Security lighting for a vehicle

• US 8,235,568 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Randy, Rezzo, Sari, Stein, Sue, Thompson, Kevin, Héiden, David
• Primary Examiner(s): MAY, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/713,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20110211362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 362/495, 362/487, 362/311.02, 362/249.02, 362/500
• US Class Current: 362/495
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/04 External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/046 Foot boards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a security vehicle lighting system. The system includes a rocker panel trim member arranged to conceal at least a portion of a vehicle rocker panel, the trim member having a lower wall portion having at least one aperture formed therein, the lower wall portion defining an interior surface and an opposing ground-facing surface and extending inboard toward the rocker panel, and at least one light member disposed between the rocker panel and the interior surface and adjacent the at least one aperture, wherein the at least one light member is mounted on the interior surface of the trim member and operable to illuminate a portion of the ground proximate the trim member.

Claims

1. A vehicle structure, comprising

a side body structure having a door opening;

a floor;

a rocker panel interconnecting the side body structure to the floor proximal to the door opening;

a rocker panel trim member arranged to conceal at least a portion of the rocker panel, the trim member having a lower wall portion having a plurality of apertures formed therein, the lower wall portion defining an interior surface and an exterior surface and extending inboard toward the rocker panel;

a plurality of light members disposed between the rocker panel and the interior surface and adjacent the plurality of apertures, the plurality of light members operable to illuminate a portion of the ground proximate the trim member; and

at least one strip section having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface and extending between at least two light members of the plurality of light members, the strip section adapted to attach to the interior surface of the trim member.

2. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of light members is positioned in a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures.

3. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light members is positioned to emit light through a corresponding one the plurality of apertures.

4. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light members extend through and project from a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures.

5. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light members are mounted on the interior surface of the trim member.

6. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light members comprises:

a base;

a light source mounted on the base; and

a lens projecting from the base, the lens sized and configured to be mounted in a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures.

7. The vehicle lighting system of claim 6, wherein the light source is an LED.

8. The vehicle lighting system of claim 6, wherein the lens is configured to at least one of protect the light source and disperse light from the light source.

9. The vehicle lighting system of claim 6, wherein the lens is dome-shaped.

10. The vehicle lighting system of claim 6, wherein the lens extends through and projects from one of the plurality of apertures.

11. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein the trim member has a central wall portion interconnecting an upper wall portion and the lower wall portion to form a generally C-shaped cross-section.

12. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion include attachment members adapted to connect to the rocker panel.

13. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one strip section includes a plurality of strip sections, each of the plurality of strip sections extending between at least two corresponding of the plurality of light members.

14. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one strip section is adapted to attach to the interior surface of the trim member using an adhesive tape located on the lower surface thereof.

15. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one strip section includes wires configured to electrically connect the plurality of light members.

16. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light members comprises:

a bolt having a shaft portion and a head portion, the shaft portion extending between the rocker panel and the interior surface;

a light source mounted within the head portion; and

a lens disposed within the head portion and over the light source.

17. A method of installing a lighting system in a vehicle having a rocker panel trim member adapted to conceal at least a portion of a rocker panel, the trim member having a lower wall portion defining an interior surface and an opposing ground-facing surface and extending inboard toward the rocker panel, comprising:

forming a plurality of apertures through the lower wall portion;

positioning each of the plurality of light members between the rocker panel and the interior surface and adjacent to a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of light members are serially connected by strip sections;

attaching the strips sections to the interior surface such that the strip sections are flush against the interior surface; and

electrically connecting the plurality of light members to a power source, the plurality of light members configured to illuminate a portion of the ground proximate the at least one aperture.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of light members each include a base, a light source mounted on the base and a lens projecting from the base, the lens sized and configured to be mounted in one of the plurality of apertures, wherein positioning the plurality of light members further comprises:

aligning the lenses of each of the plurality of light members in the plurality of apertures.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein electrically connecting the plurality of light members, further comprises:

electrically connecting the plurality of light members to a power signal for a room lamp such that the plurality of light members turn at least one of ON when the room lamp turns ON and OFF when the dome light turns OFF.