# US 2014/0153271 A1 · Lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153271 A1 - Document ID: US20140153271A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/693,389 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc. - Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc. - Inventors: Bhargav SURA; Randall E. JOHNSON; Norbert WEINERT; Nelson PHAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153271A1 ## CPC - B60Q 3/30: for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract A lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement includes a cargo area wall structure and a lighting system. The cargo area wall structure includes a first wall surface facing a vehicle cargo area. The lighting system includes a rail, a mounting bracket and a lamp. The rail is fixedly coupled to the cargo area wall structure and defines a lamp receiving space located laterally between an outboard surface of the rail and the first wall surface. The mounting bracket includes a rail attachment section rigidly attached to the rail and a lamp attachment section. The lamp is attached to the lamp attachment section. The lamp is aimed to shine light beneath the mounting bracket and the rail toward the vehicle cargo area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement comprising: a cargo area wall structure including a first wall surface facing a vehicle cargo area; and a lighting system including: a rail fixedly coupled to the cargo area wall structure defining a lamp receiving space located laterally between an outboard surface of the rail and the first wall surface, a mounting bracket including a rail attachment section rigidly attached to the rail and a lamp attachment section, and a lamp attached to the lamp attachment section and aimed to shine light beneath the mounting bracket and the rail toward the vehicle cargo area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the rail attachment section of the mounting bracket is fixed to the outboard surface of the rail. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the rail attachment section and the lamp attachment section are rigidly fixed to one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the rail attachment section extends in a downward direction along the rail and the lamp attachment section extends toward the first wall surface with the mounting bracket installed to the rail. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket includes an intermediate section that extends upwardly from a lower end of the rail attachment section to the lamp attachment section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket and the lamp are disposed within the lamp receiving space above a bottom-most end of the rail. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the rail attachment section and the lamp attachment section are angularly offset from one another defining an acute angle therebetween. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket includes a hinge coupling the rail attachment section to the lamp attachment section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lamp attachment section is movably coupled to the rail attachment section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lamp is adjustably mounted to the lamp attachment section of the mounting bracket such that the lamp can be positioned at any one of a plurality of locations along a horizontal length of the lamp attachment section of the mounting bracket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the lamp attachment section of the mounting bracket includes an elongated slot with the lamp being positioned at any one of the plurality of locations along the elongated slot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the rail defines an elongated slot that extends in a longitudinal direction of the rail, the slot being open to the vehicle cargo area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the elongated slot at least partially defines an accessory attachment track along the rail, the rail having a flange extending downward from the accessory attachment track. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the rail attachment section of the mounting bracket is fixedly attached to the flange of the rail. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the lamp attachment section of the mounting bracket includes a plurality of lamp openings and a plurality of lamps, and each one of the plurality of lamp openings have a corresponding one of the plurality of lamps installed thereto. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of lamps is an LED lamp. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lighting system further includes a controller and a wiring harness installed to the outboard surface of the rail, with the wiring harness being electrically connected to the lamp and the controller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the wiring harness includes a retracting section that moves from a retracted orientation to an extended orientation in response to corresponding movement of the lamp. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lamp attachment section of the mounting bracket includes a plurality of lamp openings and a plurality of lamps, and each one of the plurality of lamp openings have a corresponding one of the plurality of lamps installed thereto. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lighting system further includes a controller programmed to limit operation of the lamp upon detection of a vehicle running condition.