Led light bar

• US 6,461,008 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 911EP Incorporated (Safariland LLC)
• Original Assignee: 911 Emergency Products, Inc. (Safariland LLC)
• Inventors: Pederson, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUSAR, STEPHEN F
• Application Number:
  US09/627,867
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 362/35, 362/493, 362/542, 362/545, 362/241, 362/247, 362/800, 362/240, 362/252, 362/543, 362/231, 362/513, 362/514, 340/471, 340/472
• US Class Current: 362/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/40 Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/00 Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/06 flashing, e.g. with rotating reflector or light source signalling lighting devices mounted on vehicles B60Q1/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/22 flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0083 Array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more reflectors F21V7/0025
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/00 Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) warning signal light, the warning signal light comprising a plurality of light sources constructed and arranged with a reflector or culminator, the LED light source being in electrical communication with a controller and a power supply, battery, or other electrical source. The warning signal light provides various colored light signals for independent use or use on an emergency vehicle. The warning light signals may include a strobe light, revolving light, an alternating light, a flashing light, a modulated light, a pulsating light, an oscillating light or any combination thereof. The controller may further be adapted to regulate or modulate the power intensity exposed to the illuminated LED'"'"'s to create a variable intensity light signal.

Claims

1. A light bar comprising:

a) a longitudinally extending base having a front face, a rear face, a first end, and a second end;

b) at least one light emitting diode assembly connected to said base proximate to said front face and proximate to said rear face, each of said light emitting diode assemblies having a plurality of light emitting diode light sources receiving power from a power source;

c) at least one support extending upwardly from said base; and

d) an illumination pod engaged to said support, said illumination pod enclosing a plurality of said light emitting diode light sources, said light emitting diode light sources being constructed and arranged for transmission of at least one light signal.

2. The light bar according to claim 1, further comprising a controller in electric communication with said light emitting diode light sources for illumination of at least one warning light signal.

3. The light bar according to claim 2, further comprising a first reflector positioned proximate to said at least one light assembly.

4. The light bar according to claim 3, further comprising a second reflector positioned within said at least one illumination pod.

5. The light bar according to claim 4, further comprising an alley light assembly engaged to each of said first end and said second end, each of said alley light assemblies having a plurality of light emitting diode light sources.

6. The light bar according to claim 4, further comprising at least two supports engaged to each of said at least one illumination pod.

7. The light bar according to claim 4, each illumination pod comprising a rotational device engaged to said light emitting diode light sources, said rotational device constructed and arranged to rotate said light emitting diode light sources.

8. The light bar according to claim 4, each illumination pod comprising a rotational device engaged to said second reflector, said rotational device being constructed and arranged to rotate said second reflector.

9. The light bar according to claim 4, each of said front face and said rear face comprising a plurality of sectors of said light emitting diode light sources.

10. The light bar according to claim 5, wherein said controller independently controls said light emitting diode light sources in said alley light assemblies, said at least one illumination pod, said front face, and said rear face.

11. The light bar according to claim 4, said at least one illumination pod comprising a transparent protector and a plurality of second reflectors.

12. The light bar according to claim 4, said second reflector comprising at least one gear, at least one brace extending from said at least one gear, and at least one angularly offset mirror engaged to said brace.

13. The light bar according to claim 7, said rotational device comprising a motor.

14. The light bar according to claim 12, said second reflector further comprising a motor engaged to said at least one gear.

15. The light bar according to claim 4, wherein said at least one light emitting diode assembly is constructed and arranged to be modular having electrical couplers.

16. The light bar according claim 4, further comprising a circuit board constructed and arranged to position said light emitting diode light sources.

17. The light bar according to claim 16, said circuit board comprising heat sink wells.

18. The light bar according to claim 1, said illumination pod comprising a light emitting diode light support having at least two sides, said light emitting diode light sources disposed about said at least two sides.

19. The light bar according to claim 4, said first reflector and said second reflector comprising a culminator.

20. The light bar according to claim 4, wherein said controller is in electric communication with said light emitting diode light sources, said controller being constructed and arranged to selectively activate said light emitting diode light sources thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals.

21. The light bar according to claim 7, wherein said controller is in electric communication with said rotational device for signaling engagement and disengagement of said rotational device.

22. The light bar according to claim 19, said culminator comprising at least one reflective section.

23. The light bar according to claim 22, said culminator comprising at least one transparent section.

24. The light bar according to claim 19, further comprising a plurality of culminator cups, each of said culminator cups constructed and arranged for positioning proximate to one of said light emitting diode light sources.

25. The light bar according to claim 24, wherein said culminator cups are disposed in a linear array.

26. The light bar according to claim 4, said first reflector comprising at least one mirror.

27. The light bar according to claim 4, said second reflector comprising at least one mirror.

28. The light bar according to claim 4, wherein said controller is in electric communication with said light emitting diode light sources and said controller is constructed and arranged to selectively activate said light emitting diode light sources to produce a plurality of visually distinct warning light signals.

29. The light bar according to claim 4, wherein said controller is in electric communication with said light emitting diode light sources and said controller is constructed and arranged to independently illuminate said light emitting diode light sources.

30. The light bar according to claim 4, said light emitting diode light sources comprising light emitting diodes of at least two different colors.

31. The light bar according to claim 30, wherein said controller selectively activates said light emitting diode light sources to create at least one of a single colored light signal and at least one of a multi-colored light signal.

32. The light bar according to claim 4, wherein said light signal is selected from the group consisting of:

a revolving light, a pulsating light, an alternating light, an oscillating light, a flashing light, a stroboscopic light, a modulated light, and any combination thereof.

33. The light bar according to claim 4, wherein more than two different types of light signals are produced simultaneously.

34. The light bar according to claim 4, wherein more than two different types of light signals are produced independently of each other.

35. The light bar according to claim 4, wherein more than two different types of light signals are produced in at least one combination.

36. The light bar according to claim 4, wherein said light emitting diode light sources of said at least one light emitting diode assembly are disposed in a single row.

37. The light bar according to claim 8, said rotational device comprising a motor.

38. The light bar according to claim 8, wherein said controller is in electric communication with said rotational device for signaling engagement and disengagement of said rotational device.