Motor vehicle roof rail with integrated light system

• US 9,975,473 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Wittorf, Marten
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US15/205,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20170008449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36

Abstract

A roof rail is disposed on a motor vehicle and furnished with an integrated light system. The light system has at least one light source and one or more batteries that are part of the system arranged in or on a cover of the roof rail. The battery powered light system enables the light system to be operated independently of any connection to the onboard power supply of the motor vehicle, and it is then no longer necessary to provide an electrical connection between the light system and the onboard power supply or the motor vehicle electronics. A computer program, when executed on a light system controller, is configured to detect a position of a vehicle door and switch the at least one light source of the light system on and off.

Claims

1. A roof rail for arrangement on the roof frame of a motor vehicle comprising:

an elongated roof strip;

an elongated cover disposed over the roof strip;

a light system integrated in the cover and including a battery and a light source incorporated therein; and

a sensor configured to detect a position of a vehicle door located adjacent to the roof rail, wherein the light source is switchable based on the detected door position.

2. The roof rail according to claim 1, further comprising controller incorporated into the light system and electrically connected to the battery and to the light source and configured to switch the light source on and off automatically.

3. The roof rail according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic field sensor configured to measure a distance from a magnetic element arranged on or in the vehicle door.

4. The roof rail according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is in communication with the controller and the controller is configured to switch the light source on or off in response to a signal generated by the sensor and communicated to the controller.

5. The roof rail according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a closable battery compartment configured to receive a replaceable battery.

6. The roof rail according to claim 1, wherein the light system further comprises a plurality of light sources are arranged in spaced relation along the cover.

7. The roof rail according to claim 1, wherein the light system further comprises a luminous strip arranged lengthwise along the cover.

8. The roof rail according to claim 1, further comprising at least two fastening elements provided on a bottom surface of the cover and located at a distance from each other in lengthwise direction to enable the roof rail to be attached detachably to a lateral roof frame of the motor vehicle.

9. The roof rail according to claim 8, wherein the fastening element are connected structurally to the roof strip.

10. The roof rail according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured with a dished contour adapted to match the lateral roof frame of the motor vehicle.

11. A motor vehicle comprising a vehicle body having a lateral roof frame with at least one roof rail according to claim 1 arranged thereon.

12. The motor vehicle according to 11, wherein the light source is arranged on the roof rail above a door opening in the vehicle work, and the sensor comprises a magnetic element arranged in an upper section of a side door supported in the door opening and cooperating with the light system for selectively switching the light source on and off based on an open position of the vehicle door relative the door opening.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program, which when executed on a controller for a light system integrated in a roof rail, is configured to:

detect a position of a vehicle door; and

switch the a light source in the light system on and off in response to the detected position the vehicle door.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer program, when executed on the controller, is configured to switch the light source off after a preset time has expired since the light source was switched on.