Abstract:
A motor vehicle comprising a lighting device disposed on a motor vehicle; the lighting device configured to emit light and aim at least a portion of the light in the direction of and illuminate a wheel well of the motor vehicle.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a ground lighting device for motor vehicles. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     To better understand and appreciate the invention, refer to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear portion of a motor vehicle according to the invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the motor vehicle of FIG. 1 taken along line  2 — 2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a motor vehicle is shown at  10 . Motor vehicle  10  may include, but is not limited to, passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans, light trucks and sports cars. Vehicle  10  includes a wheel  12  comprising tire  14  and rim  16 . Rim  16  may have additional components located thereon including, but not limited to, wheel covers, center caps and trim rings. 
     As best shown in FIG. 2, wheel  12  is located within a wheel well  18  adjacent an exterior body member  20 . Exterior body member  20  is further defined by outer surface  22 , inner surface  24  and a perimeter edge  26  which partially defines wheel well  18 . Outer surface  22  of exterior body member  20  is a surface generally viewed by vehicle onlookers while inner surface  24  is not generally viewable. Exterior body member  20  may include, but is not limited to body panels (e.g. fenders, quarter panels, rocker panels) and bumper fascias as well as any components located thereon including, but not limited to, foilers, claddings, fender flares, trim moldings, and rub strips. 
     Perimeter edge  26  of exterior body member  20  may be adjacent an exterior close-out member such as inner wheel housing  28 . Inner wheel housing  28  may include, but is not limited to, inner wheel houses, fender liners, splash shields and splash guards. Perimeter edge  26  of exterior body member  20  and inner wheel housing  28  may be fixed to one another (e.g. welded, mechanically fastened) or merely fit adjacent one another such as with an overlap. 
     A lamp or lighting device  32  is attached to the motor vehicle  10  and preferably to exterior body member  20  or inner wheel housing  28 . More preferably lighting device  32  may be held within a receptacle  30 , generally in the form of an opening or a recess, in the exterior body member  20 . Preferably, the receptacle  30  is adjacent wheel well  18  of exterior body member  20 . Also preferably, lighting device  32  is attached to the motor vehicle  10  by mechanical fasteners such as threaded fasteners and spring clips. 
     Lighting device  32  preferably comprises a light source  33 , a lens  34  and a housing  36 . Lens  34  and housing  36  are preferably connected along their peripheral edges in a manner known in the art with light source  33  contained within the confines thereof. For example, lens  34  may include a tongue portion which is inserted into a mating groove portion on housing  36  containing a hot melt adhesive. 
     Preferably, at least a portion of light  38  emitted from lighting device  32  may be directed or aimed in the direction of and more preferably, directly on wheel well  18  to illuminate wheel well  18 . More preferably, inclusive of wheel well  18 , light  38  from lighting device  32  is directed or aimed in the direction of and, more preferably, directly on wheel  12  to illuminate wheel  12 . Even more preferably, inclusive of wheel  12 , light  38  from lighting device  32  is directed or aimed in the direction of and, more preferably, directly on rim  16  to illuminate rim  16 . 
     Lighting device  32  may serve multiple function, alone or in combination with other lighting devices. For example, lighting device  32  may be part of a lamp housing including head lamps, side marker lamps or tail lamps. As shown, lighting device  32  also may simultaneously function as a side marker lamp aiming at least a portion of light  39  to the side of motor vehicle  10  (i.e. generally perpendicular to the direction of vehicle travel) to illuminate ground surface  40  to aid the driver in making turns. 
     When not directing light  38  towards wheel well  18 , lens  34  of lighting device  32  may be at least partially hidden from view or blocked to protect the lens  34  from damage due to flying debris (e.g. stones, dirt, sand) near the ground surface  40  or may be hidden as to conceal its presence and thus detection by vehicle onlookers. For example, a door or other type of cover may be placed over the lens  34 . As shown in phantom, lighting device  32  rotates and moves with the aid of a hinge member  42  into receptacle  30  which conceals or blocks a portion of lens  34  from view. More specifically, the portion of the lens which directs light  38  becomes concealed or nonfunctional, while the portion of the lens which directs light  39  remains exposed and functional (i.e. continues to illuminate the ground surface to the side of the motor vehicle). Preferably outer surface  44  of housing  36  complements (e.g. same or similar color, same or similar texture) an adjacent portion of exterior body member  20 . Conversely, hinge member  42  also moves enables lighting device to move out of receptacle  30  from a nonfunctional position back into a functional position where it may illuminate wheel well  18 . 
     Preferably, light  38  is from the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. In this manner, light  38  may be used to aid in removing wheel  12  from vehicle  10  in the event of a flat tire  14 , particularly in conditions where light in addition to ambient light is desirable (e.g. after sunset and before sunrise). Additionally, light  38  may be used to enhance or change the visual appearance of wheel  12 , particularly in conditions where light in addition to ambient light is desirable (e.g. after sunset and before sunrise). For example, light  38  may be used to change the reflective or colored appearance of rim  16  as compared to when light  38  from lighting device  32  is not used. 
     While light  38  is preferably from the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum, it is recognized that light  38  may be from other ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. For example, light  38  may be from the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum and, when cast towards white lettering on tire  14 , may enhance or change the visual appearance of tire  14  by making the white lettering to appear to have a purple color or tint. 
     In other variations, light  38  may also be directed towards ground surface  40  adjacent wheel  12  to illuminate tools such as the jack, wrenches, lug nuts, etc. Also, while light  38  from lighting device  32  is preferably cast directly towards or on wheel  12  or rim  16 , light  38  may be cast indirectly towards or on wheel  12  or rim  16  such as through the use of a separate reflector. 
     We intend the above description to illustrate embodiments of the present invention by using descriptive rather than limiting words. Obviously, there are many ways that one might modify these embodiments while remaining within the scope of the claims. In other words, there are many other ways that one may practice the present invention without exceeding the scope of the claims herein.