Illuminated vehicle compartment

• US 9,802,534 B1
• Filed: 10/21/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Low, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/299,799
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 362485, 362487, 362496, 362509-510
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/307 mounted on loading platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/10 Electro- or photo- luminescent surfaces, e.g. signalling by way of electroluminescent strips or panels
• 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: B60R 13/01 Liners for load platforms or load compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/145 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/16 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/38 Combination of two or more photoluminescent elements of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• 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: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A vehicle is provided herein that includes a pickup box defining a storage compartment therein. A liner is disposed on an exterior surface of the pickup box. A first luminescent structure is disposed within the liner and is configured to luminesce in response to receiving excitation light from a first light source.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a pickup box defining a storage compartment therein;

a liner disposed on an exterior surface of the pickup box; and

a first luminescent structure disposed within the liner and configured to luminesce in response to receiving excitation light from a first light source separately disposed from the liner.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the luminescent structure includes a long-persistence luminescent material therein.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured as a center high mount stop light.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed within a box light that is disposed within the pickup box.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the liner is a drop-in liner that is preformed prior to attachment to the vehicle and the luminescent structure is disposed within a rigid material that forms the liner.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the luminescent structure is disposed within a spray-in liner that is formed from a liquid carrier medium.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first light source excites a first luminescent structure and a second light source excites a second luminescent structure disposed within the liner.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a storage compartment of a pickup box;

a first light source configured to emit light on a liner within the storage compartment; and

first and second luminescent structures disposed within the storage compartment, wherein the first and second luminescent structures independently luminesce based on a wavelength of an excitation light received from the light source.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first and second luminescent structures each comprise at least one luminescent material configured to down convert an excitation light received from at least a portion of the light sources into a visible light.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the excitation light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second luminescent structures are configured to have a perceptible glow for greater than 10 hours after charging.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second luminescent structures a is disposed on a front section of the liner.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second luminescent structures is disposed above a wheel well of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the luminescent structure is disposed on the liner, wherein the liner is disposed within the compartment.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a pickup box defining a storage compartment therein;

a light source configured to direct excitation light into the storage compartment;

a liner disposed within the storage compartment; and

a luminescent structure separately disposed from the light source on an upwardly extending surface of the storage compartment, wherein the luminescent structure luminesces in response to receiving excitation light from the light source.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the luminescent structure includes a long-persistence luminescent material therein.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the luminescent structure includes at least one luminescent material configured to convert an excitation light received from at least a portion of the light source into a visible light.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the light source is disposed within a light assembly that is coupled to a cab of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the light source is disposed within a box light.

20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the luminescent structure is configured as a running light that notifies rearwardly disposed vehicles of an open compartment of the vehicle.