Projector systems

• US 7,175,321 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gustavo M. Lopez
• Original Assignee: Gustavo M. Lopez
• Inventors: Lopez, Gustavo M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke; Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shallenberger; Julie A.
• Application Number:
  US11/088,163
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 362493-494, 362503-504, 362496-497, 362/538, 362/540, 353/13, 353/122, 296/21, 428/31, 405/60
• US Class Current: 362/496
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/18 involving the use of optical projection means, e.g. projection of images on clouds projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle projection system relating to use of a light projecting system comprising at least one light projector adapted to project at least one decorative light design onto at least one exterior portion of a vehicle. The system preferably uses a laser projector and user-selectable controller to select and control decorative designs projected onto the vehicle exterior. The controller may be manually operated, computer programmed, remote controlled or utilize pre-selected programming.

Claims

1. A light projection system, relating to use on at least one vehicle, comprising:

a) light projector means for projecting at least one decorative light design onto at least one exterior portion of such at least one vehicle;

b) attacher means for attaching said light projector means with such at least one vehicle;

c) power coupler means for coupling power with said light projector means; and

d) geometric positioner means for assisting geometric positioning of said light projector means so that such at least one decorative light design is projectable onto such at least one exterior portion of such at least one vehicle.

2. The light projection system, according to claim 1, further comprising user-selector means for assisting at least one user-selection of such at least one projectable decorative light design.

3. The light projection system, according to claim 2, wherein said light projector means is operable to project such at least one user-selected decorative light design.

4. The light projection system, according to claim 1, wherein said light projector means comprises laser light means for projecting such at least one decorative light design.

5. The light projection, system according to claim 1, further comprising controller means for controlling said light projector means.

6. The light projection system, according to claim 5, wherein:

a) said controller means is electronically coupled to said light projector means; and

b) said controller means comprises said user-selector means.

7. A light projection system, relating to use on at least one vehicle, comprising:

a) at least one light projector adapted to project at least one decorative light design onto at least one exterior portion of such at least one vehicle;

b) at least one attacher adapted to attach said at least one light projector with such at least one vehicle;

c) at least one power coupler adapted to couple power with said at least one light projector; and

d) at least one geometric positioner adapted to assist geometric positioning of said at least one light projector so that such at least one decorative light design is projectable onto such at least one exterior portion of such at least one vehicle.

8. The light projection system, according to claim 7, wherein said at least one light projector comprises at least one laser light to project such at least one decorative light design.

9. The light projection system, according to claim 7, further comprising such at least one vehicle.

10. The light projection system, according to claim 9, wherein said at least one vehicle comprises at least one usual vehicle component modified to house said at least one light projector.

11. The light projection system, according to claim 7, further comprising at least one user-selector structured and arranged to assist at least one user-selection of such at least one decorative light design to be projected.

12. The light projection system, according to claim 11, wherein said at least one light projector is operable to project such at least one user-selected decorative light design.

13. The light projection system, according to claim 11, wherein said at least one user-selector comprises at least one decorative light design storage adapted to store such at least one decorative light design.

14. The light projection system, according to claim 13, wherein said at least one decorative light design storage comprises:

a) at least one program-assister adapted to assist programming of such at least one decorative light design into said at least one storage; and

b) at least one retriever adapted to retrieve such at least one decorative light design from said at least one storage;

c) wherein said light projection system is operable to program, store, retrieve and project such at least one decorative light design.

15. The light projection system, according to claim 11, further comprising at least one controller structured and arranged to control said at least one light projector.

16. The light projection system, according to claim 15, wherein:

a) said at least one controller is electronically coupled to said at least one light projector; and

b) said at least one controller comprises said at least one user-selector.

17. A light projection system, relating to use on at least one vehicle, comprising, in combination:

a) at least one such vehicle;

b) at least one light projector adapted to project at least one decorative light design onto at least one exterior portion of such at least one vehicle;

c) at least one attacher adapted to attach said at least one light projector with such at least one vehicle;

d) at least one power coupler adapted to couple power with said at least one light projector;

e) at least one geometric positioner adapted to assist geometric positioning of said at least one light projector so that such at least one decorative light design is projectable onto such at least one exterior portion of such at least one vehicle; and

f) at least one controller structured and arranged to control said at least one light projector;

g) wherein said at least one controller comprises at least one user-selector structured and arranged to assist at least one user-selection of such at least one decorative light design to be projected;

h) wherein said at least one user-selector comprises at least one decorative light design storage adapted to store such at least one decorative light design;

i) wherein said at least one decorative light design storage comprises

(1) at least one program-assister adapted to assist programming such at least one decorative light design into said at least one storage; and

(2) at least one retriever adapted to retrieve such at least one decorative light design from said at least one storage; and

j) wherein said light projection system is operable to program, store, retrieve and project such at least one decorative light design.

18. A method of installing at least one vehicle projection system relating to use of a light projecting system comprising at least one light projector adapted to project at least one decorative light design onto at least one exterior portion of such at least one vehicle, at least one attacher adapted to attach such at least one light projector with such at least one vehicle, at least one power coupler adapted to couple power with such at least one light projector, and at least one geometric positioner adapted to assist geometric positioning of such at least one light projector so that such at least one decorative light design is projectable onto such at least one exterior portion of such at least one vehicle, such method of installing at least one vehicle projection system comprising the steps of:

a) selecting such at least one light projector;

b) attaching and geometrically positioning such at least one light projector to such at least one vehicle;

c) electronically coupling such at least one light projector to at least one power source; and

d) projecting such at least one decorative light design onto such at least one exterior portion of such at least one vehicle.

19. The method of installing at least one vehicle projection system, according to claim 18, further comprising the step of modifying at least one existing vehicle component to house such at least one light projector.