Combination safety light bar signal assembly and method

• US 20050105296A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Great Lakes Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Great Lakes Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: French, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/485
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/60 Covers, caps or guards , e.g. comprising anti-theft devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a full functioning safety light bar and signal assembly. A light system that utilizes a wiring harness assembly is further equipped with one or more of the following lights: driving, brake/signal, flasher/emergency, reverse, marker, strobe, fog or illuminating lights. Electric sensors in the body of the light bar unit control strobe and illuminating lights. The device compliments a vehicle by matching the various sizes, width and depth of their bumpers. Extension bars with the light fixture assembly can be attached to the light bar units to add greater illumination upon backing up and collars or strips of friction reducing materials are attached on the hitch components, e.g., such as the exterior of the male tongue insert and the interior cavities of the male tongue insert helping to limit vibration or noise. Locked protective covers keep the lights or lens in the light bar units from becoming scratched or damaged. Further, the ability to store an extra set of keys in a lockable security compartment is another safety feature provided with the safety light bar.

Claims

1. A safety light bar capable of being inserted into a mounting hitch comprising:

a light bar housing having peripheral walls including a top and bottom surface, a vertical side surface and an opposing side surface that collectively form a cavity inside the light bar housing;

a light fixture assembly mounted within the light bar housing;

a fastening device for affixing said light bar housing to a mounting surface; and

an electric plug connector connecting the light fixture assembly mounted into said light bar housing to a power source.

2. The safety light bar according to claim 1, wherein said light bar housing is substantially rectangular-shaped, square-shaped or oval-shaped in cross section.

3. The safety light bar according to claim 1, wherein said light bar is formed from a lightweight material selected from a group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, ferrous steel, plastic, fiberglass, plated steel, extruded aluminum and chrome.

4. The safety light bar according to claim 1, wherein the light bar housing is capable of extending and contracting between a first fully extended position and a second fully compressed position.

5. The safety light bar according to claim 1, wherein said light bar housing is sized to operatively engage with a mounting hitch on at least one of a on-highway vehicle, a trailer, an all-terrain vehicle, a piece of off road farm equipment, or a piece of construction equipment.

6. The safety light bar according to claim 1, wherein said fastening device includes mounting hardware for attaching said housing to the mounting hitch.

7. The safety light bar according to claim 1, wherein said light bar housing is provided with at least one finish selected from the group consisting of bright anodized finish, chrome plated finish, and wheel abraded finish.

8. The safety light bar according to claim 1, said light fixture assembly further comprising:

a plurality of mounting flanges,

a plurality of lighting fixtures, and

a plurality of lens openings formed in the light bar housing for respectively accommodating the mounting flanges and the lighting fixtures.

9. The safety light bar according to claim 8, wherein said lighting fixtures include a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources mounted in said light fixture housing.

10. The safety light bar according to claim 8, wherein said lighting fixtures include at least one of an automobile lamp, a halogen lamp, an incandescent bulb, and a strobe light.

11. The safety light bar according to claim 8, further comprising white or multi-colored lights within the light fixture assembly.

12. The safety light bar according to claim 8, wherein said lighting fixtures include at least two lights selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode (LED) light source, an automobile headlamp, a halogen lamp, an incandescent bulb, and a strobe light.

13. The safety light bar according to claim 1, said light bar housing further comprising:

a reflective device having at least one reflective surface; and

a fastening device for holding said at least one reflective surface within said light bar housing.

14. The safety light bar according to claim 13, wherein said reflective device is a mirror or a reflector.

15. The safety light bar according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of end caps secured within ends of the light bar housing.

16. The safety light bar according to claim 15, further comprising a photo sensor assembly within said end caps.

17. The safety light bar according to claim 15, further comprising a photo sensor assembly within said light bar housing.

18. The safety light bar according to claim 1, further comprising a device for sensing low light, said device for sensing low light including at least one electrical sensor for automatically controlling illumination from said illumination fixtures based on the ambient light sensed by the device for sensing low light.

19. The safety light bar according to claim 18, further comprising at least one electrical sensor for calculating a distance between the at least one electrical sensor and an object in the vicinity of the safety light bar.

20. The safety light bar according to claim 1, further comprising at least one light fixture positioned to direct light downward and outward away from the light bar housing.

21. The safety light bar according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sound mechanism within said light bar housing for providing a warning sound for a coordinated reverse operation with a light fixture providing a reverse light.

22. The safety light bar according to claim 1, wherein said electric plug connector is part of a wiring harness assembly having a plurality of wires, said wiring harness assembly including at least two lights from the group consisting of brake signal lights, turning lights, driving lights, reverse lights, trailer signal lights, strobe lights, marker lights, and fog lights.

25. The safety light bar according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said end caps includes a lockable panel for providing a security compartment within said light bar housing.

23. A safety light bar capable of being inserted into a mounting hitch comprising:

a mounting hitch;

a light bar housing having peripheral walls including a top and bottom surface, a vertical side surface and an opposing side surface that collectively form a cavity inside the light bar housing;

a light fixture assembly mounted within the light bar housing;

a fastening device for affixing said light bar housing to a mounting surface;

an electric plug connector connecting the light fixture assembly mounted into said light bar housing to a power source;

a back plate being attached to said light bar housing;

a male tongue insert forming a portion of said back plate and for attaching said back plate to said mounting hitch; and

a female receiving socket within said mounting hitch for engaging said male tongue insert.

24. The safety light bar according to claim 23, wherein the male tongue insert is operatively secured with said female receiving socket by a coupling pin inserted through a pair of respective male and female coupling pin insertion holes.

26. The safety light bar according to claim 23, wherein at least one of said end caps includes a lockable panel for providing a security compartment within said light bar housing.

27. The safety light bar according to claim 23, further comprising a locking device for securing said female receiving socket with said male tongue insert.