Vehicle article carrier with integrated camera and solar powered lighting
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle article carrier system for carrying articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- at least one support rail secured to the outer body surface, the support rail including;
a support foot at each of its opposite ends, each said support foot being adapted to be secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle;
a solar panel for collecting solar energy, the solar panel having a shape and contour generally matching a contour of an outer surface of one of the support feet and being integrated into a recess in said one of the support feet, to form an integral portion of said one of the support feet;
a battery for storing electrical energy created using collected solar energy, the battery being disposed in the recess; and
a light configured to be powered by the battery, the light forming an integral portion of the support rail.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle article carrier system is disclosed for carrying articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle. At least one support rail is secured to the outer body surface. The support rail uses a support foot at each of its opposite ends, with each support foot being adapted to be secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle. A solar panel is used for collecting solar energy. A battery is used for storing electrical energy created using the collected solar energy. A light is powered by the battery, with the light forming an integral portion of the support rail.
31 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A vehicle article carrier system for carrying articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
at least one support rail secured to the outer body surface, the support rail including; a support foot at each of its opposite ends, each said support foot being adapted to be secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle; a solar panel for collecting solar energy, the solar panel having a shape and contour generally matching a contour of an outer surface of one of the support feet and being integrated into a recess in said one of the support feet, to form an integral portion of said one of the support feet; a battery for storing electrical energy created using collected solar energy, the battery being disposed in the recess; and a light configured to be powered by the battery, the light forming an integral portion of the support rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A vehicle article carrier system for carrying articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
at least one support rail secured to the outer body surface, the support rail including; a longitudinal portion having a support foot at each of its opposite ends, each said support foot being adapted to be secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle; a DC power source integrated into the support rail; a camera integrated into the support rail and powered by the DC power source; and the DC power source comprises a solar panel cell and a battery chargeable by the solar panel cell, the solar panel cell being integrated into a recess in the support foot of the at least one support rail and having a contour matching that of an outer surface of the support foot to form an appearance of an integral portion of the support foot. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A vehicle article carrier system for carrying articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the system comprising:
at least one support rail secured to the outer body surface, the support rail including; a support foot at each of its opposite ends, each said support foot being adapted to be secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle; a solar panel cell for collecting solar energy which is integrated into at least one of the support feet and disposed within a recess formed in the at least one support foot, the solar panel cell further having a curvature in accordance with a contour of an outer surface of the at least one support foot so as to blend in with the at least one support foot; a battery for storing electrical energy created using the collected solar energy, the battery disposed within the recess in the at least one support foot adjacent the solar panel cell; a light configured to be powered by the battery, the light forming an integral portion of the support rail; and a camera integrated into one of the support rails and configured to be powered by the battery, for obtaining images looking in a first direction from the vehicle and wirelessly providing the images to a display system disposed inside the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
Specification