Vehicle window providing multiple operator viewing angles

• US 6,937,404 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Tartock, Russell Lewis, Bode, Shane Elizabeth, Batman, Alan Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Darryl J.
• Application Number:
  US10/717,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 359/707, 359/742, 359/743
• US Class Current: 359/742
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/001 integrated in the windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/08 with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876

Abstract

A vehicle window includes a first window side and a second window side. The first window side includes an optical center and a plurality of grooves positioned about the optical center. The grooves have a number of dimensions including a depth and a width. The grooves define surfaces effective to redirect light that passes through said window. At least one dimension of the grooves is varied about the optical center. The window is effective to provide a plurality of angles of light redirection about the optical center.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle window including a first window side and a second window side opposite the first window side, the window including an optical center wherein the optical center of the vehicle window is offset from the geometric center of the vehicle window;

a plurality of grooves defined by the first window side, the grooves having a positioning about the optical center, the grooves having a number of dimensions including a depth and a width, the grooves defining surfaces effective to redirect light that passes through said window;

wherein at least one dimension of the grooves is varied about the optical center effective to provide a plurality of angles of light redirection about the optical center.

2. The vehicle window of claim 1 wherein the positioning of the grooves about the optical center is concentric.

3. The vehicle window of claim 2 wherein the concentric positioning of the grooves about the optical center is substantially circular.

4. The vehicle window of claim 1 wherein the at least one dimension of the grooves being varied about the optical center includes the depth of the grooves being varied about the optical center.

5. The vehicle window of claim 1 wherein the at least one dimension of the grooves being varied about the optical center includes the width of the grooves being varied about the optical center.

6. The vehicle window of claim 1 wherein the at least one dimension of the grooves being varied about the optical center includes substantially continuous variation.

7. The vehicle window of claim 1 wherein the second window side is exposed to the exterior of a vehicle.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a window for a vehicle door including a first window side and a second window side, the window including an optical center wherein the optical center of the window is different from the geometric center of the window;

a plurality of ridges defined the first window side, the ridges having a positioning about the optical center, the ridges having a number of dimensions including a height and a pitch, the ridges defining surfaces effective to redirect light that passes through said window;

wherein at least one dimension of the ridges is varied about the optical center effective to provide a plurality of angles of light redirection about the optical center.

9. The vehicle window of claim 8 wherein the positioning of the ridges is concentric.

10. The vehicle window of claim 9 wherein the concentric positioning of the ridges is non-circular.

11. The vehicle window of claim 8 wherein the at least one dimension of the ridges being varied about the optical center includes the height of the ridges being varied about the optical center.

12. The vehicle window of claim 8 wherein the at least one dimension of the ridges being varied about the optical center includes the pitch of the ridges being varied about the optical center.

13. The vehicle window of claim 8 wherein the at least one dimension of the ridges being varied about the optical center includes substantially continuous variation.

14. The vehicle window of claim 8 wherein the second window side faces the exterior of a vehicle.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle porthole window including a first window side and a second window side, the window including an optical center;

a plurality of grooves defined by the first window side, the grooves having a positioning about the optical center, the grooves having a number of dimensions including and a depth and a width, the grooves defining fresnel optical surfaces effective to redirect light that passes through said window;

wherein at least one dimension of the grooves being substantially continuously varied about the optical center effective to provide a plurality of angles of light redirection about the optical center wherein the optical center of the window is different from the geometric center of the window.

16. The window of claim 15 wherein the at least one dimension of the grooves being substantially continuously varied about the optical center includes the depth of the grooves being substantially continuously varied about the optical center.

17. The window of claim 15 wherein the at least one dimension of the grooves being substantially continuously varied about the optical center includes the width of the grooves being substantially continuously varied about the optical center.

18. The window of claim 15 further comprising a gasket disposed intermediate the window and the porthole, the gasket forming a seal between the vehicle and the window.

19. The window of claim 15 wherein the window is installed in a porthole defined in the door of a vehicle.