Combination brake light and interior light for mounting on the door of a truck cap

• US 4,896,136 A
• Filed: 12/14/1987
• Issued: 01/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Creation Windows Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Creation Windows Incorporated
• Inventors: Hotovy, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/132,470
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 340/89, 340/87, 340/84, 340/97, 340/66, 340/69, 340/74, 340/99, 340/468, 340/469, 340/472, 340/479, 340/473, 362/129, 362/80, 362/242, 362/61, 362/63, 362/71, 362/227, 362/234, 362/251, 362/80.1
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43

Abstract

A combination brake light and interior light for mounting on the rear door of a truck cap. The combination light includes a housing mounted on the rear door of the truck cap. The housing holds a brake light indicator lens on one side, facing the rear door. When the rear door is closed, the brake light indicator lens is substantially vertically disposed. Proximate to the brake light indicator lens, a brake light bulb is disposed within the housing. Apparatus for energizing the brake light bulb upon operation of the truck brakes are included. Additionally, an interior light lens is held on another side of the housing. Proximate to the interior light lens, an interior light bulb is held within the housing. Apparatus for selectively energizing the interior light bulb are also included.

Claims

1. A combination brake light and interior light for use on a truck cap covering the load-carrying portion of a pickup truck having brakes, the truck cap having a rear door adapted to be opened and closed, the rear door including a rear window, the combination brake light and interior light comprising:

a housing mounted to the rear door, said housing having at least first and second portions;

a brake light lens disposed on a first portion of said housing, facing the rear window and being substantially vertically disposed when the rear door is closed;

a brake light bulb disposed within said housing proximate to said brake light lens, such that light from said brake light bulb is transmitted through said brake light lens and the rear window;

means for energizing said brake light bulb when the truck brakes are applied;

a first interior light lens disposed on a second portion of said housing;

an interior light bulb disposed within said housing proximate to said first interior light lens, such that light from said interior light bulb is transmitted through said first interior light lens; and

means for selectively energizing said interior light bulb.

2. The combination brake light and interior light as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first interior light lens is substantially vertically disposed when the rear door is open, such that said interior light bulb when energized illuminates the load carrying portion of the pickup truck when the rear door is open.

3. The combination brake light and interior light as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a third portion, and a second interior light lens which is disposed on said third portion of said housing and is substantially vertically disposed when the rear door is closed, such that said interior light bulb when energized illuminates the load carrying portion of the pickup truck when the rear door is closed.

4. The combination brake light and interior light as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first interior light lens is obliquely disposed with respect to said brake light lens, to illuminate the load-carrying portion of the pickup truck when the rear door is open.

5. The combination brake light and interior light as set forth in claim 1, wherein said brake light lens is obliquely disposed with respect to the rear window of the truck cap.

6. The combination brake light and interior light as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for selectively energizing the interior light bulb includes:

switch means responsive to the position of the rear door of the truck cap such that said interior light bulb is energized when the rear door of the truck cap is open; and

manual switch means for selectively energizing and de-energizing said interior light bulb.

7. The combination brake light and interior light as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a means disposed within said housing and dividing said housing into a brake light chamber and an interior light chamber, said means having a first face on which said interior light bulb is disposed within said interior light chamber and a second face on which said brake light bulb is disposed within said brake light chamber.

8. The combination brake light and interior light as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is formed by two opague members secured to each other by fastening means.

9. For use on a truck provided with brakes, electrically energized brake lights, and having a cap installed over the truck bed, the cap including a rear door hinged at the top, with a window in at least the upper portion of the door, a combination lighting assembly comprising:

a housing having substantially opaque outer walls;

a substantially opaque means for dividing said housing into at least first and second compartments, such that substantially no light is transmitted between said first compartment and said second compartment;

said housing including at least first and second light transmissive means in said outer walls, said first light transmissive means forming a

portion of said first compartment, and said second light transmissive means forming a portion of said second compartment;

a means for mounting said housing within the truck cap adjacent the upper portion of the door of the cap;

a first light bulb for providing illumination in said first compartment, said first light bulb being energized with the electrically energized brake lights, light from said first light bulb passing through said first light transmissive means so as to provide a visible indication of the application of the brakes of the truck, said first light transmissive means being positioned adjacent the window of the cap, so that light from said first light bulb is visible from behind the truck through the window of the cap;

a second light bulb for providing illumination in said second compartment, light from said second light bulb passing through said second light transmissive means to provide illumination to the truck bed.

10. For use on a truck having a cap installed over the truck bed, with a rear door hinged at the top, with a window in at least the upper portion of the door, a combination lighting assembly comprising:

a substantially opaque housing;

a substantially opaque means for dividing said housing into at least first and second compartments, such that light is not transmitted between said first and second compartments;

said housing including at least first and second light transmissive means, said first light transmissive means communicating with said first compartment, and said second light transmissive means communicating with said second compartment;

a means for mounting said housing on the door of said cap;

a first light bulb mounted in said first compartment, said first light bulb .being energized when the brakes are applied by the truck operator, light from said first light bulb passing through said first light transmissive means, so as to provide a visible indication of the application of the brakes of the truck, said first light transmissive means being positioned adjacent the window of the cap, so that light from said first light bulb is visible from behind the truck through the window of the topper;

a second light bulb mounted in said second compartment, light from said second light bulb passing through said second light transmissive means to provide illumination to the truck bed.

11. The combination lighting assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second light transmissive means is a door is open, such that said second light bulb when energized illuminates the truck bed when the rear door is open.

12. The combination lighting assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said housing includes a third light transmissive means communicating with said second compartment, said third light transmissive means is substantially vertically disposed when the rear door is closed, such that said second light bulb when energized illuminates the truck bed when the rear door is closed, and the area underneath the rear door when the rear door is open.