Marker light module

• US 6,685,349 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Connor, Ian D., Schmidt, Grischa, Spoel, Floris P., Speirs, Ben
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso; Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi; Jacob Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/898,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 362/506,540,545,240 340/475,472
• US Class Current: 362/506
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels

Abstract

A truck fender marker light system has one or more illuminated modules set into the corner formed by the top face and the outermost face of the fender.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a vehicle having a body, such lighting system comprising a fender projecting from the vehicle body, such fender having a substantially horizontally extending upper portion overlying a wheel of the vehicle, an outermost upright skirt portion forming an opening for the wheel of the vehicle and a corner portion joining the substantially horizontally extending upper portion and the outermost upright skirt portion, such lighting system including an illuminated portion having an elongated light assembly extending a substantial distance along the corner portion, and a light source mounted in the assembly.

2. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein the corner portion and the assembly are arcuate.

3. The lighting system of claim 2 wherein the corner portion has a highest point and the illuminated portion of the arcuate assembly extends a substantial distance in opposite directions forward and rearward from said highest point.

4. The lighting system of claim 2 wherein the arcuate assembly describes at least about a 90 degree arc along the corner portion of the fender.

5. The lighting system of claim 2 wherein the corner portion includes an elongated recess between the substantially horizontally extending upper portion of the fender and the outermost upright skirt portion of the fender, the arcuate assembly further comprising a base fitted in the recess, light sources carried on the base, and a cover secured to the base and enclosing the light sources.

6. The lighting system of claim 5 wherein the arcuate assembly forms a smooth extension of at least one of the upper portion and the skirt portion of the fender.

7. The lighting system of claim 5 wherein the arcuate assembly forms a smooth extension of both of the upper portion and the skirt portion of the fender.

8. The lighting system of claim 5 wherein the front and rear portions of the arcuate assembly act as turn signals.

9. The lighting system of claim 2 wherein the arcuate assembly is further comprised of two or more separate modules placed end to end.

10. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein the corner portion has a highest point and the assembly is comprised of two separate modules spaced apart from each other, one of said modules being mounted forward of said highest point and the other of said modules being mounted rearward of said highest point.

11. A lighting system for a fender projecting from a vehicle body, such fender having a generally horizontally extending upper portion overlying a wheel, a generally upright skirt portion and a corner portion joining the upper portion and the skirt portion, said system comprising an elongated light assembly extending a substantial distance along the corner portion, and a light source mounted in the assembly, the corner portion having a highest point and the assembly being comprised of two separate modules spaced apart from each other, one of said modules being mounted forward of said highest point and the other of said modules being mourned rearward of said highest point, the forward module being powered as a turn signal and the rearward module being powered as a turn signal, said forward and rearward modules having separate turn signal light sources.

12. A lighting system for a vehicle having a body, such lighting system comprising a fender projecting from the vehicle body, such fender having a substantially horizontally extending upper portion overlying the wheel of the vehicle, an outermost upright skirt portion forming an opening for the wheel of the vehicle and a corner portion joining the upper portion and the skirt portion, the corner portion having a highest point and an elongated recess, said system including an illuminated portion having an arcuate assembly describing at least about a 90 degree arc along the corner portion, said arcuate assembly extending forward and rearward of said highest point, said arcuate assembly further comprising a base mounted in the recess, light sources carried on the base, and a cover connected to the base and enclosing the light sources, said cover forming a smooth extension of both said upper portion and said skirt portion of said fender.

13. An illumination system for a vehicle body, comprising a fender having a substantially horizontally extending upper portion overlying a wheel, an outermost upright skirt portion forming an opening for the wheel, a corner portion joining the upper portion and the skirt portion, and an elongated recess extending a substantial distance along said corner portion, and an assembly complementary to said elongated recess, said assembly having a light source mounted therein.

14. The lighting system of claim 13 wherein the assembly is arcuate.

15. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein the corner portion has a highest point and the assembly includes an illuminated portion that extends substantial distances in opposite directions forward and rearward from said highest point.

16. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein the assembly further comprises a base mounted in the recess, light sources carried in the base, and a cover connected to the base and enclosing the light sources.

17. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein the assembly forms a smooth extension of at least one of the upper portion and the skirt portion of the fender.

18. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein the assembly forms a smooth extension of both of the upper portion and the skirt portion of the fender.

19. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein the front and rear portions of the assembly act as turn signals.

20. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein the assembly is further comprised of two or more separate modules placed end to end.