Opera light kit and installation method for automobile

• US 5,528,468 A
• Filed: 07/14/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martin P. Stanton
• Original Assignee: Martin P. Stanton
• Inventors: Stanton, Martin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US08/274,167
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/80, 362/267, 362/100, 362/311, 362/364, 362/365
• US Class Current: 362/501
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10

Abstract

A lighting fixture for attachment to a door post of an automobile having automobile electric circuitry includes a boot member for fitting against the door post, a mounting plate for fitting over the boot and including a light socket receiving structure, structure for securing the plate to the door post, so that the boot member is retained between the plate and the door post, a light socket for insertion into the light socket receiving structure, a light source for insertion into the light socket, a lens for removably securing over the plate with lens securing fasteners, and a fixture circuit for electrically connecting the light socket to the automobile electric circuitry. The socket preferably includes a socket screw having a screw head end and a light bulb receiving recess in the screw head end, and having an axial bore through which a positive fixture lead wire is fitted for electrically connecting the base of a light bulb with the automobile electric circuitry. A method is provided of installing the above-described light fixture on an automobile having a door post, and a door with a door frame, automobile circuitry and a tail light and a tail light lead wire, including the steps of marking a desired light fixture location on the door post, cutting away a portion of the door flange to form a notch which registers with the desired light fixture location, securing the boot and the plate to the door post, connecting the fixture lead wire to the automobile circuitry.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture for attachment to a door post of an automobile having automobile electric circuitry, comprising:

a boot member for fitting against said door post,

a mounting plate for fitting over said boot and comprising light socket receiving means,

means for securing said plate to said door post, such that said boot member is retained between said plate and said door post,

light socket means for insertion into said light socket receiving means,

a light bulb for insertion into said light socket means,

lens means for removably securing over said plate means with lens securing means,

fixture circuit means for electrically connecting said light socket means to said automobile electric circuitry.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said automobile electric circuitry comprises a tail light lead wire and a tail light,

and wherein said fixture circuit means are electrically connected to said tail light lead wire for activation simultaneously with said tail light.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said boot member comprises a substantially rectangular loop of flexible, resilient material having a boot side wall of accordion configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said socket means comprises a socket screw having a screw head end and a light bulb receiving recess in said screw head end, and having an axial bore through which a positive fixture lead wire is fitted for electrically connecting the base of a light bulb with said automobile electric circuitry.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said screw is a sheet metal screw having an Allen wrench socket, with a wrench socket floor, at said screw head end, and wherein said bulb receiving recess is recessed into said wrench socket floor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fixture circuit means comprises an electro-tap connector for joining said fixture lead wire to said automobile circuitry.

7. A method of installing a light fixture on an automobile having a door post, and a door with a door frame, automobile circuitry and a tail light and a tail light lead wire, wherein said light fixture comprises a boot member for fitting against said door post, a mounting plate for fitting over said boot and comprising light socket receiving means, means for securing said plate to said door post, such that said boot member is retained between said plate and said door post, light socket means for insertion into said light socket receiving means, light source means for insertion into said light socket means, lens means for removably securing over said plate means with lens securing means, fixture circuit means for electrically connecting said light socket means to said automobile electric circuitry, comprising the steps of:

marking a desired light fixture location on said door post,

cutting away a portion of said door flange to form a notch which registers with said desired light fixture location,

securing said boot and said plate to said door post,

connecting said fixture lead wire to said automobile circuitry.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said door flange has an outer surface and wherein said means for securing said plate permits adjustment of the distance of said plate from said door post, comprising the additional step of:

adjusting said means for securing said plate to said door post such that said lens is positioned at a distance from said door post substantially equivalent to the distance of said door flange outer surface from said door post.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said door flange has an outer surface and wherein said means for securing said plate permits adjustment of the curvature of said plate with respect to said door post, comprising the additional step of:

adjusting said means for securing said plate to said door post such that said lens is curved in a shape substantially equivalent with the curvature of said door flange outer surface.