Gaseous discharge tube and power supply assembly

• US 4,942,503 A
• Filed: 04/28/1989
• Issued: 07/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Lyons, Harold W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US07/345,000
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/74, 362/240, 362/249, 362/263, 362/329, 362/351, 362/359, 362/360, 362/368, 362/221-223, 362/217, 362/328, 362/264, 362/265, 362/373, 340/471, 340/472
• US Class Current: 362/547
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle

Abstract

An assembly having a gaseous discharge tube and circuitry therefore that is operable for providing light signals for the control of traffic control lights. The assembly is mountable as a part of a light bar assembly of the type mounted on police vehicles. The assembly includes a U-shaped channel member having a hollow protrusion with an opening with the gaseous discharge tube and the reflector therefor secured to the U-shaped member at the opening with the circuitry, which is mounted on a circuit board, carried by a support member that is secured to the U-shaped channel member. The support member has a portion that prevents moisture from reaching the circuitry.

Claims

1. An assembly for mounting on a lightbar including:

an elongated U-shaped channel member having two legs and a portion which joins said legs, means for attaching said member to said lightbar, and a hollow protrusion extending from said U-shaped channel member at said portion, said hollow protrusion having an opening;

a first subassembly secured within said hollow protrusion at said opening including a gaseous discharge tube and a reflector for said gaseous discharge tube;

a second subassembly including a U-shaped support member, a circuit board having a circuitry for operation of said gaseous discharge tube removably secured to said support member, said support member removably secured to said U-shaped channel member with said circuit board positioned generally parallel to a portion of the U-shaped support member connecting two legs of the U-shaped support member.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said support member has a first portion and a second portion, wherein said circuit board is removably secured to said first portion of said support member, said second portion positioned along one edge of said circuit board and extending the length of said circuit board whereby any moisture reaching the side of said second portion that is away from said circuit board is prevented from reaching said circuit board.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said support member is an elongated U-shaped support member wherein said first portion is the portion of said U-shaped support member that connects the legs of said U-shaped support member and said second portion is one leg of said U-shaped support member.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said U-shaped channel member has a plurality of mounting posts whereby said support member is removably secured to said mounting posts.

5. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said circuit board has an opening in which a portion of said first subassembly is received.

6. An assembly according to claim 1 further including a lens removably mounted on said hollow protrusion and covering said opening of said hollow protrusion.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein said lens is spaced from said gaseous discharge tube allowing for the flow of air between said lens and said gaseous discharge tube.