Abstract:
A warning light comprising a base member, a dome removeably connected to the base member, and at least one light module having a top and bottom surface positioned within the dome with the top surface being positioned against the inside of the top surface of said dome. A bracket member secures the warning light to the dome. The bracket includes a cross bar engaging the bottom surface of the warning light and legs extending upward from the cross bar and terminating in a foot portion which is attached to the inside of the top surface of the dome.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This application relates to a warning light for use in vehicles for emergency response. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a compact warning light for use in vehicles for emergency response which contains a plurality of individual light modules. 
     2. Background 
     Warning lights for use in vehicles for providing a signal light for emergency response are well known. Such warning lights may be in the form of a lightbar, beacon, or light head and generally include a base, a dome and a plurality of light modules attached to the base and positioned within the dome when the dome is attached to the base. When it was desired to change the light modules to a different configuration or color, the dome would be removed and the base member would have to remain with the vehicle if attached thereto. The new light modules would have to be installed into the base while the base was in the vehicle. Additionally, if the dome were to be changed as well as the light modules, it was necessary to provide the light module and dome as separate components which must be transported to the location of the base individually and then connected together. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect there is provided a warning light comprising a base member, a dome connected to the base member, and a plurality of light modules positioned in the dome and secured thereto. 
     In accordance with another aspect there is provided a warning light comprising a base member, a dome removeably connected to the base member, and at least one light module having a top and bottom surface positioned within the dome with the top surface being positioned against the inside of the top surface of said dome. A bracket member secures the warning light to said dome. The bracket includes a cross bar engaging the bottom surface of the warning light and legs extending upward from the cross bar and terminating in a foot portion which is attached to the inside of the top surface of the dome. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of a warning light viewing the warning light from the bottom; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view looking upwardly into the dome of the warning light of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along the lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial isometric view looking up into the dome of the warning light showing one light module mounted in the dome; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view looking upwardly into the dome of the warning light showing the light modules mounted within the warning light; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded isometric view of an individual light module used in the warning light of  FIGS. 1-5 : 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the base member of the warning light: and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical connection of the light modules and electrical input. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly  FIG. 1 , a warning light  2  of the present disclosure includes generally a dome  4  adapted to be attached to a base member  6 . A plurality of light modules  8  are mounted in and secured to the dome  4  by individual brackets  10 . As shown in the drawings, especially  FIG. 5 , there may be six such light modules  8 , two modules  8  positioned along each side of the dome  4  and one module  8  at each end thereof. It is to be understood that other numeric configurations and arrangements may be used. 
     More specifically, the dome  4  may be fabricated from any suitable plastic such as a shatter resistant molded polycarbonate. The base member  6  may be fabricated from a similar type plastic material, or it may be a metallic base fabricated from a suitable material such as aluminum. 
     In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the dome  4  is generally rectangular and includes a top surface  12 , spaced side walls  14  and  16  and opposed end walls  18  and  20 . The side walls  14  and  16  and end walls  18  and  20  may include optical spreader bands  22  depending upon the type of light module  8  being used. Additionally, the dome  4  may be of various colors such as red, green, blue, amber or clear depending upon the color of the light generated by the light module  8  and the color desired by the customer. The dome  4  is removeably connected to the base member  6  by screws  23  extending through the sidewalls  14  and  16  of the dome into the base member  6  as shown. 
     As shown particularly in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the inside of the top surface  12  of the dome  4  is provided with downwardly extending posts  24 . There are a set of two posts  24  associated with each light module  8 . As shown especially in  FIG. 2 , there are two such sets extending along each of the opposed side walls  14  and  16  and a single set  26  extending along each of the end walls  18  and  20 . The posts  24  serve as an attachment points for the brackets  10  that secure the light modules  8  in the dome  4 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a general configuration of one type of light module  8  that may be used in the warning light  2  of the present disclosure. Generally, the light module  8  may comprise a housing  28  in which a LED array  30  is mounted. The LED array  30  may generally comprise a plurality of LEDs  32  mounted on a PC board  34  which also may include the appropriate printed circuit (not shown). The particular LED array  30  shown includes three LEDs, although the number of LEDs may vary. A thermal insulator  36  is mounted against the back of the PC board  34 . A reflector  38  is attached to the front of the housing by suitable screw members  40  as shown. Appropriate wiring  42  extends into the housing  28  and has its inner end attached to the PC board  34 . 
     The reflector  38  is provided with a plurality of tabs  44  extending from its top surface and a similar plurality of tabs  45  extending from its bottom surface. The dome  4  is provided with a plurality of recesses  46 , as shown particularly in  FIG. 2 , that extend into lugs  47  projecting inwardly from the inside of the top surface  12  for reception of the tabs  44  that extend upwardly from the top surface of the reflector  38 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , there are three tabs  44  extending from the top surface of each reflector  38  and three associated recesses  46  in the surface of the dome  4  for each light module  8 . The upwardly extending tabs  44  and associated recesses  46  serve to locate the light modules  6  within the dome  4 . 
     The light modules  8  are secured within the dome  4  by means of the bracket  10 . The bracket  10  comprises a crossbar  48  with upwardly extending legs  50  at each end. The crossbar  48  includes a generally planar portion  51  that contains a plurality of slots  52  adapted to receive the tabs  45  extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the reflector  38  of the warning light  2 . As shown particularly in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there are three such tabs  45  each extending into a respective slot  52  in each bracket  10 . 
     Each of the legs  50  of the bracket  10  extend upwardly and terminate in a foot portion  54  that extends transversely to the leg  50  and which has a bore  56  through which self-tapping mounting screws  58  extend. The mounting screws  58  are threaded into the bores  60  (FIG.  2 ) in the posts  24  to secure the brackets  10  to the dome. Each bracket  10  may be provided with an upwardly extending flange or rim  62  which engages the rear surface  64  of the reflector  38  when the bracket  10  connects the light module  8  to the dome  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the base member  6  may be connected to the vehicle in various ways including magnetically or by direct connection. In the case of the former, the base member  6  may include a plurality of circular magnets  68 , one positioned adjacent each of the four corners of the base member  6  and secured to the underside of the base member by screws  70  threaded into bosses  72  on the underside of the base member  6  as shown. If it is desired to more permanently secure the base member to the vehicle, screws  74  may extend from the top side of the base member  6  through the bosses  72  and directly into the vehicle. A mounting gasket (not shown) may be attached to the bottom of the base member if, for example, the warning light  2  is to be attached to the roof of a vehicle. Additionally, the base member  6  may be connected to a bracket (not shown) having a suction cup thereon as another means of attachment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the various light modules  8  are interconnected together and to a flasher  76  by a suitable wiring harness  78 . The flasher  76  may be attached to center posts  77  extending from the underside of the upper surface  12  of the dome  4  by suitable screw members  79 . A power cord  80  extends through a suitable aperture  82  in the base member  8 . It inner end is connected to the flasher  76  through a suitable connector  83  such as a six position mini-universal mate-a-lock connector to provide a detachable connection to the flasher  76 . The other end of the power cord  80  may be directly connected to the electrical system of the vehicle or may be provide with a cigar plug (not shown) for connection into the cigarette lighter outlet of the vehicle depending upon the choice of the customer. 
     The power cord  80  may comprise three wires that are held together by two wire ties  84  spaced apart as shown in  FIG. 7 . A cable clamp  86  surrounds the three wires at a point intermediate the wire ties  84  and is attached to the inside of the bottom surface of the base by a suitable screw  88 . The provision of the cable clamp  86  provides a strain release for the power cord  80  in that it will limit the movement of the wires of the power cord  80  and prevent stress on the flasher input connection. The wire ties  80  will not pass through the cable clamp. 
     With the above described arrangement, the light modules  10  may be replaced by separating the dome  4  from the base member  6 , detaching the power cord  80  from the flasher  76  and taking the dome  4  and attached light modules  8  to a convenient location for work while leaving the base member  6  with the vehicle. 
     While various embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto. Accordingly, it is understood that the present embodiments have been described by way of illustration and not of limitation.