Abstract:
A flexible and ornamental vehicle light cover comprises a flexible piece of sheet material with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer applied to a back surface for bonding the sheet to a vehicle lens that surrounds one of the lamps e.g., an electric tail lamp of the vehicle. The sheet material has an outline depicting a design or symbol that can be seen by an observer whether the light is on or off. The sheet has the multiplicity of punched openings in it to enable light from the vehicle lamp to pass through the sheet for preventing an unacceptable reduction in the luminous flux provided by the vehicle lamp. The sheet is thus able to be applied to the vehicle lens over the lamp by pressing the sheet onto the lens so as to intercept and block no more than the predetermined fraction of the luminous flux impinging thereon while serving to decorate the vehicle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to vehicle lighting and more particularly to ornamental covers suited for vehicle taillights, running lights and fog lights. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various covers have been previously proposed for headlights and taillights of cars and trucks to accomplish different objectives, e.g. shielding or redirecting light or to protect the lights from stones or other objects. In accordance with the present invention and in contrast to the prior art it is conceived that a need exists for a decorative cover which can be used to ornament the lights, e.g. the tail, running lights or fog lights of a car, truck or other vehicle so as to display any well known decorative symbol such as a star, circle, crescent, rectangle or any of various other symbols such as numbers and letters, company or team logos. 
     However to be suitable, the cover must present a clear representation of the design or figure that can be easily seen and at the same time not reduce unacceptably the amount of luminous flux given off by the vehicle light. The Society of Automotive Engineers regulations, for example, place lower limits on the amount of light emanating from a vehicle taillight. Therefore, it is necessary to make a clear ornamental display while at the same time minimizing light reduction. In addition, however, the cover must be easy for a private individual, the owner of a vehicle, to apply without special tools or training and preferably also easy to remove when no longer needed or when it is to be replaced. 
     In view of these and other shortcomings of the prior art it is one object to provide a light weight inexpensive and flexible vehicle light cover that does not excessively reduce the luminous flux of light passing through it and yet at the same time is capable of providing ornamentation for the vehicle. 
     Another object is to provide a decorative light cover that can be applied without tools and can be easily removed for replacement when desired. 
     Another object is to provide a flexible light cover that promotes the transmission of light therethrough while at the same time providing a clearly visible decorative ornament for the vehicle that remains will remain securely in place on the vehicle lens, is reliable in operation and can be inexpensively produced and easily installed. 
     These and other more detailed and specific objects of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following figures and detailed description which illustrate by way of example of but a few of the various forms of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective magnified view of a piece of decorative sheet material in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention applied to the lens of an automobile taillight. 
     FIGS. 3,  4 , &amp;  5  are sequential views showing successive stages of the invention as it is applied to the taillight of a vehicle. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing how the invention is cut by stamping it from a sheet of roll stock that is unwound from a roll and, 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing three different examples of patches in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a flexible and ornamental vehicle light cover comprising a flexible piece of sheet material with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer applied to a back surface for bonding the sheet to a vehicle lens which partially surrounds or encloses one of the lamps e.g., tail lamp of the vehicle. The sheet material has an outline that depicts a design or symbol which can be seen by an observer whether the light is on or off. The sheet has the multiplicity of punched openings in it to enable the light from the vehicle to pass through the sheet for preventing an unacceptable reduction in the luminous flux provided by the vehicle lamp. The sheet is thus able to be applied to the vehicle lens over the lamp by pressing it onto the lens so as to intercept and block no more than the predetermined fraction of the luminous flux impinging thereon while at the same time serving to decorate the vehicle. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Refer now especially to FIGS. 1-3 which illustrate a flexible sheet embodying the invention indicated generally by the numeral  10 . The sheet has a front surface  12  back surface  14  to which is applied a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive  16 . During use, the sheet  10  is applied as shown in FIG. 2 to a lens  18  that encloses or covers an electric lamp  20  e.g., a tail lamp of the vehicle  22 . The sheet material  10  is provided with a multiplicity of openings  10   a  across its entire width and breadth to allow light from the lamp  22  to pass through it. For simplicity of nomenclature, the openings  10   a  will be referred to herein as punched openings, but this term is used broadly to include holes formed in other ways e.g., by laser cutting, casting, melting, etc. Before being applied to the lens  18 , the sheet  10  is supported on a backing sheet  24  formed from any suitable non-adherent release paper, parchment or film (FIG.  1 ). The sheet  10  has a decorative outline of any desired shape such as the shape of a circle, letter, number, oval, square, rectangle, star or any other geometric or fanciful shape to provide attractive ornamentation for the vehicle. One favorite outline is the shape of a company symbol or logo such as the Chevrolet bow tie shape or other automobile emblem, logo or any one of a number of the logos used by professional or amateur sporting clubs such as football or baseball team as shown in FIG. 7 which illustrates a Nascar team number 50, a Viking helmet 52 and a Buffalo Bills logo 54. Thus, a sports fan can apply the invention to the taillights of his or her vehicle for promoting team loyalty and showing spirit and devotion to his or her favorite team. 
     It is highly preferred but not utterly essential that the sheet be substantially opaque between the openings  10   a . This enables the sheet to be capable of providing a contrasting decorative display on the vehicle light that will be visible when the light is on as well as when the light is off. In other words, if the sheet  10  were instead made totally transparent, the light from the lamp  20  would pass through it so readily that it could not provide a decorative display that could be easily seen by an observer. However, by making the sheet  10  substantially opaque, it is capable of providing a visible contrast that allows it to serve as a decorative display for the vehicle. 
     The sheet  10  can be formed from any suitable sheet material such as paper or plastic film, but the latter is preferred. Good results have been obtained by using a vinyl sheet 7.2 mils in thickness with openings  10   a  about a {fraction (1/16)} in diameter and 11 openings to the inch so as to provide about 42% open area through which light can pass from the bulb  20 . The openings  10   a  can be of any shape but round openings are preferred as shown in the Figures. In this way the light will pass through and be visible to provide effective stop and turn signals. 
     Any of a variety of pressure sensitive adhesive compositions  16  can be used. Although adhesive that adheres tenaciously can be used, it is preferred to use adhesives with bonding power that is sufficiently light so that the sheet  10  can be removed from the lens  18  when no longer needed or when the sheet needs to be replaced. Pressure sensitive adhesives  16  of various compositions can be used such as mixtures of rubber, resin and a compatible oil. Other pressure sensitive adhesives such as commercial acrylic pressure sensitive adhesives can also be used. One suitable sheet material  10  is a 7.2 mil perforated vinyl sheet sold under the name Clear View V1016 by Spartan International of Holt, Mich. provided with an adhesive  16  comprising an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive on its lower surface  14 . To keep the adhesive  16  fresh, sheet  10  is sold with a removable backing layer  24  applied over the adhesive. Any suitable backing  24  comprising a non-adherent release paper or film can be used. In addition, there is preferably applied over the sheet  10  a commercially available cover or transfer sheet  30  which can be removed as soon as the sheet  10  is applied to the vehicle. 
     With reference to FIG. 2 it can be seen that the sheet  10  is substantially smaller than the lens  18  and covers only about one third of the entire lens. This enables light from the lamp  20  to pass through the lens  18  on all sides of the decorative sheet  10 . The sheet  10  thus has an outline that is spaced inwardly from the edge of the lens  18  so as to present a predetermined design configuration that is visible to an observer viewing the taillight. FIG. 2 also shows how the decorative sheet  10  can be printed for example at  32  along the edge to provide a color-contrasting edge portion. 
     The open area provided by the punched openings  10   a  can vary wildly. It is preferred that the open area be between about 30% and 90% of the total area of the patch on sheet  10 . Typically, the open area varies between about 20% and 70%. Especially good results have been obtained between about 30% and 50% open. The percentage of open area is matched to the fraction of the lens  18  that is covered so that light reduction does not exceed applicable regulations. This way the substantially opaque body of the sheet material  10  provides a clear depiction of the desired design when the light is either on or off and yet the sheet  10  blocks no more than the predetermined fraction of the luminous flux impinging thereon so as to comply with SAE regulations relating to vehicle lights such as taillights and running lights. Taillight luminosity set by SAE test J585/2040 at a level generally of at least 3.5 cd. It has been found that the present invention is capable of being used widely without reducing illumination below the lower limit set by the SAE. To provide optimum light transmission it is preferred that the patch of sheet material  10  cover only a fraction of the lens  18  such as a third or a fourth of the lens and not the entire lens. 
     The sheet  10  is preferable removable from the lens  18 . Good removability was obtained, for examples, with a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive that exhibits a peel strength adhesion of about 20 ounces per inch on glass, 22 ounces per inch on stainless steel and 24 ounces per inch on rigid acrylic plastic. The adhesive layer can be from about 0.9 to about 1 mil in thickness. 
     With peel adhesion at this level, the adhesive holds sheet  10  in place but enables it to be removed from the lens  18  when desired. It is preferred that the patch of sheet material  10  in accordance with the invention cover about a third or less of the entire lens  18 . 
     For most typical applications the patches of sheet material  10  should be light in color e.g., white or a light beige color to provide good color contrast with most vehicle taillights or other lights. While it is highly preferred to provide a color that will provide a good color contrast to the red of a taillight, this is not an utterly essential feature of the invention. The patch  10  can also be colored the same color as the paint color of the car or other vehicle to which it is applied. 
     Refer now to FIGS. 3-5 which illustrate the application of the invention to a vehicle  22 . As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet  10  and a cover sheet or transfer sheet  30  are first removed from the release sheet or backing  24  to expose the adhesive  16 . The patch  10  is then applied as shown in FIG. 4 to the lens  18  by pressing it onto the lens  18 . Finally in FIG. 5, the cover sheet or transfer sheet  30  is removed from the patch of sheet material  10  by peeling it off as shown. 
     Refer now to FIG. 6 which illustrates a preferred method of forming the invention. In the Figure is shown a roll of stock material  40  comprising a composite sheet consisting of the layers  10 ,  24 , and  30  bonded together. The roll of stock material  40  is supported on arbor  42  from which it is unwound in a given feed direction. The lines  44  indicate where the roll stock sheet is to be punched to form the decorative patches of sheet material  10 . Any suitable commercially available sheet punching equipment known to those skilled in the art can be used. When the pieces are punched out, openings as shown in  46  are produced. The patches  48  that are removed can then be packaged for shipment or storage and are now ready for use as described above. 
     The invention provides numerous advantages over the prior art. The patches of sheet material  10  are durable, easy to apply without tools, provide a bright contrast on the lens of a taillight or other light of the vehicle so that they can be easily seen when the light is on or when the light is off. At the same time however they do not block so much of the light that they violate existing regulations relating to vehicle light levels. In addition, they can be formed into any suitable abstract design or symbol, letter, number or other ornamental shape as desired and can also be easily removed when no longer needed. The patches of sheet material  10  can also be personalized for example by providing initials of the vehicle owner. 
     Many variations of the present invention within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art once the principles described herein are understood.