Mounting foot for light bar

• US 8,292,478 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Original Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Inventors: Bader, Joseph F., Mol, Jan C., Urbanski, Sigmund S., Meyer, Charles P., Czajkowski, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, ANABEL
• Application Number:
  US11/803,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20070216523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 362/493, 340/468
• 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 signaling system for mounting to an exterior surface of an emergency vehicle, the signaling system comprising:

a light bar unit including an outer housing arrangement enclosing a plurality of signaling devices; and

a pair of mounting feet that are separate pieces from the light bar unit, the mounting feet secured to the light bar unit, the mounting feet secured to the vehicle, each mounting foot including an outer end, the outer ends of the mounting feet facing away from each other, each mounting foot including a base, each base having a top side including a support portion and an opposite bottom side, each base also including a recess, the support portions of the mounting feet supporting the light bar unit and the recesses disposed adjacent the outer ends of the mounting feet, the recesses being located outside the outer housing arrangement of the light bar unit and being defined by sides walls and signaling device mounting surfaces of the mounting feet, the signaling device mounting surfaces being positioned lower than the support portions of the mounting feet; and

signaling devices mounted at the signaling device mounting surfaces, the signaling devices being located outside the outer housing arrangement of the light bar unit and being located at least partially within the recesses.

2. 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 top side including a light bar mounting surface for supporting the light bar and a bottom side adapted to face toward the exterior surface of the vehicle when the base is secured to the vehicle, the base also having an outer end, an inner end, a front side and a back side;

the outer end of the base defining first and second separate recesses, the first recess being disposed adjacent the front side of the base and being defined by a forwardly facing surface of the base, a first outwardly facing surface of the base and a first upwardly facing surface of the base, the second recess being disposed adjacent the back side of the base and being defined by a backwardly facing surface of the base, a second outwardly facing surface of the base and a second upwardly facing surface of the base;

a vehicle connector disposed adjacent the outer end of the base for connecting the mounting foot to the vehicle, the vehicle connector secured to the base; and

first and second signaling devices mounted to the base, at least portions of the first and second signaling devices being located lower than the light bar mounting surface, the first signaling device being mounted on the first upwardly facing surface of the base and being disposed at least partially within the first recess and the second signaling device being mounted on the second upwardly facing surface of the base and being disposed at least partially in the second recess.

3. A signaling system for mounting to an exterior surface of a vehicle, the signaling system comprising:

a light bar unit comprising a plurality of signaling devices enclosed within an outer light bar housing arrangement;

a mounting foot for mounting the light bar unit to the exterior surface of the vehicle, the mounting foot having a generally planar upper light bar mounting surface supporting the light bar unit;

a signaling device mounted to the mounting foot at a location outside the outer light bar housing arrangement; and

wherein the mounting foot comprises a first mounting foot, and wherein the signaling system further comprises;

a second mounting foot, the first and second mounting feet connected to the light bar unit such that the mounting feet are respectively disposed adjacent opposite first and second ends thereof.

4. A signaling system for mounting to an exterior surface of a vehicle, the signaling system comprising:

a light bar unit comprising a plurality of signaling devices enclosed within an outer light bar housing arrangement;

a mounting foot for mounting the light bar unit to the exterior surface of the vehicle, the mounting foot having a generally planar upper light bar mounting surface supporting the light bar unit;

a signaling device mounted to the mounting foot at a location outside the outer light bar housing arrangement; and

a vehicle connector for connecting the mounting foot to the vehicle, the vehicle connector secured to the mounting foot.

5. A signaling system for mounting to an exterior surface of a vehicle, the signaling system comprising:

a light bar unit comprising a plurality of signaling devices enclosed within an outer light bar housing arrangement;

a mounting foot for mounting the light bar unit to the exterior surface of the vehicle, the mounting foot having a generally planar upper light bar mounting surface supporting the light bar unit;

a signaling device mounted to the mounting foot at a location outside the outer light bar housing arrangement; and

wherein the light bar unit is secured to the light bar mounting surface of the mounting foot via a plurality of fasteners.

6. A signaling system for mounting to an exterior surface of a vehicle, the signaling system comprising:

a light bar unit comprising a plurality of signaling devices enclosed within an outer light bar housing arrangement;

a mounting foot for mounting the light bar unit to the exterior surface of the vehicle, the mounting foot having a generally planar upper light bar mounting surface supporting the light bar unit;

a signaling device mounted to the mounting foot at a location outside the outer light bar housing arrangement; and

wherein the signaling device mounted to the mounting foot comprises a first signaling device, and wherein the signaling system further comprises;

a second signaling device mounted to the mounting foot.

7. The signaling system according to claim 6 wherein the mounting foot includes first and second sidewalls and first and second signaling device mounting surfaces, 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.

8. The signaling system according to claim 7 wherein the mounting foot 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 thereof.

9. A signaling system for mounting to an exterior surface of a vehicle, the signaling system comprising:

a light bar unit comprising a plurality of signaling devices enclosed within an outer light bar housing arrangement;

a mounting foot for mounting the light bar unit to the exterior surface of the vehicle, the mounting foot having a generally planar upper light bar mounting surface supporting the light bar unit;

a signaling device mounted to the mounting foot at a location outside the outer light bar housing arrangement; and

wherein the light bar unit comprises a single level light bar unit.

10. A signaling system for mounting to an exterior surface of a vehicle, the signaling system comprising:

a light bar unit comprising a plurality of signaling devices enclosed within an outer light bar housing arrangement;

a mounting foot for mounting the light bar unit to the exterior surface of the vehicle, the mounting foot having a generally planar upper light bar mounting surface supporting the light bar unit;

a signaling device mounted to the mounting foot at a location outside the outer light bar housing arrangement; and

wherein the light bar unit comprises a multi-level light bar unit.

11. A mounting foot for mounting a light bar to a roof of a vehicle, the mounting foot comprising:

a mounting foot base including a top side positioned opposite from a bottom side, a front side positioned opposite from a back side and an inner end positioned opposite from an outer end, the front and back sides having lengths that extend between the inner and outer ends and heights that extend between the top and bottom sides, the top side including a light bar mounting surface and a plurality of light bar fastener openings that extend downwardly through the light bar mounting surface, the mounting foot base also including a front signaling device mounting surface positioned at a front, outer corner of the mounting foot base and a back signaling device mounting surface positioned at a back, outer corner of the mounting foot base, the front signaling device mounting surface and the back signaling device mounting surface being positioned lower than the light bar mounting surface, the outer end of the mounting foot base defining a cutout located between the front and back signaling device mounting surfaces, an inner portion of the cutout being defined by a transverse rib that extends in a front-to-back direction;

a connecting bracket for connecting the mounting foot base to the vehicle, the connecting bracket being positioned at least partially within the cutout, the connecting bracket being secured to the mounting foot base by a fastener that extends through an opening defined by the transverse rib;

a front signaling device mounted at the front signaling device mounting surface, at least a portion of the front signaling device being lower than the light bar mounting surface; and

a back signaling device mounted at the back signaling device mounting surface, at least a portion of the back signaling device being lower than the light bar mounting surface.

12. The mounting foot of claim 11, wherein the mounting foot base defines a front recess in which at least a portion of the front signaling device is positioned, the front recess having an open top side, an open front side and an open outer side, and wherein the mounting foot base also includes a back recess in which at least a portion of the back signaling device is positioned, the back recess including an open top side, an open outer side and an open back side.

13. The mounting foot of claim 12, further comprising a front cover for enclosing the front recess and a back cover for enclosing the back recess.

14. The mounting foot of claim 11, wherein the front signaling device is mountable in a first position in which the front signaling device directs light generally in a forward direction and in a second position in which the front signaling device directs light generally in an outward direction, and wherein the back signaling device is mountable in a first position in which the back signaling device directs light generally in a rearward direction and in a second position in which the back signaling device directs light generally in an outward direction.

15. The mounting foot of claim 11, wherein the mounting foot base includes a main body, wherein the inner end of the mounting foot base includes front and back arms that project inwardly from the main body, the front and back arms being separated by an open space.

16. A signaling system for mounting to a roof of a vehicle, the signaling system comprising:

a light bar unit comprising a plurality of signaling devices enclosed within an outer housing arrangement;

a first mounting foot for mounting the light bar unit to the roof of the vehicle, the first mounting foot having a top side including a first support surface on which the light bar unit is supported, the first mounting foot also including a bottom side that faces toward the roof of the vehicle when the signaling system is mounted to the roof of the vehicle;

a second mounting foot for mounting the light bar unit to the roof of the vehicle, the second mounting foot having a top side including a second support surface at which the light bar unit is supported, the second mounting foot also including a bottom side that faces toward the roof of the vehicle when the signaling system is mounted to the roof of the vehicle;

the first and second mounting feet having inner ends that face inwardly toward each other and outer ends that face outwardly away from each other; and

a first signaling device mounted to the first mounting foot, the first signaling device including at least a portion located lower than the first support surface, the first signaling device not being enclosed within the outer housing arrangement of the light bar unit.

17. The signaling system of claim 16, further comprising a second signaling device mounted to the second mounting foot, the second signaling device including at least a portion located lower than the second support surface, the second signaling device not being enclosed within the outer housing arrangement of the light bar unit.

18. The signaling system of claim 16, further comprising a third signaling device mounted to the first mounting foot, the third signaling device including at least a portion located lower than the first support surface, the third signaling device not being enclosed within the outer housing arrangement of the light bar unit, and the signaling system further comprising a fourth signaling device mounted to the second mounting foot, the second signaling device including at least a portion located lower than the second support surface, the fourth signaling device not being enclosed within the outer housing arrangement of the light bar unit.

19. The signaling system of claim 18, wherein the outer end of the first mounting foot base defines a cutout located between the first and third signaling devices, and wherein a connecting bracket for connecting the first mounting foot to the vehicle is positioned at least partially within the cutout.

20. The signaling system of claim 16, wherein the first mounting foot defines a recess in which at least a portion of the first signaling device is positioned, the recess having an open top side, an open first side facing in a first direction and an open second side facing in a second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction.

21. The signaling system of claim 16, wherein the first signaling device is mountable in a first position in which the signaling device directs light in a first direction and in a second position in which the signaling device directs light in a second direction, the first direction being angled relative to the second direction.