Led vehicular light assembly with heater

• US 6,601,983 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Fernandez, Vincent A. Runfola
• Original Assignee: Robert Fernandez, Vincent A. Runfola
• Inventors: Fernandez, Robert, Runfola, Vincent A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/907,055
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 362/800, 362/92, 362/294, 362/545, 362/494, 362/235, 359/507, 219/201, 219/202, 219/220, 313/15, 250/495.1
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/026 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/603 the operation of at least a part of the cleaning means being controlled by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/60 Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/90 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light assembly for mounting on the exterior of a vehicle such as a taillight, a stop light, or a turn signal is provided with a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s). These have distinct advantages over incandescent bulbs for longer life and reduced power. They have the disadvantage that they are so energy efficient that they do not heat up the external lens enough to melt snow and ice thereon. The invention overcomes this problem by providing an electrical heater in the assembly that is actuated by a thermal switch that is closed only when the temperature is below a preset value.

Claims

1. An LED light assembly for mounting on the exterior of a motor vehicle, the light assembly comprising:

a) an enclosure having an electric supply connection at a first end and a light transmitting lens at a second end;

b) an LED board assembly within the enclosure having a first face and an opposed second face;

c) an electrical connector extending from the first face constructed for operatively connecting with the supply connection;

d) a plurality of LED'"'"'s fixedly mounted on the second face so as to emit light through the lens when the board assembly is within the enclosure and the connector is engaged with the supply connection;

e) electrical connection between the connector and the LED'"'"'s for energizing the LED'"'"'s;

f) a heating element within the enclosure for generating heat for clearing ice and snow from the lens when electrically powered;

g) electrical connecting means between the heating element and the electric supply connection for supplying electric power to the heating element only when the temperature falls below a preset value; and

h) in which the heating element is mounted on the LED board assembly.

2. The light assembly according to claim 1, in which the electrical connecting means includes a thermal switch that is closed below a preset temperature.

3. The light assembly according to claim 2, in which the thermal switch includes a bimetallic element.

4. In a light assembly mounted on the exterior of a motor vehicle having an enclosure with an electric supply connection at a first end and a light transmitting lens at a second end, the improvement comprising:

a) an LED board assembly having a first face and an opposed second face;

b) an electrical connector extending from the first face constructed for operatively connecting with the supply connection;

c) a plurality of LED'"'"'s fixedly mounted on the second face so as to emit light through the lens when the board assembly is within the enclosure and the connector is engaged with the supply connection;

d) electrical connection between the connector and the LED'"'"'s for energizing the LED'"'"'s;

e) a heating element for generating heat for clearing ice and snow from the lens when within the enclosure and electrically powered;

f) electrical connecting means between the heating element and the electric supply connection for supplying electric power to the heating element only when the temperature falls below a preset value; and

g) in which the heating element is mounted on the LED board assembly.

5. The light assembly according to claim 4, in which the electrical connecting means includes a thermal switch that is closed below a preset temperature.

6. The light assembly according to claim 5, in which the thermal switch includes a bimetallic element.

7. An LED light assembly for mounting on a motor vehicle, the light assembly comprising:

a) an enclosure having an electric supply connection at a first end and a light transmitting lens at a second end, the lens having an outer face exposed to the environment and an opposed inner face;

b) an LED board assembly having a first face and an opposed second face;

c) electrical connection means extending from the first face constructed for operatively connecting with the supply connection;

d) a plurality of LED'"'"'s fixedly mounted on the second face so as to emit light through the lens when the board assembly is within the enclosure and the connection means is engaged with the supply connection;

e) electrical connection between the connection means and the LED'"'"'s for energizing the LED'"'"'s;

f) a heating element within the enclosure for generating heat for clearing ice and snow from the lens when electrically powered;

g) electrical connecting means between the heating element and the electric supply connection for supplying electric power to the heating element only when the temperature falls below a preset value; and

h) in which the heating element is constructed for mounting on the lens.

8. In a light assembly mounted on the exterior of a motor vehicle having an enclosure with an electric supply connection at a first end and a light transmitting lens at a second end, the improvement comprising:

a) an LED board assembly having a first face and an opposed second face;

b) an electrical connector extending from the first face constructed for operatively connecting with the supply connection;

c) a plurality of LED'"'"'s fixedly mounted on the second face so as to emit light through the lens when the board assembly is within the enclosure and the connector is engaged with the supply connection;

d) electrical connection between the connector and the LED'"'"'s for energizing the LED'"'"'s;

e) a heating element for generating heat for clearing ice and snow from the lens when within the enclosure and electrically powered; and

f) electrical connecting means between the heating element and the electric supply connection for supplying electric power to the heating element only when the temperature falls below a preset value.

9. The light assembly according to claim 8, in which the heating element is mounted on the LED board assembly.

10. The light assembly according to claim 8, in which the heating element is mounted on the inner face of the lens.

11. The light assembly according to claim 8, in which the heating element comprises resistance wires attached to the inner face.

12. The light assembly according to claim 8, in which the heating element is embedded in the lens.