Photoluminescent cargo area illumination

• US 9,493,113 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• 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., Surman, James J., Gardner, Cornel Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/519,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 362/488, 362/496, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light

Abstract

A vehicle illumination apparatus is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a storage compartment forming an interior cavity disposed in a cargo area and a cover. The cover comprises a handle configured to facilitate access to the storage compartment from a closed position to an open position. The illumination apparatus further comprises at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the storage compartment configured to illuminate at least a portion of the handle in the closed position.

Claims

1. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

a storage compartment forming an interior cavity disposed in a cargo area of a vehicle;

a cover comprising a handle configured to facilitate access to the storage compartment from a closed position to an open position; and

at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the storage compartment and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the handle in the closed position, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion is further operable to illuminate at least a portion of the storage compartment in the open position.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion comprises a first photoluminescent portion and a second photoluminescent portion.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the handle in the closed position.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the cover in the open position.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a light source configured to emit a first emission of light configured to excite the first photoluminescent portion and the second photoluminescent portion.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the light source is disposed at least partially within the storage compartment.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the handle is configured to illuminate in a back-lit configuration.

8. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

a storage compartment forming an interior cavity disposed in a cargo area of a vehicle;

a cover comprising a handle configured to facilitate access to the storage compartment from a first position to a second position; and

at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the storage compartment configured to illuminate at least a portion of the handle in a back-lit configuration corresponding to the first position.

9. The illumination apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first position corresponds to a closed position and the second position corresponds to an open position.

10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion is further operable to illuminate at least a portion of the storage compartment in the open position.

11. The illumination apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion comprises a first photoluminescent portion and a second photoluminescent portion.

12. The illumination apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the handle in the closed position.

13. The illumination apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate at least a portion of an interior surface of the cover in the open position.

14. A lighting apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a light source disposed at least partially in a storage compartment, the storage compartment forming an interior cavity disposed in a cargo area of a vechicle;

a cover comprising a handle configured to facilitate access to the storage compartment from a closed position to an open position; and

at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the storage compartment configured to illuminate at least a portion of the storage compartment in the open position.

15. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the light source is configured to illuminate the at least one photoluminescent portion in the closed position and the open position.

16. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion comprises a first photoluminescent portion and a second photoluminescent portion.

17. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate a portion of the handle in the closed position.

18. The illumination apparatus according to claim 17, wherein light source is configured to illuminate the second photoluminescent portion in a back-lit configuration.

19. The illumination apparatus according to claim 17, wherein light source is configured to illuminate the first photoluminescent portion in a front-lit configuration.