Lighted vehicle grille

• US 7,204,626 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Putco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Putco Incorporated
• Inventors: Elwell, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney; Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US11/238,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20060023464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 362/496
• US Class Current: 362/496
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326

Abstract

A lighted vehicle grille includes a grille or grille insert mounted to the front of a vehicle with a plurality of lights mounted to the vehicle grille. The lights may be mounted within holes in the grille or may be otherwise attached to the grille. The lights are connectable to the electrical circuitry of the vehicle, and are adapted to turn on simultaneously with the selective turning on of other vehicle lights.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

a vehicle having a grille opening at the front thereof and having a light electrical circuit;

a grille mounted within the grille opening, the grille having a front face, a rear face, a first side, a second opposite side and a plurality of grille holes extending through the grille from the front face to the rear face;

a first grille light extending partially into one of the grille holes of the grille with a portion of the grille light being visible from the front face of the grille, and with a portion of the grille light being behind the front face of the grille;

securing mechanism for securing the grille light to the grille;

both the grille light and the securing mechanism extending partially within the grille hole;

the securing mechanism including a first member engaging the front face of the grille, a second member extending through the grille hole, and a third member engaging the rear face of the grille.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein at least a second grille light extends partially within a second grille hole of the grille and a second securing mechanism secures the second grille light to the grille and partially within a second one of the holes of the grille.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the first and second opposite grille holes are located at both of the first and second opposite sides, the first grille light being partially within the first grille hole adjacent the first side of the grille and the second grille light being partially within the second grille hole at the second opposite side of the grille.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the second member is threaded and the first and third members threadably engage the threaded member.

5. A combination comprising:

a vehicle having a grille opening at the front thereof and having a light electrical circuit;

a grille mounted within the grille opening, the grille having a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of grille holes extending through the grille from the front face to the rear face;

a grille light capable of actuation to create light connected to the light electrical circuit and extending partially into one of the grille holes of the grille with a portion of the grille light being visible in front of the front face of the grille, and with a portion of the grille light being behind the front face of the grille;

securing mechanism extending partially within one of the holes of the grille in addition to the grille light for securing the grille light to the grille.

6. A combination comprising:

a vehicle having a grille opening at the front thereof and having a light electrical circuit;

a grille mounted within the grille opening, the grille having a front face, a rear face, a first side, a second side opposite from the first side, and a plurality of grille holes extending through the grille from the front face to the rear face;

some of the plurality of grille holes being located adjacent the first side of the grille and other of the plurality of grille holes being adjacent the second side of the grille;

a first grille light and a second grille light, each being connected to the light electrical circuit and each being capable of actuation to create light;

the first grille light extending partially within a first one of the grille holes and the second grille light extending partially within a second one of the grille holes;

a first securing mechanism extending partially within the first one of the grille holes in addition to the first grille light;

a second securing mechanism extending partially within the second grille hole in addition to the second grille light.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein the first grille light is located adjacent the first side of the grille and the second grille light is located adjacent the second side of the grille.