Vehicle Article Carrier With Integrated Camera And Solar Powered Lighting

• US 20130135880A1
• Filed: 11/15/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JAC Products Incorporated (JAC Holding Enterprises, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JAC Products Incorporated (JAC Holding Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: MICHIE, Gordon, AFTANAS, Jeffrey M., IAKOVIDIS, Riley
• Granted Patent: US 9,527,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/459
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/04 Carriers associated with vehicle roof B60R9/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle article carrier system is disclosed for carrying articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle. At least one support rail is secured to the outer body surface. The support rail uses a support foot at each of its opposite ends, with each support foot being adapted to be secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle. A solar panel is used for collecting solar energy. A battery is used for storing electrical energy created using the collected solar energy. A light is powered by the battery, with the light forming an integral portion of the support rail.

Claims

1. A vehicle article carrier system for carrying articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one support rail secured to the outer body surface, the support rail including;

a support foot at each of its opposite ends, each said support foot being adapted to be secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle;

a solar panel for collecting solar energy;

a battery for storing electrical energy created using the collected solar energy; and

a light configured to be powered by the battery, the light forming an integral portion of the support rail.

2. The vehicle article carrier of claim 1, wherein the solar panel comprises a layer of protective glass and a layer of solar film, the layer of protective glass being disposed over the layer of protective film.

3. The vehicle article carrier of claim 1, wherein the battery is disposed in a recess in the support foot.

4. The vehicle article carrier of claim 3, wherein the recess is of dimensions and depth to enable the solar panel to be positioned there such that the solar panel is substantially flush with an outer surface of the support foot and appears as a substantially built-in component of the support rail.

5. The vehicle article carrier of claim 1, further comprising a camera integrated into the support rail.

6. The vehicle article carrier system of claim 5, wherein each of the support feet include a camera integrated therein.

7. The vehicle article carrier of claim 5, further comprising a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting images from the camera to a display component located inside the vehicle.

8. The vehicle article carrier of claim 6, further comprising a second support rail having a pair of support feet, the support feet of the second support rail each including a camera therein, and wherein the cameras in each of the support feet of the support rail and the second support rail provide a 360 degree view around the vehicle.

9. A vehicle article carrier system for carrying articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one support rail secured to the outer body surface, the support rail including;

a longitudinal portion having a support foot at each of its opposite ends, each said support foot being adapted to be secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle;

a DC power source integrated into the support rail; and

a camera integrated into the support rail and powered by the DC power source.

10. The vehicle article carrier of claim 9, wherein the DC power source comprises a solar power cell and a battery chargeable by the solar panel cell.

11. The vehicle article carrier of claim 9, further comprising a light generating element integrated into the support rail and powered by the DC power source.

13. The vehicle article carrier of claim 11, wherein the light generating element is a DC powered light strip that extends within a channel along a major portion of a length of the support rail.

14. The vehicle article carrier of claim 11, wherein the light generating element is a fiber optic cable that extends within a channel along a major portion of a length of the support rail.

15. The vehicle article carrier of claim 9, further comprising a smartphone having a display screen, the smartphone being configured to wirelessly receive images from the camera system when a user is in proximity to the vehicle.

12. The vehicle article carrier of 10, wherein the solar power cell and the DC power source are disposed in a recess in one of the support feet such that the solar panel cell fits substantially flush with an outer surface of the one support foot.

16. A vehicle article carrier system for carrying articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one support rail secured to the outer body surface, the support rail including;

a support foot at each of its opposite ends, each said support foot being adapted to be secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle;

a solar panel cell for collecting solar energy;

a battery for storing electrical energy created using the collected solar energy;

a light configured to be powered by the battery, the light forming an integral portion of the support rail; and

a camera configured integrated into one of the support rails and configured to be powered by the support rail, for obtaining images looking in a first direction from the vehicle and wirelessly providing the images to a display system disposed inside the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a transmitter integrated into one of the support rails for wirelessly transmitting the images from the camera to the display system.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a recess formed in one of the support feet for supporting the solar panel cell and a battery there within such that the solar panel cell is substantially flush with an outer surface of the one support foot.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising an additional camera disposed in one of the support rails and arranged to obtain images looking in a second direction different than the first direction.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a smartphone for wirelessly receiving the images from the camera and displaying the images on a display of the smartphone when the user is outside of the vehicle but in proximity to the vehicle.