Modular light assembly for decorative lights

• US 6,939,029 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DFR Acquisition Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kuryakyn Holdings Incorporated (Motorsport Aftermarket Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rudd, Thomas H., Abbe, David C., Stahel, Alwin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Application Number:
  US10/446,300
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 362235-237, 362/240, 362/241, 362/245, 362/247, 362/249, 362/252, 362/545, 362/812, 362/368, 362/516, 362/549, 362/800, 200/317
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/005 by permanent fixing means, e.g. gluing, riveting or embedding in a potting compound
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/17 for motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A modular light for decorative use on light strips on motorcycles or similar vehicle has an outer lens or light transmitting housing that forms an interior chamber. The chamber has an open side, and a light transmitting wall is opposite from the open side through which light will be transmitted. A circuit board carrying a plurality of LEDs is shaped to close the open side of the chamber in the light transmitting housing. The circuit board supports a reflector that has openings through which the LEDs protrude. The circuit board is secured in place in the light transmitting housing to form a modular light that be used in a number of locations. The modular light fits into a support housing on a light support strip or similar structure that will mount the modular light in desired locations on a vehicle.

Claims

1. A decorative light strip having supports receiving fasteners to mount the light strip on a vehicle surface;

a plurality of openings through the light strip, a separate light transmitting housing releasably supported at each opening, each light transmitting housing having a length along a longitudinal axis and forming an interior chamber, a circuit board of size to fit an open side of the interior chamber, and having a length extending along the longitudinal axis, a plurality of light-emitting diodes on the circuit board in a line along the longitudinal axis, and an elongated reflector extending along the length of the circuit board, and having a flat wall with apertures through which the light emitting diodes extend, the reflector having side walls on opposite edges of the flat wall positioned at acute angles to the flat wall to provide reflecting surfaces adjacent the LEDs to reflect light out through a respective light transmitting side wall of the respective light transmitting housing, such that the light strip has a plurality of lights along a length thereof.

2. The decorative light strip of claim 1 and a flange surrounding an open side of the chamber formed by the light transmitting housing, said flange having receptacles and a light housing support on the light strip at each opening including snap-in latches fitting into the receptacles of a respective light transmitting housing.

3. The decorative light strip of claim 1, wherein said light-emitting diodes are centered along a straight line on the circuit board.

4. A decorative light strip comprising a panel, said panel having a front side and a back side, the back side having a support housing formed of walls extending outwardly from the back side, said walls being formed in a desired peripheral shape, a latch on the walls of the light strip support housing, a modular light housing comprising a lens that transmits light of complimentary configuration to the walls of the support housing on the light strip, and fitting within the walls, a circuit board in the modular light housing carrying a plurality of LEDs thereon, and a reflector mounted on the circuit board and having openings through which the LEDs pass, said reflector having a reflecting surface that reflects the light outwardly when the lens is in place within the walls of the support housing on the light strip.

5. The light strip of claim 4, wherein said walls of the support housing have a pair of spring latches that engage a portion of the modular light housing to hold the modular light housing in place in the support housing.

6. The light strip of claim 5, wherein said LEDs are arranged in a straight line on the circuit board, and the reflector has a series of holes through which the LEDs fit.

7. The light strip of claim 6, wherein said circuit board is secured to said modular light housing, so that the lens, reflector and circuit board form a separate module engaging the latches on the walls of the support housing of the light strip.

8. A modular light comprising an outer mounting housing, a light transmitting housing having an interior chamber and of size and shape to fit within the outer mounting housing, a circuit board of size to fit an open side of the interior chamber, a plurality of light-emitting diodes on the circuit board, and an elongated reflector extending along the length of the circuit board, and being positioned to provide reflecting surfaces for the LEDs to reflect light out through a light transmitting side wall of the light transmitting housing, a flange surrounding an open side of the chamber formed by the light transmitting housing, said outer mounting housing having latches to engage the flange to retain the light transmitting housing in place in the outer mounting housing with the light transmitting side wall visible through an opening in the outer mounting housing.