Exit iluminator assembly for a motor vehicle

• US 6,043,735 A
• Filed: 01/07/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert R. Barrett
• Original Assignee: Amerisafe Corporation
• Inventors: Barrett, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/003,929
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438.439, 340/457, 340/425.5, 340/428, 340/430, 340/436, 340/332, 362/61, 362/80, 180/89.1, 180/313, 180/271
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/242 Safety belts; Body harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

An exit illumination assembly for a motor vehicle includes an occupant compartment, at least one door having a door handle, and a restraint system having a restraint release mechanism. The exit illumination assembly includes a control unit for sensing a condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle. The exit illumination assembly also includes an illuminator electrically connected to the control unit. The illuminator illuminates either the door handle or the restraint release mechanism when the control unit senses the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment.

Claims

1. An exit illumination assembly for a motor vehicle including an occupant compartment, at least one door having a door handle, and a restraint system having a restraint release mechanism, said exit illumination assembly comprising:

a control unit for sensing a condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle when an accident of the motor vehicle has occurred; and

an illuminator electrically connected to the control unit, said illuminator illuminating either one of the door handle and the restraint release mechanism when the control unit senses said condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment.

4. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the door handle is fabricated from a light transmitting material.

5. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the restraint release mechanism is fabricated from a light transmitting material.

6. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said illuminator is a fiber optic cable.

7. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control unit includes a timer for turning off said illuminator after a predetermined period of time.

2. An exit illumination assembly for a motor vehicle including an occupant compartment, at least one door having a door handle, and a restraint system having a restraint release mechanism, said exit illumination assembly comprising:

a control unit for sensing a condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle;

an illuminator electrically connected to the control unit, said illuminator illuminating either one of the door handle and the restraint release mechanism when the control unit senses said condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment; and

wherein said control unit receives an input from either one of an air bag system or a transmission to determine if the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment is sensed.

3. An exit illumination assembly for a motor vehicle including an occupant compartment, at least one door having a door handle, and a restraint system having a restraint release mechanism, said exit illumination assembly comprising:

a control unit for sensing a condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle;

an illuminator electrically connected to the control unit, said illuminator illuminating either one of the door handle and the restraint release mechanism when the control unit senses said condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment; and

wherein the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment is when an air bag is deployed.

8. An exit illumination assembly for a motor vehicle including an occupant compartment, at least one door having a door handle, and a restraint system having a restraint release mechanism, said exit illumination assembly comprising:

a control unit for sensing a condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle when an accident of the motor vehicle has occurred; and

a first illuminator and a second illuminator electrically connected to the control unit and receiving power in the form of alternating current (A/C) to direct current (DC) from said control unit, said first illuminator illuminating the door handle and a second illuminator illuminating the restraint release mechanism when the control unit senses the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment.

10. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment is when the vehicle is in park shortly after an ignition system is turned off.

12. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the door handle is fabricated from a light transmitting material.

13. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the restraint system is fabricated from a light transmitting material.

14. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein either one of said first illuminator or said second illuminator is a fiber optic cable.

15. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said control unit includes a timer for turning off said illuminator after a predetermined period of time.

9. An exit illumination assembly for a motor vehicle including an occupant compartment, at least one door having a door handle, and a restraint system having a restraint release mechanism, said exit illumination assembly comprising:

a control unit for sensing a condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle;

a first illuminator and a second illuminator electrically connected to the control unit, said first illuminator illuminating the door handle and a second illuminator illuminating the restraint release mechanism when the control unit senses the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment; and

wherein said control unit receives an input from either one of the air bag system or the transmission to determine if the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment is sensed.

11. An exit illumination assembly for a motor vehicle including an occupant compartment, at least one door having a door handle, and a restraint system having a restraint release mechanism, said exit illumination assembly comprising:

a control unit for sensing a condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle;

a first illuminator and a second illuminator electrically connected to the control unit, said first illuminator illuminating the door handle and a second illuminator illuminating the restraint release mechanism when the control unit senses the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment; and

wherein the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment is when an air bag is deployed.

16. An exit illumination assembly for a motor vehicle including an occupant compartment, at least one door having a door handle, and a restraint system having a restraint release mechanism, said exit illumination assembly comprising:

a control unit for sensing a condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle;

an first illuminator and a second illuminator electrically connected to the control unit, wherein said control unit receives an input from either one of the air bag system or the transmission in determining if the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment is sensed;

said first illuminator illuminating a portion of the door handle fabricated from a light transmitting material and a second illuminator illuminating a portion of the restraint release mechanism fabricated from a light transmitting material if the control unit senses the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment; and

said control unit including a timer for turning off either one of said first or second illuminator after a predetermined period of time.

17. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment is when the vehicle is in park shortly after an ignition system is turned off.

18. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein the condition suitable for exiting the occupant compartment is when an air bag is deployed.

19. An exit illumination assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein either one of said first illuminator or said second illuminator is a fiber optic cable.