Vehicle light assembly with detachable and replaceable circuit board having plug-in terminal connectors

• US 6,149,288 A
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grand General Accessories Manufacturing
• Original Assignee: Grand General Accessories Manufacturing
• Inventors: Huang, Nan Huang
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US09/361,903
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 362/459, 362/487, 362/492, 362/505, 362/506, 362/545, 362/543, 362/544, 362/549, 362/227, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/195 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/04 with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006

Abstract

A vehicle light assembly for use with a vehicle comprising a base plate, a detachable and replaceable circuit board and a lens attached to the base for covering the circuit board. The base plate has plug-in terminal connectors. Each terminal connector has a prong which extends upwardly from the base plate and a socket which extends downwardly from the base plate for connecting to a power source. The circuit board has illuminating members and ring connectors which are coupled to the illuminating members. The circuit board is installed on the base plate such that the plug-in terminal connectors on the base plate are respectively inserted into the ring connectors of the circuit board for providing electrically continuity. Therefore, when the circuit board malfunctions, the circuit board is easily replaceable by removing the lens and then the circuit board, where the old circuit board is replaced with a new circuit board, without replacing the entire light assembly and rewiring the circuit board to the electrical wiring of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle light assembly, comprising:

a. a base plate;

b. at least one first contact member having first contacting means extending upwardly from a front side of said base plate and second contacting means extending downwardly from a rear side of said base plate for connection to a vehicle power source;

c. a detachable and replaceable circuit board having illuminating means and at least one second contact member electrically coupled to the illuminating means, the circuit board detachably attached to said base plate such said at least one second contact member couples with said first contacting means of said at least one first contact for providing electrically continuity; and

d. a lens attached to said base plate for covering said circuit board;

e. whereby when said circuit board malfunctions, said circuit board is easily replaceable by removing said lens and replacing said malfunctioned circuit board with a new circuit board without rewiring and replacement of the entire light assembly.

2. The light assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a gasket for providing a leakproof attachment to a body of a vehicle.

3. The light assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said illuminating means includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

4. The light assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lens is generally an elliptical shape.

5. The light assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first contacting means of said at least one first contact member is a prong.

6. The light assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second contacting means of said at least one first contact member is a socket.

7. The light assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one second contact member is a ring.

8. A vehicle light assembly, comprising:

a. a base plate having a front side and a rear side;

b. at least two terminal contacts secured to said base plate, each terminal contact having a prong extending upwardly from said front side of said base plate and a socket extending downwardly from said rear side of said base plate for connection to a vehicle power source;

c. a detachable and replaceable circuit board having illuminating means and at least two ring contacts electrically coupled to the illuminating means, the circuit board detachably attached to said front side of said base plate such that said prong of said each terminal contact is inserted through a respective one of the at least two ring contacts to provide electrically continuity; and

d. a lens attached to said base plate for covering said circuit board;

e. whereby when said circuit board malfunctions, said circuit board is easily replaceable by removing said lens and replacing said malfunctioned circuit board with a new circuit board without rewiring and replacement of the entire light assembly.

9. The light assembly in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a gasket for providing a leakproof attachment to a body of a vehicle.

10. The light assembly in accordance with claim 8, wherein said illuminating means includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

11. A vehicle light assembly, comprising:

a. a generally rectangular shaped base plate having a front side, a rear side, and a pair of spaced apart openings therethrough;

b. a pair of terminal contacts respectively secured to said base plate through said pair of openings, each terminal contact having a prong extending upwardly from said front side of said base plate and a socket extending downwardly from said rear side of said base plate for connection to a vehicle power source;

c. a detachable and replaceable circuit board having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a pair of spaced apart ring contacts electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs, the circuit board detachably attached to said front side of said base plate such that said prong of each said terminal contact of said base plate is inserted into a respective one of the pair of ring contacts to provide electrically continuity; and

d. a lens attached to said base plate for covering said circuit board;

e. whereby when said circuit board malfunctions, said circuit board is easily replaceable by removing said lens and replacing said malfunctioned circuit board with a new circuit board without rewiring and replacement of the entire light assembly.

12. The light assembly in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a gasket for providing a leakproof attachment to a body of a vehicle.