Fender-to-grille turn signal relocation kit
AssigneeParamount Restyling Automotive Inc.
InventorRicardo Santiago Ignarra
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aftermarket vehicle turn signal assembly and a method of retrofitting the turn signal assembly to a grille of a vehicle are disclosed. The turn signal assembly enables users to customize their vehicles by repositioning a turn signal from a factory original fender location, for example, to an aftermarket opening formed on the grille. Using special drill templates designed for a specific vehicle, a user can locate a position for a hole, and later drill a hole into the grille of a vehicle. A user can then insert an aftermarket turn signal assembly into the hole, and secure the turn signal assembly to the grill. The user can then remove the factory original turn signal light source from the original fender location, and place the light source within the aftermarket turn signal assembly.
Claims22
A method for relocating a factory original turn signal socket and associated wires from a fender to a grille of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing an aftermarket turn signal housing having a front portion with a lens, a center body, and a back portion with an aperture that is configured to receive and mechanically interface with a factory original turn signal socket that was factory installed on a fender;
- removing a grille from a vehicle, the grille having a front outward facing surface and a rear surface facing an engine compartment of the vehicle which contains vehicular structure;
- determining a location of a hole to be drilled in the grille for receiving the aftermarket turn signal housing, the hole being in alignment with a cavity in the vehicular structure that is capable of receiving the center body and back portion of the aftermarket turn signal housing;
- drilling the hole in the grille at the determined location;
- inserting the aftermarket turn signal housing into the hole in the grille so that the center body and back portion extend rearwardly therefrom;
- securing the aftermarket turn signal housing to the grille;
- relocating the factory original turn signal socket and associated wires from the fender to the grille by removing the factory original turn signal socket from the fender and inserting the factory original turn signal socket into the aperture on the back portion of the aftermarket turn signal housing without modifying an electrical connection between the factory original turn signal socket and the associated wires;
- and
- installing the grille on the vehicle with the center body and back portion extending rearwardly therefrom and received by the cavity in the vehicular structure.
A retrofit vehicle turn signal assembly for attaching to an aftermarket opening formed in a grille of a vehicle, the retrofit vehicle turn signal assembly comprising:
- a turn signal housing having a longitudinally spaced proximate front end and a distal rear end separated by a center body, the proximate front end having a circular light exiting opening with an annular lip extending radially outward from the proximate front end of the housing, the center body emerging longitudinally away from the proximate front end to distal rear end forming an internal cavity within the center body, the distal rear end having an aperture, wherein the internal cavity and the aperture of the distal rear end are shaped to receive and secure a light source, wherein the exterior of the proximate front end of the housing is sized to be received by an aftermarket opening formed in the grille of a vehicle formed as a circular through-hole in the grille of the vehicle;
- a lens which at least partially covers the circular light exiting opening of the turn signal housing;
- and,
- one or more fasteners for securing the turn signal housing to a grille of a vehicle.
A method for retrofitting a vehicle turn signal assembly to a grille of a vehicle, the method comprising
- removing a grille from a vehicle, the grille having a front outward facing surface and a rear surface facing an engine compartment of the vehicle;
- removing a plastic bracket from the rear surface of the grille;
- determining a location of a hole to be drilled;
- drilling a hole into the grille;
- placing a vehicle turn signal assembly onto the hole of the grille;
- and,
- Securing the vehicle turn signal assembly to the grille.
A retrofit vehicle turn signal assembly for attaching to an aftermarket opening formed in a grille of a vehicle, the retrofit vehicle turn signal assembly comprising:
- a turn signal housing having a longitudinally spaced proximate front end and a distal rear end separated by a center body, the proximate front end having a light exiting opening, the center body emerging longitudinally away from the proximate front end to distal rear end forming an internal cavity within the center body, the distal rear end having an aperture, wherein the internal cavity and the aperture of the distal rear end are shaped to receive and secure a light source, wherein the exterior of the proximate front end of the housing is sized to be received by an aftermarket opening formed in the grille of the vehicle;
- a lens which at least partially covers the light exiting opening of the turn signal housing;
- and,
- one or more fasteners for securing the turn signal housing to a grille of a vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.