Component module applique for vehicle lift gate

• US 20050194805A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Gates, Terence M., McClure, William Ethan A., Vaitus, Leonida S., Gougeon, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/1.07
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/04 External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12

Abstract

A module in the form of a carrier with an optional decorative body is mountable on an exterior surface of a vehicle lift gate and provides a mounting platform for a plurality of components. The components include at least two of light sources in the form of LEDs or incandescent bulbs, an actuatable switch, a camera, a key lock cylinder and a movable handle. The carrier is affixed to the body and is alignable with apertures in the body for transmission of light from the light sources exteriorly of the body as well as to provide a field of view for the camera. The electric switch is actuatable through a resilient membrane.

Claims

1. A component module mountable on an exterior surface of the vehicle lift gate, the module comprising:

a plurality of individual components; and

a carrier carrying at least two components, the carrier mountable on a vehicle lift gate exterior surface.

2. The module of claim 1 further comprising:

the components including at least one of light source, a camera, a switch, a key lock cylinder, a seal, a connector, and a movable handle.

3. The module of claim 2 further comprising:

a camera lens for the camera.

4. The module of claim 3 further comprising:

means for modifying the adhesion between the lens and foreign matter.

5. The module of claim 4 wherein the adhesion modifying means comprises:

one of a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic film disposed over the camera lens.

6. The module of claim 3 further comprising:

a transparent cover mounted over the lens.

7. The module of claim 2 wherein the switch comprises:

a resilient membrane carried on the carrier and exteriorally accessible of the carrier, movement of the membrane actuating the switch.

8. The module of claim 2 wherein the switch comprises:

an electrical switch having a movable actuator for switching contacts of the switch to generate a switch output signal when the actuator is moved.

9. The module of claim 2 further comprising:

an exterior decorative body; and

means for fixedly mounting the carrier to the body.

10. The module of claim 9 wherein the body further comprises:

apertures formed in the body alignable with a light source mounted in the carrier.

11. The module of claim 10 wherein the light source comprises:

a light emitting diode.

12. The module of claim 9 wherein the light source comprises:

an incandescent bulb.

13. The module of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one lens cover mounted on the carrier, the lens cover viewable exteriorly of the body.

14. The module of claim 13 wherein:

the lens cover is removably mounted on the carrier.

15. The module of claim 9 further comprising:

means for mounting the body to a vehicle lift gate.

16. The module of claim 15 wherein the body mounting means comprises:

a plurality of bosses carried on the body; and

fasteners mounted in the bosses and securable to a vehicle lift gate.

17. The module of claim 9 further comprising:

means for mounting the carrier to the body.

18. The module of claim 16 wherein the carrier mounting means comprises:

a plurality of bosses carried on the body; and

fasteners mounted in the bosses and extendable through the carrier into a vehicle lift gate.

19. The module of claim 17 wherein:

the bosses are threaded; and

the fasteners have at least one threaded shank.

20. The module of claim 18 wherein:

the fasteners have an opposed threaded shanks; and

a tightenable nut mountable over the opposed threaded shank and to secure each fastener to a vehicle lift gate.

21. The module of claim 1 further comprising:

a lead frame including a plurality of conductive leads fixedly mounted on the carrier; and

at least one of the components electrically connected to the leads.

22. The module of claim 21 wherein the light source comprises:

a light emitting diode.

23. The module of claim 21 wherein the light source comprises:

an incandescent bulb.

24. The module of claim 21 further comprising:

a lens cover mounted on the carrier adjacent to the light source; and

the lens cover viewable exteriorly of the carrier.

25. The module of claim 24 wherein:

the lens cover is removably mounted to the carrier.

26. The module of claim 21 further comprising:

an exterior decorative body; and

means for fixedly mounting the carrier to the body.

27. The module of claim 26 wherein the body further comprises:

apertures formed in the body alignable with the light source mounted in the carrier.

28. The module of claim 21 further comprising:

an electrical harness extending from the lead frame adapted for connection to circuits in vehicle lift gate.

29. The module of claim 21 further comprising:

means for mounting the body to a vehicle lift gate.

30. The module of claim 29 wherein the body mounting means comprises:

a plurality of bosses carried on the body; and

fasteners mounted in the bosses and securable to a vehicle lift gate.

31. The module of claim 21 further comprising:

means for mounting the carrier to the body.

32. The module of claim 31 wherein the carrier mounting means comprises:

a plurality of bosses carried on the body; and

fasteners mounted in the bosses and extendable through the carrier into a vehicle lift gate.

33. The module of claim 32 wherein the bosses are threaded;

and

the fasteners have at least one threaded shank end.

34. The module of claim 33 wherein:

the fasteners have an opposed threaded shank end; and

a tightenable nut mountable over the opposed threaded shank and to secure the fasteners to a vehicle lift gate.