Emergency vehicle lighting and video system

• US 10,046,717 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halcore Group, Inc. (AIP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Halcore Group, Inc. (AIP LLC)
• Inventors: Fisher, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Noh, Jae N
• Application Number:
  US15/070,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20160272126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 348148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

A modular video assembly is mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle and includes an elongated housing and a camera. The housing presents spaced apart housing ends and a chamber between the housing ends. The camera is removably mounted at least partly within the chamber. The housing presents an inboard mounting surface that extends longitudinally between the housing ends, with the mounting surface operable to be opposed to the exterior surface when the assembly is mounted to the vehicle. The housing presents an outboard exposed surface that extends longitudinally to at least partly cover the chamber and is located outboard of the mounting surface. At least part of the exposed surface projects outboard of the camera to protect the camera when the assembly is mounted to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A modular video assembly configured to be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle, said modular video assembly comprising:

an elongated housing presenting spaced apart housing ends and a chamber between the housing ends; and

a camera removably mounted at least partly within the chamber,

said housing presenting an inboard mounting surface that extends longitudinally between the housing ends, with the mounting surface operable to be opposed to the exterior surface when the assembly is mounted to the vehicle, wherein the mounting surface is configured as an endless rim that forms a peripheral margin of the housing, wherein the endless rim surrounds a back opening that extends between the housing ends and provides access to the chamber,

said housing presenting an outboard exposed surface that extends longitudinally to at least partly cover the chamber and located outboard of the mounting surface,

at least part of the exposed surface projecting outboard of the camera to protect the camera when the assembly is mounted to the vehicle.

2. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 1,

said mounting surface and said exposed surface cooperatively defining a lateral width dimension of the housing,

said exposed surface defining an outboard apex of the housing where the lateral width dimension is at a maximum,

said outboard apex being located between the housing ends, with the lateral width dimension tapering from adjacent the outboard apex toward at least one of the housing ends.

3. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 2,

said camera including a lens located below the outboard apex.

4. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 2,

said exposed surface including a generally convex section that forms the outboard apex.

5. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 4;

and

lights mounted in the chamber adjacent to the camera, with at least one of the lights mounted between the apex and one of the housing ends and at least another one of the lights mounted between the apex and the other one of the housing ends.

6. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 5,

said at least part of the exposed surface projecting outboard of the lights so that the housing protects the lights when the assembly is mounted to the vehicle.

7. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 2,

said housing presenting fastener openings that intersect the exposed surface;

and

mounting fasteners removably inserted into respective fastener openings of the housing, with the mounting fasteners operable to removably secure the assembly to the vehicle.

8. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 1;

and

lights mounted in the chamber adjacent to the camera, with at least one of the lights mounted between the apex and one of the housing ends and at least another one of the lights mounted between the apex and the other one of the housing ends.

9. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 8,

said housing presenting fastener openings that intersect the exposed surface;

and

mounting fasteners removably inserted into respective fastener openings of the housing, with the mounting fasteners operable to removably secure the assembly to the vehicle.

10. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 9,

said fastener openings cooperatively defining an area therebetween that is devoid of mounting fasteners to removably secure the assembly to the vehicle.

11. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 9,

said exposed surface presenting light openings located between the fastener openings and communicating with the chamber, with the light openings permitting light to be transmitted from the lights to an exterior area.

12. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 8,

said housing including a set of opposed flexible connectors that cooperatively define a socket to receive a corresponding light,

said connectors having an unflexed position where the connectors cooperatively secure the light within the socket and a flexed position where the connectors are moved away from one another to permit insertion and removal of the light relative to the socket.

13. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 1,

said housing ends each including a mounting boss that presents part of the mounting surface,

said housing ends presenting respective fastener openings that each extend through a corresponding one of the mounting bosses and intersect the exposed surface.

14. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 13,

said housing ends each including a gusset that interconnects a corresponding boss and the endless rim.

15. The modular video assembly as claimed in claim 1;

and

a light mounted in the chamber adjacent to the camera,

said housing including a set of opposed flexible connectors that cooperatively define a socket to receive the light,

said connectors having an unflexed position where the connectors cooperatively secure the light within the socket and a flexed position where the connectors are moved away from one another to permit insertion and removal of the light relative to the socket.

16. A modular video assembly configured to be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle, said modular video assembly comprising:

an elongated housing presenting spaced apart housing ends and a chamber between the housing ends;

a camera removably mounted at least partly within the chamber,

said housing presenting an inboard mounting surface that extends longitudinally between the housing ends, with the mounting surface operable to be opposed to the exterior surface when the assembly is mounted to the vehicle,

said housing presenting an outboard exposed surface that extends longitudinally to at least partly cover the chamber and located outboard of the mounting surface,

at least part of the exposed surface projecting outboard of the camera to protect the camera when the assembly is mounted to the vehicle,

said housing including an endless rim that forms a peripheral margin of the housing,

said endless rim presenting at least part of the mounting surface, and

a light mounted in the chamber adjacent to the camera,

said housing including a set of opposed flexible connectors that cooperatively define a socket to receive the light,

said connectors having an unflexed position where the connectors cooperatively secure the light within the socket and a flexed position where the connectors are moved away from one another to permit insertion and removal of the light relative to the socket,

at least one of said connectors presenting part of the mounting surface,

said at least one connector engaging the exterior surface when the assembly is mounted to the vehicle to restrict movement of the at least one connector between the flexed and unflexed positions.