Illuminated vehicle article carrier

• US 8,985,414 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JAC Products Incorporated (JAC Holding Enterprises, Inc.), The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: JAC Products Incorporated (JAC Holding Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aftanas, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Assistant Examiner(s): SKURDAL, COREY NELSON
• Application Number:
  US13/076,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20110240695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 224/309, 224/311, 224/319, 224/325, 224/326, 224/556, 224/557, 224/544, 296/210, 362/493, 362/365, 362/368
• US Class Current: 224/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/50 with lights or registration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/002 Running boards for vehicle tops B60R3/005; at the sides of the vehicle for carrying loads B60R9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/04 Carriers associated with vehicle roof B60R9/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle article carrier system for use on an outer body surface of a vehicle, where the system may make use of a light emitting diode (LED) and a pair of support rails assemblies secured parallel to one another along a major longitudinal axis of the vehicle. At least one of the support rail assemblies may have a light pipe in optical communication with the LED. The light pipe may operate to radiate light generated by the LED outwardly from the support rail assembly along the length of the light pipe to thus illuminate a portion of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An illuminated vehicle article carrier system for use with at least one support rail, wherein the support rail has a light pipe carried thereon for transmitting light along at least a portion of a length of the support rail to illuminate a portion of an outer body surface of the vehicle, the vehicle article carrier system comprising:

a front support foot and a rear support foot each configured to be secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle;

the support rail configured to be secured to each of the front support foot and the rear support foot;

a light emitting diode (LED) housing formed from at least somewhat resilient material, and having a cavity therein, the LED housing including a circumferential channel formed between a lip and a flange, the lip being compressible to enable insertion through an opening in the outer body surface, thus enabling, the circumferential channel of the LED housing to be captured within the opening in the outer body surface without the need for a threaded external fastening implement, after the LED housing is urged at least partially through the opening in the outer body surface;

a LED positioned within the cavity in the LED housing such that a beam of the LED is directed outwardly from the cavity, and further such that the LED is closely adjacent an exterior surface of the outer body surface when the LED housing is positioned in the opening in the outer body surface;

at least one of the front support foot and the rear support foot including a boss-like portion having a neck, the neck extending such that a terminal end thereof is axially aligned with and disposed at least closely adjacent to the cavity in the LED housing, or even to extend partially within the cavity; and

wherein the LED housing and the boss-like portion enable one end of the light pipe to be positioned in axial alignment with the cavity and in facing relationship with the LED to be in physical proximity to the LED, when the support rail and the support foot are fixedly installed on the exterior surface of the outer body surface, and without requiring a physical connection of the one end of the light pipe to the LED, such that light generated by the LED is able to be transmitted into the one end of the light pipe.

2. The vehicle article carrier system of claim 1, wherein the LED housing is made from rubber.

3. The vehicle article carrier system of claim 1, wherein the LED housing is made from plastic.

4. The vehicle article carrier system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the support feet includes an arcuate channel for supporting a section of the light pipe in a curved orientation without kinking.

5. The vehicle article carrier system of claim 4, wherein the arcuate channel communicates with an opening formed at a lower surface of the at least one of the support feet, and wherein the opening formed at the lower surface has a diameter similar to the diameter of the cavity of the LED housing.

6. The vehicle article carrier of claim 1, further comprising at least one cross bar secured to the at least one support rail.

7. An illuminated vehicle article carrier system for use with a pair of support rails, wherein each said support rail has a light pipe carried thereon for transmitting light along at least a portion of the length of the support rail to illuminate an adjacent portion of an outer body surface of the vehicle, the vehicle article carrier system comprising:

a first pair of support feet for securing a first one of the pair of support rails to the outer body surface of the vehicle;

a second pair of support feet for securing a second one of the pair of support rails to the outer body surface of the vehicle;

a cross bar adapted to be supported between the support rails for supporting articles thereon above the outer body surface of the vehicle;

a light emitting diode (LED) housing formed from resilient material defining a circumferential channel therebetween, and having an internal area defining a cavity therein, the LED housing including a lip and flange, with the lip being compressible to enable the lip to be compressed when the lip is inserted through an opening in the outer body surface, such that the circumferential channel is engaged with an edge surface of the opening, thus enabling the LED housing to be secured within the opening in the outer body surface without external fastening implements after the LED housing is pushed into the opening;

a LED positioned within the cavity of the LED housing such that the LED is closely adjacent an exterior surface of the outer body surface when the LED housing is positioned in the opening in the outer body surface, and generally centered within the opening such that the LED directs light out through the opening, and such that the LED housing does not interfere with light generated by the LED from being emitted outwardly from the LED housing through the opening in the outer body surface;

at least one of each of the first and second pairs of support feet including a boss-like portion having a neck, the neck extending such that a terminal end thereof is axially aligned with and extending at least partially into the cavity in the LED housing; and

wherein the cavity in the LED housing enables one end of the light pipe to be positioned in close proximity and in axial alignment with the LED, when an associated one of the support rails is fixedly installed on the exterior surface of the outer body surface, without requiring physical coupling of the one end of the light pipe to the LED.

8. The vehicle article carrier system of claim 7, wherein the LED housing is an integrally formed component made from one of rubber or plastic.

9. The vehicle article carrier system of claim 7, wherein the LED housing comprises a rubber grommet.

10. The vehicle article carrier system of claim 7, wherein the LED housing is adapted to be press fit into the opening of the outer body surface and held therein without the aid of external fastening implements.