Abstract:
An emergency light system for an emergency vehicle. The light system can have a low profile configuration for improved aesthetics and aerodynamics. Further the light system can be configured to allow for customization of the individual emergency lights and/or easy access to the individual emergency lights.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/074,443, filed Nov. 7, 2013, entitled “VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTING SYSTEM,” which claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/818,734, filed May 2, 2013, entitled “FRONT WARNING LIGHT SYSTEM,” the entire disclosures of both applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to emergency vehicles. In particular, the invention concerns a roof mounted emergency light system for use on emergency vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Roof mounted emergency light systems have been used on emergency vehicles for years to enhance the safety of the operators of the emergency vehicle, as well as the safety of the general public encountering emergency vehicles. Over the years many advances have been made in roof mounted emergency light systems to make the lights more visible. However, many conventional roof mounted emergency light systems are rather bulky and not are aesthetically pleasing. In addition, many conventional roof mounted emergency light systems are not aerodynamic and, therefore, significantly reduced the fuel efficiency of the emergency vehicle. 
     In addition, although different emergency vehicles may have vastly different requirements for roof mounted emergency lighting, conventional roof mounted emergency light systems (e.g., “light bars”) are generally only available in a single pre-configured light design. Further, many conventional roof mounted emergency light systems make it difficult or impossible to reconfigure and/or replace the individual emergency lights. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a more aesthetically pleasing and aerodynamic roof mounted emergency light system that can be customized with various light configurations and provides easy access to individual lights for reconfiguration and/or replacement of individual emergency lights. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a roof-mounted emergency light system for an emergency vehicle. The emergency light system includes a base and a lens assembly. The base is configured for attachment to a roof of the emergency vehicle and the lens assembly is coupled to the base. The base includes an inner light supporting region comprising a plurality of generally upright emergency light supporting surfaces. The base presents a generally upwardly facing lens supporting surface extending around at least a portion of the light supporting region. The lens assembly presents a generally downwardly facing attachment surface having a shape that substantially conforms to the shape of the lens supporting surface. 
     In another embodiment, there is provided a roof-mounted emergency light system for an emergency vehicle having a roof with a sloped portion. The emergency light system includes a base, a plurality of emergency lights, and a lens assembly. The base is configured for attachment to the sloped portion of the roof. The base includes an inner light supporting region comprising a plurality of emergency light supporting surfaces to which the emergency lights are coupled. The lens assembly is coupled to the base and covers the inner light supporting region. The lens assembly includes one or more lenses through which light from the emergency lights can pass. The emergency light system has a maximum depth (Dmax) and a maximum height (Hmax), where the ratio of Dmax to Hmax is at least 1.5:1. The emergency light system has a maximum width (Wmax). The ratio of Wmax to Dmax is at least 1.25:1 and not more than 4:1. The base is configured to cover at least 4 square feet of the roof and the lenses cooperatively present a total outer surface area of at least 2 square feet. 
     In yet another embodiment, there is provided an emergency vehicle that includes a cab having a roof with a sloped portion, emergency service equipment located behind the cab, and an emergency light system coupled to the sloped portion of the roof. The sloped portion of the roof slopes a vertical distance of at least 6 inches over a horizontal distance of 12 inches. The emergency light system has a maximum depth (Dmax) and a maximum height (Hmax), where the ratio of Dmax to Hmax is at least 1.25:1. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an emergency vehicle having a cab with a sloped roof to which is attached an emergency light system configured in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged isometric view of the sloped portion of the emergency vehicle roof with the emergency light system being attached thereto, particularly illustrating the emergency light system as including a base coupled to the roof and a lens assembly coupled to the base; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the emergency light system attached to the sloped portion of the emergency vehicle roof, particularly illustrating the lens assembly in a closed position relative to the base; 
         FIG. 4  a side view of the emergency light system attached to the sloped portion of the emergency vehicle roof, particularly illustrating the lens assembly in an open position relative to the base, so as to provide access to the interior light supporting region of the emergency light system; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the emergency light system in an open position, particularly illustrating the configuration of the light supporting surfaces in the interior of the emergency light system; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view showing the individual components of the emergency light system, particularly illustrating how the lens assembly is formed of a lens support structure that supports the plurality of individual lenses; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the emergency light system showing various reference points and parameters used to define the unique shape of the emergency light system; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the emergency light system taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7  showing various reference points and parameters used to define the unique shape of the emergency light system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present invention can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an emergency vehicle  10  having a cab  12  that presents a roof  14  having a sloped portion  16 . The cab includes a windshield  18  and the sloped portion  16  of the roof  14  is positioned immediately above and extends generally upwardly and rearwardly from the windshield  18 . An emergency light system  20  is coupled to the roof  14  of the emergency vehicle  10  and covers at least a portion of the sloped portion  16 . 
     The emergency vehicle  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is an ambulance having a patient compartment  22  located immediately behind the cab  12 . Although the present invention is shown in the drawings as being implemented in an ambulance, it should be understood that various other types of emergency vehicles (e.g., fire trucks and tow trucks) can employ the invention. Generally, any emergency vehicle having a sloped roof portion on the cab is suitable for use in conjunction with the present invention. These emergency vehicles typically carry some type of emergency equipment behind the cab of the vehicle. In the case of an ambulance, the emergency equipment carried by the vehicle includes medical equipment, whereas in the case of a fire truck, the emergency equipment carried by the vehicle may include firefighting equipment and/or medical equipment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-6 , the emergency light system  20  includes a base  24  coupled to the roof  14  and a lens assembly  26  coupled to and supported by the base  24 . As perhaps best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the emergency light system  20  can be mounted on a portion of the roof  14  having a sloped portion  16 . The sloped portion  16  of the roof  14  can slope a vertical distance of at least 6, 8, or 10 inches and/or not more than 18, 16, 14, or 12 inches over a horizontal distance of 12 inches. Additionally, or alternatively, the sloped portion  16  of the roof  14  can slope a vertical distance of at least 8, 10, or 12 inches and/or not more than 20, 18, 16, or 14 inches over a horizontal distance of 18 inches. In certain embodiments, the sloped portion  16  extends across substantially the entire width of the roof  14  of the cab  12 . For example, the sloped portion  16  of the roof  14  can have a width of at least 2, 4, or 5 feet. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6 , the lens assembly  26  can be formed of one or more lenses  28  that are rigidly coupled to a lens support structure  30 . In certain embodiments, at least two of the lenses  28  are colored differently from one another. For example, one or more of the lenses  28  can be red, while one or more of the lenses  28  can be substantially clear. In the embodiment depicted in the drawings, the emergency light system  20  includes three individual lenses  28 , with the outside two lenses being red and the central lens being clear. When multiple lenses are used, a lens ceiling gasket  33  ( FIG. 6 ) can be used between the individual lenses  28  to prevent moisture or debris from entering between the lenses  28 . 
     As perhaps best shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the emergency light system  20  can also include a hinge  32  (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) that couples the lens assembly  26  to the base  24  and allows the lens assembly  26  to be shifted relative to the base  24  between a closed position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and an open position (show in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). In certain embodiments, the hinge  32  is a locking hinge that is capable of supporting the lens assembly  26  in the open position without additional external support. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the base  24  presents a lens supporting surface  34  and the lens assembly  26  presents an attachment surface  36 . The shape of the attachment surface  36  substantially conforms to the shape of the lens supporting surface  34  so that when the lens assembly  26  is in the closed position, the lens supporting surface  34  and attachment surface  36  contact one another with minimal or no gaps therebetween. As shown in  FIG. 6 , a sealing gasket  38  can be attached to one of the lens supporting and attachment surfaces  34 ,  36  so that when the lens assembly  26  is in the closed position, the gasket  38  is disposed between the lens supporting surface  34  and attachment surface  36 . This gasket  38  can extend entirely around the interior of the emergency light system  20  to prevent moisture and debris from entering the inside of the emergency light system  20 . The gasket  38  can be made of any relatively flexible material known in the art as being suitable for use as a seal between two rigid surfaces. 
     The emergency light system  20  can also include one or more locking mechanisms  40  ( FIG. 3 ) for coupling the lens assembly  26  to the base  24  in the closed position. The locking mechanisms  40  can be any suitable releasable fastener capable of coupling the front and/or sides of the lens assembly  26  to the front and/or sides of the base  24 . In one embodiment, the locking mechanisms  40  are simply one or more screws. In another embodiment, the locking mechanisms  40  can include one or more quick-release fasteners, such as draw latches, that permit rapid coupling and decoupling of the lens assembly  26  and the base  24 . The hinge  32  and locking mechanisms  40  permit ready access to the interior of the emergency light system  20  so that the individual lights contained therein can be readily reconfigured, repaired, or replaced. 
     When the lens assembly  26  is in the open position, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , external access is permitted to a light supporting region  42  of the base  24 . The light supporting region  42  includes a plurality of light supporting surfaces  44  to which individual emergency lights  46  can be coupled. In certain embodiments, the light supporting region  42  includes at least 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 of the light supporting surfaces  44 . These light supporting surfaces  44  can be substantially flat and/or substantially vertical. Further, at least a portion of the light supporting surfaces  44  can be at different elevations and/or can face in different directions. In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 4-6 , the light supporting surfaces  44  include an upper group of light supporting surfaces and a lower group of light supporting surfaces, where the upper group of light supporting surfaces are located at a higher elevation than the lower group of light supporting surfaces and are also horizontally offset rearwardly relative to the lower group of light supporting surfaces. This variety in position and direction of the light supporting surfaces  44  permits the same base  24  to be used for a variety of different light configurations. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show various reference lines, references points, and dimensions used to define the unique shape of the emergency light system  20 . As mentioned previously, in certain embodiments, the emergency light system  20  covers a large area of the roof of the emergency vehicle. For example, the base  24  can be sized to cover at least 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 square feet of the emergency vehicle roof. Further, the lenses  28  of the lens assembly  26  can be relatively large so that many individual emergency lights can shine therethrough. Thus, the lenses  28  can present a total outer surface area of at least 2, 4, or 5 square feet through which light from the individual emergency lights can shine. 
     In certain embodiments the emergency light system  20  can have a relatively low profile. As depicted in  FIG. 8 , this low profile configuration can be at least partly quantified by the ratio of the maximum depth (Dmax) of the emergency light system  20  to the maximum height (Hmax) of the emergency light system  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , Dmax is defined herein as the maximum dimension from the front edge of the emergency light system  20  to the rear edge of the emergency light system  20 , measured in the direction of travel in the emergency vehicle. In certain embodiments, Dmax can be at least 12, 18, or 24 inches and/or not more than 48, 42, or 36 inches. As shown in  FIG. 8 , Dmax is measured between a reference point “A” and a reference point “B.” Reference point “A” is the point on the front edge of the base  24  located at the maximum depth of the emergency light system  20 , while reference point “B” is the point on the rear edge of the base  24  located at the maximum depth of the emergency light system  20 . A reference line AB is defined between reference point “A” and reference point “B.” 
     Referring again to  FIG. 8 , Hmax is defined herein as the maximum dimension from the top of the emergency light system  20  to reference line AB, measured perpendicular to reference line AB in a vertical reference plane that includes reference line AB. In certain embodiments, Hmax can be at least 4, 6, or 8 inches and/or not more than 24, 16, or 12 inches. As shown in  FIG. 8 , Hmax is measured from reference line AB to a reference point “C.” Reference point “C” is the point on the exterior peak of the lens assembly  26  that is farthest from reference line AB, measured perpendicular to reference line AB in the vertical plane that includes reference line AB. The ratio of Dmax to Hmax can be at least 1.25:1, 1.5:1, 1.75:1, 2:1, 2.25:1, 2.5:1, 2.75:1, or 3:1. Further, the ratio of Dmax to Hmax can be not more than 20:1, 15:1, 10:1, 8:1, or 6:1. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 8 , reference point “A” represents a central front edge point of the emergency light system  20 , reference point “B” represents a central rear edge point of the emergency light system  20 , and reference point “C” represents a central peak point of the emergency light system  20 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a reference line AC extends between reference points “A” and “C” and a reference line BC extends between reference points “B” and “C.” Due to the low profile nature of the emergency light system  20  depicted in the drawings, an obtuse interior angle “θ” is defined between reference lines AC and BC. This obtuse interior angle “θ” can be at least 100, 110, or 120 degrees and/or not more than 170, 160, or 150 degrees. Further, a first acute interior angle “a” is defined between reference lines AB and AC, where “a” can be at least 10, 15, or 20 degrees and/or not more than 80, 60, or 50 degrees. In addition, a second acute interior angle “β” is defined between reference lines AB and BC, where “β” can be at least 10, 15, or 20 degrees and/or not more than 80, 60, or 50 degrees. The rounded and low profile nature of the emergency light system  20  can also be at least partially defined by the external radius of curvature “Rp” at reference point “C” (the central peak point). In certain embodiments, “Rp” can be at least 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 inches. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the emergency light system  20  can have a maximum width (Wmax) that is measured from the outer point “S1” on one side of the emergency light system  20  to the outer point “S2” on the opposite side of the emergency light system  20 . Wmax is measured perpendicular to the direction of travel of the emergency vehicle to which the emergency light system  20  is mounted. In certain embodiments, the ratio of Wmax to Dmax is at least 1:1, 1.25:1, 1.5:1, or 2:1 and/or not more than 4:1, 3:1, or 2.5:1. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention.