Photoluminescent fuel filler door

• US 9,533,613 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• 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, Brown, LaRon Michelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Hines, Anne
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAZ, JOSE
• Application Number:
  US14/540,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• 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 2400/10 Electro- or photo- luminescent surfaces, e.g. signalling by way of electroluminescent strips or panels

Abstract

A vehicle illumination apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an access panel configured to conceal an access region of a fueling receptacle. A light source is disposed proximate the access region and is in communication with a controller. The illumination apparatus further comprises at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the access region and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the access region.

Claims

1. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

an access panel disposed on a vehicle configured to conceal an access region of a fueling receptacle;

a light source disposed proximate the access region; and

at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the access region and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the access region.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to emit a first emission configured to excite the at least one photoluminescent portion.

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

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the light source is configured to excite the first photoluminescent portion in a first position and the second photoluminescent portion in a second position.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first position corresponds to the access panel oriented in an open position and the second position corresponds to the access panel oriented in a closed position.

6. The light apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light source is in communication with a controller configured to illuminate the second photoluminescent portion in response to a low fuel level of the vehicle.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate a portion of an interior surface of the access panel.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion disposed on the access panel comprises at least one of a warning and text corresponding to refueling instructions.

9. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

an access panel disposed on a vehicle configured to conceal an access region of a fueling receptacle;

a light source configured to emit a first emission; and

at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the access region and configured to illuminate a surface proximate the access panel in response to the controller activating the light source to emit the first emission.

10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the light source is configured to emit the first emission in response to a low fuel level of the vehicle.

11. The illumination apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion becomes excited in response to receiving the first emission to emit a second emission having a different color than the first emission.

12. The illumination apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the access panel is configured to be oriented in an open position and a closed position.

13. The illumination apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second emission is invisible from an exterior of the vehicle when the access panel is oriented in the closed position.

14. The illumination apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the light source is configured to activate the second emission in response to a low fuel level of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

an access panel disposed on a vehicle configured to conceal an access region of a fueling receptacle;

a light source configured to emit a first emission; and

at least one photoluminescent portion configured to illuminate in response to receiving the first emission, wherein at least one photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate an access region of the fueling receptacle in response to the access panel being oriented in an open configuration.

16. The illumination apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate an exterior portion of the vehicle in response to the access panel being oriented in the closed position.

17. The illumination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion comprises a first photoluminescent portion configured to illuminate the access region and a second photoluminescent portion configured to illuminate the exterior portion.

18. The illumination apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first photoluminescent portion is configured to emit a first color of light and the second photoluminescent portion is configured to emit a second color of light, different from the first color.

19. The illumination apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate the exterior portion in response to a low fuel level of the vehicle.

20. The illumination apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the second photo luminescent portion is configured to illuminate the exterior portion periodically in response to a low fuel level of the vehicle.