Vehicle conversion system and method

• US 6,626,477 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CK Acquisition Holdings Inc.
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Forsythe, Tom, Maynard, Lyman B.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US09/756,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.1, 296/37.16, 296/37.1, 296/37.2, 296/208, 381/86, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 340/471, 340/472, 340/468, 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 296/24.3
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 39/00 Vehicle bodies not otherwise provided for , e.g. safety vehicles safety equipment B60R21/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a conversion system and method of converting a vehicle into a police car or similar emergency vehicle in a manner which is easily installed and removed and designed so that it causes no damage to the vehicle, thereby improving the resale value of the vehicle upon termination of the lease or retirement of the vehicle from service.

Claims

1. A conversion system for converting a vehicle from an original equipment vehicle to a special purpose use vehicle, the vehicle having a battery, said conversion system comprising:

a wiring harness independent from a standard wiring harness supplied with said vehicle;

wherein said conversion system is mountable to said vehicle without permanently defacing said vehicle, and said wiring harness is directly connected to the battery of said vehicle and to at least one piece of equipment.

2. The conversion system of claim 1, further comprising a conduit assembly, said conduit assembly comprising at least one conduit, said conduit having a plurality of wire ports, said wiring harness extending through said at least one conduit.

3. The conversion system of claim 1, further comprising a console, said console comprising a mounting support mountable to at least one seat stud of said vehicle.

4. The conversion system of claim 3, wherein said mounting support comprises a base plate having a plurality of apertures for attaching at least one of said at least one piece of equipment.

5. The conversion system of claim 1, further comprising a trunk compartment assembly mountable in the trunk of said vehicle.

6. The conversion system of claim 5, wherein said trunk compartment assembly comprises at least one frame on which at least one of said at least one piece of equipment can be secured.

7. The conversion system of claim 6, wherein said at least one frame comprises upper and lower frames, the upper frame and the lower frame being in fixed relationship to one another, the upper frame being horizontally spaced from the lower frame.

8. The conversion system of claim 5, wherein said trunk compartment assembly comprises at least one enclosed storage box.

9. The conversion system of claim 1, further comprising a barrier comprising a frame attachable to said vehicle using original equipment holes in the floor, roof or sides of said vehicle.

10. The conversion system of claim 9, wherein said barrier includes a bottom barrier shield half, and an upper shield half having a shelf;

wherein said barrier separates said vehicle into a front interior passenger area and a rear interior passenger area and said shelf is accessible only from said interior front passenger area.

11. The conversion system of claim 10, wherein said shelf is a gun storage area utilizing a gun lock.

12. The conversion system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of strobe lights connectable to at least one wire of said wiring harness.

13. The conversion system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of strobe lights comprises a rear strobe light system comprising a rear strobe light mounting plate, a rear strobe light cover, and at least one rear strobe light.

14. The conversion system of claim 1, further comprising at least one exterior mounting system comprising a base plate attached to said vehicle by means of fasteners without permanently defacing said vehicle.

15. The conversion system of claim 14, wherein said base plate is fastenable to a drip rail on both sides of said vehicle.

16. The conversion system of claim 14, wherein said base plate includes an electrical ground formed in association therewith.

17. The conversion system of claim 14, wherein said base plate supports at least one of said at least one piece of equipment, said at least one of said at least one piece of equipment connected to at least one wire of said wiring harness, said at least one wire extendable through a hole in a B pillar on either side of said vehicle.

18. The conversion system of claim 1, further comprising a rear seat replacement module mountable after removing the original rear seats of said vehicle.

19. The conversion system of claim 18, wherein said rear seat replacement module comprises a formed bench seat and a floor well cover.

20. The conversion system of claim 1, further comprising at least one air circulation fan capable of transferring air from the interior of said vehicle to the trunk of said vehicle.

21. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one conduit is an air conduit capable of carrying air from the interior of said vehicle to the trunk of said vehicle.

43. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein said wiring harness comprises at least one electrical distribution center.

44. The conversion system of claim 1, wherein said wiring harness comprises two electrical distribution centers.

45. The conversion system of claim 43, wherein said at least one electrical distribution center includes at least one fuse and at least one relay.

46. The conversion system of claim 43, wherein said at least one electrical distribution center provides both battery power and ignition controlled power connections.

22. A method of converting a vehicle from an original equipment vehicle to a special purpose use vehicle, comprising the steps of:

mounting a conversion system to said vehicle without permanently defacing said vehicle, said conversion system comprising a wiring harness independent from a standard wiring harness supplied with said vehicle;

connecting said wiring harness directly to a battery of said vehicle;

attaching at least one piece of equipment to said conversion system; and

connecting at least one of said at least one piece of equipment to said wiring harness.

23. The method of claim 22, said conversion system further comprising a conduit assembly, said conduit assembly comprising at least one conduit, said conduit having a plurality of wire ports, said wiring harness extending through said at least one conduit.

24. The method of claim 22, said conversion system further comprising a console, said console comprising a mounting support mountable to at least one seat stud of said vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said mounting support comprises a base plate having a plurality of apertures for attaching at least one of said at least one piece of equipment.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein said conversion system further comprises a trunk compartment assembly mountable in the trunk of said vehicle.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said trunk compartment assembly of said conversion system comprises at least one frame on which at least one of said at least one piece of equipment can be secured.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said at least one frame comprises upper and lower frames, the upper frame and the lower frame being in fixed relationship to one another, the upper frame being horizontally spaced from the lower frame.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said trunk compartment assembly comprises at least one enclosed storage box.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein said conversion system further comprises a barrier comprising a frame attachable to said vehicle using original equipment holes in the floor, roof or sides of said vehicle.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said barrier includes a bottom barrier shield half, and an upper shield half having a shelf;

wherein said barrier separates said vehicle into a front interior passenger area and a rear interior passenger area and said shelf is accessible only from said interior front passenger area.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said shelf is a gun storage area utilizing a gun lock.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein said conversion system further comprises a plurality of strobe lights connectable to at least one wire of said wiring harness.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said plurality of strobe lights comprises a rear strobe light system comprising a rear strobe light mounting plate, a rear strobe light cover, and at least one rear strobe light.

35. The method of claim 22, further comprising at least one exterior mounting system comprising a base plate attached to said vehicle by means of fasteners without permanently defacing said vehicle.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said base plate is fastenable to a drip rail on both sides of said vehicle.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said base plate includes an electrical ground formed in association therewith.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said base plate supports at least one of said at least one piece of equipment, said at least one of said at least one piece of equipment connected to at least one wire of said wiring harness, said at least one wire extendable through a hole in a B pillar on either side of said vehicle.

39. The method of claim 22, wherein said conversion system further comprises a rear seat replacement module, and said mounting of said conversion system comprises removing original rear seats of said vehicle.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said rear seat replacement module comprises a formed bench seat and a floor well cover.

41. The method of claim 22, wherein said conversion system further comprises at least one air circulation fan capable of transferring air from the interior of said vehicle to the trunk of said vehicle.

42. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of said at least one conduit is an air conduit capable of carrying air from the interior of said vehicle to the trunk of said vehicle.

47. The method of claim 22, wherein said wiring harness comprises at least one electrical distribution center.

48. The method of claim 22, wherein said wiring harness comprises two electrical distribution centers.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said at least one electrical distribution center includes at least one fuse and at least one relay.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein said at least one electrical distribution center provides both battery power and ignition controlled power connections.

51. A conversion system for converting a vehicle from an original equipment vehicle to a special purpose use vehicle, said conversion system comprising:

a wiring harness independent from a standard wiring harness supplied with said vehicle, said wiring harness comprising at least one electrical distribution center, said at least one electrical distribution center having at least one of a fuse and a relay, said at least one electrical distribution center providing both battery power and ignition controlled power connections;

wherein said conversion system is mountable to said vehicle without permanently defacing said vehicle, and said wiring harness is connectable to a battery of said vehicle and to at least one piece of equipment, said conversion system further comprising;

a conduit assembly, said conduit assembly comprising at least one conduit, said conduit having a plurality of wire ports, said wiring harness extending through said at least one conduit;

a console, said console comprising a mounting support mountable to at least one seat stud of said vehicle;

a trunk compartment assembly mountable in the trunk of said vehicle, said trunk assembly comprising at least one storage box and at least one frame on which at least one of said at least one piece of equipment can be secured, said at least one frame comprising a slide tray;

a barrier and storage shelf assembly comprising a frame attachable to said vehicle using original equipment holes in the floor, roof or sides of said vehicle;

a plurality of strobe lights connectable to at least one wire of said wiring harness;

at least one exterior mounting system comprising a base plate attached to said vehicle by means of fasteners without permanently defacing said vehicle, said base plate supporting at least one of said at least one piece of equipment, said at least one of said at least one piece of equipment connected to at least one wire of said wiring harness, said at least one wire extendable through a hole in a B pillar on either side of said vehicle;

a rear seat replacement module mountable after removing the original rear seats of said vehicle, said rear seat replacement module comprising a formed bench seat and a floor well cover; and

at least one air circulation fan capable of transferring air from the interior of said vehicle to the trunk of said vehicle, at least one of said at least one conduit is an air conduit capable of carrying air from the interior of said vehicle to the trunk of said vehicle.

52. A conversion system for converting a vehicle from an original equipment vehicle to a special purpose use vehicle, the vehicle having a battery, said conversion system comprising:

a wiring harness independent from a standard wiring harness supplied with said vehicle;

wherein said conversion system is mountable to said vehicle without permanently defacing said vehicle, and said wiring harness is directly connected to the battery of said vehicle and to at least one piece of equipment,

the conversion system further comprising a plurality of modules removably attached to the vehicle, the plurality of modules including at least one of;

a conduit assembly, said conduit assembly comprising at least one conduit, said conduit having a plurality of wire ports, said wiring harness extending through said at least one conduit;

a trunk compartment assembly mountable in the trunk of said vehicle;

a barrier and storage shelf assembly comprising a frame attachable to said vehicle using original equipment holes in the floor, roof or sides of said vehicle;

a plurality of strobe lights connectable to at least one wire of said wiring harness;

at least one exterior mounting system comprising a base plate attached to said vehicle by means of fasteners without permanently defacing said vehicle; and

a rear seat replacement module mountable after removing the original rear seats of said vehicle.