Vehicle light system with illuminating wheel assembly

• US 9,649,877 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/509,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 362500, 362509-511
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/572 Visual appearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/00 Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting , venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall , e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins wheels with cooling fins not provided on the wheel cover disc B60B19/10; apparatus or tools for removing or attaching cover discs hub caps or the like B60B31/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/006 the surface being reflective or including lighting
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels

Abstract

An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on a surface of a first component of a vehicle wheel assembly. The illumination apparatus further includes a light source located proximate the first component. The light source is configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion. The photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength to illuminate the wheel assembly.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle wheel comprising:

a photoluminescent portion disposed on a surface of a rim; and

a light source located on an inner, second component of the wheel, the light source configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to a second wavelength.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured as a coating that is disposed on an interior surface of the vehicle rim.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is coupled to a non-rotational component of the wheel and the photoluminescent portion is disposed on a rotational component.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wavelength is in a blue color range approximately less than 500 nm.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second wavelength is longer than the first wavelength to illuminate the first component.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is powered by a generator located within the wheel.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is powered by a vehicle electrical system through the wheel wiring harness.

8. An illumination system for a vehicle wheel assembly, the assembly comprising:

a photoluminescent portion disposed on a component of the assembly and containing more than one photoluminescent material;

a generator attached to the wheel assembly to generate electrical power; and

first and second light sources facing the component, powered by the generator, and configured to emit various wavelengths of light, wherein the photoluminescent portion luminesces in response to receiving the various wavelengths of light.

9. The illumination system according to claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent portion comprises a coating sprayed on a portion of a vehicle wheel rim.

10. The illumination system according to claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent portion comprises a coating on a brake assembly.

11. The illumination system according to claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent portion luminesces in a wavelength of light that is longer than the various wavelengths of light emitted by the first and second light sources.

12. The illumination system according to claim 8, wherein the first and second lights sources are located on an inner portion of the wheel assembly.

13. The illumination system according to claim 8, wherein the first and second light sources are configured to emit light at approximately the same wavelength.

14. The illumination system according to claim 8, wherein the generator further comprises a magnet disposed on a rotational component of the wheel assembly.

15. A lighting system for an automobile wheel assembly, comprising:

a light source configured to emit light at a first wavelength disposed on a first wheel assembly component optically coupled with a light pipe, the light pipe surrounding the first wheel assembly component and having a geometry similar to a vehicle rim; and

a photoluminescent portion coupled to the rim, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to a second wavelength.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the light pipe includes a light blocking material on an outboard portion thereof.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the photoluminescent portion is circumferentially disposed on an interior surface of the rim.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the photoluminescent portion is disposed on a brake caliper.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the light blocking material is configured to maintain light at the first wavelength within an inner portion of the wheel assembly.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the first wavelength is in a blue color range approximately of less than 500 nm.