Neon cruising lights for use with motor vehicle headlights

• US 6,404,132 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liteglow Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Liteglow Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Krumholz, Spencer
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US09/818,481
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/78, 315/82, 315/209.R, 315/276, 315/246, 315/248, 362/183, 362/198, 362/226, 362/243, 362/246, 362/247, 362/223, 362/263, 362/265, 439/646, 439/654, 439/655
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0041 of several lamps in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/10 Retrofit arrangements

Abstract

A neon cruising lighting system for use with a motor vehicle battery includes a motor vehicle headlight having a reflector, a cutout in the reflector, an inert gas discharge lamp capable of irradiating various light colors, disposed in the cutout, a plug assembly adapted to cooperate with a motor vehicle cigarette lighter power receptacle, a transformer electrically coupled to both the plug assembly and the inert gas discharge lamp, so that the plug assembly conducts electrical power from the battery to the transformer to the inert gas discharge lamp, in order to illuminate the inert gas discharge lamp.

Claims

1. A lighting system for use with a motor vehicle battery, comprising:

(a) a motor vehicle headlight having a reflector;

(b) a cutout in said reflector;

(c) an inert gas discharge lamp disposed in said cutout;

(d) a plug assembly adapted to cooperate with a motor vehicle cigarette lighter power receptacle;

(e) a transformer electrically coupled to said plug assembly and said inert gas discharge lamp with a coupling means;

wherein said plug assembly conducts electrical power, through said coupling means, from said battery through said transformer to said inert gas discharge lamp, in order to illuminate said inert gas discharge lamp.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said inert gas discharge lamp further comprises:

(a) an envelope formed of a light transmissive material, said envelop having a wall defining an enclosed volume;

(b) an electrode operatively coupled to said transformer, said electrode extending through said wall to be in contact with said enclosed volume;

(c) an inert gas fill captured in said enclosed volume capable of providing a wavelength light output upon electrical stimulation by said electrode;

(d) a phospher coating enclosed in said envelope, said phospher being responsive to said wavelength light output to produce a second wavelength light output in a visible range.

3. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein said phospher coating is selected from the group consisting of Yttrium, Aluminum, Gallium, Oxygen, Cerium, Gadolinium, Lanthanum, and Willemite.

4. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein said phospher coating has been fired in an alumina crucible.

5. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein there is a reflective coating between said envelop and said phospher coating, said phospher coating being adjacent to said inert gas.

6. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein said inert gas fill is a mixture of neon, and an additional gas whose constituents may be selected from the group comprising argon, helium, krypton, nitrogen, radon, and xenon.

7. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein said mixture of inert gas is varied to produce varying colored light.

8. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein said varying colored light is selected from at least one of the following:

red, blue, green, purple, aqua, and pink.

9. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said transformer is a high voltage, high frequency transformer for supplying said inert gas discharge lamp with sufficient high voltage, high frequency electrical power to cause said lamp to irradiate bright glowing light.

10. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a rectifier operably coupled into said lighting system for rectifying the power produced by said battery.

11. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a flasher operatively coupled into said lighting system for repeatedly, temporarily and alternatively activating said inert gas discharge lamp.

12. The lighting system of claim 2, further comprising a pulse generator connected to said electrode for forming a discharge to electrically stimulate said inert gas fill.

13. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said inert gas discharge lamp is disposed in said cutout with an annular rubber grommet.

14. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said inert gas discharge lamp is a self-contained electrodeless inert gas discharge module.

15. The lighting system of claim 13, wherein said self-contained electrodeless inert gas discharge module comprises:

(a) a sealed envelope that is at least partially light transmissive;

(b) an inert gas fill sealed within said envelope; and

(c) an RF induction coil external to said sealed envelope, operatively connected to said battery.

16. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a circuit breaker switch for disconnecting said lighting system from said electrical power supplied by said cigarette lighter plug receptacle.

17. The lighting system of claim 16, wherein said switch is located on said plug assembly.

18. A method for illuminating a motor vehicle headlight, comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting an inert gas discharge lamp in a motor vehicle headlight cutout;

(b) inserting a cigarette lighter plug assembly into a cigarette lighter plug receptacle;

(c) illuminating said inert gas discharge lamp with electric power transmitted by said cigarette lighter plug assembly.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said inert gas discharge lamp comprises:

(a) an envelope formed of a light transmissive material, said envelope having a wall defining an enclosed volume;

(b) an electrode operatively coupled to a transformer, said electrode extending through said wall to be in contact with said enclosed volume;

(c) an inert gas fill captured in said enclosed volume capable of providing a wavelength light output upon electrical stimulation by said electrode;

(d) a phospher coating enclosed in said envelope, said phospher being responsive to said wavelength light output to produce a second wavelength light output in a visible range.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said phospher coating is selected from the group consisting of Yttrium, Aluminum, Gallium, Oxygen, Cerium, Gadolinium, Lanthanum, and Willemite.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said phospher coating has been fired in an alumina crucible.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein there is a reflective coating between said envelop and said phospher coating, said phospher coating being adjacent to said inert gas.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said inert gas fill is a mixture of neon, and an additional gas whose constituents may be selected from the group comprising argon, helium, krypton, nitrogen, radon, and xenon.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said mixture of inert gas is varied to produce varying colored light.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said varying colored light is selected from at least one of the following:

red, blue, green, purple, aqua, and pink.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said transformer is a high voltage, high frequency transformer for supplying said inert gas discharge lamp with sufficient high voltage, high frequency electrical power to cause said lamp to irradiate bright glowing light.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising a rectifier operably coupled into said lighting system for rectifying the power produced by said battery.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising a flasher operatively coupled into said lighting system for repeatedly, temporarily and alternatively activating said inert gas discharge lamp.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising a pulse generator connected to said electrode for forming a discharge to electrically stimulate said inert gas fill.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein said inert gas discharge lamp is disposed in said cutout with an annular rubber grommet.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein said inert gas discharge lamp is a self-contained electrodeless inert gas discharge module.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said self-contained electrodeless inert gas discharge module comprises:

(a) a sealed envelope that is at least partially light transmissive;

(b) an inert gas fill sealed within said envelope; and

(c) an RF induction coil external to said sealed envelope, operatively connected to said battery.

33. The method of claim 18, further comprising a circuit breaker switch for disconnecting said lighting system from said electrical power supplied by said cigarette lighter plug assembly.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said switch is located on said plug assembly.