Functional and ornamental vehicle accessories

• US 7,091,843 B1
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rajiv Singh Lal
• Original Assignee: Rajiv Singh Lal
• Inventors: Lal, Rajiv Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/288,119
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 340463-479, 340/457, 362/80, 362/494, 362/565, 362/566, 362/605, 362/611, 248/305, 248/294.1
• US Class Current: 340/468
• 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: B60R 13/00 Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle

Abstract

Systems and methods for a functional and ornamental vehicle accessory are provided. The vehicle accessory includes a housing and a mounting mechanism for coupling the accessory to a vehicle. The vehicle accessory can also include a light source or light conducting member. Wiring for electrically connecting the light source can be included such that the vehicle accessory can illuminate during a variety of vehicle functions. The vehicle accessory can also operate as a communication hub for the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle accessory comprising;

a housing configured to be removably coupled to a vehicle;

a light conducting member extending through the housing for illuminating at least a portion of the housing;

electrical wiring which extends from the light conducting member to a light in the vehicle, such that the light conducting member illuminates with the corresponding vehicle light; and

an end ornament comprising a communications interface for at least one of receiving and transmitting information, the communications interface comprising at least a display that shows at least a text message.

2. The vehicle accessory of claim 1, the light conducting member comprises a light pipe and a light source.

3. The vehicle accessory of claim 2, the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

4. The vehicle accessory of claim 2, the light source is an electroluminescent wire.

5. The vehicle accessory of claim 4, further comprising a transformer for converting DC current to AC current.

6. The vehicle accessory of claim 1, the light conducting member comprises a fiber optic bundle.

7. The vehicle accessory of claim 1, further comprising a pin and collar mounting assembly.

8. The vehicle accessory of claim 1, the housing is illuminated at least one of red, yellow, blue, purple, green, orange, black, white, pink, amber.

9. The vehicle accessory of claim 1, the housing is illuminated by at least one of a constant light intensity and a variable light pattern intensity.

10. The vehicle accessory of claim 1, the housing is at least one of ring-shaped, crescent-shaped, straight-shaped, and spiral-shaped.

11. The vehicle accessory of claim 1, the end ornament comprises a ball having a recess that corresponds with an outer diameter of the vehicle accessory.

12. The vehicle accessory of claim 1 being mounted on a side view mirror of an automobile and electrically wired into a turn signal light of the automobile.

13. The vehicle accessory of claim 1 being mounted on a front portion of an automobile and electrically wired into at least one of a turn signal light, a brake light, a hazard light, a parking light, and a security system.

14. The vehicle accessory of claim 1 being mounted on a rear portion of an automobile and electrically wired into at least one of a turn signal light, a brake light, a hazard light, a parking light, and a security system.

15. The vehicle accessory of claim 1, further comprising a speaker for transmitting audible signals to an operator of the vehicle.