Combination clearance and sidemarker lamp

• US 6,241,373 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelley, Rodney M., Koehler, Jay F., Snyder, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELGIZZI, RONALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US09/275,293
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 362/238, 362/239, 362/250, 362/545, 362/544, 362/543, 362/498, 362/184
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/195 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clearance and sidemarker lamp assembly in which a three-section printed circuit board (PCB) is mounted to a three-section enclosure. The enclosure has a main center section coupled to two side sections by means of a hinge. When the enclosure is coupled to a lamp housing, the side sections are folded down and tucked behind raised retaining ribs formed in the housing. LEDs in the main center section thus provide illumination perpendicular to the lamp, while LEDs in the angled side sections provide illumination to either side of the lamp. A lens may cover the assembly in order to blend the light into a continuous arc covering 180°.

Claims

1. A combination clearance and sidemarker lamp, comprising:

a housing, comprising;

a housing bottom surface;

a platform coupled to the bottom surface and having a platform surface spaced from the housing bottom surface, the platform further having a first side and a second, opposite side;

at least one first rib extending from the bottom surface and spaced from the first side; and

at least one second rib extending from the bottom surface and spaced from the second side;

an enclosure, comprising;

a center section having an enclosure bottom surface, a rim spaced from the bottom surface, a center cavity, a first end, and a second end;

a first side section having a third end, a fourth end, at least one first wing extending from the fourth end, and a first side cavity;

a second side section having a fifth end, a sixth end, at least one second wing extending from the sixth end, and a second side cavity;

a first living hinge coupling the third end to the first end; and

a second living hinge coupling the fifth end to the second end;

a center printed circuit board disposed within the center cavity and including at least one first LED;

a first side printed circuit board disposed within the first side cavity and including at least one second LED; and

a second side printed circuit board disposed within the second side cavity and including at least one third LED;

wherein the enclosure bottom surface is coupled to the platform surface, the fourth end abuts the at least one first rib, and the sixth end abuts the at least one second rib.

2. The lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one first wire coupling the center printed circuit board to the first side printed circuit board; and

at least one second wire coupling the center printed circuit board to the second side printed circuit board.

3. The lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one terminal coupled to the center printed circuit board and extending through the enclosure bottom surface and the platform surface;

wherein the at least one terminal couples the enclosure to the housing.

4. The lamp of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one first rib comprises a first pair of ribs; and

the at least one second rib comprises a second pair of ribs.

5. The lamp of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one first LED comprises three first LEDs;

the at least one second LED comprises two second LEDs; and

the at least one third LED comprises two third LEDs.

6. The lamp of claim 1, wherein:

the first living hinge couples the third end to the rim at the first end; and

the second living hinge couples the fifth end to the rim at the second end.

7. A combination clearance and sidemarker lamp, comprising:

a housing;

an enclosure, comprising;

a center section having an enclosure bottom surface, a rim spaced from the bottom surface, a center cavity, a first end, and a second end;

a first side section having a third end, a fourth end, and a first side cavity;

a second side section having a fifth end, a sixth end, and a second side cavity;

a first hinge coupling the third end to the first end; and

a second hinge coupling the fifth end to the second end;

a center printed circuit board disposed within the center cavity and including at least one first LED;

a first side printed circuit board disposed within the first side cavity and including at least one second LED; and

a second side printed circuit board disposed within the second side cavity and including at least one third LED;

wherein the enclosure bottom surface is coupled to the housing, the fourth end abuts the housing, and the sixth end abuts the housing.

8. The lamp of claim 7, wherein:

the housing further comprises;

a housing bottom surface; and

a platform coupled to the bottom surface and having a platform surface spaced from the housing bottom surface, the platform further having a first side and a second, opposite side; and

the enclosure bottom surface is coupled to the platform surface, the fourth end abuts the housing bottom surface, and the sixth end abuts the housing bottom surface.

9. The lamp of claim 8, wherein:

the housing further comprises;

at least one first rib extending from the bottom surface and spaced from the first side; and

at least one second rib extending from the bottom surface and spaced from the second side; and

the fourth end abuts the at least one first rib and the sixth end abuts the at least one second rib.

10. The lamp of claim 7, wherein the first and second hinges comprise living hinges.

11. The lamp of claim 7, wherein:

the first side section further includes a pair of first wings extending from the fourth end; and

the second side section further includes a pair of second wings extending from the sixth end.

12. The lamp of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one first wire coupling the center printed circuit board to the first side printed circuit board; and

at least one second wire coupling the center printed circuit board to the second side printed circuit board.

13. The lamp of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one terminal coupled to the center printed circuit board and extending through the enclosure bottom surface and the platform surface;

wherein the at least one terminal couples the enclosure to the housing.

14. The lamp of claim 9, wherein:

the at least one first rib comprises a first pair of ribs; and

the at least one second rib comprises a second pair of ribs.

15. The lamp of claim 7, wherein:

the at least one first LED comprises three first LEDs;

the at least one second LED comprises two second LEDs; and

the at least one third LED comprises two third LEDs.

16. The lamp of claim 7, wherein:

the first hinge couples the third end to the rim at the first end; and

the second hinge couples the fifth end to the rim at the second end.

17. A combination clearance and sidemarker lamp, comprising:

a housing;

an enclosure, comprising;

a center section having an enclosure bottom surface, a rim spaced from the bottom surface, a center cavity, a first end, and a second end;

a first side section having a third end coupled to the first end, a fourth end, and a first side cavity;

a second side section having a fifth end coupled to the second end, a sixth end, and a second side cavity;

a center printed circuit board disposed within the center cavity and including at least one first LED;

a first side printed circuit board disposed within the first side cavity and including at least one second LED;

a second side printed circuit board disposed within the second side cavity and including at least one third LED;

wherein the enclosure bottom surface is coupled to the housing, the fourth end abuts the housing, and the sixth end abuts the housing.

18. The lamp of claim 17, further comprising:

a first living hinge coupling the third end to the first end; and

a second living hinge coupling the fifth end to the second end.

19. The lamp of claim 17, wherein:

the housing further comprises;

a housing bottom surface; and

a platform coupled to the bottom surface and having a platform surface spaced from the housing bottom surface, the platform further having a first side and a second, opposite side;

the enclosure bottom surface is coupled to the platform surface, the fourth end abuts the housing bottom surface, and the sixth end abuts the housing bottom surface.

20. The lamp of claim 19, wherein:

the housing further comprises;

at least one first rib extending from the bottom surface and spaced from the first side; and

at least one second rib extending from the bottom surface and spaced from the second side; and

the fourth end abuts the at least one first rib and the sixth end abuts the at least one second rib.

21. The lamp of claim 17, wherein:

the first side section further includes a pair of first wings extending from the fourth end; and

the second side section further includes a pair of second wings extending from the sixth end.

22. The lamp of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one first wire coupling the center printed circuit board to the first side printed circuit board; and

at least one second wire coupling the center printed circuit board to the second side printed circuit board.

23. The lamp of claim 19, further comprising:

at least one first wire coupling the center printed circuit board to the first side printed circuit board; and

at least one second wire coupling the center printed circuit board to the second side printed circuit board.

24. The lamp of claim 20, wherein:

the at least one first rib comprises a first pair of ribs; and

the at least one second rib comprises a second pair of ribs.

25. The lamp of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one first LED comprises three first LEDs;

the at least one second LED comprises two second LEDs; and

the at least one third LED comprises two third LEDs.

26. The lamp of claim 18, wherein:

the first living hinge couples the third end to the rim at the first end; and

the second living hinge couples the fifth end to the rim at the second end.

27. An enclosure for a combination clearance and sidemarker lamp, comprising:

a center section having an enclosure bottom surface, a rim spaced from the bottom surface, a center cavity, a first end, and a second end;

a first side section having a third end, a fourth end, and a first side cavity;

a second side section having a fifth end, a sixth end, and a second side cavity;

a first hinge coupling the third end to the rim at the first end; and

a second hinge coupling the fifth end to the rim at the second end.

28. The enclosure of claim 27, wherein the first and second hinges comprise living hinges.

29. The enclosure of claim 27, wherein:

the first side section further includes a pair of first wings extending from the fourth end; and

the second side section further includes a pair of second wings extending from the sixth end.