Interior light bar

• US 7,106,185 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: STAR SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES LLC
• Original Assignee: Star Headlight & Lantern Company Incorporated (Grote Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Neufeglise, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US10/423,102
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 340/468, 340472-479, 362490-495, 362503-505, 362/523, 362/549, 362 37- 40, 362/371, 362/368
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208

Abstract

A full function light bar is provided mountable inside a vehicle against the windshield. The light bar is an assembly of several light sources, including strobe lamps, flashing lamps, oscillating lamps, and an aimable take down lamp. The light bar is not limited in application to one specific vehicular model and is adaptable and adjustable to conform to the windshield, rear window, or other interior cab surfaces of varying shape (curvature). The light sources are supported on a flexible support mount which has adjustable, flexible gaskets. End caps and the gaskets screen the inside of the vehicle from the light emitted by the light bar. The support mount is hung on adjustable brackets which allow the light bar to be raised, lowered and tilted to further facilitate conformance with the windshield.

Claims

1. A light bar installable internally of a vehicle having an interior with a windshield contained within a frame having a portion above said windshield, said light bar comprising a housing containing at least one light source, a mounting member attached to said portion and having at least one movable part enabling displacement of said housing with respect to said windshield thereby supporting said light bar with said source facing said windshield and so as to conform to the shape of said windshield;

a plurality of said mounting members spaced from each other in a lateral direction across said windshield, and said members adjustably extending from said portion to enable engagement of said housing with said windshield, with said light source in proximity to said windshield, wherein said housing has a base and a wall, said wall having an upper edge from which said mounting members extend into engagement with said portion, and said base having an outside edge which extends in said lateral direction and from which a gasket adjustable toward and away from said windshield, extends into engagement with said windshield, wherein said gasket is adjustably mounted along said edge of said wall and said base for yieldably engaging a ceiling of said vehicle providing said portion and windshield respectively thereby accommodating different curvatures thereof.

2. A take down light comprising a spot light lamp inside a vehicle having a windshield, said spot light lamp is mounted on a platform for lateral and tiltable movement to direct a light beam from said spot light lamp in a plurality of directions through said windshield thereby providing a take down function, wherein said platform is one arm of a pair of arms of a pantograph which also has a pair of legs pivotally connected to said arms, a bracket on which one of said legs is pivotally mounted on an axis extending along said legs, and a manually movable knob attached to one of said legs for shifting said pantograph laterally and titling said pantograph about said axis thereby directing said beam sidewise, upwardly and downwardly in accordance with the selected movement of said knob.