Luminescent grille bar assembly

• US 9,499,113 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• 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., Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Surman, James J., Dellock, Paul Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US15/067,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20160195242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• 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: B60R 19/52 Radiator or grille guards ; Radiator grilles cooling aspects B60K11/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/525 Radiator grilles
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/176 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• 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: 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 9/38 Combination of two or more photoluminescent elements of different materials

Abstract

A grille assembly of a vehicle is provided herein and includes at least one grille bar. A first photoluminescent structure is provided at a first location of the at least one grille bar and is configured to luminesce when excited by light emitted from a light source. A second photoluminescent structure is provided at a second location of the at least one grille bar and is configured to luminesce when excited by light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure.

Claims

1. A grille assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one grille bar;

a first photoluminescent structure provided at a first location of the at least one grille bar and configured to luminesce when excited by light emitted from a light source; and

a second photoluminescent structure provided at a second location of the at least one grille bar and configured to luminesce when excited by light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure.

2. The grille assembly of claim 1, wherein the first location comprises a front portion of the at least one grille bar and the second location comprises a rear portion of the at least one grille bar.

3. The grille assembly of claim 2, wherein a first portion of light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure is outputted in a vehicle-forward direction and a second portion of emitted from the first photoluminescent structure is outputted in a vehicle-rearward direction.

4. The grille assembly of claim 3, wherein the second photoluminescent structure is excited by the second portion of light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure, and wherein light emitted by the second photoluminescent structure illuminates an area behind the grille assembly and is visible through at least one space in the grille assembly when the vehicle is viewed head on.

5. The grille assembly of claim 1, wherein the first photoluminescent structure luminesces in a first color and the second photoluminescent luminesces in a second color that is visually distinct from the first color.

6. The grille assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one grille bar is light-permeable and visible portions of the at least one grille bar are metallized to impart a metallic appearance thereto.

7. The grille assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one grille bar comprises a light-reflecting member configured to direct light received from the light source toward a hood latch, and wherein a third photoluminescent structure is provided on the hood latch and is configured to luminesce when excited by light received from the light-reflecting member.

8. The grille assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second photoluminescent structures is configured to continue to luminesce for a period of time after excitation light ceases to be provided.

9. A grille assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of grille bars;

a first photoluminescent structure provided at a front portion of each grille bar and configured to luminesce when excited by light emitted from a light source; and

a second photoluminescent structure provided at a rear portion of each grille bar and configured to luminesce when excited by light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure.

10. The grille assembly of claim 9, wherein a first portion of light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure is outputted in a vehicle-forward direction and a second portion of light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure is outputted in a vehicle-rearward direction.

11. The grille assembly of claim 10, wherein the second photoluminescent structure is excited by the second portion of light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure, and wherein light emitted by the second photoluminescent structure illuminates an area behind the grille assembly and is visible through a plurality of spaces between the grille bars when the vehicle is viewed head on.

12. The grille assembly of claim 9, wherein the first photoluminescent structure luminesces in a first color and the second photoluminescent luminesces in a second color that is visually distinct from the first color.

13. The grille assembly of claim 9, wherein each grille bar is light-permeable and visible portions of each grille bar are metallized to impart a metallic appearance thereto.

14. The grille assembly of claim 9, wherein at least one grille bar comprises a light-reflecting member configured to direct light received from the light source toward a hood latch, and wherein a third photoluminescent structure is provided on the hood latch and is configured to luminesce when excited by light received from the light-reflecting member.

15. The grille assembly of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second photoluminescent structures is configured to continue to luminesce for a period of time after excitation light ceases to be provided.

16. A grille assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of grille bars;

a first photoluminescent structure provided at a front portion of each grille bar and configured to luminesce when excited by light emitted from a light source; and

a second photoluminescent structure provided at a rear portion of each grille bar and configured to luminesce when excited by light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure;

wherein at least one of the first and second photoluminescent structures is configured to continue to luminesce for a period of time after excitation light ceases to be provided.

17. The grille assembly of claim 16, wherein a first portion of light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure is outputted in a vehicle-forward direction and a second portion of light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure is outputted in a vehicle-rearward direction.

18. The grille assembly of claim 17, wherein the second photoluminescent structure is excited by the second portion of light emitted from the first photoluminescent structure, and wherein light emitted by the second photoluminescent structure illuminates an area behind the grille assembly and is visible through a plurality of spaces between the grille bars when the vehicle is viewed head on.

19. The grille assembly of claim 16, wherein the first photoluminescent structure luminesces in a first color and the second photoluminescent luminesces in a second color that is visually distinct from the first color.

20. The grille assembly of claim 16, wherein at least one grille bar comprises a light-reflecting member configured to direct light received from the light source toward a hood latch, and wherein a third photoluminescent structure is provided on the hood latch and is configured to luminesce when excited by light received from the light-reflecting member.