Device for mounting a supplemental stop lamp or the like to a windowpane with ease of connection to a power supply

• US 5,272,602 A
• Filed: 04/27/1992
• Issued: 12/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited, Nippon Sheet Glass Company Limited (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited, Nippon Sheet Glass Company Limited (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Machida, Tsutomu, Uchida, Kihachiro, Shinkai, Hiroshige, Morikawa, Masaru, Sasajima, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US07/874,127
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.03, 340/479, 362/80.1, 362/61, 362/80, 362/83.3, 362/800, 362/396
• US Class Current: 362/549
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A pair of conductive patterns, which are to be electrically connected to the battery of a motor vehicle, are formed as by baking on the interior surface of the rear windowpane of the vehicle. A pair of nuts or brackets of electrically conductive material are soldered to the conductive patterns. The lamp body of a supplemental high mounted stop lamp are fastened to the nuts or brackets, with the light sources of the lamp electrically connected in circuit therewith.

Claims

1. An electric lamp assembly to be mounted to a windowpane such as a rear windowpane of a motor vehicle with ready electrical connection to power supply means, the lamp assembly comprising:

(a) a lamp body;

(b) light source means within the lamp body;

(c) connector means electrically connected to the light source means;

(d) a pair of electrically conductive power supply patterns to be formed on a windowpane;

(e) a first pair of fastener means of electrically conductive material to be secured respectively to the pair of power supply patterns on the windowpane in electrically conducting relationship to the power supply patterns; and

(f) a second pair of fastener means for fastening the lamp body to the first pair of fastener means, respectively, and for holding the connector means in electrical contact with the first pair of fastener means;

(g) whereby the light source means is electrically connected to the power supply patterns on the windowpane at the same time the lamp body is mounted to the windowpane.

2. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the first pair of fastener means comprise a pair of nuts to be secured one to each power supply pattern on the windowpane, and wherein the second pair of fastener means comprise a pair of bolts for fastening the lamp body to the pair of nuts.

3. The lamp assembly of claim 2 wherein the connector means comprises a pair of connectors each having one end electrically connected to the light source means and another end engaged between one nut and one bolt.

4. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the first pair of fastener means comprises a pair of brackets to be secured one to each power supply pattern on the windowpane, and wherein the second pair of fastener means comprises a pair of fasteners for fastening the lamp body to the pair of brackets.

5. The lamp assembly of claim 4 wherein the connector means comprises a pair of connectors each having one end electrically connected to the light source means and another end held in electrical contact with one bracket.

6. A supplemental stop lamp to be mounted to a rear windowpane of a motor vehicle with ready electrical connection to power supply means, the lamp assembly comprising:

(a) an elongate lamp body having a pair of opposite ends;

(b) light source means within the lamp body;

(c) connector means connected electrically to the light source means;

(d) a pair of electrically conductive power supply patterns to be formed on a windowpane;

(e) a pair of nuts of electrically conductive material to be secured respectively to the pair of power supply patterns on the windowpane in electrically conducting relationship to the power supply patterns; and

(f) a pair of bolts for fastening the opposite ends of the lamp body to the nuts and for holding the connector means in electrical contact with the nuts;

(g) whereby the light source means is electrically connected to the power supply patterns on the windowpane at the same time the lamp body is mounted to the windowpane.

7. The supplemental stop lamp of claim 6 wherein each bolt extends through a clearance opening in one end of the lamp body in order to permit thermal expansion or contraction of the lamp body relative to the windowpane.

8. A supplemental stop lamp to be mounted to a rear windowpane of a motor vehicle with ready electrical connection to power supply means, the lamp assembly comprising:

(a) an elongate lamp body having a pair of opposite ends;

(b) light source means within the lamp body;

(c) connector means connected electrically to the light source means;

(d) a pair of conductive power supply patterns to be formed on a windowpane;

(e) a pair of brackets of electrically conductive material to be secured respectively to the pair of power supply patterns on the windowpane in electrically conducting relationship to the power supply patterns; and

(f) a pair of fasteners for fastening the opposite ends of the lamp body to the brackets, the connector means being held in electrical contact with the brackets when the lamp body is fastened to the brackets;

(g) whereby the light source means is electrically connected to the power supply patterns on the windowpane at the same time the lamp body is mounted to the windowpane.

9. The supplemental stop lamp of claim 8 wherein each bracket is made of resilient material in order to permit thermal expansion or contraction of the lamp body relative to the windowpane.