Adjustable light bar apparatus

• US 5,481,441 A
• Filed: 09/20/1993
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel W. Stevens
• Original Assignee: Daniel W. Stevens
• Inventors: Stevens, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raab, Sara Sachie
• Application Number:
  US08/112,964
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 362/35, 362/70, 362/232, 362/238, 362/250, 362/286, 362/287, 362/289, 362/386, 362/418, 362/427, 74/89.15, 74/665 G
• US Class Current: 362/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/245 Searchlights, e.g. adjustable from within the vehicle adjustable headlights B60Q1/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19079 Parallel

Abstract

Light bar apparatus includes a light bar or housing supported at opposite ends, and within the light bar or housing are appropriate gears and a chain connected to and for rotating a plurality of lights extending upwardly from the light bar. The lights rotate relative to the light bar. An electric motor connected to the gears and the drive chain within the light bar causes rotation of the lights. The light bar itself tilts or pivots vertically relative to the end supports through a mechanical linkage which includes a chain drive coupled to an electric gear motor.

Claims

1. Adjustable light bar apparatus for a vehicle comprising in combination:

light fixture means for providing light;

bracket means for supporting the light fixture means;

light bar housing means secured to the bracket means for supporting the bracket means and pivotable for pivoting the light fixture means; and

means for pivoting the light bar housing means, including

a motor secured to the light bar housing means,

a threaded shaft secured to the light bar housing means and rotatably coupled to the motor,

a nut movable on the threaded shaft in response to the rotation of the threaded shaft,

a block secured to the vehicle, and

a link having a first end secured to the nut and a second end secured to the block and pivotable relative to both the block and the nut whereby movement of the nut on the threaded shaft causes pivoting of the threaded shaft and the light bar housing means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the bracket means includes a slot, and the light fixture means is movable in the slot to position the light fixture relative to the bracket means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the light bar means includes means for rotating the bracket means and the light fixture means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the means for rotating the bracket means and the light fixture means includes shaft means secured to the light bar housing means and coupled to the bracket means, and motor means coupled to the shaft means for rotating the shaft means, the bracket means, and the light fixture means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the motor means includes an output shaft and a chain coupling the output shaft to the shaft means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the light fixture means includes a plurality of light fixtures, and the bracket means includes a plurality of brackets, with one bracket of the plurality of brackets secured to one light fixture of the plurality of light fixtures.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which each bracket includes a slot, and a light fixture is adjustable in the slot independently of the other light fixtures and their respective slots and brackets.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which light bar housing means includes means for rotating the bracket means to rotate the light fixtures secured to the brackets of the bracket means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the means for rotating the bracket means includes

a shaft connected to each bracket,

a sprocket connected to each shaft,

a motor having an output shaft,

a drive sprocket connected to the output shaft, and

a chain connected to the drive sprocket and to the sprockets on the shafts of the brackets, and rotation of the output shaft of the motor causes rotation of the light fixtures secured to the brackets through the chain and the sprockets secured to the shafts of the brackets.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the light bar housing means includes

a light bar housing to which the bracket means is secured,

support means for supporting the light bar housing,

shaft means secured to the light bar housing and the support means, and

the means for pivoting the light bar housing means pivots the light bar housing on the shaft means.