# US 12,109,940 B2 · Device for illuminating a cab of a utility vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,940 B2 - Document ID: US12109940B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/618,844 - Filed: 2020-06-04 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-13 - Assignees: Man Truck & Bus AG - Applicants: MAN Truck & Bus SE - Inventors: Andreas Schmitz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109940B2 ## CPC - B60Q 3/208: Sun roofs; Windows - B60Q 3/225: Small compartments, e.g. glove compartments - B60Q 3/30: for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments - B60Q 3/43: General lighting - B60R 7/04: in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} - B62D 25/06: Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) - B62D 33/06: Drivers' cabs {(overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13)} - B60R 2011/0028: {Ceiling, e.g. roof rails} - F21V 23/04: the elements being switches (safety devices F21V25/00) - F21W 2106/00: Interior vehicle lighting devices - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS ## Abstract The invention relates to a device for illuminating a cab of a utility vehicle, preferably a truck. The device has a roof region (10) and a storage compartment device (12), which is arranged in the roof region (10) and can be closed at least partially by means of a door element (22, 24). The device has an illumination element (38, 40), which is arranged on a roof liner (34) of the roof region (10) such that, by means of the illumination element (38, 40), a cab interior and an interior of the storage compartment device (12) behind the door element (22, 24) can be illuminated when the door element (22, 24) is completely open. The device thus provides function integration since the illumination element (38, 40) is used not only to illuminate the cab interior but also to illuminate the storage compartment device (12) or the luggage rack. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for illuminating a cab of a utility vehicle having: a roof region; a storage compartment device, which is arranged in the roof region and can be closed at least partially by means of a door element; and an illumination element, which is arranged on a roof liner of the roof region such that, by means of the illumination element, a cab interior and an interior of the storage compartment device behind the door element can be illuminated when the door element is completely open, wherein the illumination element is arranged in a frame or in a frame-like trim panel of a roof hatch device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein: the utility vehicle is a lorry; or the storage compartment device is arranged in the front roof region and/or on the front side of the cab; or the door element can be pivoted upwards for opening purposes; or the illumination element is switched on when the door element is opened or switched off when the door element is closed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein: a spacing in a longitudinal roof direction between the at least one illumination element and the door element is equal to or greater than a height of the door element; or the door element does not cover the illumination element in the open state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein: the door element covers only an ambient illumination portion of the illumination element in the open state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein: the illumination element is arranged in a limb of the frame or the frame-like trim panel, which limb is aligned parallel to a longitudinal roof direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein: the illumination element is arranged at least partially in a rear corner region of the frame or the frame-like trim panel; or the illumination element is arranged adjacent to a rear limb of the frame or the frame-like trim panel, wherein the rear limb is aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal roof direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein: a rear limb of the frame or the frame-like trim panel has a set-back underside surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein: the set-back underside surface is for increasing the headroom for a person sitting below the roof hatch device; or the set-back underside surface is set back in relation to at least an underside surface of the limb aligned parallel to the longitudinal roof direction; or the set-back underside surface is set back substantially along an entire length of the rear limb; or the set-back underside surface is set back substantially along an entire width of the rear limb. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein: the set-back underside surface is set back in relation to at least an underside surface of the limb aligned parallel to the longitudinal roof direction by at least 20 mm; or the set-back underside surface is set back in relation to at least an underside surface of the limb aligned parallel to the longitudinal roof direction by at least 30 mm; or the set-back underside surface is set back in relation to at least an underside surface of the limb aligned parallel to the longitudinal roof direction in a range between 30 mm and 40 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein: the illumination element is arranged in a rear limb of the frame or the frame-like trim panel, which limb is aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal roof direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, furthermore having: a further illumination element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein: the further illumination element is arranged on the roof liner such that, by means of the further illumination element, the cab interior and the interior of the storage compartment device behind the door element can be illuminated when the door element is completely open; or the further illumination element is arranged in the frame or the frame-like trim panel of the roof hatch device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein: the further illumination element is arranged in the frame or the frame-like trim panel of the roof hatch device in a position opposite the illumination element or next to the illumination element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein: the storage compartment device has a middle storage compartment with a shelf; and the illumination element is arranged such that an interior of the middle storage compartment can be illuminated below the shelf. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein: the middle storage compartment has a storage compartment illumination element with which an interior of the middle storage compartment can be illuminated above the shelf; or the middle storage compartment is closable by means of a shutter or is not closable or is not closable by means of a door element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein: the storage compartment device has two outer storage compartments, which can each be closed by a door element; the door elements can be pivoted upwards for opening purposes; the door elements have a height which is smaller than a spacing in a longitudinal roof direction between the illumination element and the door elements in the closed state; and the illumination element is arranged in a rear limb of a frame or a frame like trim panel of a roof hatch device, which limb is aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal roof direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein: the rear limb and/or the illumination element is arranged at least partially between the door elements in the open state of the door elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein: the storage compartment device has two outer storage compartments, which can each be closed by a door element; the door elements can be pivoted upwards for opening purposes; and the illumination element is arranged in a limb of the frame or the frame-like trim panel, which limb is aligned parallel to a longitudinal roof direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein: one of the door elements covers only an ambient illumination portion of the illumination element in the open state; or none of the door elements covers the illumination element in the open state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A utility vehicle having a device according to claim 1. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The utility vehicle of claim 20, wherein: the utility vehicle is a lorry.