Exterior courtesy lighting/fender mounted

• US 6,416,209 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Abbott, Glenn W
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US09/636,184
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 362/506, 362/495, 362/496, 362/501, 362/481, 362/360, 362/359, 362/508, 362/510, 362/520, 362/522, 362/327
• US Class Current: 362/506
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/263 Snap-in fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10

Abstract

A vehicle puddle light assembly is provided in an opening formed in a body panel of a vehicle. A socket including a housing and at least one contact coupled to the housing is disposed within the opening and coupled to the body panel adjacent the opening. A lamp is coupled to the contact within the housing. A lens is coupled to the socket outboard of the lamp. The lens has an opaque upper portion and a transmissive lower portion having a plurality of facets formed therein for projecting light from the assembly and a predominantly downward and outboard direction. The housing includes a reflective upper portion for directing radiation from the lamp toward the transmissive portion of the lens and a reflective lower portion for directing radiation from the lamp toward a reflective surface of the lens formed inboard of the opaque upper portion. The radiation is then redirected toward the reflective upper portion of the housing and then toward the transmissive portion of the lens. The lamp is illuminated upon the detection of one of a door unlock signal from a remote key fob or a door opening event. The lamp is extinguished upon the detection of a door closing event after the illuminating step.

Claims

1. A vehicle puddle light assembly comprising:

a vehicle body;

a panel of said body having an opening formed therein;

a socket disposed within said opening and coupled to said body panel adjacent said opening;

a lamp coupled within said socket; and

a lens coupled to said socket and outboard of said lamp, said lens having an opaque upper portion and a transmissive lower portion, said opaque upper portion being reflective on an inboard surface thereof; and

said lens being adapted to project light from said lamp in a predominantly downward and outboard direction.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said lamp is substantially aligned with an outboard edge of said body panel.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said lens is shaped to complement an ornamental molding feature of said body panel.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said socket further comprises a housing and at least one contact coupled to said housing for supporting said lamp therein.

5. The assembly of claim 1, said transmissive lower portion having a plurality of facets formed therein.

6. A vehicle puddle light assembly comprising:

a vehicle body;

a panel of said body having an opening formed therein;

a socket disposed within said opening and coupled to said body panel adjacent said opening, said socket further comprising a housing including an upper reflective portion and a lower reflective portion;

a lamp coupled within said socket; and

a lens coupled to said socket outboard of said lamp, said lens projecting light from said lamp in a predominantly downward and outboard direction.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said lower reflective portion is configured to reflect radiation from said lamp toward an internally reflecting portion of said lens.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said upper reflective portion is configured to reflect radiation from said lamp to a transmissive portion of said lens.

9. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said body panel is a front quarter panel.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said opening is located rearward of a wheel well formed in said front quarter panel.

11. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said lamp is illuminated upon detecting at least one of a door unlock command of a remote key fob and a door opening event.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said lamp is extinguished upon a door closing event.