Vehicular light bar

• US 4,722,030 A
• Filed: 07/11/1986
• Issued: 01/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Friebele & Mardis Investments
• Original Assignee: Friebele & Mardis Investments
• Inventors: Bowden, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feinberg, Craig R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Okonsky, David A.
• Application Number:
  US06/884,550
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 362/35, 362/61, 362/66, 362/69, 362/74, 362/80, 362/233, 362/238, 362/250, 362/269, 362/272, 362/285, 362/287, 362/368, 362/418, 362/419, 362/423, 362/427, 362/428
• US Class Current: 362/493
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions

Abstract

A light bar, primarily for a vehicle, comprises a support extending transversely across the top of the vehicle. Attached to the support are one or more lamps which are mounted for selective rotary movement about a horizontal axis transverse to the vehicle and a vertical axis. By the manipulation of suitable controls inside the vehicle, or by manipulation of a remote control actuator, the driver is capable of aiming the light at a desired object or scanning a desired region.

Claims

1. A light bar comprising

a support for attachment to an object;

a member rotatably mounted on the support for selective movement about a horizontal axis;

a lamp fixture;

means mounting the lamp fixture on the member for selective movement about a vertical axis;

means for selectively moving the member about the horizontal axis including a first electric motor and means connecting the first electric motor and the member;

means for selectively moving the lamp fixture about the vertical axis including a second electric motor carried by the member and means connecting the second electric motor and the lamp fixture; and

means for simultaneously energizing the first and second electric motors for simultaneously rotating the lamp fixture about the vertical axis and rotating the member about its horizontal axis.

2. The light bar of claim 1 comprising a plurality of lamp fixtures, the fixture mounting means comprising means mounting the fixtures for selective movement about spaced vertical axes and the fixture moving means comprises means for selectively and simultaneously moving the lamp fixtures about the vertical axis, the selective and simultaneous moving means comprising the second electric motor carried by the member and having an output and means drivably connecting the motor output and the lamp fixtures.

3. The light bar of claim 2 further comprising a lamp received in each of the plurality of lamp fixtures.

4. The light bar of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a section having means thereon for connection to a vehicular component and a pair of upstanding ears rigid with the section and thereby rigid with the vehicular component and including bearings defining the horizontal axis, the member being mounted between the ears for selective movement about the horizontal axis.

5. The light bar of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle including a chassis having wheels thereon, a body having a roof, and a plurality of stationary headlights, the support being connected to the vehicle above the roof thereof.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the vehicle includes a roll bar on the outside thereof above the roof and the support comprises means attached to the roll bar.

7. A light bar comprising

a first support member for attachment to an object;

a second member mounted on the first member for selective movement about a horizontal axis;

a lamp fixture;

means mounting the lamp fixture on the second member for selective movement about a vertical axis;

means for selectively moving the second member about the horizontal axis including an electrically driven motor carried by one of the first and second members, a gear reducer driven by the motor and having an output member, the output member being rigid with the other of the first and second members and

means for selectively moving the lamp fixture about the vertical axis.

8. The light bar of claim 7 wherein the motor is carried by the second member and the output member is rigid with the first member.

9. The light bar of claim 7 further comprising a vehicle including a chassis having wheels thereon, a body having a roof, and a plurality of stationary headlights, the support member being connected to the vehicle above the roof thereof.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the vehicle includes a roll bar on the outside thereof above the roof and the support member comprises means attached to the roll bar.

11. A light bar comprising

a support for attachment to an object;

a member mounted on the support for selective movement about a horizontal axis;

a lamp fixture;

means mounting the lamp fixture on the member for selective movement about a vertical axis;

means for selectively moving the member about the horizontal axis; and

means for selectively moving the lamp fixture about the vertical axis including an electrically driven motor carried by the member and having an output member rotatable about an axis and a rotary-to-rotary motion conversion device having an input member connected to the motor and an output member at right angles to the input member, the output member of said conversion device being connected to the lamp fixture.

12. The light bar of claim 11 wherein the motor output member provides an axis generally parallel to the horizontal axis.

13. The light bar of claim 11 further comprising a vehicle including a chassis having wheels thereon, a body having a roof, and a plurality of stationary headlights, the support being connected to the vehicle above the roof thereof.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the vehicle includes a roll bar on the outside thereof above the roof and the support comprises means attached to the roll bar.

15. The light bar of claim 11 wherein the rotary-to-rotary motion conversion device comprises a worm gear having the input thereon and a pinion gear in meshing engagement with the worm gear, the output being carried by the pinion.

16. The light bar of claim 11 comprising a plurality of lamp fixtures, the fixture mounting means comprises means mounting the fixtures for selective movement about spaced vertical axes and the fixture moving means comprises a plurality of substantially identical rotary-to-rotary motion conversion devices each comprising a worm gear having an input thereon and a pinion gear in meshing engagement with the worm gear, the output being carried by the pinion gear, the input of a first of the motion conversion devices being connected to the motor, the input of a second of the motion conversion devices being connected to the worm gear of the first motion conversion device.

17. A light bar comprising

a support for attachment to an object;

a member rotatably mounted on the support for selective movement about a horizontal axis;

a lamp fixture;

means mounting the lamp fixture on the member for selective movement about a vertical axis;

means for selectively moving the member about the horizontal axis including a first electric motor and means connecting the first electric motor and the member;

means for selectively moving the lamp fixture about the vertical axis including a second electric motor carried by the member and means connecting the second electric motor and the lamp fixture; and

means for energizing the first and second electric motors for rotating the lamp fixture about the vertical axis and rotating the member about its horizontal axis.

18. The light bar of claim 17 wherein the energizing means comprises means for receiving a signal and operatively connected to the first and second electric motors for starting and stopping the motors in response to receiving the signal and a transmitter, unconnected to the receiver, for sending the signal and remotely activating the receiver and energizing the first and second electric motors.

19. The light bar of claim 18 wherein the transmitter includes a plurality of control switches and is operative to transmit a distinct signal corresponding to each of the switches, the means for receiving being responsive to the distinct signals correspondingly controlling the motors.

20. The light bar of claim 19 wherein the energizing means includes means for energizing the lights in response to one of the distinct signals from the transmitter.