Mounting foot for light bar

• US 7,244,053 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2004
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Original Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Inventors: Czajkowski, Robert A., Meyer, Charles P., Bader, Joseph F., Urbanski, Sigmund S., Mol, Jan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton; Anabel
• Application Number:
  US10/809,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20040227370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 362/542, 362/487, 362/493, 362/545, 340/332, 340/815.45
• US Class Current: 362/493
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle

Abstract

A signaling system for mounting to an exterior surface of an emergency vehicle is provided. The signaling system includes a light bar and a pair of mounting feet. The light bar can include a plurality of signaling devices supported on and distributed along a base member and enclosed by a cover. The light bar can be secured to the mounting feet via a plurality of fasteners. The mounting feet can be connected to the emergency vehicle via roof straps. Each mounting foot can include a base, which can have a support portion, a contoured portion, and a pair of compartments; a pair of seals associated with each compartment; a pair of covers, which can be translucent, removably mounted to the base to enclose the compartments; and a roof strap secured to the base. Each compartment can house a signaling device, such as a lamp assembly.

Claims

1. A mounting foot for mounting a light bar to an exterior surface of a vehicle, the mounting foot comprising:

a base, the base having a light bar mounting surface for supporting the light bar;

a vehicle connector for connecting said mounting foot to the vehicle, the vehicle connector secured to the base; and

a signaling device mounted to the base;

wherein the base includes a signaling device mounting surface and an underside, the signaling device being disposed on the signaling device mounting surface, the light bar mounting surface and the signaling device mounting surface being offset with respect to each other, and the underside having a vehicle mounting surface engageable with the vehicle, the vehicle mounting surface in opposing relationship to the light bar mounting surface, the signaling device mounting surface being disposed between the light bar mounting surface and the vehicle mounting surface.

2. The mounting foot according to claim 1 wherein the base has a first end and an opposing second end, the light bar mounting surface disposed adjacent the first end of the base, the signaling device disposed adjacent the second end of the base.

3. The mounting foot according to claim 1 wherein the base includes a contoured profile, the contoured profile configured to substantially conform to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the vehicle.

4. The mounting foot according to claim 1 wherein the base includes a sidewall, the sidewall and the signaling device mounting surface defining a recess, the signaling device disposed in the recess.

5. The mounting foot according to claim 4 wherein the signaling device includes at least one electrical wire extending therefrom, and the recess includes an opening through the base, the opening sized to allow the at least one electrical wire to extend therethrough.

6. The mounting foot according to claim 4 wherein the base includes an outer end, the outer end including a corner, the recess disposed at the corner of the outer end of the base.

7. The mounting foot according to claim 4, further comprising:

a cover, the cover defining an interior, the signaling device disposed within the interior of the cover.

8. The mounting foot according to claim 7, wherein the cover is removably mounted to the base.

9. The mounting foot according to claim 7 wherein the cover comprises a transparent material.

10. The mounting foot according to claim 9 wherein the cover comprises a colored material.

11. The mounting foot according to claim 8, further comprising:

a seal member associated with the recess, the seal member cooperating with the cover to substantially seal the interior.

12. The mounting foot according to claim 11 wherein the base includes an underside, the underside having a vehicle mounting surface engageable with the vehicle, the mounting foot further comprising:

a second seal member, the second seal member being disposed in contacting relationship with the vehicle mounting surface of the base and in substantial alignment with the recess.

13. The mounting foot according to claim 1 wherein the base includes a mounting hole, the vehicle connector includes a roof clamp and a bolt, the roof clamp being substantially rigid and having a flange with an opening therethrough, the bolt extending through the opening of the roof clamp and into the mounting hole to secure the roof clamp to the base.

14. The mounting foot according to claim 1 wherein the signaling device comprises a light source.

15. The mounting foot according to claim 14 wherein the light source is pivotally mounted to the base.

16. The mounting foot according to claim 1 wherein the signaling device has at least one of a visual signaling feature and an aural signaling feature.

17. The mounting foot according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second signaling device mounted to the base.

18. The mounting foot according to claim 16 wherein the base includes first and second signaling device mounting surfaces, the signaling device mounting surfaces each being in offset relationship to the light bar mounting surface, the first and second signaling devices being respectively mounted to the first and second signaling device mounting surfaces.

19. The mounting foot according to claim 18 wherein the base includes first and second sidewalls, the sidewalls respectively cooperating with the first and second signaling device mounting surfaces to define a first recess and a second recess, the first and second signaling devices disposed in the first and second recesses, respectively.

20. The mounting foot according to claim 19 wherein the base includes an outer end, the outer end including first and second corners, the first and second recesses respectively disposed at the first and second corners of the outer end of the base.

21. The mounting foot according to claim 19, further comprising:

first and second covers, the first and second covers each defining an interior, the first and second signaling device disposed in the interiors of the first and second covers, respectively.

22. A vehicle comprising:

an exterior surface; and

a signaling system mounted to the exterior surface, the signaling system including;

a light bar comprising a plurality of signaling devices supported on and distributed along a base member;

a mounting foot having a generally planar light bar mounting surface supporting the base member of the light bar, the mounting foot secured to the exterior surface; and

a signaling device mounted to the mounting foot said mounting foot includes a first sidewall and a first signaling device mounting surface, the first signaling device mounting surface being offset with respect to the light bar mounting surface, the first sidewall cooperating with the first signaling device mounting surface to define a first recess, said first signaling device disposed in the first recess.

23. The vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the base member of the light bar includes a pair of ends, the vehicle further comprising:

a second mounting foot, the first and second mounting feet connected to the base member of the light bar such that the mounting feet are respectively disposed adjacent the first and second ends thereof, the second mounting foot connected to the exterior surface.

24. The vehicle according to claim 22 further comprising:

a second signaling device mounted to the mounting foot.

25. The vehicle according to claim 22 wherein the mounting foot includes an outer end, the outer end including first and second corners, the first recess disposed at one of the first and second corners of the outer end thereof.

26. The vehicle according to claim 22 wherein the light bar includes an end, the mounting foot disposed at the end of the light bar, and the signaling device is mounted to the mounting foot such that the signaling device extends outwardly a predetermined distance from the end of the light bar.

27. The vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the light bar includes a pair of ends, the vehicle further comprising:

a second mounting foot, the second mounting foot connected to the light bar and to the exterior surface of the vehicle;

a second signaling device, the second signaling device connected to the second mounting foot;

wherein, the first and second mounting feet are connected to the light bar such that the mounting feet are respectively disposed adjacent the first and second ends thereof, and the first and second signaling devices are mounted to the first and second mounting feet, respectively, such that the signaling devices each extend outwardly a predetermined distance from the respective first and second ends of the light bar.

28. The vehicle according to claim 22 wherein the light bar comprises a single level light bar.

29. The vehicle according to claim 22 wherein the light bar comprises a multi-level light bar.

30. The vehicle according to claim 22 wherein the vehicle is an emergency vehicle.

31. An apparatus for mounting a light bar with a housing for light sources to a vehicle comprising:

a mounting foot joining the light bar to the vehicle;

at least one fastener for detachably securing the light bar to the mounting foot;

a mounting foot light source; and

a separate housing for the mounting foot light source supported on the mounting foot which is separate from the housing for the light sources of the light bar.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the housing includes an opening for communicating power to the light source in the housing.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the housing includes a transparent cover that protects the light source while at the same time allows light from the light source to pass through it.