuously or intermittently when said panel member is closing and/or when it is opening and/or when it is open.

2. The pinch strip device of claim 1, which further includes:

a mounting member which mounts to one of said movable panel or said stationary member;

said compressible member being positioned on said mounting member; and

said lighting being affixed to said mounting member.

3. The pinch strip device of claim 1, in which:

said lighting comprises one of an elongated light tube or cable.

4. The pinch strip device of claim 3, in which:

said compressible member is hollow, and said sensor comprises a pair of spaced contacts located within the hollow interior of said compressible member such that when said pinch strip encounters an obstacle, it is deflected and said contacts engage.

5. The pinch strip device of claim 2, in which:

said lighting comprises an elongated tube or cable.

6. The pinch strip device of claim 5, in which:

said compressible member is hollow, and said sensor comprises a pair of spaced contacts located within the hollow interior of said compressible member such that when said pinch strip encounters an obstacle, it is deflected and said contacts engage.

7. A pinch warning and/or illumination system for incorporation into a structure having a movable member associated with a fixed member, said movable member being movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said fixed member, said system comprising:

one of a weather seal or a pinch strip device for securing to one of said movable member or said associated fixed member;

lighting operably connected to at least a portion of the length of said one of said weather seal or said pinch strip;

an indicator which indicates at least the movement of said movable member when said movable member is moving into a closed position relative to said fixed member; and

said indicator activating said lighting at least when said movable member is closing relative to said fixed member.

8. The system of claim 7, which includes:

a control module which, in response to a signal from said indicator, causes said lighting to flash as said movable member moves towards its closed position relative to said fixed member.

9. The system of claim 8, in which:

said indicator indicates motion of said movable member either towards its closed position or its opened position, and activates a light flashing circuit to thereby cause said lighting to flash when said movable member is moving either towards its closed position or towards its opened position.

10. The system of claim 9, in which:

said indicator indicates when said movable member is open, and activates said lighting to remain continuously on when said movable member is open.

11. The system of claim 7, which includes:

a drive mechanism for automatically closing said movable member, and a control module operably connected to said drive mechanism and to said lighting; and

said control module causing said lighting to flash when said drive mechanism is operating to close said movable member.

12. The system of claim 11, in which:

said drive mechanism is also operable to open said movable member, and said control module causes said lighting to flash when said movable member is moving towards its open position as well as when it is moving towards its closed position.

13. The system of claim 12, in which:

said control module causes said lighting to remain continuously on when said movable member is located in its open position relative to said fixed member.

14. The system of claim 7, in which:

said lighting comprises one of an elongated light tube or cable.

15. The system of claim 7, in which:

said lighting comprises a plurality of LEDs disposed on a compressible portion of said pinch strip or weather seal.

16. The system of claim 7, in which:

said lighting comprises lights of two different colors, and a control module for controlling said lighting;

said indicator indicating when said movable member is moving towards its open position as well as its closed position; and

said control module acting in response to said indicator to activate lighting of one color when said movable member is moving either towards its open position or towards its closed position, and activating the other color of lighting when said movable member is located in its open position.

17. The system of claim 16, in which:

said control module causes said first colored lights to flash as said movable member is moving, and causes said second colored lighting to remain continuously on when said movable member is in its open position.

18. The system of claim 17, in which:

said first colored lights which flash as said movable member is moving are red, and said second colored lights which remain continuously on when said movable member is open are white.

19. The system of claim 7, in which;

said one of said weather seal or said pinch strip comprises a mounting member which mounts it to one of said movable member or said stationary member, and a compressible member secured to said mounting member; and

said lighting being affixed to one of said compressible member or said mounting member.

20. The system of claim 19, in which:

said lighting comprises an elongated light tube or cable.

21. The system of claim 7, in which said one of said weather seal and pinch strip comprises an elongated member having spaced apertures therein, said lighting being located inside said elongated member so as to be visible at said apertures.

22. The system of claim 21, in which said lighting comprises an elongated light tube or light cable.

23. The system of claim 21, in which said lighting comprises LEDs located at said apertures.

24. An automobile comprising:

a body and a panel which is movable relative to the body between an open position and a closed position;

one of a weather seal or a pinch strip device for securing to one of said panel or said body;

lighting operably connected to at least a portion of the length of said one of said weather seal or said pinch strip;

an indicator which indicates at least the movement of said panel when said panel is moving into a closed position relative to said body; and

said indicator activating said lighting at least when said panel is closing relative to said body.

25. The automobile of claim 24, which includes:

a control module which, in response to a signal from said indicator, causes said lighting to flash as said panel moves towards its closed position relative to said body.

26. The automobile of claim 25, in which:

said indicator indicates motion of said panel either towards its closed position or its opened position, and activates a light flashing circuit to thereby cause said lighting to flash when said panel is moving either towards its closed position or towards its opened position.

27. The automobile of claim 26, in which:

said indicator indicates when said panel is open, and activates said lighting to remain continuously on when said panel is open.

28. A weather seal or pinch strip comprising:

an elongated, resiliently compressible member;

a lighting member secured to said compressible member.

29. The device of claim 28, which further includes:

a mounting member; and

said elongated member being positioned on said mounting member.

30. The system of claim 29, in which:

said lighting comprises one of an elongated light tube or cable positioned on said mounting member.

31. The system of claim 29, in which:

said lighting comprises a plurality of LEDs disposed on said elongated member.

32. The system of claim 28, in which:

said elongated compressable member includes spaced apertures therein;

said lighting being located inside said elongated compressable member so as to be visible at said apertures.

33. The system of claim 32, in which:

said lighting comprises one of an elongated light tube or cable positioned on said mounting member.

34. The system of claim 32, in which said lighting comprises LEDs located at said apertures.

35. The system of claim 33, in which:

said lighting comprises a plurality of LEDs disposed on said elongated member.

36. A weather seal or pinch strip comprising:

an elongated resiliently compressible member;

an elongated mounting member to which said compressible member is secured, said mounting member including at least one flange projecting from said resiliently compressible member, said mounting member adapted for securing to a vehicle; and

a lighting member secured to one of said flange of said mounting member and said resiliently compressible member.

37. The system of claim 36, in which:

said elongated compressable member includes spaced apertures therein;

said lighting being located inside said elongated compressable member so as to be visible at said apertures.

38. The system of claim 37, in which:

said lighting comprises one of an elongated light tube or cable positioned on said mounting member.

39. The system of claim 37, in which said lighting comprises LEDs located at said apertures.

40. The system of claim 38, in which:

said lighting comprises a plurality of LEDs disposed on said elongated member.

41. A method for warning when a movable panel of a vehicle is closing and/or when it is opening, said method comprising:

providing a vehicle with a body and a panel which is movable relative to the body between an open position and a closed position;

providing one of a weather seal or a pinch strip device for securing to one of said panel or said body;

providing lighting operably connected to a portion of the length of one of said weather seal or said pinch strip; and

activating said lighting at least when said panel is closing relative to said body.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein said method further includes:

providing an indicator which indicates at least the movement of said panel when said panel is moving into a closed position relative to said body.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said method further includes:

providing a control module which, in response to a signal from said indicator, causes said lighting to flash as said panel moves towards its closed position relative to said body.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said method further comprises:

indicating motion of said panel either towards its closed position or its opened position by said indicator; and

activating a light flashing circuit to thereby cause said lighting to flash when said panel is moving either towards its closed position or towards its opened position.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said method further comprises:

indicating when said movable member is open; and

activating said lighting to remain continuously on when said panel is open.