Patent ID: 12210275

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Now referring toFIG.1, a light assembly100includes a projector102integrally connected to a light bar104. The projector102and the light bar104share power and control wires from a wire harness106. The projector102includes a projector aperture108whereby light (oftentimes in a pattern or logo formation) passes therethrough and directs onto a ground surface. The projector102includes a light pasassembly110configured to hold the components for projection. In some embodiments, the light assembly110is clear allowing light to pass therethrough. The light assembly110is sealed so as to protect the projector and lens components. Lens components, also referred to as a lens stack,114are sealed within the light assembly110. The lens stack has a minimized or reduced heights size and include a customizable image slide. The customizable image slide enables customization with preferred logos and/or patterns for projection onto a ground surface. The lens stack114includes various components and elements to successfully projection an image, logo, insignia . . . etc. onto a surface from a vehicle. In the present embodiment, the lens stock114includes several connected elements including a collimation lens set200, an image slide202, a zoom and aberration lens set204, a lens pack cylinder206, and a foam gasket208. In use, each of these elements are stacked together to project the image shown on the image slide202. The collimation lens set200converts light source rays from diverging point to parallel light. The image slide202includes a basic image or shape where the keystone and aspect ratio are adjusted. The zoom and aberration lens set204controls image magnification and consistency of shape and focus. The lens pack cylinder206houses the lens stack, controls depth and orientation of lenses, and eliminates stray lights. The foam gasket208protects the lens stack components previously discussed and as shown and helps control depth tolerance.

The light assembly100further includes a cover112A,112B configured to house and cover the light assembly110. The cover112A,112B is a two-shell piece design. Cover112A includes an endcap and covers a front portion of the light assembly110. Cover112B connects to the cover112A and covers a rear portion of the light assembly110. Various screws and grommets116,118,120are configured to secure the assembly100together. The endcaps of covers112A,112B retain the light assembly110onto the end of the light bar104and promotes a continuous linear low-profile format. Potting material (such as silicone or other materials having similar properties) may be used inside of the cover112A,112B to further seal from external environmental conditions. The cover112A,112B is intended to further protect the light assembly110from impact damage.

The assembly100further includes a printed circuit board122, a gasket124and an extruded heatsink126in a stacked configuration. The printed circuit board122(“PCB”) is an LED PCB include the projector circuitry, driver circuitry and includes passthrough circuitry for the light bar104. The heatsink126provides for thermal management of the LEDs and drive circuitry. The heatsink126is thermally coupled to the PCB122to promote thermal management. In the present embodiment, the passthrough circuitry eliminates additional components and thus reduces weight, number of parts, and/or cost. In the present embodiment, the power source connects directly to the projector and directly to the light bar. Specifically, a single wire connects to the projector via the PCB122(solder). From there a single wire from the PCB122extends to the light bar. As such, the number of parts are directly minimized by using a direct solder. A first power source wire from the vehicle is soldered directly to a printed circuit board122in a projector housing, a second power source wire soldered to the printed circuit board and extending to the light bar, wherein reducing wires and providing for a pass-through power configuration reduces parts and thus cost to the vehicle.

The assembly100is configured for use on a vehicle wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle body, a front door, a rear door and a rocker panel (or other trim). The assembly100is configured to mount to an outer perimeter to a vehicle (likely to attached to the rocker panel or connecting structure) so as to project light outwards of the outer perimeter onto the ground surface on which the vehicle rests (see photos of Appendix A).

The assembly100is designed and configured for quick and easy installation to one or both sides of the vehicle as desired. The assembly100can be sold as an aftermarket accessory that is subsequently installed to the vehicle according to preference. In other embodiment, the projector102of the assembly100is sold an auxiliary product to the light bar104. In these embodiment, the projector may be installed after the light bar104is already installed, as an aftermarket product or otherwise.

The assembly100is advantageous in that the projector102is configured to use the same power source of the light bar104. In some embodiments, if a light bar is already installed to provide a “welcome light”, a power supply is already provided in the general area of the vehicle making installation easier. In other embodiments (at factory installation), the number of wires may be reduced when using the same power supply to both the projector102and the light bar104in the assembly100. Reducing wires and providing for a pass-through power configuration reduces parts and thus cost to the vehicle.

It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” may be utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. Any values that may be modified by such terminology are also part of the teachings herein. For example, if a teaching recited “about 10,” the skilled person should recognize that the value of 10 is also contemplated.

These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

As used herein, unless otherwise stated, the teachings envision that any member of a genus (list) may be excluded from the genus; and/or any member of a Markush grouping may be excluded from the grouping.

Unless otherwise stated, any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component, a property, or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that intermediate range values such as (for example, 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc.) are within the teachings of this specification. Likewise, individual intermediate values are also within the present teachings. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. As can be seen, the teaching of amounts expressed as “parts by weight” herein also contemplates the same ranges expressed in terms of percent by weight. Thus, an expression in the Detailed Description of the Invention of a range in terms of at “‘x’ parts by weight of the resulting polymeric blend composition” also contemplates a teaching of ranges of same recited amount of “x” in percent by weight of the resulting polymeric blend composition.”

Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints.

The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of, or even consist of the elements, ingredients, components or steps.

Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps.

As used herein the terms “polymer” and “polymerization” are generic, and can include either or both of the more specific cases of “homo-” and copolymer” and “homo- and copolymerization”, respectively.

While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.

Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination.

It is therefore intended that the appended claims (and/or any future claims filed in any Utility application) cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.