ILLUMINATING RUNNING BOARD

• US 20160009220A1
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• 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, Lobo, Harry, Musleh, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,487,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/325 on or for running boards or steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/002 Running boards for vehicle tops B60R3/005; at the sides of the vehicle for carrying loads B60R9/02
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/32 characterised by the arrangement of the photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/45 by adjustment of photoluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 running board of a vehicle is provided herein. The running board includes a housing and a light-producing assembly disposed inside the housing. The light-producing assembly includes a plurality of light sources and a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the plurality of light sources, wherein luminescent light escapes the housing via a first light permeable portion and a second light permeable portion.

Claims

1. A running board of a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a light-producing assembly disposed inside the housing and comprising;

a plurality of light sources; and

a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the plurality of light sources, wherein luminescent light escapes the housing via a first light permeable portion and a second light permeable portion.

2. The running board of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an edge of the running board.

3. The running board of claim 1, wherein the light-producing assembly is arranged over a curved a surface.

4. The running board of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise a printed LED arrangement.

5. The running board of claim 1, wherein the first light permeable portion comprises a bottom portion of the housing and the second light permeable portion comprises a side portion of the housing.

6. The running board of claim 5, wherein the housing further comprises a light blocking portion disposed between the first and second light permeable portions.

7. The running board of claim 6, wherein the third portion is configured to internally reflect light inside the housing.

8. The running board of claim 7, wherein the first light permeable portion, the second light permeable portion, and the light blocking portion each extend the length of the running board.

9. A running board of a vehicle, comprising:

a housing defining an edge of the running board;

a light-producing assembly disposed inside the housing and comprising;

a plurality of light sources; and

a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the plurality of light sources, wherein luminescent light escapes the housing via a light permeable side portion and a light permeable bottom portion.

10. The running board of claim 9, wherein the light-producing assembly is arranged over a curved a surface.

11. The running board of claim 9, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise a printed LED arrangement.

12. The running board of claim 9, wherein the housing further comprises a light blocking portion disposed between the side portion and the bottom portion.

13. The running board of claim 9, wherein portions of the housing are configured to internally reflect light propagating inside the housing.

14. The running board of claim 9, wherein portions of the housing are configured to have a metallic appearance.

15. A running board of a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a light-producing assembly disposed inside the housing and comprising;

a plurality of light sources; and

a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the plurality of light sources, wherein luminescent light escapes the housing via a light permeable side portion and a light permeable bottom portion that are separated by a light blocking portion.

16. The running board of claim 15, wherein the housing defines an edge of the running board.

17. The running board of claim 15, wherein the light-producing assembly is arranged over a curved a surface.

18. The running board of claim 15, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise a printed LED arrangement.

19. The running board of claim 15, wherein portions of the housing are configured to internally reflect light propagating inside the housing.

20. The running board of claim 15, wherein portions of the housing are configured to have a metallic appearance.