Light warning device for emergency vehicles

• US 8,757,856 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Matthews, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): QUARTERMAN, KEVIN J
• Application Number:
  US13/290,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20130114284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 362/493, 362/524, 362/527, 362/269, 362/285, 362/287, 362/419, 362/427, 362/428, 362/322, 362/540, 362/496, 362/542, 362/508, 362/233, 362/250, 362/249.01, 362/249.03, 362/249.07, 362/249.09, 362/249.11
• US Class Current: 362/542
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2692 retractable lights retractable headlights B60Q1/05

Abstract

A vehicular warning device comprises a light bar with at least one light source and a light bar support. The light bar support includes a frame member and a light bar mounting member. The frame member is rigidly mounted to a portion of a vehicle and the light bar mounting member is mounted to the frame member. The light bar is mounted to the light bar mounting member. Illumination from the at least one light source can be shifted between at least a first position and a second position.

Claims

1. A vehicular warning device comprising:

a light bar having a light source;

a support assembly comprising;

a frame member rigidly mounted to a roof of a vehicle;

a mounting member supporting the light bar and movably mounted to the frame member;

wherein the light bar is laterally movable relative to the frame member between a first position within or adjacent to a perimeter of the vehicle and a second position laterally beyond the perimeter.

2. The vehicular warning device of claim 1, wherein the mounting member slides laterally relative to the frame member between the first and second positions.

3. The vehicular warning device of claim 2, wherein the mounting member slides linearly relative to the frame member between the first and second positions.

4. The vehicular warning device of claim 3, wherein the light bar is approximately centered across a width of the roof in the first position.

5. The vehicular warning device of claim 3, wherein the light bar is not centered on the roof and extends beyond the perimeter of the vehicle in the second position.

6. The vehicular warning device of claim 5, wherein the light bar is manually shifted to the second position.

7. The vehicular warning device of claim 5, further comprising a motor coupled to the light bar, wherein the light bar is shifted to the second position by the motor.

8. The vehicular warning device of claim 1, wherein the light bar includes at least one light source configured to flash light.

9. The vehicular warning device of claim 1, wherein the mounting member is pivotally mounted to the frame member.

10. The vehicular warning device of claim 9, wherein the light bar includes an elongated member having a plurality of the light sources spaced along a length of the elongated member.

11. The vehicular warning device of claim 9, wherein the light bar is pivoted laterally away from the side of the vehicle in the second position, such that the light bar extends out from the side of the vehicle.

12. The vehicular warning device of claim 1, wherein illumination from the light source is shifted such that less than the entire light bar is illuminated.

13. The vehicular warning device of claim 12, wherein a first side portion of the light bar is illuminated, and an opposite second side portion of the light bar is not illuminated.

14. A vehicular warning device comprising:

a light having an elongated member with light sources spaced therealong;

a light support comprising;

a frame member rigidly mounted to a vehicle;

a light mounting member supporting the light and movably mounted to the frame member;

wherein the light mounting member moves the light laterally relative to the frame member between a first position adjacent to the vehicle and a second position laterally away from the vehicle.

15. The vehicular warning device of claim 14, wherein the light mounting member is slidably mounted to the frame member.

16. The vehicular warning device of claim 15, wherein the frame member is mounted to a roof of the vehicle.

17. The vehicular warning device of claim 16, wherein the light is approximately centered laterally across a width of the roof in the first position, and the light is shifted along the frame member in the second position, such that the light is not centered on the roof and extends beyond a lateral perimeter of the vehicle.

18. The vehicular warning device of claim 14, wherein the frame member is mounted to a side of the vehicle and the light mounting member is pivotally mounted to the frame member.

19. The vehicular warning device of claim 18, wherein the light is juxtaposed the side of the vehicle in the first position, and wherein at least one of the light sources is configured to flash for providing a warning.

20. The vehicular warning device of claim 18, wherein the light is pivoted away from the side of the vehicle, approximately ninety degrees, in the second position, such that the light extends out from the side of the vehicle.