Universal anti-theft bracket for commercial vehicle lighting

A transparent anti-theft bracket for a marker light includes a transparent body having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first tapered opening extending from the first side toward the second side, a second tapered opening extending from the second side toward the first side, and a lip between the first tapered opening and the second tapered opening. The lip defines an opening connecting the first tapered opening to the second tapered opening. A first depth of the first tapered opening is less than a second depth of the second tapered opening.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to lighting solutions in heavy duty vehicles and methods of installing lighting solutions.

2. Description of Related Art

Marker lights (also known as “penny marker lights”) help to reveal the entire size and length of commercial vehicles, especially during nighttime driving. The problem of theft of these lights has initiated the need of anti-theft solutions. Current solutions are not compatible with all variations of penny marker lights on the market and limit the visibility angle of the marker lights.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to various embodiments of an anti-theft bracket for a light. In one embodiment, the anti-theft bracket includes a transparent body having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first tapered opening extending from the first side toward the second side, a second tapered opening extending from the second side toward the first side, and a lip between the first tapered opening and the second tapered opening. The lip defines an opening connecting the first tapered opening to the second tapered opening. A first depth of the first tapered opening is less than a second depth of the second tapered opening.

The transparent body may include a transparent acrylic material or a transparent thermoplastic material.

The transparent body may have rounded ends. The transparent body may have an elliptic cylinder shape.

The anti-theft bracket may include at least one through hole configured to accommodate a fastener. The through hole extends from the first side to the second side of the transparent body.

The first tapered opening may be coaxial with the second tapered opening.

The first depth may be in a range from approximately 25% to approximately 35% of a thickness of the transparent body, and the second depth may be in a range from approximately 60% to approximately 50% of the thickness of the transparent body.

A thickness of the lip may be in a range from approximately 8% to approximately 16% of the thickness of the transparent body.

The thickness of the transparent body may be approximately 0.4 inch (10.2 mm), the depth of the first tapered opening may be approximately 0.12 inch (3.0 mm), and the depth of the second tapered opening may be approximately 0.23 inch (5.8 mm).

The thickness of the lip may be approximately 0.05 inch (1.3 mm).

The first side and the second side of the transparent body may be planar (or substantially planar).

The present disclosure is also directed to various embodiments of a light assembly. In one embodiment, the light assembly includes the anti-theft bracket and a marker light including a lens. The marker light is accommodated in the first tapered opening or the second tapered opening, a diameter of the opening defined by the lip is less than a diameter of the lens, and the lip contacts the lens.

The present disclosure is also directed to various embodiments of a method of installing a marker light on a vehicle utilizing the anti-theft bracket. In one embodiment, the method inserting the marker light into the first tapered opening or the second tapered opening depending on a height of a lens and/or grommet of the marker light and securing the anti-theft bracket to the vehicle.

Securing the anti-theft bracket to the vehicle may include inserting blind rivets into through holes in the transparent body and utilizing a rivet tool to attach the anti-theft bracket to the vehicle with the blind rivets.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of features and concepts of embodiments of the present disclosure that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. One or more of the described features may be combined with one or more other described features to provide a workable device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to various embodiments of an anti-theft bracket for mounting a light (e.g., a marker light, also known as a “penny” light) on a vehicle, such as a heavy-duty truck or a trailer. In one or more embodiments, the anti-theft bracket may be a “universal” bracket that is configured to be installed in one of two orientations to accommodate marker lights having different configurations (sizes and shapes), such as marker lights having one of two standard lens heights and varying arrangements of the grommet used to secure the penny light. Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, the anti-theft bracket is formed of a rigid and transparent material (such as transparent acrylic or transparent thermoplastic) such that the light emitted from the marker light passes through the anti-theft bracket, which increases the visibility of the marker light. The anti-theft bracket also includes a lip configured to retain the marker light in the anti-theft bracket and prevent theft by pulling or prying out the marker light, such as with a screwdriver.

With reference now toFIGS.1A-1B, an anti-theft bracket100for a marker light according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a transparent block or body101having a first side102(e.g., a first planar face or surface) and a second side103(e.g., a second planar face or surface) opposite to the first side102. The transparent body101may be formed from any suitable transparent and rigid material, such as a transparent acrylic material or a transparent thermoplastic material. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the transparent body101has a generally elliptic cylindrical shape with a pair of curved (e.g., semi-circular) ends104,105that extend perpendicular (or substantially perpendicular) to the first and second sides102,103. As described in more detail below, the light emitted from the marker light is configured to pass through the transparent body101, and the curved ends104,105of the transparent body101are configured to minimize (or at least mitigate against) the scattering (e.g., reflection and/or refraction) of the light emitted from the marker light, which would otherwise create dark spots and thereby reduce the overall visibility of the marker light. Thus, the shape of the transparent body101is configured to enable uniform or substantially uniform brightness of the light emitted from marker light by eliminating or at least reducing the presence of dark spots. In one or more embodiments the transparent body101may have another shape configured to enable uniform or substantially uniform brightness and eliminate (or at least reduce) the presence of dark spots, such as a cylindrical shape. The transmissibility of the transparent body101to the light emitted from the marker light enables the vehicle to comply with the relevant transportation department regulations such as, but not limited, to 49 C.F.R. § 571.108 “Standard No. 108; Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.”

In the illustrated embodiment, the anti-theft bracket100has a first tapered opening106extending from the first side102toward the second side103. The first tapered opening106tapers from a relatively larger diameter D1at the first side102to a relatively smaller diameter D2in an interior of the transparent body101. In the illustrated embodiment, the anti-theft bracket100also has a second tapered opening107extending from the second side103toward the first side102. The second tapered opening tapers107from a relatively larger diameter D3at the second side103to a relatively smaller diameter D4in the interior of the transparent body101. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second tapered openings106,107are coaxial (i.e., a centerline of the first tapered opening106is aligned or substantially aligned with a centerline of the second tapered opening107).

Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the depth of the first tapered opening106is less than the depth of the second tapered opening107. As described in more detail below, the different depths of the first and second tapered openings106,107enable the anti-theft bracket100to accommodate marker lights having different configurations (i.e., the tapered opening106,107that is utilized to accommodate the marker light may be selected depending on the configuration of the marker light).

In one or more embodiments, the depth of the first tapered opening106may be in a range from approximately 25% to approximately 35% of the thickness of the transparent body101(i.e., the distance from the first side102to the second side103) and the second tapered opening107may be in a range from approximately 60% to approximately 50% of the thickness of the transparent body101. In one embodiment, the transparent body101may have a thickness of approximately 0.4 inch (10.2 mm), the depth of the first tapered opening106may be approximately 0.12 inch (3.0 mm), and the depth of the second tapered opening107may be approximately 0.23 inch (5.8 mm).

Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the anti-theft bracket100includes a lip108(e.g., an annular lip) between the first tapered opening106and the second tapered opening107. The lip108extends radially inward from the relatively smaller inner diameters D2, D4of the first and second tapered openings106,107, respectively. such that the lip108overhangs the inner ends of the first and second tapered openings106,107. The lip108defines an opening109connecting the first tapered opening106to the second tapered opening107. In the illustrated embodiment, the diameter D5of the opening109defined by the lip108is smaller than the relatively smaller diameters D2, D4of the first and second tapered openings106,107. As described in more detail below, the diameter D5of the opening109defined by the lip108is smaller than the diameter of the lens of the marker light such that the lip108contacts the lens of the light when the marker is accommodated in either first tapered opening106or the second tapered opening107. In this manner, the close fit between the lip108and the lens of the marker light and the rigidity of the lip108provides an anti-theft function by preventing the marker light from being removed (e.g., by pulling or prying the marker light with a screwdriver) through the tapered opening106or107that is not being utilized to accommodate the marker light. For instance, if the marker light is accommodated (e.g., housed) in the first tapered opening106, the lip108prevents the marker light from being pulled or pried out through the second tapered opening107. Similarly, if the marker light is accommodated (e.g., housed) in the second tapered opening107, the lip108prevents the marker light from being pulled out through the first tapered opening106. In this manner, the lip108is configured to retain the marker light in the desired tapered opening106or107and prevent (or at least mitigate against the risk of) theft of the marker light. The close fit between the lip108and the lens of the marker light is also configured to prevent (or at least mitigate against) the ingress of foreign object debris (FOD) (e.g., dust and/or moisture), which might otherwise damage or degrade the marker light (i.e., the close contact between the lip108and the lens of the marker light is configured to mitigate against the ingress of FOD through the tapered openings106,107in the transparent body101). In one or more embodiments, the thickness of the lip108may be in a range from approximately 8% to approximately 16%. For instance, in one embodiment in which the transparent body101has a thickness of approximately 0.4 inch (10.2 mm), the lip108may have a thickness of approximately 0.05 inch (1.3 mm).

In the illustrated embodiment, the anti-theft bracket100also includes at least one opening (e.g., a pair of holes) configured to receive fasteners to secure the anti-theft bracket100and the marker light accommodated therein or thereby to a vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, the anti-theft bracket100includes a pair of through holes110,111extending from the first side102to the second side103. In one or more embodiments, the anti-theft bracket100may be secured to the vehicle with blind rivets passing through the through holes110,111. The rigidity of the transparent body101(e.g., the rigidity of the transparent acrylic material or the transparent thermoplastic material) enables the transparent body101to withstand the forces associated with installing the blind rivets (e.g., the forces associated with utilizing a rivet gun to pull the mandrel through the rivet head to deform the rivet head). In one or more embodiments, the anti-theft bracket100may be secured to the vehicle with any other type or kind of fastener that cannot be removed by unscrewing. Utilizing rivets, or other fasteners that cannot be unscrewed, to secure the anti-theft bracket100to the vehicle prevents the anti-theft bracket100from being detached by unscrewing fasteners, which would defeat the anti-theft feature of the lip108.

The anti-theft bracket100may also include one or more lightening recesses112in the transparent body101that reduce the amount of material and the overall weight of the anti-theft bracket100. In the illustrated embodiment, the anti-theft bracket100includes four lightening recesses112in the first side102(e.g., two lightening recesses112proximate to the first through hole110and two lightening recesses112proximate to the second through hole111) and includes four lightening recesses112in the second side103(e.g., two lightening recesses112proximate to the first through hole110and two lightening recesses112proximate to the second through hole111). In one or more embodiments, the one or more lightening recesses112may be omitted.

FIGS.2A-2Bdepict the anti-theft bracket100accommodating a marker light200having a relatively high-profile lens201and a grommet202therefore in the second tapered opening107, andFIGS.3A-3Bdepict the anti-theft bracket100accommodating a marker light200having a relatively low-profile lens203and a grommet204therefore in the first tapered opening106. The anti-theft bracket100may be installed in one of two orientations or configuration depending on the configuration of the marker light200(e.g., depending on whether the marker light has a high-profile lens201or a low-profile lens203, and the shape and size of the corresponding grommet202,204, respectively). For instance, as illustrated inFIG.4A, when the marker light200having the relatively high-profile lens201is accommodated in the second tapered opening107of the transparent body101, the second side103of the transparent body101faces the vehicle (e.g., the second side103of the transparent body101directly contacts the vehicle) and the first side102faces away from the vehicle. As illustrated inFIG.4B, when the marker light200having the relatively low-profile lens203is accommodated in the first tapered opening106of the transparent body101, the first side102of the transparent body101faces the vehicle (e.g., the first side102of the transparent body101directly contacts the vehicle) and the second side103faces away from the vehicle. In this manner, the anti-theft bracket100is a “universal” bracket configured to accommodate marker lights200having different configurations.

FIG.5is a flowchart illustrating tasks of a method300of securing a marker light to a vehicle with an anti-theft bracket according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The anti-theft bracket may be the same as or similar to the embodiment of the anti-theft bracket100described above with reference toFIGS.1-4B.

In the illustrated embodiment, the method300includes a task310of selecting a marker light having a desired configuration (e.g., selecting the marker light200having the high-profile lens201or a low-profile lens203).

In the illustrated embodiment, the method300also includes a task320of inserting the marker light into the first tapered opening106or the second tapered opening107depending on the configuration of the marker light selected in task310. For instance, if the marker light200selected in task310includes the high-profile lens201, the task320includes inserting the marker light200into the second tapered opening107. If the marker light200selected in task310includes the low-profile lens203, the task320includes inserting the marker light200into the first tapered opening106.

In the illustrated embodiment, the method300also includes a task330of orienting (e.g., flipping) the anti-theft bracket100and securing the anti-theft bracket100and the marker light200accommodated therein to a vehicle (e.g., to the guard rail of a truck). In one or more embodiments, the task330of securing the anti-theft bracket100and the marker light200accommodated therein to the vehicle includes inserting blind rivets into the through holes110,111and utilizing a rivet tool (e.g., a manual hand riveter or a powered riveter, such as a pneumatic or electric riveter) to attach the anti-theft bracket100to the vehicle.

While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to exemplary embodiments thereof, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the exact forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of assembly and operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principles, spirit, and scope of this invention. Although relative terms such as “outer,” “inner,” “upper,” “lower,” and similar terms have been used herein to describe a spatial relationship of one element to another, it is understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the various elements and components of the invention in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. Additionally, as used herein, the term “substantially,” “about,” and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent deviations in measured or calculated values that would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, as used herein, when a component is referred to as being “on” another component, it can be directly on the other component or components may also be present therebetween. Moreover, when a component is component is referred to as being “coupled” to another component, it can be directly attached to the other component or intervening components may be present therebetween.