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US 11,378,247 B1Granted
Vehicle exterior lighting systems with tailgate mounted backup lamps
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAnthony Nicholas Aquilina, Michael Bryan Vanbelle, Corey M. Ross, Kenneth C. Meissner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Vehicle exterior lighting systems for vehicles equipped with tailgate assemblies may be configured to provide redundant backup lighting functionality for all tailgate positions (e.g., closed, open, and removed). Exemplary systems may include both vehicle static body structure mounted backup lamps and tailgate structure mounted backup lamps for providing the backup lighting redundancy.
Claims17
A vehicle exterior lighting system, comprising:
- a first backup lamp mounted to a vehicle static body structure;
- and
- a second backup lamp mounted to a vehicle tailgate assembly,
- wherein the first backup lamp is part of a vehicle tail lamp assembly and is concealed by a wing portion of the vehicle tailgate assembly when the vehicle tailgate assembly is positioned in a closed position,
- wherein the wing portion extends laterally outward of an outboard side of the vehicle tailgate assembly to establish a widened section of the vehicle tailgate assembly,
- wherein the vehicle tail lamp assembly includes a combination lamp that is uncovered by the wing portion regardless of whether the vehicle tailgate assembly is in the closed position or an open position.
3 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle static body structure;
- a tail lamp assembly mounted to the vehicle static body structure and comprising a first backup lamp;
- and
- a tailgate assembly removably mounted relative to the vehicle static body structure and comprising a tailgate structure that includes a wing portion,
- wherein the wing portion extends laterally outward of an outboard side of the tailgate structure to establish a widened section of the tailgate structure,
- wherein, in a closed position of the tailgate assembly, the wing portion conceals the first backup lamp,
- wherein, in an open position of the tailgate assembly, the first backup lamp is uncovered by the wing portion and is exposed for selectively producing a backup lighting effect,
- wherein the tail lamp assembly further includes a combination lamp that is uncovered by the wing portion regardless of whether the tailgate assembly is in the closed position or the open position.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- during a reverse driving condition of a vehicle:
- producing a backup lighting effect with a first backup lamp of a tailgate assembly of the vehicle when the tailgate assembly is positioned in a closed position;
- and
- producing the backup lighting effect with a second backup lamp of a tail lamp assembly of the vehicle when the tailgate assembly is positioned in an open position or is removed from the vehicle,
- wherein the second backup lamp is concealed by a wing portion of the tailgate assembly when the tailgate assembly is in the closed position,
- wherein the wing portion extends laterally outward of an outboard side of the tailgate assembly to establish a widened section of the tailgate assembly,
- wherein the tail lamp assembly further includes a combination lamp that is uncovered by the wing portion regardless of whether the tailgate assembly is in the closed position or the open position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.