Illuminated emblem

• US 9,376,055 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Oliverio, Sean, Sura, Bhargav
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US14/187,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20150241016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• 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: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor

Abstract

An emblem device includes a back plate, an emblem and a lighting device. The emblem overlies the back plate, and has a translucent portion and an opaque portion. The lighting device is disposed between the emblem and the back plate, and is configured and arranged to be able to disperse light though the translucent portion of the emblem.

Claims

1. An emblem device comprising:

a back plate;

an emblem overlying the back plate, and having a translucent portion and an opaque portion, the translucent portion including an inner translucent portion and an outer translucent portion, the emblem has an inner periphery and an outer periphery, and the inner translucent portion is adjacent the inner periphery and the outer translucent portion is adjacent the outer periphery; and

a lighting device disposed between the emblem and the back plate, and being configured and arranged to be able to disperse light though the translucent portion of the emblem.

2. The emblem device according to claim 1, wherein

the emblem has an outer perimeter and the translucent portion is adjacent the outer perimeter.

3. The emblem device according to claim 1, further comprising

a lighting circuit disposed between the emblem and the back plate, and wherein the lighting device is at least one lamp disposed on the lighting circuit.

4. The emblem device according to claim 3, further including

tape disposed between the lighting circuit and the back plate.

5. The emblem device according to claim 1, wherein

the back plate has an inner periphery, an outer periphery, an inner protrusion extending from the inner periphery and an outer protrusion extending from the outer periphery.

6. The emblem device according to claim 5, wherein

the emblem as an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner and outer periphery of the emblem having inner and outer projections, respectively, configured to be positioned adjacent the inner and outer protrusions of the back plate, respectively so as to encapsulate the lighting device.

7. The emblem device according to claim 1, wherein

the translucent portion is a translucent polycarbonate material, and the opaque portion is a non-translucent polycarbonate material.

8. A vehicle emblem comprising:

a body portion configured to overlie a back plate, and having a translucent portion and an opaque portion,

the translucent portion being configured to enable light from a lighting device to be dispersed therethrough, the translucent portion including an inner translucent portion and an outer translucent portion, the emblem has an inner periphery and an outer periphery, and the inner translucent portion is adjacent the inner periphery and the outer translucent portion is adjacent the outer periphery.

9. The vehicle emblem according to claim 8, wherein

the body portion has an outer perimeter and the translucent portion is adjacent the outer perimeter.

10. The vehicle emblem according to claim 8, wherein

the translucent portion is a translucent polycarbonate material, and the opaque portion is a non-translucent polycarbonate material.

11. A vehicle grille assembly comprising:

a grille base;

a back plate attached to the grille base, and having an outer periphery, and an outer protrusion extending from the outer periphery;

an emblem overlying the back plate, and having a translucent portion and an opaque portion; and

a lighting device disposed between the emblem and the back plate, and being configured and arranged to be able to disperse light though the translucent portion of the emblem.

12. The vehicle grille according to claim 11, wherein

the emblem has an outer perimeter and the translucent portion is adjacent the outer perimeter.

13. The vehicle grille according to claim 11, wherein

the translucent portion includes an inner translucent portion and an outer translucent portion, the emblem has an inner periphery and an outer periphery, and the inner translucent portion is adjacent the inner periphery and the outer translucent portion is adjacent the outer periphery.

14. The vehicle grille according to claim 11, further comprising

a lighting circuit disposed between the emblem and the back plate, and wherein the lighting device is at least one lamp disposed on the lighting circuit.

15. The vehicle grille according to claim 13, further including

tape disposed between the lighting circuit and the back plate.

16. The vehicle grille according to claim 11, wherein

the back plate has an inner periphery and an inner protrusion extending from the inner periphery.

17. The vehicle grille according to claim 16, wherein

the emblem as an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner and outer periphery of the emblem having inner and outer projections, respectively, configured to be positioned adjacent the inner and outer protrusions of the back plate, respectively.

18. The vehicle grille according to claim 11, wherein

the translucent portion is a translucent polycarbonate material, and the opaque portion is a non-translucent polycarbonate material.

19. An emblem device comprising:

a back plate the back plate has an outer periphery, and an outer protrusion extending from the outer periphery;

an emblem overlying the back plate, and having a translucent portion and an opaque portion; and

a lighting device disposed between the emblem and the back plate, and being configured and arranged to be able to disperse light though the translucent portion of the emblem.