Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to a light bar for use on the exterior of emergency vehicles. The light bar is comprised of an elongate base that is mounted across the width of an emergency vehicle exterior. The base provides a versatile mounting platform for primary visual and audible warning devices as well as providing a mounting platform for other types of equipment such as secondary visual and audible devices, optical devices, cameras, weather monitoring equipment, GPS devices, preemption devices, running lights and other devices that have been traditionally mounted on an emergency vehicle roof and/or other exterior surface areas of the emergency vehicle. The light bar is versatile in both allowing many different devices to be selectively mounted and adjustably positioned on the base, and in also facilitating the electrical wiring and servicing of the different devices mounted on the base. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The use of a light bar on the exterior of an emergency vehicle can be traced back to the early 1970&#39;s. The typical light bar construction includes an extruded frame or tubular member supporting one or more optical signaling devices. Light bars of this type have been used on emergency vehicles by mounting the frame or tubular member to the roof or top of the vehicle with the light bar extending substantially across the entire width of the vehicle. Over the years, light bars have been designed in different shapes and with different features, but the basic construction of a light bar having a tubular frame with one or more optical signaling devices mounted on the frame has not changed. 
     Within the area of fire and rescue emergency vehicles, new equipment required or desired on the exteriors of the vehicles has created a need for a new light bar. The roles and demands of modern fire fighting services require more equipment to be mounted on the exterior of emergency vehicles, and particularly on the roofs of the emergency vehicles. 
     Examples of some of the new equipment desired on emergency vehicles include brow or roof perimeter mounted scene lights; remote controlled spotlights; and high performance side lights. Lights and other devices of this type have been traditionally mounted directly to the roofs of the vehicles. For a time, roof mounting these devices sufficed. However, with the interiors of newer emergency vehicles having forward-deploying air bags and side-deploying air bags that are enclosed inside the roof structure in the area of the roof perimeter, mounting devices on the exterior of the roof perimeter by drilling holes for mounting fasteners presented the problem of the drilling and/or fasteners potentially interfering with air bag deployment systems as well as potentially detracting from the vehicle cab structural integrity. In addition, individually mounting each of the required and/or desired devices to the emergency vehicle exterior would require an increasing installation time for the increasing number of individual devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The light bar of the present invention was created to overcome the problems associated with mounting an increased number of warning signal lights as well as other such equipment to the exterior of an emergency vehicle. 
     The light bar is basically comprised of a base that is designed to be mounted on the exterior of an emergency vehicle. The base provides a mounting platform that allows for releasably attaching multiple light pods and other emergency equipment to the base and for adjustably positioning the light pods and equipment on the base. The light bar also comprises a number of pairs of end plates of different configurations that are attachable to one or both ends of the base. The pairs of end plates provide support for different numbers of light pods and other equipment in various different combinations and relative positions on the end plates. 
     The base of the light bar is designed to be inexpensively manufactured as an extruded member, for example of extruded aluminum. The base is formed with opposite, flat and parallel top and bottom surfaces that extend the entire longitudinal length of the base, and opposite, flat and parallel front and rear surfaces that extend the entire longitudinal length of the base. The base is also formed with opposite, flat left and right end surfaces at the longitudinally opposite ends of the base. The left and right end surfaces extend the entire lateral width of the base and are positioned at an angle to each other. In the preferred embodiment, the left and right end surfaces are oriented at a 45 degree angle. 
     The base is also formed with a plurality of straight, parallel mounting channels inside the base that extend through the entire length of the base. Each channel emerges from inside the base through the left and right end surfaces of the base. 
     The base is also formed with a plurality of straight, parallel mounting slots through the base top and bottom surfaces. Each mounting slot communicates with a channel inside the base and provides access to the channel from outside the base through the mounting slot. 
     The channels and their associated slots formed in the base top and bottom surfaces provide mounting tracks for signal light pods as well as other equipment. The channels and their associated slots extending the entire length of the base allows for adjustably positioning the signal light pods or other equipment mounted in the mounting tracks, as well as easily replacing the light pods or other equipment on the base. The number of light pods and equipment and their positions on the base can be adjusted by the end user of the light bar to fit the needs of the end user. In addition to the mounting tracks formed by the channels and their associated slots, the front and rear surfaces of the base can also be used for mounting signal lights creating 360 degrees of light around the base, or for mounting other equipment. 
     The base is also formed with at least one wire trough recessed into the top surface of the base and at least one wire trough formed in the bottom surface of the base. The wiring trough formed in the top surface of the base is designed for easy access to and accommodation of the wiring of the signal light pods and other equipment mounted on the base. The wiring trough formed in the bottom surface of the base provides accommodations for and access to the wiring of any signal light pods and/or other equipment mounted to the front and rear surfaces of the base. 
     The light bar also includes a cover that is releasably attachable to the base top surface. The cover is dimensioned and shaped to cover over the wiring trough in the base top surface as well as cover over the left and right trough openings in the base respective left and right end surfaces. In this manner, the cover completely encloses the wiring trough in the base top surface from outside the base. 
     As stated earlier, the light bar also comprises pluralities of pairs of left and right end plates that are releasably attachable to the respective left and right end surfaces of the base. In each pair of left and right end plates, the left and right end plates have mirror image configurations that are different from the configurations of the left and right end plates of the other pairs. 
     At least one pair of the plurality of pairs of left and right end plates includes left and right end plates that are each configured for supporting at least one, but more likely two light pods secured stationary to each end plate of the pair with the two light pods directed in perpendicular directions. More specifically, one of the light pods is directed in a direction perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces of the base and the other light pod is directed in a direction parallel to the front and rear surfaces of the base. 
     At least one other pair of the plurality of pairs of left and right end plates includes left and right end plates that are each configured for supporting two light pods secured stationary to the end plates with the two light pods directed in perpendicular directions, and with a third light pod secured stationary to the end plate where the third light pod is directed in a direction between the perpendicular directions of the two light pods. 
     At least one other pair of the pluralities of pairs of left and right end plates includes left and right end plates where each end plate is configured to support two light pods secured stationary to the end plate with the two light pods being directed in perpendicular directions, and to support a third light pod or search light between the two light pods where the third light is movably secured to the end plate and is directable in different directions. The movement of the third light could be remotely controlled, or could be manually controlled. In addition, each end plate could be configured to support lights and other equipment at different elevations on the end plate. 
     The light bar of the invention provides a mounting platform for the primary visual and audible warning devices of an emergency vehicle, as well as for other equipment such as optical devices, cameras, weather monitoring equipment, GPS devices, running lights and other similar equipment that traditionally has been mounted on an emergency vehicle roof. The light bar is versatile in both allowing many different signaling devices and other equipment to be mounted to an emergency vehicle, and by also allowing for the ease of replacing signal lights and other equipment, adjustably positioning signal lights and other equipment, and for servicing the signal lights and other equipment mounted on an emergency vehicle. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features of the light bar of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the light bar and in the drawing figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the light bar base. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the light bar base. 
         FIG. 3  is a right side elevation view of the light bar base, with the left side elevation view being a mirror image of the right side elevation view. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a right end plate of one pair of end plates of the pluralities of pairs of end plates comprised by the light bar. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the light bar base with right and left end plates of the configuration shown in  FIG. 4  attached to the opposite ends of the base. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the light bar assembly similar to that of  FIG. 5 , but with the light bar base being divided into a two-piece construction comprised of right and left side portions of the base. 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a right end plate of a second pair of right and left end plates of the light bar. 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the light bar base having a pair of right and left end plates having the configuration of the right end plate of  FIG. 7  mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the light bar assembly similar to that of  FIG. 8 , but with the light bar shown as a two-piece construction comprised of right and left portions of the light bar base. 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of a right end plate of a third pair of right and left end plates of the light bar. 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the light bar base having a pair of right and left end plates of the configuration shown in  FIG. 10  mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the light bar that is similar to that shown in  FIG. 11 , but showing the light bar base in its two-piece construction comprised of right and left portions of the base. 
         FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of the right end plate of the pair of end plates shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of a manually movable device support that can be mounted on the right and left end plates shown in  FIGS. 10-13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the device support of  FIG. 14  mounted for manual movement on a right side end plate of the type shown in  FIGS. 10-13 . 
         FIG. 16  is a side elevation view of the device support and right side end plate of  FIG. 15  from along the line  16 - 16  shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top plan view of the right side end plate of  FIG. 15  with an additional light mounted on the end plate. 
         FIG. 18  is a top plan view of the light bar base having a pair of right and left end plates of the configuration shown in  FIG. 15  mounted to the opposite ends of the base. 
         FIG. 19  is a top plan view of the light bar similar to that of  FIG. 18 , but with the light bar shown as a two-piece construction comprised of right and left portions of the base. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As stated earlier, the light bar  10  of the present invention is basically comprised of a base  12  that is designed to be mounted on the exterior of an emergency vehicle, and in particular across the forward area of the vehicle roof. The base  12  provides a mounting platform that allows for releasably attaching multiple light pods of presently known construction, as well as other known and commonly used emergency vehicle equipment to the base, and for adjustably positioning the light pods and other equipment on the base. In the preferred embodiment, the base is inexpensively manufactured as an extruded member, for example an aluminum extruded member. 
     The base top and bottom are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively. The right side of the base is shown in  FIG. 3 , with the left side of the base being a mirror image thereof. The base  12  is formed with a top, flat surface  14  and an opposite bottom, flat surface  16 . The top  14  and bottom  16  surfaces are parallel to each other and extend the entire longitudinal length of the base. 
     The base is also formed with a flat, left end surface  18  and an opposite flat, right end surface  20 . The left  18  and right  20  end surfaces extend the entire lateral width of the base. As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the left  18  and right  20  end surfaces are not parallel to each other, but define an angle between the surfaces. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the angle is a 45-degree angle. 
     The base is also formed with a front, flat surface  22  and a rear, flat surface  24 . The front  22  and rear  24  surfaces are parallel to each other. The front  22  and rear  24  surfaces extend the entire longitudinal length of the base  22 , but due to the angled orientations of the left end surface  18  and right end surface  20 , the front flat surface  22  has a smaller longitudinal length than the rear flat surface  24 . The corners defined by the front flat surface  22  and the left end  18  and right end  20  surfaces are obtuse angle corners. The corners defined by the rear surface  24  and the opposite left end surface  18  and right end surface  22  are acute angle corners. 
     The base  12  is also formed with a plurality of straight, parallel mounting channels  26 ,  28  inside the base between the base top  14  and bottom  16  surfaces and between the base front  22  and rear  24  surfaces. As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the channels  26 ,  28  has a width dimension and configuration that corresponds to the cross-section configuration of a roundhead bolt. Opposite ends of each of the channels  26 ,  28  emerge from inside the base  12  through the opposite left end  18  and right end  20  surfaces of the base. 
     A plurality of straight, parallel mounting slots  30  are formed in the base top surface  14  and a plurality of straight, parallel mounting slots  32  are formed in the base bottom surface  16 . Each of the slots  30  formed in the base top surface  14  communicates with a channel  26  formed inside the base and provides access to the channel  26  through the slot  30 . Each of the mounting slots  32  formed in the base bottom surface  16  also communicates with a channel  28  inside the base and provides access to the channel  28  through the mounting slot  32 . Each of the mounting slots  30 ,  32  has a width dimension that is smaller than the width dimension of the channel  26 ,  28  communicating with the slot. Each mounting slot  30 ,  32  has a length dimension that extends along the entire length dimension of the channel  26 ,  28  communicating with the slot. The configurations of the slots  30 ,  32  and their associated channels  26 ,  28  allow for the insertion of roundhead T-bolts through the slots  30 ,  32  and into the associated channels  26 ,  28  when removably and adjustably attaching signal light pods and other equipment and devices to the base  12 . Additionally, the fasteners on light pods and other equipment can be inserted into the openings of the channels  26 ,  28  and slots  30 ,  32  in the base end surfaces  18 ,  20  and slid along the base length to desired positions on the base when mounting the pods and equipment on the base  12 . 
     In addition to the slots  30 ,  32  and their associated channels  26 ,  28 , the flat front surface  22  and flat rear surface  24  of the base  12  may be employed in mounting signal light elements, for example DOT marker lights as well as other equipment to the base to create 360 degrees of light around the base. 
     The channels  26 ,  28  and their associated slots  30 ,  32  formed in the base top  14  and bottom  16  surfaces provide mounting tracks for signal light pods as well as other equipment typically employed on emergency vehicles. The light pods  34  shown mounted to the base top surface  14  in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  8 ,  9 ,  11 ,  12 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  are representative of the different devices that can be mounted to the base  12 . Although the light pods  34  are shown in the drawing figures, these representations should not be restricted to only light pods  34  and it should be understood that other equipment and devices can be mounted to the base  12  in the same manner as the light pods  34 . 
     The channels  26 ,  28  and their associated slots  30 ,  32  extending the entire length of the base  12  allow for adjustably positioning the light pods or other equipment mounted in the mounting tracks formed by the channels and slots, as well as easily replacing the light pods or other equipment on the base  12 . The number of light pods and equipment and their positions on the base  12  can be adjusted by the end user of the light bar to fit the needs of the end user. In addition to the mounting tracks formed by the channels  26 ,  28  and their associated slots  30 ,  32 , the front  22  and rear  24  surfaces of the base  12  can also be used for mounting signal light pods or other equipment in any desired positions on these surfaces creating 360 degrees of light around the base. The construction of the base also allows the end user to control the positioning of light on the base to achieve the desired pattern of light around the vehicle on which the light bar is used. 
     Although the base  12  is shown as a single extruded member in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  8 ,  11 , and  17 , the base  12  could also be provided in a two-piece construction represented in  FIGS. 6 ,  9 ,  12 , and  18 . The base in the two-piece construction could be provided by cutting a one-piece extrusion of the base  12 , or providing the base as a two-piece extrusion. 
     The base  12  is also formed with an upper wiring trough  38  in the top surface  14  of the base, and with two lower wiring troughs  40 ,  42  in the bottom surface  16  of the base. The upper wiring trough  38  is formed in the center of the width of the base  12  where it can easily accommodate wiring of light pods and other equipment mounted in the channels  26  and slots  30  both in front of and behind the wiring trough  38 . The wiring trough  38  has a longitudinal length that extends the entire longitudinal length of the base  12 . This provides for easy access to and accommodation of the wiring of the signal light pods and other equipment mounted on the base top surface  14 . 
     The lower wiring troughs  40 ,  42  are formed in the base bottom surface  16  just behind the respective base front surface  22  and base rear surface  24 . Here, the lower wiring troughs  40 ,  42  are easily accessible to the wiring of any light pods or other equipment mounted to the respective front surface  14  and rear surface  16  of the base  12 . 
     The light bar  10  also comprises a cover  46  that is releasably attachable to the top surface  14  of the base  12 . The cover  46  has a length dimension and configuration that extends across the entire top opening of the upper wiring trough  34 . The cover  46  is also provided with end walls that cover over and close the openings of the upper wiring trough  38  through the respective left end surface  18  and right end surface  20  of the base  12 . In this manner, the cover  46  and its end walls completely enclose the upper wiring trough  38  from outside the base  12 . 
     The light bar  10  also comprises pluralities of pairs of left and right end plates where the left end plate of each pair is releasably attachable to the base  12  over the left end surface  18  of the base and the right end plate of each pair is releasably attachable to the base  12  over the right end surface  20  of the base. In the embodiment of the light bar to be described, there are three pairs of left and right end plates. In each pair of left and right end plates, the left and right end plates have mirror image configurations. In addition, the configurations of the left and right end plates of each pair of end plates is different from the configurations of the left and right end plates of the other pairs of end plates. The light bar could also be provided with more than three pairs of end plates or fewer than three pairs of end plates. 
       FIG. 4  shows the right end plate  52  of a first pair of left and right end plates. The left end plate  54  of the first pair of end plates is a mirror image of the right end plate  52 . The right  52  and left  54  end plates can be seen mounted on a one-piece base  12  in  FIG. 5  and on a two-piece base  12 ′ in  FIG. 6 . Each of the right  52  and left  54  end plates is flat and provides a flat planar surface for supporting at least two light pods  34  as shown in the drawing figures. In a variation of the use of the right  52  and left  54  end plates, each end plate could be employed in supporting only a single light pod. Both the right  52  and left  54  end plates are specifically configured and provided with fastener holes positioned for lining up with the base mounting channels and slots and for supporting two light pods  34  secured stationary to the end plates with the two light pods  34  being directed in perpendicular directions. As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , one of the light pods  34  is directed in a direction parallel to the longitudinal length of the base  12 ,  12 ′ and the other light pod  34  is directed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the base  12 ,  12 ′. Stated differently, one of the light pods  34  is directed in a direction perpendicular to the front  22  and rear  24  surfaces of the base  12 ,  12 ′ and the other light pod  34  is directed in a direction parallel to the front  22  and rear  24  surfaces of the base. 
     In addition to the light pods  34  supported on the right  52  and left  54  end plates,  FIGS. 5 and 6  show the base  12 ,  12 ′ supporting additional light pods  34 , or other equipment attached to the base  12 ,  12 ′ and directed in a direction perpendicular to the base front surface  22 . As stated earlier, the light bar  12  of the invention is designed to facilitate the adjustable attachment and removal of not only light pods  34 , but other types of equipment employed on firefighting and emergency vehicles. Therefore, it is intended that the light pods  34  shown in the drawing figures represent conventional light pods as well as these other known types of equipment. 
       FIG. 7  shows the right end plate  58  of the second pair of left and right end plates. The left end plate  60  is a mirror image of the right end plate  58  and can be seen attached to a one-piece light bar  12  in  FIG. 8  and a two-piece light bar  12 ′ in  FIG. 9 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , the right and left end plates  50 ,  60  of the second pair are specifically configured and provided with fastener holes positioned for lining up with the base mounting channels and slots and for supporting three light pods  34  secured stationary to the end plates  58 ,  60 . The right  58  and left  60  end plates of the second pair provide flat support surfaces for three light pods  34 . As seen in  FIGS. 7-9 , the right  58  and left  60  end plates of the second pair support the three light pods  34  with two of the light pods secured stationary to the end plates directed in perpendicular directions, and with a third light pod secured stationary to the end plates where the third light pod is directed in a direction between the perpendicular directions of the two light pods. 
     Again,  FIG. 8  illustrates the possibility of attaching additional light pods  34  or other equipment to the base  12  in addition to the pair of right  58  and left  60  end plates supporting the light pods  34 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the right end plate  64  of the third pair of right  64  and left  66  end plates. As in the other pairs of end plates, the right end plate  64  and left end plate  66  of the third pair have configurations that are mirror images of each other. The right  64  and left  66  end plates are shown attached to the opposite ends of a one-piece light bar  12  in  FIG. 11  and are shown attached to a two-piece light bar  12 ′ in  FIG. 12 . The end plates  62 ,  64  of the third pair differ from those of the previously described pairs in that the end plates provide first flat surface areas  64 A,  66 A and second flat surface areas  64 B,  66 B that are parallel surfaces at different elevations.  FIG. 13  shows a front view of the right end plate  64  that illustrates the difference in elevation of the first surface area  64 A of the end plate and the second surface area  64 B of the end plate. The first surface areas  64 A,  66 A of the end plates are configured as flat support surfaces with fastener holes positioned for lining up with the base mounting channels and slots and to support a pair of light pods  34  secured stationary to the support surface with the two light pods being directed in perpendicular directions. The second support surfaces  64 B,  66 B of the end plates provide flat support surfaces with fastener holes for a third light pod or other equipment, such as the remote search light  68  shown in  FIGS. 10-12 . 
       FIGS. 14-19  show the right  64  and left  66  end plates of the third pair in which the search light  68  has been replaced by a manually movable support panel  72  having a projecting handle  74 . The support panel  72  is configured as a flat panel providing a flat support surface with fastener holes for a device such as the LED brow light  76  shown mounted on the panel  72  in  FIGS. 15-19 , or some other device. The support panel  72  has a pivot hole  78  that enables the panel  72  to be mounted on the lower, second support surface  64 B,  66 B of the end plates  64 ,  66  of the third pair for pivoting movement of the support panel  72  relative to the end plates. The manual handle  74  of the support panel  72  can be gripped by a user to move the panel  72  and thereby direct the light mounted to the support panel. 
       FIG. 15  shows the right end plate  64  of the third pair with a pair of light pods  34  secured stationary to the upper support surface  64 A, and the manual support panel  72  and brow light  76  secured for pivoting movement to the lower support surface  64 B.  FIG. 17  shows the same end plate  64  but with an additional light pod  34  secured stationary to the upper support surface  64 A. The right end plate  64  of  FIG. 17  is shown mounted to the right end of a one-piece light bar base  12  in  FIG. 18  with the matching left end plate assembly shown attached to the left end of the base  12 , and  FIG. 19  illustrates the two end plates  64 ,  66  of  FIG. 18  attached to the opposite ends of a two-piece light bar base  12 ′. 
     The light bar of the invention described above with its one-piece base  12  or two-piece base  12 ′, and the three or more pairs of end plates together with the combinations of light pods, search lights or other equipment mounted on the end plates provide a versatile light bar that allows many different signaling devices and other equipment to be mounted to a firefighting or emergency vehicle. The light bar of the invention also allows for the ease of replacing signal lights and other equipment, adjustably positioning the signal lights and other equipment, and for servicing the signal lights and other equipment mounted on a firefighting or emergency vehicle. 
     As various modifications could be made in the constructions herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 7