Vehicle rear illumination

• US 9,586,519 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2016
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2016
• 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., Huebner, Annette Lynn, Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Helwig, Stephen Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/007,596
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 362/487, 362/496, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/12 Parts or details thereof locks E05B, E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; springs, e.g. pneumatic springs F16F

Abstract

A vehicle is presented that includes a lift gate operably connected to a body, a cargo lamp configured to emit light positioned near a rear of the body, a first luminescent structure disposed on a lift gate sill of the body, and a second luminescent structure disposed on an interior side of the lift gate. The first and second luminescent structures are configured to interact with the light from the cargo lamp.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a lift gate operably connected to a body;

a cargo lamp configured to emit light positioned near a rear of the body;

a first luminescent structure disposed on a lift gate sill of the body; and

a second luminescent structure disposed on an interior side of the lift gate, wherein the first and second luminescent structures are configured to redirect the light emitted from the cargo lamp.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cargo lamp is configured to illuminate a cargo space defined by the body.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the cargo lamp is also configured to illuminate a ground beneath the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second luminescent structures is photoluminescent.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second luminescent structures is phosphorescent.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the cargo lamp is configured to emit at least one of blue and ultraviolet light.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second luminescent structures is reflective.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first luminescent structure is substantially concealed when the lift gate is in a closed position.

9. A vehicle comprising:

a body defining a cargo space therein, the body coupled with a lift gate operable between substantially open and closed positions;

at least one taillight positioned at a rear end of the body, wherein the taillight defines a cargo lamp configured to illuminate the cargo space; and

a luminescent structure positioned on an interior side of the lift gate configured to redirect illumination by the cargo lamp to illuminate ground beneath the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the luminescent structure comprises at least one of a photoluminescent material and a phosphorescent material.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the luminescent structure is an optically reflective structure.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the luminescent structure is configured to illuminate the cargo space.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the cargo lamp is positioned proximate a top of the taillight.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a body defining a cargo space therein;

a door operable between substantially open and closed positions, wherein the door is configured to provide access to the cargo space in the open position;

a taillight positioned at a rear end of the body, wherein the taillight defines a cargo lamp configured to illuminate the cargo space and a ground below the vehicle; and

a luminescent structure positioned on a door sill of the body configured to redirect illumination from the cargo lamp.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the cargo lamp is positioned proximate a top of the taillight.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the cargo lamp is configured to illuminate the ground below the vehicle and the cargo space simultaneously.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the luminescent structure is a photoluminescent or phosphorescent structure.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the luminescent structure is an optically reflective structure.

19. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the cargo lamp is configured to emit at least one of blue and ultraviolet light.