Back-lit vehicle emblem

• US 7,931,393 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephan M. Stempinski
• Original Assignee: Stephan M. Stempinski
• Inventors: Stempinski, Stephan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US12/549,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20110051451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 362/496
• US Class Current: 362/496
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0404 the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/08 using both translucent and non-translucent layers

Abstract

A back-lit vehicle emblem (1) having a body (2) with a front surface (3) and a rear surface (4). The body may be in the shape of a logo, lettering showing the make and model of a vehicle or any other design, such as a sports team'"'"'s logo, a religious symbol, etc. At least one light emitting diode (“LED”) (5), is located in a hollow portion (6) of the body. The rear surface has at least one edge (7) with at least one partially raised edge (8) so that when the at least one LED is activated, light emitted from the at least one LED shines under the raised edge of the back-lit emblem, thereby illuminating the emblem. The back-lit vehicle emblem may have at least one spacer (10) located on the rear surface that creates a space between the rear surface of the back-lit vehicle emblem and a vehicle (14). In addition, predetermined areas of the front surface of the back-lit vehicle emblem may be translucent areas (9) to allow even surfaced emblems to be illuminated.

Claims

1. A back-lit vehicle emblem, comprising:

a body that exhibits the emblem, the body being mountable on the vehicle to provide a space between at least a portion of the body and the vehicle and further being at least partially hollowed out, the hollowed out portion including an LED directed to transmit light from the hollowed out portion back toward the vehicle through the space between the body and the vehicle to be reflected off a surface of the vehicle to reflect away from the vehicle surface, the light illuminating at least one edge of the body via the reflection off the surface of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle emblem of claim 1, wherein the at least one edge follows a contour of the emblem.

3. The vehicle emblem of claim 2, wherein the at least one edge is raised from the surface of the vehicle to allow light to pass outward through the space between the edge and the vehicle.

4. The vehicle emblem of claim 3, wherein the space between at least a portion of the body and the vehicle is formed by the raised edge.

5. The vehicle emblem of claim 1, wherein the space between at least a portion of the body and the vehicle is formed by mounting a spacer between the body and the vehicle.

6. The vehicle emblem of claim 1, wherein the light illuminates one or more contours of the emblem that outline a substantial portion of the emblem.

7. The vehicle emblem of claim 1, wherein the hollowed out portion includes a plurality of LEDs distributed to provide lighting of at least substantially an entire edge of the emblem.