Roof fixture for ventilating and illuminating a vehicle

• US 5,918,972 A
• Filed: 06/23/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul D Van Belle
• Original Assignee: Paul D Van Belle
• Inventors: Van Belle, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US08/880,261
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/149, 362/218, 362/267, 362/294, 362/479, 362/480, 362/490, 362/373, 362/404
• US Class Current: 362/480
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/262 Openings in or on the vehicle roof
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/20 associated with air conditioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0088 Ventilating systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air treatment systems F24F13/078

Abstract

A roof fixture for ventilating and illuminating the interior space of the vehicle or boat. The fixture includes a blower mounted over a ventilating opening in the roof. An outer cover is mounted to the exterior of the roof over the blower, thereby protecting the fixture and the interior of the vehicle from the elements. A mounting plate is attached to the interior of the roof over the ventilating opening. The central portion of the plate includes a plurality of exhaust openings and a recessed area which receives a lamp for illuminating the interior space. A plurality of damper flaps are attached to the exterior side of the plate, each flap overlying an exhaust opening. When the blower is on, the flaps lift upwardly to permit air flow from the interior space of the vehicle, through the exhaust openings, and out a vented portion of the cover.

Claims

1. A fixture for use in an interior living space with a ceiling having a ventilating opening and an overlying exhaust blower, said fixture comprising:

a mounting plate having an upper and lower surface and including

a marginal portion adapted for attachment to the interior side of said ceiling about said ventilating opening and,

a central portion for extending across said ventilating opening, a lamp mounted to said lower surface of said plate central portion for illuminating said interior space,

said plate central portion having an exhaust aperture in communication with said interior space and ventilating opening;

said exhaust aperture being disposed between said lamp and said marginal portion of said mounting plate for location under said ventilation opening; and

a damper flap carried by said mounting plate at its said upper surface and extending freely over said exhaust aperture,

said flap being movable between a closed position sealingly overlaying said exhaust aperture when said blower is off and an opened position spaced from said exhaust aperture when said blower is on.

2. A fixture as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a compliant gasket carried by said plate upper surface around said central portion for positioning between said plate marginal portion and said ceiling to form a circumferential seal around said ventilating opening.

3. A fixture as claimed in claim 2 wherein said damper flap is carried over said gasket for compression between said gasket and ceiling when said panel outer portion is attached to the ceiling.

4. A fixture as claimed in claim 2 wherein said mounting plate includes a continuous channel part receiving said gasket.

5. A fixture as claimed in claim 4 wherein said channel part is spaced from said exhaust aperture, said damper flap being attached to said gasket.

6. A fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plate outer portion includes a flanged peripheral edge.

7. A fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said exhaust aperture is an elongated slot.

8. A fixture as claimed in claim 3 wherein said plate central portion includes more than one said exhaust aperture spaced about said lamp, a said damper flap for each exhaust aperture.

9. A fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plate central portion defines a recessed area for receiving said lamp, said recessed area extending partially into the ventilating opening when said plate marginal portion of said mounting plate is attached to said ceiling.

10. In combination, on a vehicle having an interior space bounded in part by a ceiling having a ventilating opening therethrough, an exhaust-light apparatus comprising:

a mounting plate mounted to said ceiling within said interior space across said ventilating opening, said mounting plate including

a marginal portion and

a central portion having an exhaust aperture underlying said ventilating opening,

a blower carried by said ceiling exteriorly of said interior space for drawing air from the interior space through said exhaust aperture;

a lamp mounted to said plate central portion for illuminating the interior space;

a movable flap for controlling the direction of air flow through said exhaust aperture, said flap carried by said mounting plate and located between the mounting plate and ceiling, said flap overlying said exhaust aperture and being movable between a closed position when said blower is off wherein said flap seals said exhaust aperture and an opened position when said blower is on wherein said flap is spaced away from said exhaust aperture.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a compliant gasket compressively disposed between said mounting plate and said ceiling about said ventilating opening.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said mounting plate includes a channel part circumscribing said ventilating opening, said exhaust aperture being disposed between said channel part and said lamp, said gasket seated within said channel part.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flap is compressed between said gasket and said ceiling.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said plate central portion includes more than one said exhaust aperture spaced about said lamp, a said flap extending over each said exhaust aperture.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said plate central portion defines a recessed area extending partially into the ventilating opening, said lamp mounted within said recessed area.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 including a cover overlying said blower, said cover being vented.