Vehicle floor lighting system having a pivotable base with light-producing assembly coupled to base

• US 9,796,304 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• 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., Weckstein, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): May, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/743,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20150283940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/30 Non-dismountable or dismountable seats storable in a non-use position, e.g. foldable spare seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A floor lighting system of a vehicle is provided herein. A vehicle seat has a seat base that is movable between a use position and a stowed position. A light-producing assembly is coupled to an underside portion of the seat base and operable to illuminate at least one floor area based on the position of the seat base.

Claims

1. A floor lighting system of a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seat base that is pivotable between a use position and a stowed position;

a support leg disposed on an underside portion of the seat base and pivotally coupled to a floor of the vehicle; and

a light-producing assembly coupled to the support leg and arranged as a strip extending along a bottom portion and a front portion of the support leg and configured to illuminate different floor areas based on the position of the seat base.

2. The floor lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light-producing assembly illuminates by luminescence.

3. The floor lighting system of claim 2, wherein the light-producing assembly comprises a printed LED arrangement and a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the printed LED arrangement.

4. The floor lighting system of claim 1, wherein when the seat base is in the use position, the light-producing assembly illuminates at least one of a footwell area and a floor area located off to a side of the seat base.

5. The floor lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light-producing assembly illuminates a step-in area when the seat base is in the stowed position, and wherein the step-in area is covered by the seat base when the seat base is in the use position.

6. The floor lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light-producing assembly illuminates at variable intensity based on a position of a door disposed proximate the seat, wherein the intensity at which the light-producing assembly illuminates is higher when the door is in an open position than when the door is in a closed position.

7. A floor lighting system of a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seat base that is pivotable between a use position and a stowed position;

a support leg disposed on an underside portion of the seat base and pivotally coupled to a floor of the vehicle; and

a light-producing assembly coupled to the support leg and arranged as a strip extending along a bottom portion and a front portion of the support leg and configured to illuminate a footwell area in front of the seat when the seat base is in the use position and a step-in area behind the seat when the seat base is in the stowed position.

8. The floor lighting system of claim 7, wherein the light-producing assembly illuminates by luminescence.

9. The floor lighting system of claim 8, wherein the light-producing assembly comprises a printed LED arrangement and a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the printed LED arrangement.

10. The floor lighting system of claim 7, wherein the step-in area is covered by the seat base when the seat base is in the use position.

11. The floor lighting system of claim 7, wherein the light-producing assembly illuminates at variable intensity based on a position of a door disposed proximate the seat, wherein the intensity at which the light-producing assembly illuminates is higher when the door is in an open position than when the door is in a closed position.

12. A floor lighting system of a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seat base pivotable between a use and a stowed position;

a support leg disposed on an underside portion of the seat base and pivotally coupled to a floor of the vehicle; and

a light-producing assembly coupled to the support leg and arranged as a strip that luminesces to illuminate different floor areas based on the position of the seat base.

13. The floor lighting system of claim 12, wherein the light-producing assembly comprises a printed LED arrangement and a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the printed LED arrangement.

14. The floor lighting system of claim 12, wherein when the seat base is in the use position, the light-producing assembly illuminates at least one of a footwell area and a floor area located off to a side of the seat base.

15. The floor lighting system of claim 12, wherein the light-producing assembly illuminates a step-in area when the seat base is in the stowed position, wherein the step-in area is covered by the seat base when the seat base is in the use position.

16. The floor lighting system of claim 12, wherein the light-producing assembly illuminates at variable intensity based on a position of a door disposed proximate the seat, wherein the intensity at which the light-producing assembly illuminates is higher when the door is in an open position than when the door is in a closed position.