Auxiliary cap light kit actuated by the tailgate

• US 5,844,367 A
• Filed: 04/03/1997
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Agans Jr
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Agans Jr
• Inventors: Agans, Robert W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bettendorf, Justin P.
• Application Number:
  US08/832,903
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/84, 307/10.8, 362/74
• US Class Current: 315/84
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments

Abstract

A new Auxiliary Cap Light Kit for providing illumination to the interior of a pickup truck bed cap. The inventive device includes a cap light source providing illumination to the interior of the truck bed cap The cap light source is electrically coupled to a switch having a depressible actuator that turns on the light source when the tailgate of the pickup truck is opened. The cap light source is also electrically coupled to an adjustable light illumination timer that allows a user to control the length of time the light source is powered when the tailgate is left open.

Claims

1. An auxiliary cap light kit, for a pickup truck having a truck bed with truck bed side walls, an openable tailgate, and a covering truck bed cap having a cap interior side, said auxiliary cap light kit comprising:

a cap light source being adapted for mounting to said cap interior side, said cap light source being for providing illumination when energized;

a means for selectively energizing said cap light source wherein said light source being energized when said tailgate is opened; and

a means for controlling the length of time said cap light source provides illumination.

2. The auxiliary cap light kit of claim 1, wherein the cap light source comprises a light bulb, said light bulb being disposed within a light transmissible housing, said light transmissible housing being adapted for mounting to said cap interior side, said light bulb being for providing illumination when energized.

3. The auxiliary cap light kit of claim 1, wherein said means for selectively energizing said cap light source comprises a switch, said switch being electrically coupled to said cap light source, said switch further being adapted for coupling to said truck bed side wall such that said switch is closed when said tailgate is opened, whereby said cap light source is energized when said tailgate is opened.

4. The auxiliary cap light kit of claim 3, wherein said means for controlling the length of time said cap light source provides illumination is an adjustable light illumination timer, said light illumination timer being electrically coupled to said switch, said adjustable light illumination timer being for controlling the length of time said light source provides illumination after said light source is energized by said switch being closed such that said cap light source is deactivated after a predetermined time.

5. The auxiliary cap light kit of claim 3, wherein said means for selectively energizing said cap light source further comprises a battery, said battery being electrically coupled to said switch.

6. The auxiliary cap light kit of claim 3, wherein said switch includes a depressible actuator, said depressible actuator being positioned next to said tailgate such that said depressible actuator closes said switch when said tailgate is opened, whereby said cap light source is illuminated.

7. The auxiliary cap light kit of claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the length of time said cap light source provides illumination is an adjustable light illumination timer, said adjustable light illumination timer being electrically coupled to said light source such that said cap light source is deactivated after a selectable predetermined time.

8. The auxiliary cap light kit of claim 1, further comprising a circuit breaking means for interrupting energization of said cap light source.

9. The auxiliary cap light kit of claim 8, wherein said circuit breaking means is a fuse being electrically coupled to said cap light source.

10. An auxiliary cap light kit, for a pickup truck having a truck bed with truck bed side walls, an openable tailgate, and a covering truck bed cap having a cap interior side, said auxiliary cap light kit comprising:

a light transmissible housing being adapted for mounting to said cap interior side;

a light bulb being disposed within said light transmissible housing, said light bulb providing illumination when energized;

a switch having a depressible actuator, said light bulb being detachably electrically coupled to said switch, said switch being adapted for coupling to said truck bed side wall, said depressible actuator being positionable next to said tailgate such that said depressible actuator closes said switch when said tailgate is opened, whereby said cap light source is energized when said tailgate is opened;

an adjustable light illumination timer, said adjustable light illumination timer being electrically coupled to said switch, said adjustable light illumination timer being for controlling the length of time said light bulb provides illumination after said light bulb is energized by said switch;

a battery being electrically coupled to said adjustable light illumination timer, said battery providing energy to said light bulb; and

a fuse being operatively disposed between said battery and said adjustable light illumination timer.