Puddle and footwell lighting integrated into a speaker grille

• US 6,158,869 A
• Filed: 05/13/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Top Source Technologies, Inc. (Global Technovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: A-Top Technology Inc
• Inventors: Barnes, Lee E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Treas, Jared
• Application Number:
  US09/078,381
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 362/86, 362/488, 362/545, 362/234, 362/501
• US Class Current: 362/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/324 for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened

Abstract

An apparatus is provided that integrates puddle and footwell lighting in a vehicle with a speaker grille. The apparatus includes a grille having a plurality of apertures configured to permit transmission of acoustic energy generated by a speaker or other audio device. The apparatus further includes a light emitting device configured to illuminate a surface, such as the floor of a vehicle or the ground outside of a vehicle, through the grille.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a grille having a plurality of apertures configured to permit transmission of acoustic energy generated in an audio device, said grille defining a face, and said grille configured for vertical mounting and having a first side which is lowest when said grille is vertically mounted;

a light emitting device disposed in an opening in said face of said grille proximate to said first side of said grille and configured to illuminate a surface normal to said face by emitting light through said grille;

a lens disposed in said opening in said grille; and

first and second attachment members extending inwardly from said grille, said first and second members oriented at an acute angle to said face such that said first and second members are downwardly oriented when said grille is vertically mounted, and said attachment members engage said light emitting device and maintain said light emitting device in an orientation parallel to said engagement members.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens closes said opening in which it is disposed.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

a motor vehicle passenger compartment door;

a grille mounted to said door in a vertical position, said grille having a plurality of apertures configured to permit transmission of acoustic energy generated by an audio device and said grille defining a face, and said grille having a first side which is lowest;

a light emitting device disposed in an opening in said face of said grille proximate to said first side of said grille and configured to illuminate a surface on another side of said grille by emitting light through an opening in said grille;

a lens disposed in said opening in said grille through which light from the light emitting device passes to illuminate a foot well adjacent said door when said door is closed wherein sound from the audio device can be projected sideways, and the light is projected downwardly; and

first and second attachment members extending inwardly from said grille, said first and second members oriented at an acute angle to said face such that said first and second members are downwardly oriented and said attachment members engage said light emitting device and maintain said light emitting device in an orientation parallel to said engagement members.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lens closes said opening in which it is disposed.