Vehicular lighting arrangement with infinity effect

• US 7,029,152 B1
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kuhl Reflections, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kuhl Reflections, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuhl, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US10/764,204
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/489, 362/298, 362/540, 362/545, 472/63
• US Class Current: 362/489
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/336 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2688 on exhaust pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/015 using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/00 Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A vehicular lighting housing utilizes a combination of a two-way mirror, a strip of LEDs, a one-way mirror spaced from the two-way mirror, and a cover glass such that when the LEDs are illuminated, light reflects back and forth between the two-way mirror and the one-way mirror to present a series of constantly converging light streams forming an endless tunnel of light.

Claims

1. An infinity effect vehicular lighting arrangement comprising:

a hollow, vehicular lighting housing mounted on a vehicle, the housing having an interior surface particularly shaped for a desired function and portion of the vehicle;

a rigid, planar two-way mirror having a fully reflective surface and a peripheral surface correspondingly shaped to fit in and be fixed to the interior surface of the vehicular lighting housing at a rear portion thereof;

a flat flexible strip disposed immediately adjacent and in front of the two-way mirror, at least one edge of the strip being engaged against the two-way mirror, the flat flexible strip having an outer planar surface fixed across an entire constant width thereof flush against the interior surface of the vehicular lighting housing, and an inner reflective surface holding a plurality of serially connected, spaced apart, light emitting sources extending radially inwardly into an open cavity having a periphery defined by the strips;

a rigid, planar, inflexible one-way mirror constantly held in equidistantly spaced, parallel relationship from the two-way mirror and positioned immediately adjacent and forwardly of the flexible strip such that a portion of the one-way mirror engages another edge of the flexible strip, the one-way mirror having at least a partially transparent front surface, and a partially reflective rear surface facing the fully reflective mirror surface of the two-way mirror, and a peripheral surface correspondingly shaped to fit in and be fixed to the interior surface of the vehicular lighting housing at a front portion thereof;

a planar, transparent, cover glass extending entirely across and placed forwardly of and against the one-way mirror and having a peripheral surface correspondingly shaped to fit in and be fixed to the interior surface of the vehicular lighting housing at a forwardmost portion thereof;

a battery mounted on the vehicle and connected to the light emitting sources for providing electrical power to illuminate the sources in the open cavity bounded by the strip, the two-way mirror and the one-way mirror,

the flexible strip being compactly sandwiched between the two-way mirror and the one-way mirror,

whereby when the light sources are illuminated, light reflects back and forth between the two-way mirror and the one-way mirror to present through the cover glass a series of constantly rearwardly, converging light streams forming an endless tunnel of light, the vehicular lighting housing is the exterior shell of a dashboard instrument of the vehicle.

2. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the light sources are LEDs.

3. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 2, wherein the flexible strip includes at least two spaced apart rows of LEDs.

4. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the peripheral surfaces of the two-way mirror, the reflective strip, the one-way mirror and a cover glass are bonded to the interior surface of the vehicular lighting housing by an adhesive.

5. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the light sources are connected to the battery by wiring running axially along the interior surface of the vehicular lighting housing.

6. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vehicular lighting housing is a speedometer housing.

7. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the partially transparent front surface of the one-way mirror is provided with indicia and a movable indicator needle movable along the indicia.

8. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 7, wherein the two-way mirror and the one-way mirror are provided with aligned openings adapted to receive a rod for moving the indicator needle.

9. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vehicular lighting housing is constructed and arranged to provide multiple endless tunnels of light in spaced apart relationship.

10. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vehicular lighting arrangement is a tail light housing.

11. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vehicular lighting housing is a clearance light housing.

12. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vehicular lighting housing is an exhaust manifold housing.

13. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vehicular lighting housing is a motorcycle cover plate.

14. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vehicular lighting housing is an air cleaner housing.

15. An infinity effect vehicular lighting arrangement comprising:

a hollow, vehicular lighting housing adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, the housing having an interior surface particularly shaped for a desired function and portion of the vehicle;

a two-way mirror having a fully reflective surface and a peripheral surface correspondingly shaped to fit in and be fixed to the interior surface of the vehicular lighting housing at a rear portion thereof;

a flexible strip disposed immediately adjacent and in front of the two-way mirror, at least one edge of the strip being engaged against the two-way mirror, the flexible strip having an outer surface fixed to the interior surface of the vehicular lighting housing, and an inner reflective surface holding a plurality of serially connected, spaced apart, light emitting sources extending radially inwardly into an open cavity defined by the strip;

a one-way mirror held in spaced, parallel relationship from the two-way mirror and positioned immediately adjacent and forwardly of the flexible strip such that a portion of the one-way mirror engages another edge of the flexible strip, the one-way mirror having at least a partially transparent front surface, and a partially reflective rear surface facing the fully reflective mirror surface of the two-way mirror, and a peripheral surface correspondingly shaped to fit in and be fixed to the interior surface of the vehicular lighting housing at a front portion thereof;

a transparent, cover glass placed forwardly of the one-way mirror and having a peripheral surface correspondingly shaped to fit in and be fixed to the interior surface of the vehicular lighting housing at a forwardmost portion thereof;

a battery adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and connected to the light emitting sources for providing electrical power to illuminate the sources in the open cavity defined by the strip,

the flexible strip being compactly sandwiched between the two-way mirror and the one-way mirror,

whereby when the light sources are illuminated, light reflects back and forth between the two-way mirror and the one-way mirror to present through the cover glass a series of constantly rearwardly, converging light streams forming an endless tunnel of light,

wherein the vehicular lighting housing is the exterior shell of a dashboard instrument of the vehicle, and

wherein the partially transparent front surface of the one-way mirror is provided with indicia and a movable indicator needle movable along the indicia.

16. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 15, wherein the two-way mirror and the one-way mirror are provided with aligned openings adapted to receive a rod for moving the indicator needle.

17. The vehicular lighting arrangement of claim 15, wherein the vehicular lighting housing is a speedometer housing.