Sign for a vehicle and process of using sign

• US 6,735,893 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag
• Original Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag
• Inventors: Wolf, Erhard
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US10/418,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 405/91, 405/56, 405/41, 405/52, 362/487, 362/496, 362/505, 362/506, 362/800, 362/812
• US Class Current: 40/591
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A sign for a vehicle has a three-dimensional base equipped with an opaque surface coating, and a backside of the base is placed on and attached to a vehicle part. The sign is equipped with an indirect lighting device so as to allow recognition of the sign at dawn or dusk or in the dark.

Claims

1. A sign for a vehicle comprising:

a three-dimensional base equipped with an opaque surface coating, a rear side of the base being placeable on and directly attachable to a vehicle part, and

an indirect lighting device with which the sign is equipped.

2. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the indirect lighting device affects a peripheral surface edge that is arranged between the rear side and a front side of the three-dimensional base.

3. The sign according to claim 2, wherein the at least one peripheral contour runs adjacent to the rear side of the base on the peripheral surface edge.

4. The sign according to claim 3, wherein a power source is activated when switching on headlights, when switching on side clearance lamps, when switching on interior lighting, when braking, or in dependency upon a brightness sensor.

5. The sign according to claim 2, wherein the base has a galvanized or painted surface coating.

6. The sign according to claim 2, wherein a power source is activated when switching on headlights, when switching on side clearance lamps, when switching on interior lighting, when braking, or in dependency upon a brightness sensor.

7. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the base has a galvanized or painted surface coating.

8. The sign according to claim 7, wherein a power source is activated when switching on headlights, when switching on side clearance lamps, when switching on interior lighting, when braking, or in dependency upon a brightness sensor.

9. The sign according to claim 1, wherein a power source is activated when switching on headlights, when switching on side clearance lamps, when switching on interior lighting, when braking, or in dependency upon a brightness sensor.

10. A sign according to claim 1, for a vehicle comprising:

a three-dimensional base equipped with an opaque surface coating, a rear side of the base being placeable on and attachable to a vehicle part, and

an indirect lighting device with which the sign is equipped,

wherein, for forming the indirect lighting device, the base is formed of translucent plastic material,

wherein, at the rear side of the base, at least one light-emitting diode is arranged, and

wherein the surface coating is removed in some areas in such a way that at least one peripheral ring-shaped closed contour is formed so that a beam is formed when the at least one light-emitting diode is switched on.

11. The sign according to claim 10, wherein the at least one peripheral contour is formed through local use of a laser on the surface coating.

12. The sign according to claim 11, wherein the base is manufactured from translucent ABS or polycarbonate.

13. The sign according to claim 11, wherein a power source is activated when switching on headlights, when switching on side clearance lamps, when switching on interior lighting, when braking, or in dependency upon a brightness sensor.

14. The sign according to claim 10, wherein the at least one peripheral contour has a relatively narrow width along its longitudinal extension.

15. The sign according to claim 14, wherein the base is manufactured from translucent ABS or polycarbonate.

16. The sign according to claim 14, wherein a power source is activated when switching on headlights, when switching on side clearance lamps, when switching on interior lighting, when braking, or in dependency upon a brightness sensor.

17. The sign according to claim 10, wherein the base has a galvanized or painted surface coating.

18. The sign according to claim 10, wherein the base is manufactured from translucent ABS or polycarbonate.

19. The sign according to claim 10, wherein a power source is activated when switching on headlights, when switching on side clearance lamps, when switching on interior lighting, when braking, or in dependency upon a brightness sensor.

20. A sign for a vehicle comprising:

a three-dimensional base equipped with an opaque surface coating, a rear side of the base placeable on and attachable to a vehicle part, and

an indirect lighting device with which the sign is equipped,

wherein the base is manufactured from translucent ABS or polycarbonte.

21. The sign according to claim 20, wherein a power source is activated when switching on headlights, when switching on side clearance lamps, when switching on interior lighting, when braking, or in dependency upon a brightness sensor.

22. A sign for a vehicle comprising:

a three-dimensional base equipped with an opaque surface coating, a rear side of the base being placeable on and attachable to a vehicle part, and

an indirect lighting device with which the sign is equipped,

wherein the indirect lighting device affects a peripheral surface edge that is arranged between the rear side and a front side of the three-dimensional base, and

wherein the base is manufactured from translucent ABS or polycarbonate.

23. A sign for a vehicle comprising:

a three-dimensional base equipped with an opaque surface coating, a rear side of the base being placeable on and attachable to a vehicle part, and

an indirect lighting device with which the sign is equipped,

wherein the base has a galvanized or painted surface coating, and

wherein the base is manufactured from translucent ABS or polycarbonate.

24. A process of using a sign for a vehicle which is recognizable at dawn, dusk, or in the dark, which includes a three dimensional base equipped with an opaque surface coating, a rear side of the base being placed on and directly attached to a vehicle part, and which is equipped with an indirect lighting device, comprising activating a power source for the sign.

25. The process according to claim 24, wherein the power source is activated when switching on headlights, when switching on side clearance lamps, when switching on interior lighting, when braking, or in dependency upon a brightness sensor.