System for and method of installing an exterior-mounted light bar underneath a factory-installed rear spoiler on a vehicle liftgate
AssigneeCode 3, Inc.
InventorPaul L. Stein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are techniques for installing an exterior-mounted light bar accessory underneath a factory-installed rear spoiler on a liftgate of a vehicle while leaving intact the rear spoiler and a liftgate spoiler sealing system fitted and mounting components used during factory installation of the rear spoiler by attachment to the liftgate, the liftgate having a top side margin and the vehicle having a roof with a rear end, the rear spoiler mounted at the top side margin of the liftgate and at the rear end of the roof, and the liftgate having an outer surface with first and second curved distal ends.
Claims12
For a vehicle having a roof with a rear end at which a liftgate and rear spoiler are installed, the liftgate including a top side margin and a window panel with a glass outer surface having first and second curved distal ends, and the rear spoiler factory-installed at the top side margin and at the rear end by mounting components establishing a liftgate spoiler sealing system, a method of installing an exterior-mounted light bar accessory underneath the rear spoiler and onto the glass outer surface while leaving intact the rear spoiler and the liftgate spoiler sealing system, the method comprising:
- obtaining a light bar housing for installation underneath the rear spoiler and against the glass outer surface of the liftgate, the light bar housing configured for attachment of multiple light heads and including a liftgate mounting surface and a light head mounting surface, the liftgate mounting surface of the light bar housing having a curved distal end portion of complementary shape to a curved outer surface at one of the first and second curved distal ends of the glass outer surface of the liftgate;
- positioning the light bar housing underneath the rear spoiler and against the glass outer surface of the liftgate, the liftgate mounting surface of the light bar housing set in alignment with one of the first and second curved distal ends of the glass outer surface of the liftgate;
- and
- using bonding material to securely mount the light bar housing, while set in its alignment position, to the glass outer surface of the liftgate, thereby leaving intact the factory-installed rear spoiler and without compromising the integrity of the sealing system throughout the installation of the light bar housing.
For a vehicle having a roof with a rear end at which a liftgate and rear spoiler are installed, the liftgate including a top side margin and a window panel with a glass outer surface having first and second curved distal ends, and the rear spoiler factory-installed at the top side margin and at the rear end by mounting components establishing a liftgate spoiler sealing system, a method of installing an exterior-mounted light bar accessory underneath the rear spoiler and onto the glass outer surface while leaving intact the rear spoiler and the liftgate spoiler sealing system, the method comprising:
- obtaining first and second light bar housings for installation underneath the rear spoiler and against the glass outer surface of the liftgate, each of the first and second light bar housings configured for attachment of multiple light heads and including a liftgate mounting surface and a light head mounting surface, the liftgate mounting surfaces of the first and second light bar housings having curved distal end portions of complementary shapes to curved surfaces of the respective first and second distal ends of the glass outer surface of the liftgate;
- positioning each of the first and second light bar housings underneath the rear spoiler and against the glass outer surface of the liftgate, the liftgate mounting surfaces of the first and second light bar housings set in alignment with the respective first and second curved distal ends of the glass outer surface of the liftgate;
- and
- using bonding material to securely mount the first and second light bar housings, while set in their alignment positions, to the glass outer surface of the liftgate, thereby leaving intact the factory-installed rear spoiler without compromising the integrity of the sealing system throughout the installation of the first and second light bar housings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.