Vehicle wheel assembly external illumination lamp

• US 9,283,819 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Ammar, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US14/087,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20150145668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340468-471, 340/475, 340/479, 362/459, 362/487, 362/495, 362/500, 362/506
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0406 Alarms noticeable from outside the vehicle, e.g. indication in side mirror, front light or audible alarms B60C23/0403, B60C23/0405 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• 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: G01M 17/027 using light, e.g. infrared, ultraviolet or holographic techniques

Abstract

A vehicle tire pressure indicator and tire illumination assembly is provided. The assembly includes a light source located on the body of a vehicle near the wheel well and oriented to direct light onto a wheel assembly having a tire. A tire pressure indicator detects air inflation pressure of the tire. The light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a desired color to indicate a tire pressure status based on the detected tire pressure. In addition, the light source may be illuminated to provide puddle lamp and area lighting and turn signal indication.

Claims

1. A vehicle wheel illumination assembly comprising:

a light source located on a vehicle body and arranged to illuminate a wheel assembly of the vehicle with a first color light to indicate a tire pressure status, wherein the light source illuminates a wheel and tire of the wheel assembly and ground proximate to the tire to enable servicing of the tire with a different color light.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source illuminates an outer wall of the tire of the wheel assembly to indicate the tire pressure status.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is located on the vehicle body near a wheel well of the vehicle.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source illuminates the wheel assembly with the first color light to indicate low tire pressure when the tire pressure is below a pressure limit and illuminates the wheel assembly with a different second color light to indicate sufficient tire pressure when the tire pressure is above the pressure limit.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source further illuminates the wheel assembly when a puddle lamp signal is generated to provide puddle lamp lighting.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source further illuminates the wheel assembly when a turn signal is generated to provide a turn signal indication.

7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tire pressure detector for detecting the tire pressure, wherein the light source illuminates the wheel assembly of the vehicle to indicate the tire pressure status indicative of the detected tire pressure.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, each generating a different color light illumination.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the light source further comprises a lens comprising a plurality of dye, wherein each of the light emitting diodes transmit light through one of the plurality of dye to generate a desired color output.

10. A vehicle tire pressure indicator assembly comprising:

a light source located on a body of a vehicle; and

a tire pressure detector for detecting air inflation pressure of a tire on a wheel assembly of the vehicle, wherein the light source illuminates the wheel assembly with light to indicate a tire pressure status based on the detected tire pressure and illuminates the tire and ground pro nate to the tire to enable servicing of the tire.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the light source illuminates an outer wall of the tire with a first color light to indicate the tire pressure status and illuminates the tire and ground with a different color light to enable servicing of the tire.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein a light source is located on the vehicle body near a wheel well of the vehicle.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a first color light to indicate low tire pressure when the tire pressure is below a pressure limit and illuminates the wheel assembly with a different second color to indicate sufficient tire pressure when the tire pressure is above the pressure limit.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the light source further illuminates the wheel assembly when a puddle lamp signal is generated to provide puddle lamp lighting.

15. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the light source further illuminates the wheel assembly when a turn signal is generated to provide a turn signal indication.

16. A method of illuminating a vehicle tire comprising:

arranging a light source on a body of the vehicle to illuminate a wheel assembly comprising a tire;

detecting tire inflation pressure of the tire;

determining a tire pressure status based on the detected tire inflation pressure; and

activating the light source to illuminate light on the wheel assembly to indicate the tire pressure status with a first color light and to illuminate the ground proximate the tire to aid in servicing the tire with a different color light.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of activating the light source comprises generating the first color light to indicate low tire pressure when the tire pressure is below a pressure limit and generating a different second color light to indicate sufficient tire pressure when the tire pressure is above the pressure limit.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of activating the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly when a puddle lamp signal is generated to provide puddle lamp lighting.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of activating the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly when a turn signal is generated to provide a turn signal indication.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the light source illuminates an outer wall of the tire.