Illuminating running board

• US 9,487,128 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• 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., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Lobo, Harry, Musleh, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US14/862,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20160009220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 362/487, 362/495, 362510-511, 362/521
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/325 on or for running boards or steps
• 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: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/32 characterised by the arrangement of the photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/45 by adjustment of photoluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A running board of a vehicle is provided herein. The running board includes a housing and a light-producing assembly disposed inside the housing. The light-producing assembly includes a plurality of light sources and a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the plurality of light sources, wherein luminescent light escapes the housing via a first light permeable portion and a second light permeable portion.

Claims

1. A running board of a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a light-producing assembly disposed inside the housing and comprising;

a light source; and

a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the light source, wherein luminescent light escapes the housing via a first light permeable portion and a second light permeable portion, wherein the first light permeable portion comprises a bottom portion of the housing and the second light permeable portion comprises a side portion of the housing, wherein light escaping the housing via the bottom portion illuminates a ground area near the vehicle, and wherein light escaping the housing via the side portion provides ambient light.

2. The running board of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an edge of the running board.

3. The running board of claim 1, wherein the light-producing assembly is arranged over one of a curved surface and a linear surface.

4. The running board of claim 1, wherein the light source comprise a printed LED arrangement.

5. The running board of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a light blocking portion disposed between the first and second light permeable portions.

6. The running board of claim 5, wherein the light blocking portion is configured to internally reflect light inside the housing.

7. The running board of claim 6, wherein the first light permeable portion, the second light permeable portion, and the light blocking portion each extend the length of the running board.

8. A running board of a vehicle, comprising:

a housing defining an edge of the running board;

a light-producing assembly disposed inside the housing and comprising;

a light source; and

a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the light source, wherein luminescent light escapes the housing via a light permeable side portion and a separately disposed light permeable bottom portion to illuminate a ground area near the vehicle.

9. The running board of claim 8, wherein the light-producing assembly is arranged over one of a curved surface and a linear surface.

10. The running board of claim 8, wherein the light source comprises a printed LED arrangement.

11. The running board of claim 8, wherein the housing further comprises a light blocking portion disposed between the side portion and the bottom portion.

12. The running board of claim 8, wherein luminescent light also escapes the housing via the light permeable side portion to provide ambient light.

13. The running board of claim 8, wherein portions of the housing are configured to at least one of internally reflect light and have an outward metallic appearance.

14. A running board of a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a light-producing assembly disposed inside the housing and comprising;

a light source; and

a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the light source, wherein luminescent light escapes the housing via a light permeable side portion to provide ambient light and via a light permeable bottom portion to illuminate a ground area near the vehicle, wherein the light permeable side portion and the light permeable bottom portion are separated by a light blocking portion.

15. The running board of claim 14, wherein the housing defines an edge of the running board.

16. The running board of claim 14, wherein the light-producing assembly is arranged over one of a curved surface and a linear surface.

17. The running board of claim 14, wherein the light source comprises a printed LED arrangement.

18. The running board of claim 14, wherein portions of the housing are configured to internally reflect light propagating inside the housing.

19. The running board of claim 14, wherein portions of the housing are configured to have a metallic appearance.