Interchangeable flashlight-cargo lamp system

• US 20060291224A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rebo Lighting & Electronics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Worldwide Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, Philip, England, Ricky, Altgilbers, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 7,300,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/490
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/59 Lighting devices mounted in the vehicle interior and adapted for portability
• 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

Abstract

An interchangeable flashlight-cargo lamp system includes a docking station that is suitable for mounting either a cargo lamp or a rechargeable flashlight. The flashlight doubles as a cargo lamp when mounted within the docking station. Both the cargo lamp and the flashlight have common mounting elements that mate with corresponding mounting features of the docking station to permit either device to be inserted into and removed from the docking station. The interchangeable devices also include electrical contacts that mate with corresponding electrical contacts in the docking station. The flashlight further includes a battery that is recharged when the flashlight is mounted in the docking station.

Claims

1. A vehicle cargo lamp system comprising:

a docking station;

a cargo lamp including a first housing; and

a flashlight/cargo lamp including a second housing, wherein said docking station includes one or more mounting features and said first and second housings include common mounting elements that mate with the mounting features of said docking station to thereby allow said cargo lamp and said flashlight/cargo lamp to be interchangeably mounted in said docking station.

2. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting features of said docking station include:

a recessed cavity formed at a first end of said docking station to which a first portion of said first housing of said cargo lamp or a first portion of said second housing of said flashlight/cargo lamp can be inserted; and

a locking feature formed at a second end of said docking station that secures a second portion of said first housing of said cargo lamp or a second portion of said second housing of said flashlight/cargo lamp.

3. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 2, wherein said recessed cavity is formed by three sides of said docking station, a bottom portion of said docking station, and a lip that is formed at a top portion of said docking station.

4. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 1, wherein said cargo lamp and said flashlight/cargo lamp are removable from said docking station after one of said cargo lamp and flashlight/cargo lamp have been mounted therein.

5. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 4, wherein said docking station includes a release mechanism which enables removing of said cargo lamp or said flashlight/cargo lamp.

6. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 4, wherein said flashlight/cargo lamp includes a handle which enables removing of said flashlight/cargo lamp from said docking station.

7. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 6, wherein said handle houses at least one rechargeable battery.

8. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 1, wherein said docking station includes electrical contacts that mate with complementary electrical contacts in said cargo lamp or in said flashlight/cargo lamp.

9. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 1, wherein said flashlight/cargo lamp includes at least one rechargeable battery.

10. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 9, wherein said flashlight/cargo lamp further includes an electrical circuit that enables recharging of said battery so that said battery can be recharged when said flashlight/cargo lamp is mounted within said docking station.

11. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 1, wherein said cargo lamp and said flashlight/cargo lamp are both adapted to perform at least a common lighting function while mounted within said docking station.

12. A vehicle cargo lamp system comprising:

a docking station; and

a light source, wherein said light source being selected from a plurality of different light source devices each having a housing with common mounting elements so that said light source devices can be interchangeably mounted in said docking station, and each of said light source devices further being adapted to perform at least a common cargo lighting function while mounted in said docking station.

13. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 12, wherein said docking station includes one or more mounting features that mate with said mounting elements of said light source device.

14. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 13, wherein said mounting features of said docking station include a recessed cavity formed at a first end and a locking feature formed at a second end, wherein said first and second ends are adapted to receive and secure said light source within said docking station.

15. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 14, wherein said recessed cavity is formed by three sides of said docking station, a bottom portion of said docking station, and a lip formed at a top portion of said docking station.

16. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 14, wherein said mounting features of said docking station are formed at opposite ends of a central recessed portion of said docking station.

17. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 16, wherein said docking station includes a bottom surface having ribs that engage said light source device when it is mounted within said docking station.

18. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 12, wherein said light source device is a cargo lamp.

19. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 12, wherein said light source device is a flashlight/cargo lamp.

20. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 12, wherein said docking station comprises a release mechanism for removing said light source device from said docking station.

21. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 12, wherein said docking station includes electrical contacts that mate with complementary electrical contacts in said cargo lamp or in said flashlight/cargo lamp.

22. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 12, wherein said light source device includes at least one rechargeable battery.

23. A vehicle cargo lamp system as defined in claim 22, wherein said flashlight/cargo lamp further includes an electrical circuit that enables recharging of said battery so that said battery can be recharged when said light source device is mounted within said docking station.

24. A vehicle cargo lamp system comprising:

a docking station including a recessed portion having mounting features and electrical contacts located in said recessed portion;

a cargo lamp including a first housing having first mounting elements that mate with said mounting features of said docking station, said cargo lamp further including a first set of electrical contacts that connect to said electrical contacts of said docking station when said cargo lamp is mounted in said recessed portion; and

a flashlight/cargo lamp having at least one rechargeable battery and including a second housing having second mounting elements that are common to said first mounting elements for said cargo lamp, wherein said second mounting elements mate with said mounting features of said docking station, said flashlight/cargo lamp further including a second set of electrical contacts that connect to said electrical contacts of said docking station when said flashlight/cargo lamp is mounted in said recessed portion;

wherein said cargo lamp and said flashlight/cargo lamp are interchangeable within said docking station such that said cargo lamp and said flashlight/cargo lamp are removable from said docking station after one of said cargo lamp and flashlight/cargo lamp have been mounted therein, and said cargo lamp and said flashlight/cargo lamp further being adapted to perform at least a common lighting function while mounted within said docking station.