Manually actuated vehicle spotlight

• US 5,034,860 A
• Filed: 10/01/1990
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Bryant, Geoffrey A., Griner, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US07/591,329
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 362/66, 362/70, 362/269, 362/271, 362/275, 362/287, 362/371, 362/35
• US Class Current: 362/493
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/245 Searchlights, e.g. adjustable from within the vehicle adjustable headlights B60Q1/06

Abstract

An improved vehicle spotlight is mounted on the roof of a vehicle and is rotatively and pivotally adjustable by operation of a handle mounted within the vehicle passenger compartment. A slip ring connection is provided for access to the vehicle power supply in order to provide unlimited rotational freedom.

Claims

1. A spotlight adapted to be mounted on the roof of a vehicle and movable between a raised operative position and a lowered stowed position and rotatively movable about a generally vertical axis, the spotlight comprising:

a base housing fixedly mounted on said roof in surrounding relationship about an aperture formed through said roof;

a lamp mounting plate rotatively mounted on said base housing and having a lower portion extending interiorly of the vehicle below said roof;

a lamp housing pivotally mounted on said lamp mounting plate;

a handle pivotally mounted on said mounting plate lower portion for movement between a first position generally parallel to said roof and a second position generally perpendicular to said roof; and

linkage means operatively engaged between said handle and said lamp housing to effect movement of said lamp housing between said spotlight stowed position and said spotlight operative position upon movement of said handle from said first to said second position.

2. A spotlight as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a bell crank.

3. A spotlight as defined in claim 1, wherein said linkage means comprises a link pivotally connected at one end of said lamp housing and at the other end to said handle.

4. A spotlight as defined in claim 2, wherein said linkage means comprises a link pivotally connected at one end of said lamp housing and at the other end to said handle.

5. A spotlight as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a fluid impermeable hollow elongated flexible boot member sealingly engaging said lamp housing and said lamp mounting plate.

6. A spotlight as defined in claim 1 wherein said linkage is carried within said boot member.

7. A spotlight as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a slip ring connection disposed between said base housing and said lamp mounting plate and operable to effect transmittal of electrical current therebetween.

8. A spotlight as defined in claim 7, and further comprising stationary electrical conduit means electrically interconnecting said slip ring and said lamp housing.

9. A spotlight as defined in claim 7 and further comprising stationary pivot member operatively disposed between said lamp housing and said lamp mounting plate and wherein said stationary electrical conduit means is fixedly secured on said fixed pivotal mounting member.

10. A spotlight adapted to be mounted on the roof of a vehicle having a source of electrical power therein and rotatively movable about a generally vertical axis, the spotlight comprising:

a base housing fixedly mounted on said roof in surrounding relationship about an aperture formed through said roof;

a lamp mounting plate rotatively mounted on said base housing and having a lower portion extending interiorly of the vehicle below said roof; and

a lamp housing mounted on said lamp mounting plate;

a slip ring connection disposed between said base housing and said lamp mounting plate and operable to effect transmittal of electrical current therebetween.

11. A spotlight as defined in claim 10, and further comprising stationary electrical conduit means electrically interconnecting said slip ring and said lamp housing.

12. A spotlight as defined in claim 11 and further comprising stationary pivot members operatively disposed between said lamp housing and said lamp mounting plate and pivotally mounting said lamp housing on said lamp housing and wherein said stationary electrical conduit means is fixedly secured on said fixed pivot members.

13. A spotlight as defined in claim 10 wherein said slip ring connection comprises a pair of rings fixedly mounted in said base housing and electrically connected to said power source and a pair of contacts carried for rotation with said lamp mounting plate.

14. A spotlight as defined in claim 13, and further comprising a fluid impermeable flexible boot member sealingly engaging said lamp housing and said lamp mounting plate.