Illuminated surfaces in the interior of an automobile

• US 6,851,840 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Khoury, Joseph, Ramamurthy, Rajkumar, Ruegenberg, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John Anthony
• Application Number:
  US10/170,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 362/482, 362/489, 362/488, 362/54, 362/29, 362/39, 362/30, 362/16
• US Class Current: 362/489
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1469 controlled by or attached to a single lever, e.g. steering column stalk switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/283 Steering wheels; Gear levers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light

Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle having luminescent or “glow-in-the-dark” markings placed on an interior surface of the vehicle and a light source located remotely from the markings to illuminate the markings, particularly at night. The markings can be placed on any surface inside a vehicle, such as a gear shift know, door handle or steering column control stalk. Additionally, the light source can be placed in the roof of the vehicle, behind a steering wheel, or any other location having an unobstructed view of the markings.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of a vehicle, comprising:

one or more control stalks located on a steering column;

said control stalks having markings thereon to provide information relating to the operation of the control stalk, said markings being composed of a luminescent material that allow the markings to be seen both day and night and;

a light source placed remotely from the markings and positioned so as to shine light onto the markings.

2. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the markings are made of a brightly-colored material.

3. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the markings are made of a phosphorescent material.

4. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the light source is placed in a rear portion of a steering wheel.

19. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the light source provides light having wavelengths that are reflected by the markings, thereby illuminating only the markings.

21. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the light source is placed in a roof of the vehicle.

5. A lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk, comprising:

at least one control stalk located on a steering column, said stalk having markings thereon;

a stationary light source located remotely from said control stalk and positioned so that it directs light onto the markings.

6. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of claim 5, comprising:

the light source being located in a rear portion of a steering wheel.

7. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of claim 5, wherein:

a second control stalk with markings is located on the steering column; and

the number of light sources equals the number of stalks, such that a light source is located opposite each stalk.

8. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of claim 5, wherein:

the markings are made of a luminescent material.

9. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of claim 5, wherein:

the markings are made of a reflective material.

10. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of claim 5, wherein:

the markings are made of a phosphorescent material.

20. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of claim 5, wherein:

the light source provides light having wavelengths that are reflected by the markings, thereby illuminating only the markings.

11. A lighting assembly for markings inside of a vehicle comprising:

markings on an interior surface of a vehicle, the markings being made of a luminescent material; and

a light source located in a portion of a steering column of the vehicle remote from the markings, the light source being positioned to illuminate the markings.

12. The lighting assembly for markings inside of a vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

the markings are made of a reflective material.

13. The lighting assembly for markings inside of a vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

the markings are made from a material that reflects a particular range of light wavelengths.

14. The lighting assembly for markings inside of a vehicle of claim 13, wherein:

the light source provides light having wavelengths that are reflected by the markings.

15. The lighting assembly for markings inside of a vehicle of claim 14, wherein:

the markings are made from an ultra violet light reflective material and the light source is an ultra violet light source.

16. The lighting assembly for markings inside of a vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

an area surrounding the markings is made of a light absorbing material so as to enhance the illuminating effect of the markings.

17. The lighting assembly for markings inside of a vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

the light source emits a narrowly focused beam of light and directs the light onto one or more specific locations for illumination.

18. The lighting assembly for markings inside of a vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

the markings are placed on a steering column stalk of the vehicle.

22. A lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk, comprising:

one or more control stalks located on a steering column, said stalks having markings made of a luminescent material thereon; and

a light source located in a rear portion of a steering wheel remote from said control stalks and positioned so that it directs light onto the markings.

23. The lighting assembly for a steering column control stalk of claim 22, wherein

the markings are made of a reflective material.