Multi-colored vehicle rear lamp

• US 9,010,975 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Norris, Brian K., Staggs, Randall, Anand, Nakul, Smith, Shawn S., Riley, Christopher C., Noe, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peerce, Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US13/795,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20140268858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 362/545
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/20 characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/255 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lamp for the rear of a vehicle is disclosed with a light transmissive cover having a red first illuminated surface area and a clear second illuminated surface area. It has a first LED light emitter located directly beneath the red first area, a second LED light emitter located directly beneath the clear second area, and a third LED light emitter, also located directly beneath said clear second area. The third red LED light emitter is for emitting red light through the clear second area simultaneously with light transmitted through the red first area, whereby the first and second areas are adapted to collectively form a contiguous red illuminated surface area.

Claims

1. A lamp for the rear of a bus, truck or truck trailer, including:

a light transmissive cover having a first illuminated surface area and a second illuminated surface area;

(a) said first area of said cover being light transmissive and being red in color;

(1) a first LED light emitter located directly beneath said first area under said cover;

(b) said second area being light transmissive and being clear in color;

(2) a second LED light emitter, separate from said cover and from first LED, located directly beneath said clear second area under said cover, and not located beneath said first area, and, wherein said second LED light emitter comprises an LED that emits white light;

(3) a third LED light emitter, separate from said first and said second LEDs, located directly beneath said clear second area under said cover, and not located beneath said first area, said third LED light emitter emitting comprises a red LED for emitting red light through said clear second area simultaneously with light transmitted through said red first area by said first LED, whereby said first and second areas are adapted to collectively form a contiguous red illuminated surface area; and

,

wherein the lamp is a stop-tail-turn lamp for a bus, truck or truck trailer and wherein the sum of said first illuminated surface area and said second illuminated surface area is at least 75 square centimeters and is less than 100 square centimeters.

2. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the lamp is a stop-tail-turn lamp for a vehicle and wherein the sum of said first illuminated surface area and said second illuminated surface area is at least 50 square centimeters and is less than 100 square centimeters.

3. The lamp of claim 2 wherein said white second light emitter is activated upon the vehicle being placed in reverse.

4. The lamp of claim 3 wherein said red first light emitter and said red third light emitter are each activated upon the vehicle head lamps being activated.

5. The lamp of claim 4 wherein said red first light emitter and said red third light emitter each emit brighter light upon the vehicle braking.

6. The lamp of claim 5 wherein said lamp comprises a fourth light emitter located directly beneath said clear second area and, wherein said fourth light emitter comprises an LED that emits amber light.

7. The lamp of claim 6 wherein said lamp is shaped from a group consisting of:

(a) a circle with a diameter of 10 centimeters; and

, (b) an oval.

8. The lamp of claim 1 wherein said white second light emitter is activated upon the vehicle being placed in reverse.

9. The lamp of claim 1 wherein said red first light emitter and said red third light emitter are each activated upon the vehicle head lamps being activated.

10. The lamp of claim 9 wherein said red first light emitter and said red third light emitter each emit brighter light upon the vehicle braking.

11. The lamp of claim 8 wherein the lamp is a stop-tail-turn lamp for a vehicle and wherein the sum of said first illuminated surface area and said second illuminated surface area is at least 50 square centimeters and is less than 100 square centimeters.

12. The lamp of claim 8 wherein said lamp comprises a fourth light emitter located directly beneath said clear second area and, wherein said fourth light emitter comprises an LED that emits amber light.

13. The lamp of claim 1 wherein said lamp comprises a fourth light emitter located directly beneath said clear second area and, wherein said fourth light emitter comprises an LED that emits amber light.

14. The lamp of claim 1 wherein said lamp is shaped as a circle with a diameter of 10 centimeters.

15. The lamp of claim 1 wherein said lamp is shaped as an oval.

16. The lamp of claim 1 wherein said lamp is a single compartment lamp.

17. The lamp of claim 1 wherein said lamp is a multiple compartment lamp with said clear area comprising material selected from one or more of lenses, ridges and prisms, and wherein said red area surrounds said clear area.

18. The lamp of claim 1 wherein there is no parabolic reflector and no barrier wall between said first LED light emitter and said third LED light emitter.