Abstract:
A vehicular LED headlamp eyelid apparatus is disclosed. The vehicular headlamp eyelid apparatus is attached to a vehicle&#39;s headlamp and comprises a plurality of LED lights capable of illuminating in patterns signaled by the vehicle. The occlusion resulting from one or more segments of the LED eyelids modifies the overall appearance of the headlamp. The vehicular LED headlamp eyelid is made at least in part of lightweight material such that there results in little impact upon the drag profile of the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/144,166 entitled “LED Vehicle Eyelid Apparatus” which was filed on Jan. 13, 2009 and is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a vehicular lighting device accessory. Specifically, the present invention is related to a vehicular lighting device accessory which modifies the light beam of the vehicle&#39;s headlamp and provides additional illumination by way of light emitting diodes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Over the last few years, vehicular headlight modifications have become increasingly popular across a wide range of automobile enthusiasts. These aftermarket add-on components are primarily sought after for the aesthetic benefit provided to the vehicle. One type of vehicular headlight modification consists of partially covering portions of headlamps of a vehicle to create a streamlined, aggressive look. By altering the shape of the headlamps, the appearance of the front of the vehicle has been likened to the squinting eyes of a feline predator upon spotting its prey. 
         [0004]    These modifications were initially done by using masking tape or similar device to mask off certain areas of the headlamp. This mask was then painted in the appropriate color to match the vehicle thereby creating the intended look with a rudimentary construction. Subsequent iterations of creating such an intended look evolved into the use of stickers, where one side of the sticker consists of the matching color of the vehicle while the other side is coated with an adhesive. Recently, after market manufacturers capitalized upon the difficult nature of achieving the above described effect through the introduction of readymade, solid plastic tailored to the design of headlamps of specific models of popular vehicles. As a result, the popularity of vehicular eyelids has increased substantially due to its associated ease of installation. 
         [0005]    Vehicular headlamp eyelids are sought after by performance seeking enthusiasts as the. eyelids provide aerodynamic improvement. On some automobiles, manufacturers have chosen to focus on designing headlamps that are either aesthetically pleasing or congruent in design with relation to the rest of their vehicle lineup. Performance enthusiasts can gain the aerodynamic improvements and reduce their vehicle&#39;s drag profile by utilizing vehicular headlamp eyelids. When correctly installed, the eyelids smooth out the surface and minimize the gap between vehicle&#39;s body and headlamp, creating a flush plane which changes the appearance of the headlight and streamlines airflow across the face of the lamp. 
         [0006]    The arrival of improved and efficient vehicular headlights, such as xenon headlamps (H.I.D. lights), has resulted in an increased demand for aftermarket conversions kits from the normal tungsten-halogen headlamps to xenon headlamps. However, such conversion kits often do not take into account that xenon headlamps have a tendency to generate significantly more glare for other drivers. Without projector housings, HID light scatters in every which direction producing a pronounced blinding effect for oncoming cars. Standard tungsten-halogen headlamps produce scattered light as well but their light is not nearly as bright as HID light. Scientific studies have shown that for any given intensity level, the light from xenon headlamps are 40% more glaring than the light emitted from the older tungsten-halogen headlamps. Therefore, even if the intensity is turned down, the scattering HID light will still exist and be bright enough to be hazardous to other drivers. 
         [0007]    By utilizing vehicular headlamp eyelids, scattering can be reduced to relatively safe levels by eliminating light from being projected in unwanted directions, typically in the upward direction towards the eyelevel of drivers in oncoming vehicles. However, different safety concerns arise from such a reduction in scope and size of the headlight. The present invention provides all the benefits of a mundane vehicular headlamp eyelid of aesthetics improvements, aerodynamic improvements, and reduction of glare. However, the present invention also reduces the safety concerns of reduced headlight output and headlight signature through the use of LED lights embedded within the eyelid. 
         [0008]    LED lights offer considerable advantages, such as lower system power consumption, more adaptable design configurations and longer lifespan, not available to other lighting systems. The LED lights attached to the eyelids provide added safety by functioning as auxiliary lights, capable of working in conjunction with the vehicle&#39;s exterior lighting system. In addition to the safety and economical benefits, LED lights are another means of enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle. 
         [0009]    Rudimentary eyelids existing in the current marketplace are made of ABS plastic. ABS plastic is formed via a three dimensional mold which lack the precision of eyelids produced in alternative methods. ABS plastic is often bulky, rigid, non uniform, and does not lay flush against the body of the headlamp and vehicle, thereby resulting in an increased drag profile. In addition, ABS plastic is susceptible of cracking during hot summer days and cold winters. Long exposure to the sun can result in the formation of bubbles which lead towards deformity of shape. The present invention utilizes an improved manufacturing process that results in a more efficient, robust, and aesthetically appealing product. The present invention is cut by a laser machine with specific molds designed by CNC specifically for every car model. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an object of this invention to create an apparatus suitable for altering the aesthetics of a vehicle&#39;s headlamp, reducing the vehicle&#39;s drag profile, and increasing safety by focusing the projected beam of light thereby reducing scattered light and by utilizing LED lights as an auxiliary lighting system. 
         [0011]    It is also an object of this invention to create an eyelid apparatus in a more efficient manner utilizing superior lightweight, flexible materials comprising vinyl, polyurethane, and carbon fiber. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention comprises an apparatus suitable for use as a vehicle headlamp eyelid that is capable of functioning as an auxiliary lighting system. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the vehicle headlamp eyelid apparatus comprises of a plurality of segments, which can be arranged to produce the desired level of occlusion of the headlight. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the vehicle headlamp eyelid is constructed at least in part of lightweight, flexible material. In one embodiment, said material comprises of vinyl. In another embodiment, said material comprises of acrylic. In another embodiment, said material comprises of carbon fiber. In another embodiment, said material comprises of polyurethane. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the vehicle headlamp eyelid apparatus comprises of a plurality of LED lights whereby said LED lights are capable of lighting up at specific rates and in specific patterns with respect to whether the vehicle is turned on, is in motion, engaging its brakes, or indicating an imminent turn to the left or right. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the LED lights in the vehicle headlamp eyelid are supplied electricity power by solar power with a battery reserve. In another embodiment, the LED lights are provided electricity power from the vehicle via an adapter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of an embodiment of a single LED eyelid installed on top of a single vehicle headlamp in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a drawing from a frontal view of an embodiment of the LED eyelids from  FIG. 1  on installed on both of the vehicle&#39;s headlamps. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of a LED lighting component of an embodiment of an LED eyelid. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a drawing of an adapter of an embodiment of an LED eyelid to be attached to the vehicle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The present invention is an LED eyelid. In the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the present invention. It will be apparent, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. 
         [0022]    The present invention comprises a shell suitable for placement on the exterior of vehicular headlamps where at least one or more LED lights are attached to said shell. One embodiment of an LED eyelid in accordance with the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 . Specifically, LED eyelids are of the type that is affixed onto the exterior surface of the vehicle&#39;s headlamps and includes LED lights embedded along the shell&#39;s edge. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the present invention comprises of one or more LED eyelid segments. Each segment comprises a flexible, lightweight shell  101  and one or more LED light strips  105  attached to the underside  103  of the shell  101 . The flexible, lightweight shell  101  has a front  102 , generally with a convex surface facing outward, and a back  103 , generally with a concave surface, that when installed, is attached to the exterior surface of the headlamp. LED&#39;s  104  are embedded along the outer edge of the back  103  of the shell  101  by way of a flexible LED light strip  105 . Installation of one or more LED eyelid segments  101  occludes the beam of the light emanating from the headlamp thereby modifying the shape, focus, and intensity of the projected light beam. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the shell  101  is constructed of lightweight, flexible materials suitable for placement on the exterior of a vehicle. Such materials include vinyl, polyurethane, carbon fiber, acrylic, and any other material exhibiting similar properties. The shell  101  is cut by a laser machine with specific molds designed by CNC specifically for every car model. Vinyl, polyurethane, acrylic, and carbon fiber are easier to cut than materials used in prior art, such as ABS plastic, allowing for the fabrication of a sleeker eyelid profile without sacrificing structural integrity or flexibility. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the LED eyelid comprises multiple segments covering different portions of the headlamp. A common configuration consists of two segments with one segment installed along the top edge on the exterior of the headlamp and the other segment installed along the exterior of the bottom edge of the headlamp. In addition to modifying the headlight, eyelids reduce the vehicle&#39;s drag profile by improving upon the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Upon correct installation, the shell  101  of the eyelid smoothes out the surface plane and minimizes the gap between the vehicle&#39;s body and headlamp, creating a flush plane. The aerodynamic profile of the vehicle is improved due to streamlining of airflow across the vehicle&#39;s body onto the headlamps. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, one or more LED lights  104  are embedded within a flexible light strip  105 . The flexible light strip  105  has a front side  106 , which contains the LED lights  104 , and a back side  107 , which is attached or built into the underside or back  103  of the eyelid&#39;s shell  101 . Safety concerns regarding the lowered intensity of headlight output and reduced headlight signature as a result of occluding shell segments  101  are addressed by the use of LED lights  104 . The LED lights  104  provide additional illumination to mitigate the drop in luminosity of the vehicle&#39;s exterior lighting system. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the LED lights  104  attached to the eyelids are capable of functioning as auxiliary lights and capable of working in conjunction with the vehicle&#39;s exterior lighting system. Electricity power and light signals are sent to the LED light strip  105  from the vehicle via a cable  108 . The cable  108  connects to the vehicle&#39;s exterior lighting system and receives power via an adapter  109 . The LED lights  104  light up in various configurations and patterns in accordance to the signals received from the vehicle&#39;s exterior lighting system. The various configurations and patterns include daytime running lights, turn signals, brake lights, and parking lights. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       [0028]    In  FIG. 1 , a drawing of a singular LED headlamp eyelid segment installed on the top of a vehicular headlamp from the front is disclosed. The LED headlamp eyelid is installed on the top of the exterior vehicular headlamp. The convex surface of the shell  101  is the front  102  of the LED headlamp eyelid. The exterior of the front  102  of the LED headlamp eyelid is made transparent to reveal the back  103 . The back  103  consists of a concave surface suitable for attachment of LEDs or LED light strips. The LED headlamp eyelid occludes the headlight along the top edge of the headlamp. 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 2 , a drawing of a pair LED headlamp eyelids installed on a pair of vehicular headlamps from the front of a vehicle is disclosed. A singular segment  101  is installed on the top edge of the exterior of each vehicular headlamp. The LED headlamp eyelid occludes the headlight along the top edge of both the vehicle&#39;s headlamps. 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 3 , a drawing of an LED light strip from the front and from the back is disclosed. The LED light strip  105  contains one or more embedded LED lights  104  at intermittent intervals along the length of the front side  106  of the flexible housing. The back side  107  of the LED light strip  105  is attached to the back surface  103  of the LED headlamp eyelid shell  101 . An electrical cable  108  carries electrical signals and electricity power from the vehicle to the LED light strip  105 . These signals are converted into lighting instructions illuminating the designated LED lights  104  on the LED light strip  105 . 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 4 , a drawing of the terminal end of the cable of the LED light strip is disclosed. A cable  108  transmits electrical signals and electricity power from the vehicle to the LED light strip  105 . An adapter  109  connects the LED light strip  105  to the vehicle&#39;s plug. Power and signals from the vehicle&#39;s exterior lighting system are sent from the vehicle to LED light strip  105 . The LED lights  104  on the LED light strip  105  are illuminated with respect to the signals received from the vehicle.