Flexible arm light for automobile overhead console

• US 6,257,745 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Sak, Lawrence J., Speth, Stephan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US09/461,442
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 362/85, 362/487, 362/488, 362/419, 362/427, 362/493, 362/197, 362/287, 362/428, 362/490, 362/479
• US Class Current: 362/488
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/56 Lighting devices mounted on elongate supports, e.g. on flexible arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes

Abstract

A flexible arm light for a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment equipped with an overhead console includes a first housing and a second housing interconnected by a flexible housing. The first housing includes a lamp coupled to the overhead console at a first location. The second housing is coupled to the console at a second location. The flexible arm light is operable in a stowed position and a deployed position wherein the flexible arm light is selectively directable toward a target when in the deployed position.

Claims

1. A flexible arm light for a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment in combination with an overhead console, the flexible arm light comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing spaced apart from said first housing including a lamp;

a flexible housing interconnecting said first housing and said second housing;

said first housing coupled to said overhead console at a first location, said second housing coupled to said console at a second location, said flexible arm light operable in a stowed position and a deployed position wherein said flexible arm light is selectively directable toward a target when in said deployed position.

2. The flexible arm light of claim 1 wherein said first housing, said second housing and said flexible housing are disposed within a channel formed in said console when said flexible arm light is in said stowed position.

3. The flexible arm light of claim 2 wherein said second housing is adapted for mounting to said console in a snap-fit coupling when said flexible arm light is in said stowed position.

4. The flexible arm light of claim 1 wherein said first housing is pivotable relative to the console about an axis of rotation.

5. The flexible arm light of claim 1 wherein said flexible housing includes a positioning mechanism to restrain said lamp from further movement after initially positioning said flexible arm light.

6. The flexible arm light of claim 1 wherein said lamp is adapted to be electrically connected to a vehicle power source.

7. The flexible arm light of claim 4, wherein said axis of rotation is horizontally oriented.

8. The flexible arm light of claim 4, wherein said axis of rotation is vertically oriented.

9. An overhead console for a motor vehicle having a roof panel, said overhead console comprising:

a cover adapted for mounting to the roof panel;

a flexible member having a first end and a second end, said first end coupled to said cover, said second end including a lamp electrically connected to a power source, said second end selectively connectable to said cover for operating said flexible member in a stowed position, said flexible member operable in a deployed position for directing said lamp toward a target.

10. The overhead console of claim 9 wherein said cover includes a channel for receipt of said flexible member when in said stowed position.

11. The overhead console of claim 9 further including a courtesy light separately operable from said lamp.

12. The overhead console of claim 9 wherein said first end of said flexible member includes a first housing pivotably coupled to said cover.

13. The overhead console of claim 12 wherein said second end of said flexible member includes a second housing for mounting said lamp, a lens and a reflector.

14. The overhead console of claim 13 further including a retention mechanism for selectively securing said second housing to said cover.

15. The overhead console of claim 14 wherein said retention mechanism includes a pair of clips biasedly engaging said second housing.

16. The overhead console of claim 9, wherein said first end is pivotally coupled to said cover for relative rotation about a pivot axis.

17. The overhead console of claim 16, wherein said pivot axis is horizontally oriented.

18. The overhead console of claim 16, wherein said pivot axis is vertically oriented.