MXPA99005728A - Vehicle symbol illumination apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle symbol illumination apparatus is provided which is operable in conjunction with a high mounted brake light wherein the illumination for the vehicle symbol is extinguished, masked or brightened when the high mounted brake light is activated.

Description

"LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE SYMBOL" This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 502,709 filed July 14, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to light signals of the vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to brake lights for a vehicle and in particular to the stop lamp mounted high suggested by the National Highway Transit Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 1986, along with the illumination of a logo of the automobile manufacturer or vehicle model. Manufacturers spend considerable sums each year to ensure recognition of the brand and product. In particular, in the automotive industry, a great deal of effort is invested to ensure the recognition of the specific symbols associated with the vehicles, eg, the three stars of the Mercedes-Benz, the Caldillac crown, the "H" of the Honda and the Audi circuits, etc. For this purpose, manufacturers usually set their logos or specific symbols on their vehicles in appropriate locations. Some manufacturers have also set vehicle symbols on brake lights such as the Ford Thunderbird. In 1986, the law went into effect requiring that cars have a third brake light placed towards the upper middle section of the rear of the car. It was determined through several studies that the inclusion of a third brake light will reduce the number of rear end collisions. The requirements for this "stop lamp mounted high" are disclosed in the Standard Number 108 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The stop light mounted on the rear high is usually placed above and between the traditional rear stop lights. In most cases, manufacturers have placed the stop lamp mounted high inside the rear window of the vehicle, even though at present it frequently appears in a formation in air dams. The size and shape of the brake light mounted on high varies but the most common are rectangular, approximately 10.16 to 12.70 centimeters in length and approximately 5.08 centimeters in height.

Japanese Patent Application Number 52 29460 is representative of the suggested high mounted brake light placed in the rear air dam of a vehicle. In the prior art, it is the Patent North American Issue 4,745,525 issued to Sheehy which describes a fiber optic lighting system for presentation of a name of the vehicle manufacturer on behalf of the vehicle manufacturer in the tailgate of a delivery van. This system is very large and complicated and is not easily adaptable for passenger cars. In addition, Sheehy presents the manufacturer's full name (six letters) through a considerable area of the vehicle. The illumination of the large letters of Sheehy could be disconcerting and therefore dangerous and counterproductive for the reduction of the rear end shocks. In addition, it would be unattractive, expensive and space consuming for a passenger vehicle. U.S. Patent Nos. 2,836,913, 4,860,476, 4,843,369, 4,879,826, 2,800,545, 2,485,719, exemplify the fact that it is well known in the art that illuminated messages can be presented by an apparatus attached to the rear end of a vehicle. Even though the messages and logos of the illuminated manufacturers have been proposed for vehicles, none of these two items have been incorporated or even suggested to be incorporated with the brake light mounted on mandatory height. This functional set would result in cost savings for car manufacturers because two separate elements would be incorporated into an element, the logo illuminated and the brake light mounted on the mandatory top. In addition, the inclusion of an illuminated logo or the visible product recognition device will save the vehicle manufacturer considerable advertising expenses. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an apparatus in order to illuminate and present a manufacturer's logo or vehicle recognition symbol in a manner to be easily observed by the public.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for illuminating a vehicle recognition device or logo of the manufacturer. A further object of the present invention is to incorporate the illuminated manufacturer's logo or a vehicle recognition device with the brake lamp mounted in mandatory height.

In accordance with the invention, a vehicle symbol illumination apparatus is provided which is capable of operating in conjunction with a vehicle braking system. The vehicle symbol illumination apparatus includes a plurality of brake lights, a symbol display device positioned above and between the brake lights in a vehicle, a power source, a switch that responds to the operation of the braking the vehicle to electrically connect the power source with the symbol display device and with the plurality of brake lights. The symbol display device during the electrical connection with the power source illuminates an appropriate symbol associated with the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the symbol or logo illuminates when the parking or driving lights of the vehicle are switched on and the illumination of the symbol or logo becomes brighter when the brake is depressed, thus allowing the illuminated symbol or the logo act as the third brake light mounted high. In an especially preferred embodiment, the present invention combines an obligatory stop-mounted brake light which is preferably mounted above and preferably equidistantly between the normal brake lights at the left-rear right end of a vehicle, and a logo of manufacturers or a vehicle recognition symbol, a power source and a switch that responds to the braking system of vehicles to electrically connect the power source with both the logo and with the symbol and brake light mounted on mandatory . During the activation of the parking or driving lights, the logo or symbol lights up. When the brake is depressed, the logo illumination is extinguished or masked, and the brake light mounted high is illuminated. When the brake is released, the brake light mounted high extinguishes and the logo or symbol again lights up. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the obligatory high-mounted brake light is a separate light structure and distinct from a logo that the illuminated vehicle recognition manufacturers or symbols placed on the rear or rear of the vehicle. However, the brake light mounted on the obligatory high and the illuminated logo are connected to a power source and a switch that responds to the braking system of the vehicles to electrically connect the power source with both the logo and the symbol and brake light mounted high mandatory. During activation of the parking or driving lights, the logo or symbol illuminates and when the brake is depressed, the logo illumination is extinguished or masked and the brake light mounted high illuminates. When the brake is released, the brake light mounted high extinguishes and the logo or symbol again lights up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, to which reference is made thereto and which constitute a part thereof, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention, wherein: 1 illustrates an embodiment of the illumination apparatus of the vehicle symbol according to the invention, placed in the rear portion of an automobile; Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol; Figure 3 illustrates a preferred electronic circuit implementing the lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol, wherein the vehicle symbol illuminates when the brake is depressed; Figure 4 illustrates a preferred electronic circuit implementing the illumination apparatus of the vehicle symbol, wherein the vehicle symbol illuminates when the parking and / or driving lights of the vehicle are activated and the brake light mounted on an obligatory high Illuminates when the brake is depressed; Figure 5 illustrates a preferred electronic circuitry that implements the vehicle symbol illumination apparatus when the vehicle symbol illuminates when the vehicle's parking and / or driving lights are activated and extinguished when the brake pedal is depressed while that the brake light mounted on mandatory brake illuminates when the brake pedal is depressed and extinguishes when the brake pedal is released; and Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the symbol illumination apparatus of the vehicle according to the invention, placed in the rear portion of an automobile, wherein the illuminated logo and the obligatory high mounted brake light are two separate structures and different DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS As will be described below, the symbol of the vehicle or the lighting apparatus of the logo according to the invention is applied to a passenger car. It will be appreciated that the lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol is equally applicable to other types of vehicles, including trucks and sports utility vehicles. Figure 1 shows the rear portion of a car illustrating the location of the lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol in accordance with the present invention. As shown in the figure, the conventional rear brake lights 10 are placed on either side of the rear portion of the automobile 12. Furthermore, the vehicle symbol illumination apparatus 14 is positioned above and between the conventional brake lights in the rear portion of the car but below the rear window 16. As shown in the figure, the symbol 18 to be illuminated in red is in the shape of a star and is combined with the brake light mounted in mandatory height. Of course, any other desired shape can be used, but the total illuminated area of the symbol must be not less than 29.03 square centimeters. In particular, it may be desirable to illuminate a symbol, logo or trademark of the automobile manufacturer, or a logo or trademark of the symbol of the seller of a motor vehicle. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that because the vehicle symbol illumination apparatus 14 is illuminated during the actuation of the brake pedal, no stop lamp mounted high is required to comply with the NHTSA regulations. Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the illumination apparatus of the automobile symbol according to the invention. As preferably encompassed, the illumination apparatus 14 of the automobile symbol includes a body 20, a lamp 22, a lens 24 and electrical connections 26. The electrical connection 26 is interconnected with the automotive brake light circuit so that during the actuation of the brakes, the symbol of the logo 18 of the illumination apparatus 14 of the vehicle symbol will illuminate. The lens 24 interconnects with the body 20 to create a light and a water-tight package for the lamp 22. The lens 24 allows light to be transmitted from the lamp 22 through the openings 28 in a pattern corresponding to the symbol of the vehicle that is going to light up. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the remainder of the lens 24 is blocked in order to prevent the transmission of light. It will be appreciated by this arrangement that the single light transmitted by the lighting apparatus of the automotive symbol will remain in a specific configuration of the desired vehicle symbol. If desired, a symbol presentation device that is similar to a jewel and mounted on a yellow or white metal can still be created., which would have a jewel effect during the day and a brilliant radiant or ruby color effect during the night. The lens 24 can be interchanged in the body 20 so that several lenses having different symbols can be installed, e.g., by a symbol illumination apparatus of the vehicle. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for the automotive brake light circuit and the illumination apparatus of the vehicle symbol. In Figure 3, the battery 30 is interconnected through a fusible link 32 with the switch 34 which is controlled by the actuation of the brake pedal 36 to complete the automotive brake light circuit through the brake lamps 38 and the lamp 40 of the vehicle symbol illumination apparatus. During the brake pedal operation 36, the switch 34 is closed and the brake lights 38 are illuminated. In addition, the lamp 40 of an automotive symbol lighting apparatus is also illuminated. In another preferred embodiment, the lens 24 will comprise the vehicle symbol or logo and a transparent area around the symbol or logo, preferably a transparent red color. In this embodiment, a lighting source will illuminate the portion of the symbol or logo of the lens 24 when the parking lights or driving lights are activated and the remainder of the transparent lens 24 will illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed. Ideally, illuminating the transparent portion of the lens 24 by depressing the brake pedal will obscure or mask the illuminated logo symbol and give the appearance of a uniform and continuous brake light so that the person viewing the brake light illumination mounted high will not be confused by the lights. A simplified version of an electronic circuit that can be used to implement this preferred embodiment is shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4, the battery 30 is interconnected through a fusible link 32 with the switch 34 which is controlled by the drive of the brake pedal 36 to complete the automotive brake light circuit through the brake lamps 38. The switch 35 is controlled by the vehicle operator to activate the lamp 40 of the vehicle symbol illumination apparatus when the vehicle parking or driving lights are activated. During actuation of the brake pedal 36, the switch 34 is closed and the brake lights 38 are illuminated thereby illuminating the entire lens 24. The radiation of the lamp 40 can be used to selectively illuminate the symbol or logo 18 by the use of strategically placed reflectors, optical fibers as described in U.S. Patent Number 4,745,525, which is incorporated herein by reference, or any other means commonly known in the art. The electronic circuit shown in Figure 4 can also be used in the embodiment described above where only the portion of the logo or lens symbol 24 transmits the light. If the electronic circuit of Figure 4 is combined with this selectively transmissive type of the lens 24, the resulting structure is a logo or illuminated symbol that illuminates when the brake pedal is depressed. In addition, the logo or symbol illuminates when the parking or driving lights are activated and becomes brighter when the brake pedal is depressed. Figure 5 illustrates a simplified version of a preferred additional embodiment of the electronic circuit that can be used to implement the present invention. In Figure 5, the battery 30 is interconnected through the fusible link 32 with the switches 34 and 37 which are controlled by the actuation of the brake pedal 36. The switch 35 is controlled by the operator of the vehicle to activate the lamp 40 of the vehicle symbol illumination apparatus, when the parking or driving lights of the vehicle are activated. During the actuation or oppression of the brake pedal 36, the switch 37 opens causing the light 40 to extinguish and the switch 34 to close causing the brake lights 38 to illuminate. The oppression of the brake pedal 36 results in the illumination of the symbol or logo that is extinguishing and the illumination of the entire lens 24. The radiation of the lamp 40 can be used to selectively illuminate the symbol or logo 18 by the use of strategically placed reflectors, the optical fibers as described in U.S. Patent Number 4,745,525 which is incorporated herein by reference, or any other means commonly known in the art. As shown in Figure 6, the obligatory high mounted brake light 19 and illuminated symbol or logo 18 may be separate and distinct structures. However, the mode shown in Figure 6 is preferably employed the electronic circuit of Figure 5 where the illumination of the symbol or logo 18 is extinguished when the mandatory brake light mounted on high is activated by the brake pedal. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are numerous advantages associated with the illumination apparatus of the vehicle symbol according to the invention. More specifically, illuminating the vehicle symbol instead of the stop lamp mounted on high prevents obscuring the driver's vision because the device replaces the stop lamp mounted high placed in the rear window. In addition, the extinction or masking of the illuminated symbol or logo when the brake light mounted on high is activated prevents confusion from other drivers who see the illuminated symbol or logo and the brake light mounted high. Illumination of the vehicle symbol according to the invention also provides the improved vehicle market value. In this regard, illumination of a symbol that identifies the manufacturer or model of a vehicle encompasses a significant advertising value, especially at night when other forms of identification of the manufacturer or model are not easily visible. In addition, the illumination of the symbol on an intermittent basis requires more attention from the observers than either a constantly illuminated or constantly unlit vehicle symbol. With the invention, the manufacturing costs of the vehicle can also be reduced by combining two separate items, the stop lamp mounted high and the vehicle symbol, both of which typically appear in the rear portion of a car. While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the words that have been used are words of description rather than limitation and that changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without deviating from the true spirit and scope of the invention in its broad aspects. All patents, publications and test methods mentioned above are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (14)

- - CLAIMS:

1. A vehicle symbol lighting apparatus comprising; (i) a light source; (ii) a vehicle symbol comprising: (A) a frame portion that is non-transmissive to light and that is in the shape of the vehicle symbol; and (B) a transmissive portion of light that is enclosed within the frame that is in the shape of the vehicle symbol; (iii) a source of energy; and (iv) a switch for electrically connecting the power source with the light source where, during activation of the switch, the vehicle symbol illuminates.

2. The lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol according to claim 1, wherein the transmissive portion of light is similar to a jewel.

3. The lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol according to claim 1, wherein the frame portion is made of metal.

4. A vehicle symbol lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is capable of operating in conjunction with a vehicle braking and illumination system and the switch responds to the operation of the vehicle braking and lighting system to electrically connect the power source with the light source. The lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol according to claim 4, wherein during activation of the braking and lighting system, the switch is activated and the light source for the illuminated symbol is activated, extinguished or polish The lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol according to claim 5, wherein during the activation of the braking system, the light source for the illuminated symbol is extinguished. The lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol according to claim 5, wherein during activation of the braking system, the light source for the illuminated symbol is activated. 8. The lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol according to claim 5, wherein during activation of the braking system, the light source for the illuminated symbol is brightened. The lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is capable of operating together with a parking light system or driving light and the switch responds to the activation of the parking light system of driving a vehicle. 10. The lighting apparatus is a vehicle symbol according to claim 1, wherein the illuminated symbol is a symbol associated with a specific vehicle manufacturer. 11. The vehicle symbol lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illuminated symbol is a symbol associated with the specific vehicle model. 12. The symbol illumination apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the symbol when illuminated can function as a brake light mounted high. 13. A lighting apparatus of the vehicle symbol capable of operating together with a braking system and vehicle lighting comprising; a brake light mounted high; an illuminated vehicle symbol comprising a body portion and a lens portion, wherein the lens portion comprises a light transmissive portion in the configuration of the symbol associated with the vehicle, and a transmissive portion of light associated with the light of Brake mounted high; a source of energy; and a switch that responds to the operation of the braking and lighting system of the vehicle to electrically connect the power source with the illuminated symbol and with the brake light mounted high; where during the activation of the switch, the brake light mounted on high is activated and the illuminated symbol extinguishes. 14. An illumination apparatus of the vehicle symbol according to claim 13, wherein the portion of the lens can be interchanged with other lens portions in the body portion.