Patent US5692827A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5692827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tail lamp for an automotive vehicle using an elongated hyperbolic cylinder
Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1996-03-01
•
Granted: 1997-12-02
•
Expires: 2016-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A rear lighting system includes an elongated light source emitting light and a solid lens having an inner surface comprised of a hyperbolic cylinder, said hyperbolic cylinder having a first focal line and a second focal line and a cylinder length. The first focal line is coincident with the light source and the outer surface is comprised of a generally planar shape perpendicular to the horizontal plane and the vertical plane.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeyachandrabose Chinniah
- 👤 Alfred Wasilewski
- 👤 Balvantrai G. Patel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:36
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S43/00; F21S43/20; F21S43/26; G; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/22; G03H1/2202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A lighting system for an automotive vehicle having a front portion, a rear portion, a horizontal plane and a vertical plane perpendicular to said horizontal plane and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said lighting system comprising: an elongated light source emitting light and mounted within the rear portion of the vehicle; and an elongated solid lens, longitudinally rearward of the elongated light source, having an inner, light source facing, hyperbolic surface with a curvature toward the light source, the inner surface having a focal line coincident with said light source, and an outward facing surface with a plurality of planar stepped surfaces, positioned to decrease a thickness of the solid lens, perpendicular to said horizontal plane and said vertical plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A lighting system for an automotive vehicle having a front portion, a rear portion, a horizontal plane and a vertical plane perpendicular to said horizontal plane and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said lighting system comprising: an elongated light source emitting light and mounted within the rear portion of the vehicle; and an elongated solid lens, longitudinally rearward of the elongated light source, having an inner, light source facing, hyperbolic surface with a curvature toward the light source, the inner surface having a focal line coincident with said light source, and an outward facing surface with a plurality of planar stepped surfaces, positioned to decrease a thickness of the solid lens, perpendicular to said horizontal plane and said vertical plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer surface has fluting formed on said planar stepped surfaces for redirecting light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer surface has holographic film formed on said planar stepped surfaces for redirecting light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said light source has a generally uniform distribution of light over its length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluting formed of cylinders having predetermined radii.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 4 wherein said light source is a neon tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 4 wherein said light source is a row of light emitting diodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
A lighting system for an automotive vehicle having a front portion, a rear portion, a horizontal plane and a vertical plane perpendicular to said horizontal plane and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said lighting system comprising: an elongated light source emitting light and mounted within the rear portion of the vehicle; and an elongated solid lens, longitudinally rearward of the elongated light source, having an inner, light source facing, hyperbolic surface with a curvature toward the light source, the inner surface having a focal line coincident with said elongated light source and an outward facing surface with a plurality of generally planar stepped surfaces with fluting disposed thereon so as to provide a small package depth while providing a uniform light distribution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
A lighting system for an automotive vehicle having a front portion, a rear portion, a horizontal plane and a vertical plane perpendicular to said horizontal plane and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said lighting system comprising: an elongated light source emitting light and mounted within the rear portion of the vehicle; and an elongated solid lens, longitudinally rearward of the elongated light source, having an inner, light source facing, hyperbolic surface with a curvature toward the light source, the inner surface having a focal line coincident with said elongated light source and an outward facing surface with a plurality of generally planar stepped surfaces with fluting disposed thereon so as to provide a small package depth while providing a uniform light distribution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1514653A
Cited
US1942136A
Cited
US1960148A
Cited
US2137079A
Cited
US2762912A
Cited
US3222516A
Cited
US3739169A
Cited
US4153928A
Cited
US4517630A
Cited
US4591954A
Cited
US4722023A
Cited
US4588619A
Cited
US4733335A
Cited
US4935665A
Cited
US4951179A
Cited
US4868725A
Cited
US5038255A
Cited
US5333071A
Cited
US5174649A
Cited
US5174649B1
Cited
US5217290A
Cited
US5438487A
Cited
US5347435A
Cited
US5365412A
Cited
US5471371A
Cited
US5565741A
Cited
US5442526A
Cited
US5528474A
Cited
US5610472A
Cited
US5515253A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-01 | 2001-06-02 | 2001-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-01 | 2005-06-02 | 2005-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-01 | 2009-06-02 | 2009-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |