Optical fiber illumination device

• US 5,495,400 A
• Filed: 02/24/1995
• Issued: 02/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph E. Currie
• Original Assignee: Joseph E. Currie
• Inventors: Currie, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/394,269
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/80, 362/237, 362/32, 362/83.3, 362/223, 362/311, 362/374, 362/375, 362/455, 362/74, 362/329, 362/330, 340/479, 340/475, 340/473, 340/468, 340/470
• US Class Current: 362/551
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/251 the light guides being used to transmit light from remote light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence

Abstract

An optical fiber illumination device including at least one optical fiber cable, one or more light sources for introducing light into the optical fiber cable, a lens through which light from each light source passes prior to entering the optical fiber cable for producing a colored light, electrical circuitry for energizing the light source, and a housing for containing the circuitry and the light source. A first light source is energized by a first power source. Light emitted from the first light source passes through a first lens which possesses a desired filtering characteristic. Upon application of the second power source, a first control device disables the first light source. Moreover, the second power source may energize a second light source which passes through a second lens having a filtering characteristic distinct from that of the first lens. Upon application of a third power source, a second control device disables the first control device. The device can be used to illuminate auto body parts, such as the sides of pickup and flat-bed trucks, or the rear of semi-tractor trailers. The device operates in cooperation with the brake lights, the parking lights, and the turn signals of a motor vehicle to increase the visibility of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An optical fiber illumination device comprising:

at least one illumination assembly, said illumination assembly including;

at least one side-light optical fiber cable, said side-light optical fiber cable having a first input located at a first end thereof and a second input located at a second end thereof;

a first light source arranged adjacent to said first input, said first light source energized by a first electric circuit;

a second light source arranged adjacent to said second input, said second light source energized by a second electric circuit;

a first light source box surrounding said first input of said at least one side-light optical fiber cable and said first light source;

a second light source box surrounding said second input of said at least one side-light optical fiber cable and said second light source; and

optically transmissive means for mounting said at least one side-light optical fiber cable to a motor vehicle, said means for mounting including a base portion and a longitudinal arcuate race dimensioned and configured to frictionally interengage said at least one side-light optical fiber cable.

2. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 1, wherein said optically transmissive means for mounting is mounted about an upper edge of a truck bed of a motor vehicle.

3. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 1, further comprising a first lens interposed between said first light source and said first input;

a second lens interposed between said second light source and second input, said second lens possessing a filtering characteristic distinguishable from a distinguishing characteristic of said first lens; and

a first control means for disabling said first light source, said first control means being responsive to said second electric circuit.

4. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 3, wherein said first electric circuit is a parking light circuit of a motor vehicle;

and

said first light source is energized when the parking light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated.

5. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 4, wherein said second electric circuit is a brake light circuit of a motor vehicle;

and

said second light source is energized when the brake light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated, and said first control means disables said first light source when the brake light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated.

6. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 5, further comprising a second control means for disabling said first light source, there further being a third electric circuit, said second control means being responsive to said third electric circuit.

7. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 6, wherein said third electric circuit is a directional signal circuit of a motor vehicle;

and said second control means disables said first light source when the directional signal circuit of the motor vehicle is activated;

whereby said first light source is disabled when a directional signal light of the motor vehicle is activated, and said first light source is not disabled when a directional signal light of the motor vehicle is deactivated.

8. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 7, further comprising a second illumination assembly identical to said at least one illumination assembly, and

wherein the directional signal circuit of the motor vehicle has a right-turn-indicating means and a left-turn-indicating means, said at least one illumination assembly being responsive to the right-turn indicating means, and said second illumination assembly being responsive to the left-turn-indicating means.

9. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 8, wherein said first and second light sources are halogen lamps.

10. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 8, wherein said first and second lenses are dichroic lenses.

11. An optical fiber illumination device comprising:

at least one illumination assembly, said assembly including;

at least one side-light optical fiber cable, said side-light optical fiber cable having a first input located at a first end thereof and a second input located at a second end thereof;

a first light source arranged adjacent to said first input, said first light source energized by a first electric circuit;

a second light source arranged adjacent to said second input, said second light source energized by a second electric circuit;

a first light source box surrounding said first input of said at least one side-light optical fiber cable and said first light source;

a second light source box surrounding said second input of said at least one side-light optical fiber cable and said second light source; and

means for mounting said at least one side-light optical fiber cable to a motor vehicle, said means for mounting including a hollow elongated member, said hollow elongated member selected from the group consisting of optically transmissive hollow elongated members, optically transmissive hollow elongated members including at least one axial slot passing therethrough, and non-optically transmissive hollow elongated members including at least one axial slot passing therethrough, said at least one optical fiber cable disposed within said hollow elongated member.

12. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 11, wherein said optically transmissive means for mounting is mounted about an upper edge of a truck bed of a motor vehicle.

13. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 11, further comprising a first lens interposed between said first light source and said first input;

a second lens interposed between said second light source and second input, said second lens possessing a filtering characteristic distinguishable from a distinguishing characteristic of said first lens; and

a first control means for disabling said first light source, said first control means being responsive to said second electric circuit.

14. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 13, wherein said first electric circuit is a parking light circuit of a motor vehicle;

and

said first light source is energized when the parking light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated.

15. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 14, wherein said second electric circuit is a brake light circuit of a motor vehicle;

and

said second light source is energized when the brake light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated, and said first control means disables said first light source when the brake light circuit of the motor vehicle is activated.

16. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 15, further comprising a second control means for disabling said first light source, there further being a third electric circuit, said second control means being responsive to said third electric circuit.

17. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 16, wherein said third electric circuit is a directional signal circuit of a motor vehicle;

and

said second control means disables said first light source when the directional signal circuit of the motor vehicle is activated;

whereby said first light source is disabled when a directional signal light of the motor vehicle is activated, and said first light source is not disabled when a directional signal light of the motor vehicle is deactivated.

18. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 17, further comprising a second illumination assembly identical to said at least one illumination assembly, and

wherein the directional signal circuit of the motor vehicle has a right-turn-indicating means and a left-turn-indicating means, said at least one illumination assembly being responsive to the right-turn indicating means, and said second illumination assembly being responsive to the left-turn-indicating means.

19. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 18, wherein said first and second light sources are halogen lamps.

20. The optical fiber illumination device according to claim 18, wherein said first and second lenses are dichroic lenses.