Filing Information

Inventor(s)	William H. Dalton, Jr. · Steven W. Neufeglise ·
Assignee(s)	Star Headlight and Lantern Co., Inc. ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Kenneth J. Lukacher · Martin Lukacher ·
Primary Examiner	Sandra O'Shea ·
Assistant Examiner	Sharon Payne ·
Application Number	US10414896
Filing date	04/16/2003
Issue date	05/02/2006
Prior Publication Data	US20040208013 - 10/21/2004
Predicted expiration date	08/22/2023
Patent term adjustment	128
U.S. Classifications	362/488  · 362/371  · 362/547  · 362/240  · 362/368  · 362/545  · 362/800  · 362/427  · 362/430  · 362/492  ·
International Classifications	B60Q100  · B60Q126  ·
Kind Code	B2

Patent Family

Abstract

A light bar contains one or more rows of light-emitting diodes (LED's) in a housing which extends across substantially the entire width of a windshield of a vehicle and is narrow in width to minimize interference with visibility through the windshield. The LED's are arranged in banks generally symmetrically arrayed about the center of the length of the housing. Two of the banks, preferably equidistant from the center, are tilted in opposite directions to each other so as to project light toward the right side and left side of the vehicle. A mechanism is provided for displacing and tilting the housing and may use pivotal arms attached to the end of the housing or adjustable Z-shaped hangers attached preferably to clamps such as visor clips already on the vehicle.

Independent Claims | See all claims (41)

1. 1. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle, through a window of the vehicle, said window being of a width extending laterally across the window, said window being of a height extending from bottom to top of the window, said light bar comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least one row of length corresponding substantially to the width of said window, a housing defining a channel containing said row of LED's, said channel having a throat which directs illumination from said row of LED's in a beam restricted by said throat through said window, and wherein said housing further comprises means for adjustably mounting said housing which enables adjustment of said housing and said throat angularly and vertically with respect to said window.
2. 10. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle, through a window of the vehicle, said window being of a width extending laterally across the window, said window being of a height extending from bottom to top of the window, said light bar comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least one row of length corresponding substantially to the width of said window, a housing defining a channel containing said row of LED's, said channel having a throat which directs illumination from said row of LED's in a beam restricted by said throat through said window, and wherein said housing has upper and lower walls closed at opposite ends, said walls defining said channel and said throat thereof and a back between said walls and ends wherein said walls and ends are plates of flexible material.
3. 13. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle, through a window of the vehicle, said window being of a width extending laterally across the window, said window being of a height extending from bottom to top of the window, said light bar comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least one row of length corresponding substantially to the width of said window, a housing defining a channel containing said row of LED's, said channel having a throat which directs illumination from said row of LED's in a beam restricted by said throat through said window, and wherein said throat and front of said housing is arcuately curved.
4. 15. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle through a window thereof having a width and height, comprising a housing defining a channel extending laterally, said channel having an elongated throat, a plurality of banks of LED's each having one or more rows of height less than said channel disposed in said housing facing said throat, at least one of said banks being oriented to project illumination in a different direction through said window than others of said banks, and wherein said window is a windshield and said different direction of orientation of said at least one of said banks is generally parallel to said windshield so that illumination therefrom is generally perpendicular to said windshield and, other of said banks are tilted in opposite directions, said banks thereby providing illumination across an angle illumination toward right and left sides of said vehicle and between said right and left sides.
5. 24. A method for providing an interior light bar for a vehicle having a windshield comprising the steps of: providing a light bar much narrower than said windshield in height, said bar having LED's for projecting light in different directions; and attaching said light bar between the roof and visors of the vehicle to direct light from said light bar out of the windshield of the vehicle, and wherein said attaching step further comprises the step of adjustably attaching said light bar to one of the windshield of said vehicle or the visors of said vehicle by having rods or brackets from which said bar hangs.
6. 25. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle, through a window of the vehicle, said window being of a width extending laterally across the window, said window being of a height extending from bottom to top of the window, said light bar comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least one row of length corresponding substantially to the width of said window, a housing containing said row of LED's, illumination from said row of LED's being projected through said window; and wherein said housing further comprises means for adjustably mounting said housing which enables adjustment of said housing angularly and vertically with respect to said window.
7. 34. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle, through a window of the vehicle, said window being of a width extending laterally across the window, said window being of a height extending from bottom to top of the window, said light bar comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least one row of length corresponding substantially to the width of said window, a housing containing said row of LED's, illumination from said row of LED's being projected through said window; and wherein said housing has at least one wall and opposite ends, and a back along said wall and between said ends, and wherein said wall and ends are plates of flexible material.
8. 37. A method for providing an interior light bar for use inside a vehicle against a windshield thereof comprising the steps of: providing a light bar having LED's for projecting light, and said light bar being much narrower than said windshield in height and substantially the same length as said windshield; attaching said light bar between the roof and visors of the vehicle to direct light from said light bar out of the windshield of the vehicle; and wherein said attaching step further comprises the step of adjustably attaching said light bar to one of the windshield of said vehicle or the visors of said vehicle by having rods or brackets from which said bar hangs.
9. 39. A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle through a window thereof comprising a housing presenting a laterally extending opening, a plurality of banks of LEDs having one or more rows disposed in said housing and facing out of said opening, at least one of said banks being generally parallel to said window so that illumination is projected generally perpendicular to said window and others of said banks being tilted in opposite directions, said banks thereby providing illumination across and angle sufficient to provide illumination toward right and left sides of said vehicle and between said right and left sides.