LIGHT BAR ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOBILES

The present invention discloses a light bar for an automobile. The light bar comprises a housing, configured to hold a plurality of light enclosure units. The light enclosure units embedded with a plurality of light emitting sources for providing a clear path for emission of light from the light emitting sources. The light bar is positioned on the bottom rear-end of the chassis and wing mirror of the automobile, via one or more fastening means. The light bar further comprises a controller, disposed within the housing. The controller is configured to control the light emitting sources to emit at least one of a single or a multi-colored light signal for providing visual indications to the trailing drivers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a light bar or light bar assembly for an automobile. Specifically, the present invention relates to a light bar for automobiles, positioned on exterior of the automobile with multiple light emitting sources, configured to emit multiple colors of light providing visual indications to the trailing drivers.

B. Description of Related Art

Generally, light assemblies are used as an indication system in vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks and law enforcement vehicles. Traditionally, light assemblies are mounted to the exterior roof or side of the automobile. The light assembly, however, possesses certain inherent disadvantages. Firstly, light assemblies increase vehicle wind resistance and thus increase fuel consumption. Also, because of the turbulence created thereby, conventional light assemblies will cause at least some increase in the ambient noise level and will thus have a negative effect on communications. Further, light assemblies will increase vehicle height and this, in turn, may limit access to certain areas and present the possibility of damage to the light assemblies in situations where there is reduced overhead clearance.

Currently, known light assemblies are mostly not suitable to all classes of new automobiles. This is a practical problem because the desired arrangement of components varies from vehicle to vehicle in a particular jurisdiction. A resultant complication and expense is, thus, introduced into the process of manufacturing light assemblies, since bases must be custom punched for each desired component arrangement.

Accordingly, there is a need for light assemblies for use in all classes of new automobiles, SUV's, trucks, van and heavy vehicles or the like that is capable of displaying multiple colors and patterns corresponding to different emergency and directional signals. The light assemblies should be capable of producing a multiple color and pattern emergency and directional signals. The light assemblies should include a plurality of LED packages aligned in multiple rows wherein each individual diode is capable of changing color. As a result, the light assemblies can be made smaller and more efficient in terms of cost and complexity to manufacture without losing any light output strength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally discloses a light bar or light bar assembly for an automobile. The present invention directed to a light bar for an automobile, positioned on exterior of the automobile including multiple light emitting sources, configured to emit multiple colors of light to give visual indications of their presence during emergencies and while changing directions or making a turn.

In an embodiment, the light bar assembly comprises a housing, which is configured to adapt to the shape of a support surface of the automobile to which the light bar assembly is installed. The housing holding a plurality of light enclosure units. A plurality of light emitting sources embedded within the plurality of light enclosure units by providing a clear path for emission of light from the light emitting source. The light bar is positioned on the bottom rear-end of the chassis of the automobile within four feet from the ground clearance of the automobile, via one or more fastening means. In one embodiment, the light bar is disposed on particular side, but not limited to, the rear side of the automobile. The light bar assembly further comprises a controller, disposed within the housing of the light bar. The controller is configured to control the light emitting sources to emit at least one of a single or a multi-colored light signal. In one embodiment, the light emitting source is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

In one embodiment, the light bar is positioned on the wing mirror of the automobile, via one or more fastening means. In one embodiment, the light bar is disposed on the rear side housing of the wing mirror assembly. The light bar assembly is retrofittably attached to the housing of the wing mirror assembly by adhesives or any other fastening mechanism. The light bar assembly and the wing mirror housing may have mating surface configurations, which at least partially retain the light bar assembly in the housing.

In one embodiment, the plurality of light enclosure units comprises a plurality of light emitting sources in multiple rows. The plurality of light emitting sources are configured to emit single and multiple colors of light to indicate the emergency and directional signals such as brake position or braking rate, turn signal position, emergency, and back-up for the automobile.

In one embodiment, the light emitting sources are connected in series with the controller or a power unit. In another embodiment, the light emitting sources are connected in parallel with the controller or a power unit. In some embodiments, the light emitting sources are embedded to the light enclosure units by adhesives or any other fastening mechanism. In another embodiment, printed circuit boards (PCB) for all devices are fabricated in accordance to the final assembler's requirements. Standard thickness, double sided FR4 circuit board material is populated with surface mounted components where possible.

In one embodiment, the light bar is designed to retrofit on the exterior surface of the existing automobiles. In another embodiment, the light bar is integrated to the exterior surface of the automobiles. In one embodiment, the light bar assembly further comprises a power module. In one embodiment, the power module could be connected to the switched power source using appropriate circuit protection. In one embodiment, the power module and hardware of the light bar is connected to the electrical system of the automobile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, the perspective view of a vehicle installed with a light bar assembly100is illustrated. In an embodiment, the light bar assembly or light bar100comprises a housing102, which is adapted to the shape of a support surface in the automobile or vehicle108. In one embodiment, the housing102configured to hold a plurality of light enclosure units104. The light enclosure unit104embedded with a plurality of light emitting sources106for providing a clear path for emission of light from the light emitting source106. In some embodiments, the light bar100is positioned on the bottom rear-end of the chassis of the automobile108. The light bar could be assembled within four feet from the ground clearance of the automobile, via one or more fastening means.

In one embodiment, the light bar100is disposed on particular side, but not limited to, the rear side of the automobile108. The light bar assembly100further comprises a controller, disposed within the housing102of the light bar100. The controller is configured to control the light emitting sources106to emit at least one of a single or a multi-colored light signal. In one embodiment, the light emitting source106is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

In one embodiment, the light bar100further comprises one or more LED protection resistor. In one embodiment, the leads of the plurality of light emitting sources106are connected in series or parallel circuit to the LED protection resistor. Further, the LED protecting resistor connected to the controller of the light bar100. The controller is connected with each of the plurality of light emitting sources106.

In one embodiment, the light emitting sources106are embedded to the light enclosure units104by adhesives or any other fastening mechanism. In another embodiment, printed circuit boards (PCB) for all devices are fabricated in accordance to the final assembler's requirements. Standard thickness, double sided FR4 circuit board material is populated with surface mounted components where possible. In one embodiment, the light emitting sources106are connected in series with the controller of the light bar100. In another embodiment, the light emitting sources106are connected in parallel with the controller of the light bar100.

In one embodiment, the light bar100is retrofittably attached to the exterior surface of the automobile108. In another embodiment, the light bar100is integrated to the exterior surface of the automobile108.

Referring toFIG. 2, the front view of the light bar assembly100is illustrated. The light bar housing102comprises a high-powered light emitting sources or LEDs106recessed within the light enclosure units104that could provide long range sight to a trailing automobile driver. In one embodiment, the plurality of light emitting sources106are configured to emit single and multiple colours of light to represent the emergency and directional signals such as brake position or braking rate, turn signal position, emergency and back-up for the automobile108.

In one embodiment, the light emitting sources106are configured to emit single coloured light to represent the emergency and directional signals for the automobile108. In another embodiment, the light emitting sources106are configured to emit multiple coloured light to indicate the emergency and directional signals for the automobile108. In some embodiments, the light emitting sources106are brightened in a red color to represent the braking position of the automobile and it is visible to the trailing automobile drivers.

Referring toFIG. 3, the rear view of a wing mirror installed with a light bar assembly100is illustrated. In one embodiment, the light bar100is retrofittably attached to the rear side of the wing mirror assembly110by adhesives or any other fastening mechanism. The wing mirror assembly110is adapted for mounting to a side of the automobile108. The wing mirror assembly110is equipped for manual or remote vertical and horizontal adjustment so as to provide adequate coverage to drivers of differing height and seated position.

In another embodiment, the light bar100is disposed on the rear side housing of the wing mirror assembly110. The light bar assembly100is retrofittably attached to the housing of the wing mirror assembly110by adhesives or any other fastening mechanism. The light bar assembly100and the wing mirror housing may have mating surface configurations, which at least partially retain the light bar assembly100in the housing. This may eliminate the requirement for multiple fasteners which must be removed in order to service the light bar assembly100.

The light bar assembly100in the wing mirror assembly110is configured to emit at least one of a single or a multi-colored light to indicate the emergency and directional signals such as brake position or braking rate, turn signal position, emergency, and back-up for the automobile, visible from the side of the equipped vehicle.

In one embodiment, the light bar assembly100further comprises a power module. In one embodiment, the power module could be connected to the switched power source using appropriate circuit protection. In one embodiment, the power module and hardware of the light bar100is connected to the electrical system of the automobile108. In one embodiment, the automobile108comprises a steering wheel, which is equipped with a switch to control the operation of the light emitting sources106of the light bar100by a user. In another embodiment, the rear side of the housing102of the light bar100comprises a switch to control the operation of the light emitting sources106of the light bar100in the automobile108by the user.

In one embodiment, a desired color of LED could be chosen based on the applications. In one embodiment, the housing102could also be dimensioned to various shape based on the applications. In one embodiment, the housing102of the light bar100could be molded to any height or width with 1-5 centimeters depth. The depth of the housing102of the light bar100is chosen depending upon the number of LEDs used. In one embodiment, the housing102of the light bar100is in rectangular shape.

The light bar100is a multifunctional apparatus to indicate the emergency and directional signals for the automobile108. The light bar100is used in all classes of new automobiles, SUV's, trucks, van and heavy vehicles or the like that is capable of displaying multiple colors and patterns corresponding to different emergency and directional signals. The light bar100is easily visible to the trailing vehicle driver, thereby avoids accidents and ensure safety to the user. The light bar100is retrofittably attached to the housing on the exterior surface and wing mirrors of the automobiles.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the above detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment developed herein, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The foregoing description comprises illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used only in generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein.