Light bar having multiple levels and multiple rows of lights and having end extensions

• US 6,081,191 A
• Filed: 10/14/1998
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Code 3 Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Code 3 Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Ryan, Edward F., Loudenslager, John H., Green, Timothy M., Smith, Andrew G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/173,075
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 340/472, 340/473, 340/471, 340/468, 362/493, 362/544, 362/240, 362/219, 362/243, 362/223, 362/238
• US Class Current: 340/472
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle

Abstract

A light bar for mounting on an emergency vehicle to provide warning light signals. An elongate body portion has an elongate axis, the elongate body portion adapted to be mounted on the emergency vehicle so that the elongate axis traverses an axis coaxial with the direction of the travel of the emergency vehicle. At least three vertically spaced lighting layers are provided, each layer having at least one emergency light source, the emergency light sources on each layer cooperating to provide a transient high intensity warning light signal 360° around the light bar. At least four linear rows of emergency light sources as viewed from the top of the light bar are also provided, the rows being substantially parallel to the elongate axis, each row having at least two emergency light sources, at least one row located in each of the layers and at least one layer having at least two rows, the emergency light sources in each row cooperate to provide a transient high intensity warning signal 360° around the light bar. Each end of the body has projecting extensions which have a recess for accommodating mounting hardware. A spot light or other device may be nested in the bar. The fixtures may be stacked and may be positioned off center when the vehicle is in a fend off position. The fixtures may also be aimed to cross over each other or operate in response to vehicle speed.

Claims

1. A light bar for mounting on an emergency vehicle to provide warning light signals, the light bar comprising:

a body portion adapted to be mounted on the emergency vehicle;

a first transient light source on the body portion having a first mode in which the first light source rotates or oscillates and having a second mode in which the first light source is selectively positioned at different fixed positions;

a second transient light source on the body portion having a first mode in which the second light source rotates or oscillates and having a second mode in which the second light source is selectively positioned at different fixed positions; and

a single controller for controlling rotation or oscillation of the first and second light sources and selectively positioning the first and second light sources in a fend off position defined by an operator.

2. The light bar of claim 1 wherein the first light source has a device for selectively positioning the first light source at a position selected by the operator to provide a beam of light at an angle of at least 5°

and not more than 85°

with the direction of travel of the vehicle whereby the operator controls rotation or oscillation of the first light source until it is in a fend off position to illuminate a roadway when the emergency vehicle is at a fend off angle relative to the roadway.

3. A light bar for mounting on an emergency vehicle to provide warning light signals, the light bar comprising:

an elongate body portion having an elongate axis adapted to be mounted on the emergency vehicle so that the axis is transverse to the direction of the travel of the emergency vehicle;

at least one vertically spaced lighting layer, each layer having at least one emergency light source, the emergency light sources on each layer cooperating to provide a transient high intensity warning light signal 360°

around the light bar;

at least one linear row of light sources as viewed from the top of the light bar, each said row having at least two emergency light sources, at least one row located in each of the layers, the emergency light sources in each row cooperating to provide a transient high intensity warning signal 360°

around the light bar, the emergency light sources in each row cooperating to provide a transient high intensity warning signal to an observer positioned substantially in line with the rows; and

a retractable device nested within the elongate body portion.

4. The light bar of claim 3 wherein the device comprises a spot light which rotates about a vertical axis to provide a beam of light which illuminates positions to the right, in front of, to the left or behind the vehicle and wherein the spot light rotates about a horizontal axis to provide a beam of light which illuminates various horizontal positions.

5. The light bar of claim 3 wherein the device comprises a radar detector antenna or an infrared source.

6. A light bar for mounting on an emergency vehicle to provide warning light signals, the light bar comprising:

a body portion having an axis adapted to be mounted on the emergency vehicle so that the axis intersects a central axis parallel to the direction of travel of the emergency vehicle; and

a first rotating or oscillating light source having a device for selectively positioning the first light source at different fixed positions to provide a beam of light at an angle of at least 5° and

not more than 85°

with the central axis whereby the first light source in the fixed position is selectively positioned in a fend off position to illuminate a roadway when the emergency vehicle is at a fend off angle relative to the roadway.

7. The light bar of claim 6 wherein the first light source provides a beam of light directed toward the front of the vehicle at an angle of at least 5°

and not more than 85°

with the central axis so that the first light source in the fixed position is selectively positioned to illuminate the roadway toward the front of the vehicle when the emergency vehicle is at a fend off angle relative to the roadway and further comprising a second rotating or oscillating light source having a device for selectively positioning the light source at a fixed position to provide a beam of light directed toward the rear of the vehicle at an angle of at least 10° and

not more than 15°

with the central axis so that the second light source in the fixed position is selectively positioned to illuminate the roadway toward the rear of the vehicle when the emergency vehicle is at a fend off angle relative to the roadway.

8. The light bar of claim 7 further comprising first and second linear rows of light sources as viewed from the top of the light bar, the first light source being positioned within the first row and the second light source being positioned with the second row.

9. The light bar of claim 8 wherein the body portion comprises a elongate body portion having a elongate axis adapted to be mounted on the emergency vehicle so that the axis is transverse to the direction of the travel of the emergency vehicle and wherein the first and second linear rows of light sources are substantially parallel to the elongate axis.

10. The light bar of claim 7 further comprising first and second layers of light sources, the first light source being positioned within the first layer and the second light source being positioned with the second layer.

11. The light bar of claim 6 a positioning device connected to the first light source for selectively positioning the first light source in the fend off position and an actuating circuit responsive to an operator for selectively energizing the positioning device.

12. The light bar of claim 6 further comprising a positioning circuit responsive to an operator for positioning the first light source in the fend off position.

13. The light bar of claim 12 wherein the positioning circuit comprises a position sensing circuit including a Hall effect device for sensing the position of one or more magnets rotating with the first light source.

14. The light bar of claim 6 wherein the first light source has multiple fixed positions and further comprising a circuit responsive to the operator for selecting a fixed position at which the first light source is positioned.

15. A light bar for mounting on an emergency vehicle to provide warning light signals, the light bar comprising:

a body portion adapted to be mounted on the emergency vehicle;

a first transient light source on the body portion having a first mode in which the first light source rotates or oscillates and having a second mode in which the first light source is selectively positioned at different fixed positions;

a second transient light source on the body portion having a first mode in which the second light source rotates or oscillates and having a second mode in which the second light source is selectively positioned at different fixed positions; and

a single controller for controlling operation and coordinating modes of operation of the first and second light sources.

16. The light bar of claim 15 wherein the first light source has a device for selectively positioning the first light source at a fixed position to provide a beam of light at an angle of at least 5°

and not more than 85°

with the direction of travel of the vehicle whereby the first light source in the fixed position is selectively positioned in a fend off position to illuminate a roadway when the emergency vehicle is at a fend off angle relative to the roadway.

17. A light bar for mounting on an emergency vehicle to provide warning light signals, the light bar comprising:

an elongate body portion having an elongate axis adapted to be mounted on the emergency vehicle so that the elongate axis intersects a central axis parallel to the direction of travel of the emergency vehicle;

at least two linear rows of light sources as viewed from the top of the light bar, said rows being substantially parallel to the elongate axis, each said row having at least two emergency light sources, the emergency light sources in each row cooperating to provide a transient high intensity warning signal to an observer positioned substantially in line with the rows;

a first fixed light source having a first line of illumination along which the first fixed light source is aimed, the first source positioned on a left side of the central axis of the vehicle so that the first line intersects the central axis and illuminates observers on the right side of the vehicle; and

a second fixed light source having a second line of illumination along which the second fixed light source is aimed, the second source positioned on a right side of the central axis of the vehicle so that the second line intersects the central axis and illuminates observers on the left side of the vehicle.

18. The light bar of claim 17 wherein the first and second fixed light sources each comprise a strobe or halogen light aimed at an angle within a range of 15°

-75°

relative to the central axis, further comprising first and second forwardly projecting extensions on each end of the elongate body portion and wherein each of the strobe lights is located at least partially within one of the extensions.

19. A light bar for mounting on an emergency vehicle to provide warning light signals, the light bar comprising:

an elongate body portion having an elongate axis adapted to be mounted on the emergency vehicle so that the axis intersects a central axis parallel to the direction of travel of the emergency vehicle;

at least two linear rows of light sources as viewed from the top of the light bar, said rows being substantially parallel to the elongate axis, each said row having at least two emergency light sources, the emergency light sources in each row cooperating to provide a transient high intensity warning signal to an observer positioned substantially in line with the rows;

a first fixed light source having a first zone of illumination, the first source positioned on a left side of the central axis of the vehicle so that the first zone illuminates observers on the right side of the vehicle;

a second fixed light source having a second zone of illumination, the second source positioned contiguous to and perpendicular to the first light source so that the second zone illuminates observers on the left side of the vehicle; and

a third fixed light source having a third zone of illumination, the third source positioned contiguous to and perpendicular to the second light source, the third source positioned opposite to and parallel to the first light source, the third light source positioned so that the third zone illuminates observers on the left side of the vehicle.

20. The light bar of claim 19 further comprising first and second forwardly projecting extensions on each end of the elongate body portion and wherein at least one of the sources are located in at least one of the extensions.

21. A light bar for mounting on an emergency vehicle to provide warning light signals, the vehicle providing a status signal representative of a status of the vehicle, the light bar comprising:

a body portion having a elongate axis adapted to be mounted on the emergency vehicle so that the axis transverses a direction of the travel of the emergency vehicle;

at least one vertically spaced lighting layer having at least two emergency light sources, the emergency light sources on the layer cooperating to provide a transient high intensity warning light signal 360°

around the light bar;

at least one row of light sources as viewed from the top of the light bar, said row having at least two emergency light sources, the emergency light sources in said row cooperating to provide a transient high intensity warning signal 360°

around the light bar, the emergency light sources in said row cooperating to provide a transient high intensity warning signal to an observer positioned substantially in line with the rows; and

a control responsive to and receiving the status signal, said control controlling the number of operating light sources or the light pattern or flashing rate generated by the operating light sources as a function of the speed of the vehicle as represented by the received status signal.

22. The light bar of claim 21 wherein the status of the vehicle may be speed, engine rpms, acceleration, brake position or braking rate, turn signal position or transmission position.