Phosphorescent vehicle trunk release

• US 6,369,395 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Roessler, David Martyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gabor, Otilia
• Application Number:
  US09/635,586
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 250/462.1, 292/336.3, 292/347, 292/76, 362/501, 362/100, 362/540
• US Class Current: 250/462.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/106 fluorescent
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/26 Emergency opening means for persons trapped in the luggage compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A release mechanism is located within a vehicle trunk for releasing the trunk lid. The mechanism includes a handle coated with a phosphorescent material to allow the handle to be viewed within a darkened trunk. The phosphorescent material is excited or made to glow by external light conducted through light-conducting means. The light-conducting means extends between a location external to the vehicle and a point adjacent the handle. The handle glows for a period of time following the exposure to the external light entering the conducting means to allow visibility of the handle within a darkened trunk.

Claims

1. Phosphorescent release mechanism for releasing latch means for a trunk lid of a vehicle from within the trunk, the mechanism including a release handle coated with a phosphorescent material to allow the handle to be viewed within a darkened trunk and light-conducting means disposed between a location external to the vehicle and a point adjacent the handle to conduct external light to the handle for exciting the phosphorescent material to glow in the dark for a period of time following exposure to the external light passing through the light-conducting means.

2. A mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the light-conducting means includes a window disposed within a trunk wall and located such that external light passes through the window and illuminates the phosphorescent material of the handle.

3. A mechanism as in claim 2 wherein the trunk wall is the trunk lid.

4. A mechanism as in claim 2 wherein the window has an area of at least one square centimeter.

5. A mechanism as in claim 2 wherein the window is made from one of a glass and a plastic material that transmits light within a blue part of the visible spectrum.

6. A mechanism as in claim 2 wherein the window is made from one of a glass and a plastic material that transmits light having a wavelength including the range of 200-450 nanometers.

7. A mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the light-conducting means includes a window disposed within a vehicle wall and a light pipe extending between the window and a point adjacent the handle to conduct the external light from the window to the phosphorescent material of the handle.

8. A mechanism as in claim 7 wherein the window is an existing window of the vehicle.

9. A mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the light-conducting means includes a window disposed within a vehicle wall and a fiber bundle extending between the window and a point adjacent the handle to conduct the external light from the window to the phosphorescent material of the handle.

10. A mechanism as in claim 9 wherein the window is an existing window of the vehicle.

11. A mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the phosphorescent material includes one having a long decay period.

12. A mechanism as in claim 11 wherein the phosphorescent material having a long decay period is an alkaline-earth oxide aluminate.

13. A mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the phosphorescent material contains more than one type of phosphor and the different types of phosphors are combined such that a predetermined pattern is visible when the phosphors are excited.