Retractable rotationally adjustable lighting assembly and method
First Claim
1. A multi-functional vehicle lighting assembly for illuminating at least one target zone located external to an existing vehicle, said multi-functional vehicle lighting assembly comprising:
- a controller;
a housing coupled to the existing vehicle;
a plurality of light-emitting sources attached to said housing;
means for selectively pivoting said light-emitting sources between vertical and horizontal positions that are defined at opposed ends of a first arcuate path; and
means for selectively swiveling said light-emitting sources along clockwise and counter clockwise directions when said light-emitting sources are adapted to the vertical position, said clockwise and counter clockwise directions traveling along second arcuate paths;
wherein said controller independently toggles said pivoting means and said swiveling means between operating and non-operating modes based upon a user input;
wherein said pivoting means comprisesa motor electrically coupled to said controller;
a drive shaft connected to said motor and being rotatable along a first rotational path;
a drive gear concentrically mated about said drive shaft and being rotatable in sync therewith;
a driven shaft being rotatable along a second rotational path; and
a driven gear concentrically mated about said driven shaft and being rotatable in sync therewith;
wherein said drive gear is directly engaged with said driven gear and arranged in such a manner therewith that said driven shaft is caused to rotate about said second rotational path when said drive gear is rotated about the first rotational path such that said light-emitting sources are pivoted along said first arcuate path and thereby articulated to opposed positions defined interior and exterior of said housing respectively.
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Abstract
A multi-functional vehicle lighting assembly includes a controller, an housing, a plurality of light-emitting sources, a mechanism for selectively pivoting the light-emitting sources, and a mechanism for selectively swiveling the light-emitting sources along clockwise and counter clockwise directions when the light-emitting sources are adapted to the vertical position. The swiveling mechanism further includes a ball and socket coupling and a support beam with axially opposed proximal and distal ends directly coupled to the second beveled gear and one of the light-emitting sources respectively.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A multi-functional vehicle lighting assembly for illuminating at least one target zone located external to an existing vehicle, said multi-functional vehicle lighting assembly comprising:
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a controller; a housing coupled to the existing vehicle; a plurality of light-emitting sources attached to said housing; means for selectively pivoting said light-emitting sources between vertical and horizontal positions that are defined at opposed ends of a first arcuate path; and means for selectively swiveling said light-emitting sources along clockwise and counter clockwise directions when said light-emitting sources are adapted to the vertical position, said clockwise and counter clockwise directions traveling along second arcuate paths; wherein said controller independently toggles said pivoting means and said swiveling means between operating and non-operating modes based upon a user input; wherein said pivoting means comprises a motor electrically coupled to said controller; a drive shaft connected to said motor and being rotatable along a first rotational path; a drive gear concentrically mated about said drive shaft and being rotatable in sync therewith; a driven shaft being rotatable along a second rotational path; and a driven gear concentrically mated about said driven shaft and being rotatable in sync therewith; wherein said drive gear is directly engaged with said driven gear and arranged in such a manner therewith that said driven shaft is caused to rotate about said second rotational path when said drive gear is rotated about the first rotational path such that said light-emitting sources are pivoted along said first arcuate path and thereby articulated to opposed positions defined interior and exterior of said housing respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A multi-functional vehicle lighting assembly for illuminating at least one target zone located external to an existing vehicle, said multi-functional vehicle lighting assembly comprising:
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a controller; a housing coupled to an exterior surface of the existing vehicle; a plurality of light-emitting sources attached to said housing; means for selectively pivoting said light-emitting sources between vertical and horizontal positions that are defined at opposed ends of a first arcuate path, said horizontal position being further defined inside of said housing; and means for selectively swiveling said light-emitting sources along clockwise and counter clockwise directions when said light-emitting sources are adapted to the vertical position, said clockwise and counter clockwise directions traveling along second arcuate paths defined about vertical fulcrum axes associated with each of said light-emitting sources; wherein said controller independently toggles said pivoting means and said swiveling means between operating and non-operating modes based upon a user input; wherein said pivoting means comprises a motor electrically coupled to said controller; a drive shaft connected to said motor and being rotatable along a first rotational path; a drive gear concentrically mated about said drive shaft and being rotatable in sync therewith; a driven shaft; and a driven gear concentrically mated about said driven shaft and being rotatable in sync therewith; wherein said drive gear is directly engaged with said driven gear and arranged in such a manner therewith that said driven shaft is caused to rotate about said second rotational path when said drive gear is rotated about the first rotational path such that said light-emitting sources are pivoted along said first arcuate path and thereby articulated to opposed positions defined interior and exterior of said housing respectively. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method for illuminating at least one target zone located external to an existing vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a controller; b. providing and coupling a housing an exterior surface of the existing vehicle; c. providing and attaching a plurality of light-emitting sources to said housing; d. selectively pivoting said light-emitting sources between vertical and horizontal positions that are defined at opposed ends of a first arcuate path; and e. after adapting said light-emitting sources to the vertical position, selectively swiveling said light-emitting sources along clockwise and counter clockwise directions by swiveling said light-emitting sources along second arcuate paths defined about vertical fulcrum axes associated with each of said light-emitting sources; wherein step d comprises the steps of; providing and electrically coupling a motor to said controller; providing and connecting a drive shaft to said motor in such a manner that said drive shaft is rotatable along a first rotational path; providing and concentrically mating a drive gear about said drive shaft in such a manner that said drive gear is rotatable in sync therewith; providing a driven shaft that is rotatable along a second rotational path; providing and concentrically mating a driven gear about said driven shaft such that said driven gear is rotatable in sync therewith; said drive gear directly engaging said driven gear; rotating said driven shaft about said second rotational path by rotating said drive gear about the first rotational path; and pivoting said light-emitting sources along said first arcuate path by articulating said light-emitting sources to opposed positions defined interior and exterior of said housing respectively. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification