Abstract: A lighting system for preferentially illuminating the seating area of a mass-transit vehicle includes a light fixture with a lamp housing longitudinally disposed above the seating area An electrically energized light source is mounted at least one end of the light fixture. At least one solid-core semi-rigid light pipe extends from and is optically coupled to the light source. The light pipe receives light from the light source, transmits the light along its length, and emits the light laterally into the passenger compartment. The light pipe runs parallel to and is suspended from the lamp housing between the lamp housing and the seating area so that the lamp housing can direct laterally emitted light from the pipe into the seating area.

Abstract: A lighting system for preferentially illuminating the seating area of a mass-transit vehicle includes a light fixture with a lamp housing longitudinally disposed above the seating area. An electrically energized light source is mounted at least one end of the light fixture. At least one solid-core semi-rigid light pipe extends from and is optically coupled to the light source. The light pipe receives light from the light source, transmits the light along its length, and emits the light laterally into the passenger compartment. The light pipe runs parallel to and is suspended from the lamp housing between the lamp housing and the seating area so that the lamp housing can direct laterally emitted light from the pipe into the seating area.

Abstract: A light pipe support assembly for mounting a light pipe in a light fixture includes a support structure having at least one pair of opposed inwardly-extending protrusions and a light pipe having an elongated light-transmissive mono-filament core supported on the support structure. The light pipe has a generally constant cross-sectional size and shape along its length. The light pipe includes an elongated upper lobe integrally extending from an elongated lower lobe. The lower lobe has an arcuate lateral profile. The light pipe includes an elongated laterally pinched region between the upper lobe and the lower lobe. The pinched region has a width less than the width of the upper lobe and less than the width of the lower lobe. The width of the pinched region is also slightly less that the width of a gap between the inwardly-extending protrusions of the support structure.

Abstract: A lightweight bus window construction has a window frame with a generally U-shaped channel around its lateral edges. A step is provided adjacent the opening of the U-shaped channel along the lower edge with a lip extending above the step along the edge. A thin sheet of plastic glazing material in the frame has its upper and side edges within the U-shaped channel along the upper and side edges, and the lower edge of the sheet rests on the step. The sheet is sufficiently thin that it will flex for fitting the upper and side edges into the channel without disassembling the frame. An elastomeric gasket fills the space between the sheet of glazing material and the face of the U-shaped channel on the opposite of the channel from the lip. The gasket includes a portion along the lower edge extending upwardly above the opening of the U-shaped channel and engaging the face of the sheet of glazing material opposite to the lip. The elastomeric gasket secures the glazing material within the frame.

Abstract: A windshield glare-reducing assembly includes a tubular sleeve configured to receive an elongated light source such as a fluorescent lamp. Louvers are supported along the sleeve so as to fit closely around such a lamp without touching or being mounted directly on the lamp. The louvers are shaped, spaced and positioned to reduce the amount of light emitted from the lamp towards a vehicle windshield and then reflecting from the windshield into the driver's eyes. The sleeve is shaped to allow the sleeve and louvers to be easily installed on and removed from a lamp and to ease replacement of burned-out and damaged lamps.

Abstract: A lighting system for preferentially illuminating the seating area of a mass-transit vehicle includes a light fixture with a lamp housing longitudinally disposed above the seating area. An electrically energized light source is mounted at at least one end of the light fixture. At least one solid-core semi-rigid light pipe extends from and is optically coupled to the light source. The light pipe receives light from the light source, transmits the light along its length, and emits the light laterally into the passenger compartment. The light pipe runs parallel to and is suspended from the lamp housing between the lamp housing and the seating area so that the lamp housing can direct laterally emitted light from the pipe into the seating area.

Abstract: A lighting system using piped light is provided for a compartment such as the cargo space of a truck. An electrically energized light source is mounted adjacent the compartment. A side-fire light pipe is optically coupled to the light source. An elongated light pipe enclosure is disposed around and supports the light pipe. The enclosure comprises an elongated mounting flange adapted to fasten the enclosure to a compartment inner surface, an elongated face panel that extends integrally from along the length of the mounting flange, and a longitudinal elongated channel that is recessed into the face panel. The channel includes parallel opposing channel edges that define a longitudinal gap in the face panel. The channel is configured to receive the light pipe in frictional engagement through the gap. The light pipe can be inserted into the channel after the enclosure has been installed and protects the light pipe from damage during such operations as cargo loading into and cargo unloading from the compartment.

Abstract: A mounting bracket and window shield assembly for protecting a window of the type found on a subway or bus includes a shield made of a flexible sheet of plastic. The shield is held in place by a mounting bracket which mounts directly to the existing window and window frame on the four sides of the window. The mounting bracket has a T-shaped cross section in which a first arm of the T forms a tab that is inserted between the existing window and window frame. The second arm of the T and the body of the T together form a seat upon which the window shield is placed. The window shield is held in place against the seat of the mounting bracket by a length of an elastomeric retaining seal. The retaining seal includes a bead which permits the retaining seal to be removably anchored to a channel formed by the body of the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A mounting for a window and at least one shield for protecting the window. In a typical embodiment, the window is rectangular, such as a bus window, and the shield is a thin flexible sheet of plastic. The window is mounted on elastomeric seals in a metallic frame and held in place by a second set of elastomeric seals. The shield is placed in a pre-formed trench of the inner elastomeric seals which creates an air gap preventing contact between the shield and the window. An inwardly curved and flexible lip extending above the trench is capable of bending back to conform to the surface of the shield when installed to form a water tight seal and to help hold the shield in place.

Abstract: A light engine including a lamp casing having a tubular light pipe receptacle. A large core optic light pipe extends from outside the light engine into the tubular receptacle. The light pipe has an inner end supported in the tubular receptacle. Two half-ellipsoidal reflector dishes are joined to form a single ellipsoidal reflector within the casing. A lamp is supported within the casing adjacent a first focal point of the ellipsoidal reflector. The reflector is positioned to focus light energy from the lamp onto a second focal point of the ellipsoidal reflector. A quartz thermal barrier is disposed in the tubular receptacle between the lamp and the light pipe inner end. The thermal barrier has an outer end surface optically coupled to the light pipe and an inner end surface disposed adjacent the second focal point of the reflector to receive convergent light emitted from the lamp and reflected from the reflector.

Abstract: A lighting system for preferentially illuminating the seating area of a mass-transit vehicle includes a light fixture with a lamp housing longitudinally disposed above the seating area. An electrically-energized light source is mounted at at least one end of the light fixture. At least one solid-core semi-rigid light pipe extends from and is optically coupled to the light source. The light pipe receives light from the light source, transmits the light along its length, and emits the light laterally into the passenger compartment. The light pipe runs parallel to and is suspended from the lamp housing between the lamp housing and the seating area so that the lamp housing can direct laterally emitted light from the pipe into the seating area.

Abstract: A lighting system for preferentially illuminating the seating area of a mass-transit vehicle passenger compartment while minimizing the illumination of an aisle and of side windows of the vehicle. A lighting fixture is mounted in a cornice area of the vehicle above the seating area. The fixture includes an air duct extension panel having an outer edge that connects to a sidewall of the vehicle and extends horizontally inward over the seating area. An elongated lamp housing is integrally formed as a unitary piece with the air duct extension panel and is disposed along an inner edge of the extension panel opposite the outer edge. A face panel connects between a ceiling of the vehicle and the extension panel inner edge. The face panel spaces the lamp housing downward from the vehicle ceiling toward the seating area to maximize seating area illumination. The air duct extension panel spaces the lamp housing inwardly away from the sidewall and side windows to minimize side window illumination.

Abstract: A lighting system using piped light is provided for the cargo space of a truck. A light source mounted on the truck body is energized by the truck electrical system through a switch in the cab. Plural lighting fixtures are mounted to the roof of the truck body for illuminating the cargo space. Each lighting fixture receives light which is piped through a separate light pipe from the source to the fixture. There are two sets of lighting fixtures each of which is disposed in a linear array extending along a line from the front to the rear of the truck body. The light pipes for one set of lighting fixtures are all disposed in a first enclosure and the light pipes for the other set of lighting fixtures are all disposed within a second enclosure. Certain sections of the enclosures are provided with a transparent lens and certain light pipes within the enclosures emit side light through the lens.

Abstract: An air conditioning duct, luggage compartment and lighting fixture are disclosed in an integrated structure for mass transit vehicles. The air conditioning duct is formed by a panel which coacts with the upper cornier of the vehicle. The panel constitutes the upper wall of a luggage compartment which has an outboard wall and bottom wall of unitary construction supported from the outboard edge of the panel. Support of the inboard edge of the bottom wall is provided by a longitudinally extending beam of channel-shape which is supported from the vehicle roof by spaced stanchions. A light fixture is disposed within the channel-shaped beam for illuminating the seating area and the aisle.

Abstract: An elongated cornice lighting fixture in a public transit vehicle coupled with an advertising display panel is mounted above the windows on each side of the vehicle. Light from incandescent bulbs in each fixture is controlled by sheets of reflective optical film to direct the light to the seating area below each fixture and to a display panel with only minimal illumination of the vehicle floor and windows.

Abstract: An elongated cornice lighting fixture in a public transit vehicle coupled with an advertising display panel is mounted above the windows on each side of the vehicle. Light from incandescent bulbs in each fixture is controlled by sheets of reflective optical film to direct the light to the seating area below each fixture and to the display panel associated with the opposite fixture with only minimal illumination of the vehicle floor and windows.

Abstract: A cornice lighting fixture 10 is disclosed for use on a mass transit vehicle 12 and comprises a unitary molded body 22 including a trim panel 26 and a lamp panel 24. The trim panel includes a mounting flange 62 along the outer edge and the lamp panel is provided with a connector 72 for mounting the fixture to the vehicle roof 14. A lens 34 is hingedly mounted by the connector 72 and secured to the trim panel 22 by a closure flange 96. A fluorescent tube 32 is disposed within a lamp housing which is comprised of the lamp panel 24 and the lens 34. The connector 72 is a separate extruded strip secured to the lamp panel and provides a double-wall for mounting to the vehicle. A pair of retainer strips 122, 124 are extruded sections secured to the surface of a panel section 56 for retaining an advertising card 44.

Abstract: A cornice lighting fixture (10) disclosed is designed for use on public transit vehicles (12) and includes a unitary member (20) defining a light housing (22) and a trim panel (24) that extends horizontally and vertically from the light housing. A light cover (28) encloses a fluorescent tube (26) mounted within the housing by an electrical connector support (84). The unitary member defining the housing and trim panel is preferably made as a pultrusion from resin and glass fibers so as to have an elongated shape of a uniform cross-section with the light housing defining an upper and inward longitudinal margin of the fixture and with an outer mounting flange (70) of the trim panel defining a lower and outward longitudinal margin of the fixture. Upon mounting of the fixture, the housing and the trim panel cooperate to partially define an air duct (30) for carrying heated or cooled air.