ZA200809120B - A lighting arrangement for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

A LIGHTING ARRANGMENT FOR VEHICLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION | I HOE «kk

This invention relates to a lighting arrangement for automotive vehicles.

More specifically, the invention applies to a lighting arrangement that has particular application to the brake lights of a vehicle, but not necessarily so.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Conventionally, vehicles are provided with lighting arrangements at the rear thereof primarily for the purpose of warning following driver of change of speed, direction or the like. Generally, these lighting arrangements include brake lights, reversing and indicating lights. In certain jurisdictions, it is also a legal requirement to have a further lighting arrangement commonly referred to as a centre high mounted stop light which is usually mounted near the top or the bottom of the rear windscreen or alternatively on a rear spoiler or at some other suitable location. The advantage of using centre high mounted stop lights is that the lights emitted by the illuminating source, which is usually a light emitting diode, when the brake pedal is depressed is visible through a vehicle enabling drivers in a queue of traffic behind the vehicle to see the vehicle slowing down when the conventionally located lighting arrangements are obscured.

Generally, these known lighting arrangements comprise a plurality of lighting modules, some modules comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes which may be red or another colour, located in different functional regions of the light to indicate different motor vehicle conditions.

V81-002/ 2008/10/24 :

The positioning of the respective lighting modules is generally fairly well established. In conventional lighting arrangements, including centre mounted stop lights, the modules are arranged to radiate light in a generally parallel manner. With regard to centre high mounted stop light arrangements one or more of the modules may be arranged in a stepwise manner.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a lighting arrangement for an automotive vehicle that has advantages over many prior art arrangements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a lighting arrangement suitable for mounting to a vehicle comprising of one or more illuminating means arranged in the configuration of a recognisable symbol and in which the illuminating means are connectable to a power supply source and in which the arrangement includes means for operatively controlling the supply of power to the illuminating means.

Further features of the invention provide for the lighting arrangement to preferably be of the type used to indicate braking of the vehicle; for the lighting arrangement to preferably be of the type known a centre high mounted lighting arrangement; for the centre high mounted lighting arrangement to preferably be mounted at the operatively bottom end of the rear windscreen of the vehicle; for the illuminating means to comprise a plurality of individual light sources, in particular light emitting diodes; for the light emitting diodes to be arranged within the confirmed of a recognisable symbol so as to trace a contour of the symbol when illuminated or, alternatively, for the plurality of light emitting diodes to be arranged to illuminate a translucent backing that supports a recognisable symbol; for the recognisable symbol to comprise a vehicle badge such as BMW, Mercedes

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or the like; for the power supply means to be responsive to driver-initiated vehicle action including braking, parking-signalling, hazard-signalling, turn- signalling, driving, reverse driving, door opening and the like.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is an artistic illustration of the lighting arrangement of the invention in situ on a vehicle;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the lighting arrangement comprising light-emitting diodes arranged as a recognisable symbol,

Figure 3 is an isometric view illustration of the lighting arrangement of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a vehicle lighting arrangement suitable for mounting on a vehicle comprises one or more illuminating means in which the illuminating means are arranged to represent a generally recognisable symbol.

The arrangement of the invention comprises one or more light sources, : particularly light emitting diodes (LED) (1) which are arranged or configured into the shape of a symbol (2). In the preferred embodiment of the invention,

V81-002/ 2008/10/24 the symbol is a recognisable vehicle badge, such as BMW or Mercedes, and which corresponds to the vehicle to which the arrangement is attached.

It is also envisaged that the LEDs may be arranged in such a manner as to 5 illuminate a translucent backing which may be of any desired colour and which backing supports a recognisable symbol.

Whilst the invention may be applied to any of the vehicle’s lighting arrangements, the preferred embodiment of the invention applies to the rear lighting arrangement of the vehicle, in particular the “braking” light. Further, as a result of the increased visibility of lighting arrangements known as high centre mounted lighting arrangements (3) which are usually located in the rear windshield of a vehicle, it is envisaged that the invention will have particular application to this type of arrangement.

Generally, power is supplied to the lighting arrangement in the conventional manner in which vehicle electric systems supply power (4) to the respective lighting arrangements. Furthermore, the lighting arrangement is preferably activated by means of driver action such as braking or indicating to change direction, reversing etc.

It will be understood that the invention provides an extremely simple yet highly effective portable beverage carrier assembly that has wide application potential depending on requirements. Also, numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

V81-002/ 2008/10/24

Claims (11)

NE CLAIMS:

1. A lighting arrangement suitable for mounting to a vehicle comprising one or more illuminating means arranged in the configuration of a recognisable symbol and in which the illuminating means are connectable to a power supply source and in which the arrangement includes means for operatively controlling the power supply source.

2. A lighting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which the lighting arrangement is of the type known as a centre high mounted arrangement.

3. A light arrangement as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which the lighting arrangement is mounted at the operatively bottom end of the vehicle's rear windscreen.

4. A lighting arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the illuminating means is comprised of a plurality of individual light sources.

5. A lighting arrangement as claimed in claim 4 in which the light sources are comprised of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

6. A lighting arrangement as claimed in claim 5 in which the light emitting diodes are arranged within the confines of a recognisable symbol as to as to trace a contour of the symbol when illuminated.

7. A lighting arrangement as claimed in claim 4 in which the light emitting diodes are arranged to illuminate a translucent backing that supports a recognisable symbol. V81-002/2008/10/24

8. A lighting arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the recognisable symbol is a recognised vehicle badge such as BMW, Mercedes Benz or the like.

9. A lighting arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the power supply source comprises conventional vehicle electrical systems used to supply electrical power to the vehicle's lighting arrangements.

10. A lighting arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the power supply source is activated by vehicle driver action including actions such as braking, indicating to change direction, reversing.

11.A lighting arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this L day of October 2008 farfthe applicant V81-002/ 2008/10/24