Fender Patents (Class 362/506)
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Patent number: 6880959Abstract: The invention is a vehicle illumination assembly that provides a vertically extending guide member connected to the bumper of a vehicle. The guide member includes a longitudinal opening and a top opening that each provide entry into the hollow interior of the guide member. The longitudinal opening encompasses a first light source that is bright enough to shine light from one end of the vehicle all the way past a second end of a vehicle. The top opening encompasses a marker light that visibly alerts a driver to the width of the vehicle. The vehicle illumination assembly of this invention may include a guide member that connects to a base member attached to a vehicle bumper. The separate guide member rotates around its longitudinal axis to direct light into a variety of directions, selectable by the driver from within the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2003Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Inventor: Timothy K. Houston
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Patent number: 6866406Abstract: A downwardly directed light (38) is mounted within a horizontally extending rubbing strip (24) on a vehicle door (18) below the level of a window in the door and a light is mounted within said rubbing strip. This arrangement illuminates a lower part of the side of the vehicle and the adjacent ground. Its installation does not require any extensive modification to the body panels of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2000Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems UK LimitedInventors: Alan R. Starkey, Andrew J. Assinder, Richard G. Teal
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Patent number: 6840659Abstract: A transition region between an engine hood or front trunk lid and a headlight is configured such that the front hood or trunk lid and the headlight adjoin each other without any support to the greatest possible extent. Thus, in the case of a collision with a pedestrian, the front hood or trunk lid can be deformed without any support. In addition, the headlights are arranged outside a zone which is highly likely to be struck by a child's head.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2002Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Garry Brown, Thomas Frank, Klaus Rathje, Oliver Tomlin, Maya Ziegs
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Patent number: 6817743Abstract: A vehicle wheel illumination system is a device having four separate light assemblies that are affixed above a tire and within the wheel well above the respective tire. Each light assembly includes a housing formed from a base, a wall and a cap that is removable. The base houses the electrical wiring that is coupled with a bulb stem. A bulb is inserted into the bulb stem to provide illumination. The cap includes a translucent lens through which the illuminated bulb is transmitted. The housing further includes mounting means for attaching the housing to the wheel well. The electrical wiring is further coupled to the electrical system of the automobile.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2003Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Inventor: Allen Sharper
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Publication number: 20040170027Abstract: In a vehicle for uneven ground operation in which rear wheels are covered from above with respective rear fenders and respective mud guards attached to the rear fenders. Respective tail lamps are disposed adjacent to the rear fenders with the tail lamps being supported by the mud guards. Projecting and depressed portions formed on each of the mud guards to prevent interference with the tail lamp are no longer necessary so that the mud guard is molded easily. Even if there is an interference with the tail lamp during driving, the flexible mud guard is warped so that an impact on the tail lamp from the outside is prevented. Since the tail lamp is not mounted on the fender, the configuration of the fender can be simplified and cost can be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventor: Shinji Takahashi
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Publication number: 20040130906Abstract: A tail lamp apparatus is provided which makes it possible to assemble a position lamp and a stop lamp readily to a fairing and is superior in visibility from the backward. A tail lamp includes an upper lamp portion and a lower lamp portion. An LED serving as a position lamp is provided on the upper lamp portion, and a plurality of LEDs serving as a stop lamp are provided on the lower lamp portion. A board for mounting the LEDs thereon is disposed in a stepwise configuration and is disposed in a V shape such that it envelopes the tail lamp from below. A base having a reflector for the LED at a portion thereof and holding the board thereon has a peripheral edge formed as a flat face so as to facilitate coupling of the base to a rear body cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kuniaki Arakawa, Takashi Arai
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Patent number: 6685349Abstract: A truck fender marker light system has one or more illuminated modules set into the corner formed by the top face and the outermost face of the fender.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2001Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Paccar IncInventors: Grischa Schmidt, Floris P. Spoel, Ben Speirs, Ian D. O'Connor
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Publication number: 20030169596Abstract: A vehicle wheel illumination system is a device having four separate light assemblies that are affixed above a tire and within the wheel well above the respective tire. Each light assembly includes a housing formed from a base, a wall and a cap that is removable. The base houses the electrical wiring that is coupled with a bulb stem. A bulb is inserted into the bulb stem to provide illumination. The cap includes a translucent lens through which the illuminated bulb is transmitted. The housing further includes mounting means for attaching the housing to the wheel well. The electrical wiring is further coupled to the electrical system of the automobile.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2003Publication date: September 11, 2003Inventor: Allen Sharper
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Publication number: 20030002292Abstract: A truck fender marker light system has one or more illuminated modules set into the corner formed by the top face and the outermost face of the fender.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2001Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: PACCAR Inc.Inventors: Grischa Schmidt, Floris P. Spoel, Ben Speirs, Ian D. O'Connor
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Patent number: 6478456Abstract: Headlamp, in particular for motor vehicles, with a headlamp housing that can be inserted into a housing receiver from the front, whereby—in the event of a defined impact in a longitudinal direction that exceeds a specific force opposite to the driving direction—the headlamp housing is displaced within the housing receiver a predetermined energy-absorption path.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2000Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Hella KG Hueck & Co.Inventors: Henning Eichhorn, Christian Huether, Dirk Kersting, Roland Lachmayer, Bernd Mennen
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Patent number: 6416209Abstract: A vehicle puddle light assembly is provided in an opening formed in a body panel of a vehicle. A socket including a housing and at least one contact coupled to the housing is disposed within the opening and coupled to the body panel adjacent the opening. A lamp is coupled to the contact within the housing. A lens is coupled to the socket outboard of the lamp. The lens has an opaque upper portion and a transmissive lower portion having a plurality of facets formed therein for projecting light from the assembly and a predominantly downward and outboard direction. The housing includes a reflective upper portion for directing radiation from the lamp toward the transmissive portion of the lens and a reflective lower portion for directing radiation from the lamp toward a reflective surface of the lens formed inboard of the opaque upper portion. The radiation is then redirected toward the reflective upper portion of the housing and then toward the transmissive portion of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2000Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventor: Glenn W Abbott
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Patent number: 6409367Abstract: A system for coupling a warning light to a rear of a vehicle. The system includes a coupling bar for connecting the unit to a conventional tow bar deployed on the rear of the vehicle. A beacon mount is pivotally connected to the coupling bar so that it may be pivoted away from the rear of the vehicle without removing the unit from the tow bar. A warning beacon is affixed to the top of the beacon mount such that when the system is deployed, the beacon is positioned at or above the height of the vehicle. A supplemental beacon guard may be deployed adjacent to the beacon so as to prevent direct viewing of the beacon by the vehicle driver. The coupling bar comes in two designs. The first includes a pair of extensions that terminate in rear-facing lights designed to enhance visibility behind the vehicle. Corner markers may also be employed on the ends of the extensions to provide the driver with a visual identifier of the rear corners of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2000Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Inventor: Richard Pratt
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Patent number: 6379029Abstract: A vehicle lighting fixture for securing to a vehicle, the lighting fixture includes a base panel having a base panel front surface and a base panel rear surface and having a non-invasive attachment mechanism on the base panel rear surface, and having a strap engaging mechanism; a laterally extending wire cover strap securable to the strap engaging mechanism and having a cover strap rear surface and having non-invasive attachment mechanism on the cover strap rear surface; a light source secured against the base panel front surface; a lens panel extending over the front of the light source and secured to the base panel front surface; and a lens frame secured over the lens panel and covering the perimeter of the lens panel, and connected to the lens panel by a lens frame connector mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Inventor: Martin P. Stanton
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Patent number: 6364513Abstract: A motor vehicle lighting device is provided comprising a ground illumination portion configured to direct a portion of the light emitted from a light source to illuminate a ground surface area rearward from the motor vehicle and a reverse signaling portion configured to direct a portion of the light emitted from the light source to an area different than the ground illumination portion. In this manner, a rearward vehicle lighting device designed for ground illumination and reverse signaling is provided from a single lamp and more preferably, using a single light source.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2000Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Textron Automotive Company Inc.Inventors: Ching Fong, Jim Murphy
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Patent number: 6332700Abstract: A lighting assembly is detachably mounted in an opening in the wheel well panel of an vehicle. The lighting assembly has a base member with flexible sidewalls and end walls. The base member defines an opening near the first end wall forming a finger pull. A lamp holder is mounted on the base member near the second end wall. A clear lens covers a lamp in the lamp. An extensible power cable is attached to the lamp holder. The lighting assembly detaches from the wheel well to illuminate the wheel when changing a tire.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2000Date of Patent: December 25, 2001Inventor: Albert L. Baines
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Publication number: 20010046140Abstract: A body subassembly for a vehicle that is designed to be mounted substantially flush with the surrounding vehicle body panels and an impact-absorbing bumper, and that is capable of deflecting with the stroke of the impact-absorbing bumper during impact. The body subassembly is preferably formed with at least one deformable resilient deflection member selectively located between an exterior member and a housing, between an inner lens and an outer lens in a dual lens system, or between the housing and the body of the vehicle or a member attached or molded thereto. Further, the resilient deflection member may be the exterior member itself or the housing itself. The resilient deflection member permits the exterior member or other components of the body subassembly to move upon impact without damage to itself or any other surrounding assembly components, and may be used as a styling element to enhance the aesthetic effect of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2001Publication date: November 29, 2001Inventors: Lee A. Chase, Jason Gilliam, Franklin Lutt
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Patent number: 6190026Abstract: An illuminated automotive emblem for mounting on a vehicle. The emblem has a decorative housing frame with an overall shape preferably similar to existing automotive manufacturer's emblems (Ford, Chevrolet, etc.). The frame has a central open area that surrounds indicia on a display template that may be any type of printed matter. A portion of the display template substantially fills the central open area of the frame. A rear enclosure housing an illuminant mounts behind the template to emit light through the display template and indicia. The housing frame, display template, rear enclosure and illuminant disassemble from each other so that the parts are replaceable and various housing frames and indicia can be displayed. The housing frame and rear enclosure fasten internally through the use of adhesive strips, magnetic material or interior studs that mate to open bores. The interior studs and open bores are of such dimension that a “snap” tight frictional type bond is created.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1999Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Inventor: Matthew Glen Moore
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Patent number: 6164804Abstract: A truck light bar and mudflap holder apparatus includes a beam-to-body resilient connection assembly for connection to a portion of a truck body. A support beam is connected to the beam-to-body resilient connection assembly, and light modules are supported by the support beam. A mudflap assembly is supported by the support beam. The resilient nature of the beam-to-body resilient connection assembly permits the truck light bar and mudflap holder apparatus of the invention to yield to outside forces without being broken or damaged. When the outside forces are removed, the truck light bar and mudflap holder apparatus returns to the original position. With one embodiment of the invention, the beam-to-body resilient connection assembly includes an attachment bracket connected to the truck body, and a rotation hinge is connected to the attachment bracket. A spiral beam bias spring is connected between the support beam and the attachment bracket.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1999Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Inventor: Walter H. Self
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Patent number: 6149288Abstract: A vehicle light assembly for use with a vehicle comprising a base plate, a detachable and replaceable circuit board and a lens attached to the base for covering the circuit board. The base plate has plug-in terminal connectors. Each terminal connector has a prong which extends upwardly from the base plate and a socket which extends downwardly from the base plate for connecting to a power source. The circuit board has illuminating members and ring connectors which are coupled to the illuminating members. The circuit board is installed on the base plate such that the plug-in terminal connectors on the base plate are respectively inserted into the ring connectors of the circuit board for providing electrically continuity.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1999Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: Grand General Accessories Manufacturing Inc.Inventor: Nan Huang Huang
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Patent number: 6068390Abstract: A lamp unit for a vehicle incorporating a reflector disposed on the inside of a case-shape lamp body; a bulb disposed in front of the reflector and serving as a light source; and a front lens joined to and integrated with a front opening of the lamp body, the lamp unit for a vehicle being joined to a corner portion of the body of the vehicle, wherein the bulb is disposed horizontally with respect to the axis of the vehicle. Thus, the bulb insertion hole is omitted from the rear portion of the bulb so that the overall surface of the lamp body in the rear of the bulb is made to be the effective reflecting surface. As a result, the quantity of light which is emitted from the lamp can be enlarged.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1998Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masahito Iwasaki
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Patent number: 6059433Abstract: A bulb inserting hole is bored in a position deviating from the center of a reflector which is held tightly to the interior of a lamp body, and the reflector is held tightly in its central portion by a screw to the lamp body. The reflector can be held tightly in a well-balanced fashion by one screw with the effect of not only improving the light reflective efficiency of a lamp by decreasing the area required for the provision of the screw but also simplifying the work of fixing the reflector. Moreover, the screw is hidden by a bulb mounted in the reflector through the bulb inserting hole and set free from exposure to the front side of the lamp, so that the neatness of the external appearance of the lamp is improved.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1998Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuo Otaka, Kaneki Hirano
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Patent number: 6039465Abstract: A service cover for a rear combination lamp is provided with a substantially rectangular cover body having an area enough to close a working hole, first and second retainer portions projecting from a pair of opposite sides of the cover body in opposite directions, respectively, and a jaw portion formed at a tip end of the first retainer portion for preventing the falling of the service cover. The working hole is closed by inserting the first and second retainer portions into slits formed at both edge portions of the working hole, respectively, and the working hole is opened by drawing the second retainer portion from the corresponding slit and rotating the cover body about the first retainer portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1998Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki SeisakushoInventors: Mineo Hirabayashi, Mamoru Hozumi, Kinsho Fukuta
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Patent number: 6012828Abstract: A device (10) for attaching a light to a trailer hitch frame (172). The device (10) is comprised of a lamp assembly (12) that attaches to an adjustable lamp attachment assembly (40) which allows the lamp assembly (12) to be adjusted radially and in elevation. The lamp assembly (12) is attached to a trailer hitch frame attachment bracket (64) that is dimensioned to fit over a trailer hitch frame (172) that can range in size from 1.25 square inches to 4.0 square inches (3.2 to 10.2 cm). The frame attachment bracket (64) is attached to the trailer hitch frame (172) by means of two nylon tie wraps (136,144). The tie wraps, which are secured to the bracket (64), are wrapped around the trailer hitch frame (172) and are locked in place. After the bracket (64) is secured to the trailer hitch frame (172), the device (10) is connected to the vehicle electrical circuit that controls the vehicle rear lights.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1997Date of Patent: January 11, 2000Inventors: George A. Pearce, Sam Fu, Calvin S. Wang
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Patent number: 5904416Abstract: An arrangement for attaching a headlight or a lamp to one or more vehicle parts in which the headlight or lamp is retained in an opening formed by at least two body parts by spring forces acting between the vehicle parts and the body parts forming the opening and/or by catch elements, making it possible to fasten a headlight or a lamp in an opening formed by two body parts, thus compensating differential heat expansions due to different materials of which the body parts are made.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1997Date of Patent: May 18, 1999Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventor: Michael Muller
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Patent number: 5893638Abstract: This invention relates to a side lamp for vehicles which have an opening in their shell. In order to provide a side lamp which can be used as a turn signal side lamp and as a side marking lamp, it is suggested to construct the side lamp as part of an edge of an opening, preferably a wheel opening, on the shell of the vehicle. It is also contemplated to provide a reflector as a component of the side lamp which can be designed as part of a cover plate of the side lamp.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1996Date of Patent: April 13, 1999Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AGInventors: Werner Hufner, Dirk Brinkmann, Gerald Hiesl, Roman Porsche