Automotive roof spoiler having retractable, concealable lamps
First Claim
1. An automotive roof spoiler having at least one retractable, concealable lamp, said roof spoiler including free side end portions and a midportion therebetween, said side end portions curving upwardly into said midportion, a forward leading edge portion of said roof spoiler having a generally V-shaped configuration with a top surface inclined generally upwardly from said leading edge portion and a bottom surface of said midportion generally horizontal to define an airfoil shape reducing air frictional drag, attachment means for attaching said automotive roof spoiler to a roof of a vehicle generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said vehicle with said midportion bottom surface spaced above said roof, at least one opening through said midportion top surface and said spoiler midportion having at least one said lamp located therein within said opening, said lamp rotatably mounted on an axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said spoiler midportion, and power means attached to said lamp adapted to rotate said lamp about said axis from a first position wherein a front surface of the lamp is generally horizontal for on-road use to a second position wherein the front surface of said lamp is generally vertical and extends above said spoiler top surface for off-road use.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automotive roof spoiler having retractable, concealable lamps particularly suitable for trucks and other vehicles used for both on-road and off-road purposes. The automotive roof spoiler includes lamps which are mounted within the roof spoiler about axes which are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spoiler and a motor, preferably located within the roof spoiler, which rotates the lamps from a first position wherein the back surfaces of the lamps are generally parallel with the top upwardly inclined surface of the roof spoiler for on-road use to a second position wherein the front surfaces of the lamps are generally vertical and extend above the spoiler top surface for off-road use. The preferred embodiment includes covers which are hingedly attached to the spoiler adjacent the back surface and which cover the lamp openings in the top wall of the spoiler in coplanar relation when the lamps are rotated to the downward closed position for on-road use.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. An automotive roof spoiler having at least one retractable, concealable lamp, said roof spoiler including free side end portions and a midportion therebetween, said side end portions curving upwardly into said midportion, a forward leading edge portion of said roof spoiler having a generally V-shaped configuration with a top surface inclined generally upwardly from said leading edge portion and a bottom surface of said midportion generally horizontal to define an airfoil shape reducing air frictional drag, attachment means for attaching said automotive roof spoiler to a roof of a vehicle generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said vehicle with said midportion bottom surface spaced above said roof, at least one opening through said midportion top surface and said spoiler midportion having at least one said lamp located therein within said opening, said lamp rotatably mounted on an axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said spoiler midportion, and power means attached to said lamp adapted to rotate said lamp about said axis from a first position wherein a front surface of the lamp is generally horizontal for on-road use to a second position wherein the front surface of said lamp is generally vertical and extends above said spoiler top surface for off-road use.
- 6. An automotive roof spoiler having at least one retractable, concealable lamp, said roof spoiler including side end portions and a midportion therebetween, said side end portions curving upwardly into said midportion and said midportion having forward and trailing surfaces, said forward surface having a generally V-shaped leading edge with a top surface inclined generally upwardly from said leading edge and a bottom surface generally horizontal to define an airfoil shape reducing frictional air drag, attachment means for attaching said automotive roof spoiler to a roof of a vehicle generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said vehicle with said midportion bottom surface spaced above said roof, at least one opening through said midportion top surface and at least one lamp located in said spoiler midportion within said opening, said lamp rotatably mounted on an axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said spoiler midportion, power means operably attached to said lamp adapted to rotate said lamp about said axis from a first position wherein a front surface of said lamp is generally horizontal for on-road use and a second position wherein the front surface of said lamp is generally vertical and extends above said spoiler top surface for off-road use, and a cover hingedly attached to said midportion adjacent said trailing surface covering said opening when said lamp is in said first position and generally coplanar with said midportion top surface defining an aerodynamic surface in said first lamp position with said top surface and said cover being rotatable about said hinge axis to a generally vertical position to cover a back surface of said lamp when said lamp is in said second position.
- 11. An automotive roof spoiler having retractable, concealable lamps, said roof spoiler defining an enclosure having a generally V-shaped leading edge portion including a top wall inclined generally upwardly from said leading edge portion and a bottom wall which extends generally horizontally, said leading edge defining an airfoil reducing frictional air drag, and a rearward wall enclosing said roof spoiler, attachment means for attaching said roof spoiler to a roof of a vehicle generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said vehicle with said bottom wall spaced above said automotive roof, at least two spaced openings in said top wall each having a lamp located within said spoiler, said lamps each rotatably mounted on an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said spoiler, power means operably attached to said lamps adapted to rotate said lamps about said axes from a first position wherein a front surface of the lamp is generally horizontal for on-road use to a second position wherein the front surface of said lamps are generally vertical and extend above said spoiler top surface for off-road use, and said spoiler including covers hingedly attached to said spoiler adjacent said rear wall and covering said openings when said lamps are in said first position, said covers being rotatable about said hinge axes to cover a back surface of said lamp when said lamps are in said second position.
Specification