Abstract:
The light bar mounting assembly of this invention includes a light bar support having a pair of laterally adjustable extension members projecting from each side of a light bar configured for releasable clamping engagement with vehicle side door indentations, whereby to secure the light bar removably to the roof of a vehicle, particularly emergency vehicles. In one embodiment the light bar support is configured with adjustable securing components that allows reception within the perimeter of a light bar, and suction cups secure the support elevated above the roof of a vehicle. In another embodiment the light bar support is configured for use with laterally wider light bars and is provided with adjustable clamp components for securing the assembly to a vehicle roof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the mounting of light bars on emergency vehicles, and more particularly to a support assembly capable of mounting a variety of sizes and shapes of light bars on emergency vehicles.  
         [0002]     Prior light bar supports for vehicles are configured to mount a specific structural form of light bar, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,374. However, there are several configurations presently employed on different emergency vehicles, each requiring a different and therefore more costly mounting structure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The light bar mounting assembly of this invention includes components that are adjustable to accommodate the mounting of diverse light bar configurations on various types and styles of automobile roofs.  
         [0004]     It is the principal objective of this invention to provide a light bar mounting assembly that overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of prior light bar mounting assemblies.  
         [0005]     Another objective of this invention is a light bar mounting assembly that accommodates the mounting of a variety of configurations of light bars on a variety of configurations of vehicle roofs.  
         [0006]     Still another objective of this invention is to provide a light bar mounting assembly that accommodates the exchange of diverse light bars.  
         [0007]     A further objective of this invention is the provision of a light bar mounting assembly that accommodates light bars with depending peripheries.  
         [0008]     A still further objective of this invention is to provide a light bar mounting assembly that affords mounting on a vehicle roof in a forwardly offset position relative to the transverse anchor on the roof for added wind resistance.  
         [0009]     Still another objective of this invention is to provide a light bar mounting assembly of simplified construction for economical manufacture.  
         [0010]     The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a transverse elevational view of a light bar mounting assembly embodying the features of this invention, the view being from the rear end of a vehicle showing the profile of a vehicle roof in broken lines.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the longitudinally adjustable clamping configuration of the light bar mounting assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the right end portion of the light bar mounting assembly of  FIG. 2  illustrating the manner of attachment of a light bar mounting base to the adjustable extension assembly.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the right end portion of the light bar mounting assembly of  FIG. 3  illustrating the adjustable configuration of the lateral extension mechanism.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the light bar secured to the supporting base plate of  FIGS. 1-4  and showing the bottom periphery of the light bar surrounding the base plate, and further showing the manipulation of the spaced anchor components with one installed in operative position and the other angled across the base plate in an intermediate position of installation.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 2 , the profile of the light bar being shown in broken lines.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a transverse elevational view, similar to  FIG. 1 , and illustrating a second embodiment of light bar mounting assembly.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of the right end portion of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along the line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the light bar mounting assembly of this invention installed on the roof  10  of an automotive vehicle such as a police car. The indented door edge  12  serves to clamp the assembly to the roof  10  by mechanism described hereinafter. A light bar  14  having multiple emergency lights is secured to a light bar base support  16  by coupler members  18  provided with laterally projecting side flanges  20  for removable reception in the flange grooves  22  of the light bar base  16 . Anchor screws  24  and cooperating lock nuts  26  secure the coupler member  18  to an angle iron base segment  28  of a support member which includes spacer segment  30  extending normal to the base segment, and foot segments  32  projecting outward from the spacer segment. Suction cups  34  are mounted on the foot segments and serve to secure the light bar base  16  to the roof  10 .  
         [0021]     Clamp screws  36  extend through the angle iron base segment  28  and into threaded openings in the coupler member  18 , by use of a hex screwdriver (not shown) receivable in a hex socket  36 ′ ( FIG. 5 ) in the clamp screws. Rotation of the clamp screws brings them into abutment with the undersurface of the base support  16 , drawing the coupler member  18  downward into frictional pressure engagement of the side flanges  20  in the grooves  22 . Lock nut  38  secures the clamp screws against loosening.  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, an end connector segment  40  is provided with an upturned flange  42  on one end and a resilient rubber buffer  44  secured to the outer side of the flange  42  to provide a resilient connection of the end segment  40  to the spacer segment  30  of the angle iron base segment  28  by flange bolts  46 . Downturned side flanges  48  on the end segment support the U-shaped rubber buffers  50 , for protecting the vehicle roof against scratches or other damage.  
         [0023]     An elongated extension member  52  is provided with downturned side flanges  54 , fitted with rubber buffers  56 . Member  52  is configured for slidable reception under the end segment  40  and is provided with an elongated longitudinal slot  58  through which to receive a clamp screw (not shown) for securing the anchor member  60  at desired position along the length of the extension member  52 . The anchor member  60  mounts a toggle latch  62  provided with a hook catch end  62 ′ ( FIG. 4 ), by pivot pin  64  ( FIG. 3 ). The toggle latch  62  is connected by pivot  64  to U-shaped actuator member  66 .  
         [0024]     The hook end  62 ′ of the toggle latch is arranged to engage the toggle hook anchor catch  68  mounted on the U-shaped support member  70  secured to the end segment  40  by screws, rivets, or other suitable means (not shown). A reinforcing pin  72  limits the movement of the catch  68  to insure positive engagement of the toggle latch end  62 ′.  
         [0025]     A door edge clamp member  74  is secured by anchor bolts  76  to the laterally outward end of the extension member  52 , and is provided with a hook end  78  configured to engage the indented door edge seat  12  at one side of the vehicle roof  10 .  
         [0026]     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, the opposite end of the base support  16  also has an end segment  80  secured to the adjacent spacer segment  30  of a corresponding angle iron base support segment  28 . The upturned flange  82  and associated rubber buffer  84  are secured by bolts  86  to the spacer segment  30 . The downturned side flanges  88  support rubber buffers  90 . An elongated extension member  92  is secured adjustably to the end segment  80  by means of bolts  94  extended freely through an elongated slot  96  in the extension member  92 . Downturned side flanges  98  on the extension member  92  support rubber buffers  100 .  
         [0027]     The door edge clamp  102  is secured to the outer end of the extension member  92  by anchor bolts  104 , and the hook end  106  of the edge clamp  102  serves to engage the indented door edge seat  12  in the manner of the hook end  78  of the opposite edge clamp.  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, provision is made for securing the angle iron base support segment  28  to the underside of the light bar base support  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the light bar  14  has a peripheral wall  14 ′ that extends downwardly beyond the base support  16 , as clearly shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . This downward flange prevents the installation of the angle iron base support. Accordingly, the base support segment  28  at each end of the base support  16  is provided adjacent one end with an elongated slot  108  configured to freely receive an anchor screw  110  for threaded engagement in threaded bore  110 ′ in the base support  16 . This allows the angle iron base support to be rotated about the axis of the screw  110  from the angular position illustrated by the angle iron base support at the left in  FIG. 5  (initially registering the slot  108  with the threaded bore  110 ′) and then rotating the assembly clockwise to the position matching the angle iron base support at the right in  FIG. 5 . It is by this rotation that the side flanges  20  on the coupler member  18  are brought into engagement in the grooves  22 , thereby securing the light bar support base  16  and light bar  14  to the angle iron base support segment  28 .  
         [0029]     The mode of operation of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6  described hereinbefore, is as follows: The light bar  14  is secured to the base  16  by means of the notched couplers on the coupler member  16 , and by threaded holes formed in the coupler member at selected position to receive anchor screws carried by the light bar. With the light bar and coupler member inverted as in  FIG. 5 , the angle iron base members  28 - 34  are installed on the underside of the coupler member as described hereinbefore, and the assembly is inverted to upright position on a vehicle roof  10 , with the suction cups  34  collapsed to secure the light bar and base member assembly to the roof.  
         [0030]     In the event the suction cups are found to grip the roof too tenaciously, a pin hole  116  ( FIG. 5 ) may be formed in each suction cup in a position in which the inner end thereof is closed when the suction cup is in collapsed, securing condition. Thus, release of the suction cup may be achieved simply by pulling upward on the suction cup in the area overlying the pin hole. Air thus is allowed to be drawn into the inner cavity of the suction cup to allow it to release.  
         [0031]     The assembly of end segment  80 , extension member  92  and door edge clamp  102  is installed and adjusted in length, by loosening the anchor bolts  94  and adjusting the position of the end segment  92  relative to the end segment  80 , with the hook end  106  engaging the indented door edge seat  12 . The bolts  94  then are tightened to secure the connection. The light bar thus is positioned on the vehicle roof  10  in desired location.  
         [0032]     The assembly of end segment  40 , extension member  52  and door edge clamp  74  then is connected to the opposite end of the base support  16 , and the end extension member  52  is adjusted longitudinally relative to the end segment  40  with the hook end  78  of the door edge clamp  74  engaging the corresponding indented edge seat  12  of the vehicle roof The toggle latch anchor member  60  then is adjusted along the slot  58  to bring it in to close proximity to the toggle hook anchor support member  70 . The toggle latch  62  then is swung downward to engage the hook end  62 ′. The toggle latch actuator member  66  then is swung downwardly to pull toggle latch catch  62 ′ into firm engagement with the toggle hook anchor catch  68 . The toggle hook anchor catch  68  may bend rearward, under the pressure of the actuator member  66 , in which case the anchor catch will engage the reinforcing pin  72  to limit its deformation.  
         [0033]     With both end segment assemblies thus secured to the indented door edge seats  12  at opposite sides of the vehicle, the installation is complete.  
         [0034]     If desired, the bail portion of a padlock may be extended through the aligned openings  112  and  114  to secure the assembly against inadvertent separation.  
         [0035]     It is an important feature of this invention that the opposite side extension assemblies be mounted in a forwardly offset position relative to the lateral center line of the light bar base support  16 , as is clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 2-6 . It has been determined that this forward offset prevents the pressure of the wind at high speeds of the vehicle from dislodging the light bar assembly on the vehicle roof.  
         [0036]     Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , it is to be noted that the light bar  118  is much longer than the light bar  14  described hereinbefore. The light bar base support  16  is replaced by the longer base support  120 , and the extension members  40  and  80  are replaced by the single elongated connecting member  122 . Any number of different light bars  118  may be secured to the connectig member  120  by bolts or screws extending through registering openings provided in the light bar and connecting members. The connecting member has downturned side flanges  124  in which a multiplicity of spaced notches  126  are located along a substantial portion of the end segments of the extension member  122 . These notches allow the extension member  122  to bend resiliently to conform to the curvature of the surface of the vehicle roof. U-shaped rubber buffers  128  are pressed onto the downward flanges  124  to protect the vehicle roof from scratching and other damage.  
         [0037]     One end of the extension member  122  is coupled to an end extension member  52  ( FIG. 8 ) having downturned side flanges  54  supporting spaced notches  54 ′ and rubber buffers  56 , as described hereinbefore. The extension  52  is telescoped within the main central extension  122 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , and it supports the toggle latch mechanism  60 - 66  for cooperative engagement with toggle hook anchor assembly  68 - 72  secured to the corresponding end of the extension member  122 . The extension member  52  mounts a door edge clamp  74 , by anchor bolts  76  and is provided with the hook end  78  for releasable engagement with the indented door edge seat  12 , as described hereinbefore. The end extension  92  is received telescopically within the opposite end of the central extension member  122  and is secured in desired adjustment by anchor bolts  94  extended slidably through the longitudinal slot  96 . The extension  92  is provided with downturned side flanges  98  which support rubber buffers  100 , all as explained hereinbefore in connection with the first embodiment. Door edge clamp  102  is secured to the end of the extension member  92 , by anchor bolts  104 , and the hook end  106  is configured to engage the indented door edge seat  12  at the opposite side of the vehicle roof.  
         [0038]     As in the embodiment described hereinbefore, the light bar base support  120  preferably is secured to the central extension member  122  in a forwardly offset position to resist the force of wind resulting from high speed movement of the vehicle, as described hereinbefore. Additionally, the openings  112  and  114  in the members  60  and  66 , respectively, afford reception of a padlock bail, to secure against theft.  
         [0039]     The manner of use of the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-9  is analogous to that of the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 .  
         [0040]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made in the size, shape, type, number and arrangement of the structural components described hereinbefore without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.