Vehicle trailer hitch illumination system
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorJose Hernan Hernandez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An illumination system configured to be attached to a rear of a vehicle with a tow hitch, and positioned to direct light towards the ground behind the vehicle and the tow hitch. The illumination system including a housing, a socket with differently shaped fingers for attachment to the housing in a proper orientation. An LED light is received in the socket for directing light rays in a first direction, and an inner lens is coupled to the LED, and configured to receive the light rays such that a flat portion of the lens directs some of the light rays substantially along the first direction and an angled portion of the lens directs some of the light rays in a second direction different from the first direction. A protective outer lens surrounds the inner lens, and includes transparent and opaque portions.
Claims19
An illumination system configured to be attached to a rear of a vehicle with a tow hitch and positioned to direct light towards the ground behind the vehicle or near or towards the tow hitch, the optical device comprising:
- a housing configured to be connected to the rear of the vehicle;
- a socket having a number of fingers for attachment to the housing in a desired orientation;
- a light emitting diode (LED) positioned within the socket for emitting light rays in a first direction;
- an inner lens having a flat portion and an angled portion, the inner lens configured to receive the light rays such that the flat portion directs some of the light rays in substantially the first direction, and the angled portion directs some of the light rays in a second direction different from the first direction;
- and
- an outer lens surrounding the inner lens to protect the inner lens, the outer lens being formed of a co-molded plastic material, having side portions made of a black plastic material, and a front portion made of a clear plastic material for allowing the light rays to pass therethrough.
An illumination system configured to be attached to a rear of a vehicle and positioned to direct light towards a rear of or a ground behind the vehicle, the illumination system comprising:
- a housing defining a cavity and configured to be connected to the rear of the vehicle;
- a light for emitting light rays towards the rear of the vehicle;
- an inner lens configured to receive the light rays and directs some of the light rays in a first direction and some of the light rays in a second direction different from the first direction;
- an outer lens having between 1 and 10 dome-shaped inside portions that make up a dome-shaped inside surface and positioned adjacent to the inner lens to protect the inner lens, the outer lens having a front portion made of a clear plastic material for allowing the light rays to pass therethrough;
- and
- a socket receiving or attached to the light, the inner lens, and the outer lens, the socket configured to fit within the cavity of the housing and being removable for replacement of at least one of the light, the inner lens, or the outer lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.