Patents Assigned to Dominion Automotive Industries Corp.
  • Patent number: 5325271
    Abstract: A lamp assembly (10) for use as a vehicle marker lamp or a vehicle clearance lamp is disclosed. A lamp assembly includes a multifaceted prismatic diffuser (12) to which a number of LEDs (14) are fitted. The diffuser has an outwardly directed portion (20), a center portion (22), and an inwardly directed portion (24). The outwardly directed portion and inwardly directed portion are both formed with angularly offset facets (26-38). The LEDs are fitted into openings (40) that are formed in the facets (32, 34) of the inwardly directed portion of the diffuser. When the LEDs are energized, the light emitted thereby is initially diffused throughout all of the diffuser. It is then emitted from the facets forming the outer portion of the diffuser such that it can be seen over a wide viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Dominion Automotive Industries Corp.
    Inventor: James T. Hutchisson
  • Patent number: 5264997
    Abstract: A lamp assembly (10) for use with equipment such as construction vehicles and heavy trucks that are subjected to prolonged, intense vibrations. The lamp assembly of this invention includes a socket (14) formed by a shell (42). A sealed enclosure, in the form of a lamp housing (12), is releasably secured in the shell. The light source, such as a gas-discharge tube (16) or a set of LEDs (72) is located inside the lamp housing. A transformer primary winding (20), which is attached to a power source (56), is attached to the outside of the shell. A transformer secondary winding (22) connected across the light source is located inside the lamp housing. The secondary winding is located so that the lamp housing is seated in the socket, adjacent the primary winding. When a voltage is applied across the primary winding, an inductive voltage develops across the secondary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Dominion Automotive Industries Corp.
    Inventors: James T. Hutchisson, Craig A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5132665
    Abstract: A self-powered back-up alarm for mounting to the wheel hub of a heavy truck or like vehicle. The alarm includes a housing adapted to be mounted to a vehicle wheel hub. Inside the housing is a magnetized stator that is held stable by a counterweight mounted for free rotation to a spindle in the housing. Also mounted in the housing is a power supply including a coil positioned adjacent the stator in the housing and attached thereto so that it rotates about the stator when the wheel hub turns. A battery stores the energy developed across the coil when the wheel hub rotates. Also mounted inside the housing are sensors located adjacent the stator that similarly rotate with the wheel hub. The sensors, in combination with an associated detect circuit, produce a reverse motion signal whenever the vehicle backs up. An audio alarm, located in the housing, is actuated by the reverse motion signal and emits an audible warning whenever the vehicle backs up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Dominion Automotive Industries Corp.
    Inventors: James Hutchisson, Robert White