Multi-colored vehicle rear lamp

• US 10,488,011 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2019
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Norris, Brian K., Staggs, Randall, Anand, Nakul, Smith, Shawn S., Riley, Christopher C., Noe, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peerce, Matthew J.
• Application Number:
  US16/269,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20190170319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 362545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/20 characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/255 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lamp for the rear of a vehicle is disclosed with a light transmissive cover having a red first illuminated surface area and a clear second illuminated surface area. It has a first LED light emitter located directly beneath the red first area, a second LED light emitter located directly beneath the clear second area, and a third LED light emitter, also located directly beneath said clear second area. The third red LED light emitter is for emitting red light through the clear second area simultaneously with light transmitted through the red first area, whereby the first and second areas are adapted to collectively form a contiguous red illuminated surface area.

Claims

1. A lamp for the rear of a vehicle, comprising:

a light transmissive cover having a first illuminated surface area and a second illuminated surface area, wherein said first area of said cover is light transmissive and red in color, and wherein said second area is light transmissive and clear in color;

a first light emitter adapted to emit light from said first red area;

a second light emitter, separate from said first light emitter, said second light emitter adapted to emit white light from said second area; and

a third light emitter, separate from said first and said second light emitters;

wherein said third light emitter is adapted to emit red light through said clear second area;

wherein said first light emitter comprises a plurality of LEDs; and

wherein said plurality of LEDs are positioned around said second light emitter and said third light emitter.

2. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said first and third emitters are operable to activate and deactivate independent of said second light emitter.

3. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said first and third light emitters are operable to activate at a first intensity when said vehicle is in a brake mode, and at a second intensity when not in said brake mode, said first intensity being higher than said second intensity;

and

wherein said second light emitter is operable to activate in a reverse mode.

4. The lamp of claim 3, wherein said third light emitter is operable to deactivate in said reverse mode.

5. The lamp of claim 3, wherein said first and third emitters are operable to deactivate when not in said brake mode.

6. The lamp of claim 3, comprising:

a first power source P1 adapted for powering said first light emitter during at least a tail lamp mode;

a second power source P2 adapted for powering said second light emitter during said reverse mode; and

a third power source P3 adapted for powering said third light emitter during at least said brake mode.

7. The lamp of claim 6, comprising:

a housing having a first power conductor for providing said first power source P1, a separate second power conductor for said second power source P2, and a separate third power source P3.

8. The lamp of claim 6, wherein power sources P1 and P3 are operable to supply a first power level in said brake mode, and a second power level when not in said brake mode, said first power level being higher than said second power level.

9. The lamp of claim 6, wherein power sources P1 and P3 are operable to supply power to said first and third light emitters when in said brake mode, and wherein said power source P3 is operable to cease supplying power to said third light emitter when not in said brake mode.

10. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said lamp is free of a reflector.

11. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said lamp defines multiple separate internal compartments.

12. The lamp of claim 1 wherein there is no parabolic reflector and no barrier wall between said first light emitter and said third light emitter.

13. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said lamp defines a single internal compartment.

14. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said lamp includes one or more barrier walls positioned between any of said first, second, and third light emitters.

15. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said first light emitter emits red light.

16. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said first light emitter emits white light.

17. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said second clear area of said cover is completely surrounded by said first red area of said cover.

18. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said light transmissive cover has in brake mode an illuminated surface area at least 75 square centimeters and less than 100 square centimeters.

19. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said light transmissive cover is circular and about 4 to 4½

inches in diameter.

20. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said light transmissive cover is oval and about 2½

inches tall and about 6¾

inches wide.

21. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said light transmissive cover has in brake mode an illuminated surface areas that is at least 5000 square millimeters.

22. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said lamp is shaped from a group consisting of:

(a) a circle with a diameter of about 10 centimeters; and

, (b) an oval.

23. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said first light emitter is located directly beneath said first area.

24. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said second light emitter is located directly beneath said second area.