# US 5,707,130 A · Taillight for vehicles, especially for motor vehicles

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- Number: US 5,707,130 A
- Document ID: US5707130A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/771,222
- Filed: 1996-12-20
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1995-12-21
- Assignees: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Hubert Zwick; Otto Muller; Stephan Berlitz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707130A

## CPC

- G02B 6/0018: {Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide}
- B60Q 1/2696: {Mounting of devices using LEDs}
- B60Q 1/30: for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
- F21S 43/14: Light emitting diodes [LED]
- F21S 43/237: rod-shaped
- F21S 43/239: plate-shaped
- F21S 43/245: emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
- F21S 43/247: with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
- G02B 6/0038: {Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide}
- G02B 6/0068: {Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS

## Abstract

A vehicle taillight has a housing and a light-transmissive cover for closing off the housing. At least one light source is located within the housing for emitting light through the light-transmissive cover. At least one light-guiding member is positioned within the housing between the light source and the light-transmissive cover. The light-guiding member consists of light guide material and reflects light emitted by the light source onto the light-transmissive cover.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle taillight comprising:
a housing;
a light-transmissive cover for closing said housing;
at least one light source located within said housing for emitting light through said light-transmissive cover;
at least one light-guiding member including a plate having at least one projection extending perpendicular to said plate and having a planar end surface adjacent said at least one light source and being positioned within said housing between said light source and said light-transmissive cover;
said light-guiding member comprised of light guide material;
said light-guiding member reflecting light emitted by said light source onto said light-transmissive cover.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 1, wherein said at least one projection is centrally arranged on said plate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 1, wherein said at least one projection tapers toward said at least one light source.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 1, wherein said at least one projection tapers continuously toward said at least one light source.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 1, wherein said at least one projection has a circular cross-section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 1, wherein said at least one projection and said at least one light-guiding member form a unitary part.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 1, wherein said plate has a circular contour.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light-guiding member has at least one reflective surface for reflecting light emitted by said light source.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 8, wherein:
a first reflective surface is provide on a side of said plate opposite said at least one projection.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 9, wherein said second end face has a depression with a wall surface, said wall surface forming said first reflective surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 10, wherein said depression has a circular contour.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 10, wherein said depression extends linearly.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 10, wherein said depression has a depth that is smaller than a thickness of said plate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 9, wherein first said plate has at least a second reflective surface on a side common to said projection.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 14, wherein said at least a second reflective surface is formed by one or more recesses with recess walls, said recess walls forming said second reflective surfaces.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 14, wherein said second reflective surfaces are located within a path of light reflected by said first reflective surface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 14, wherein said at least second reflective surface reflect light toward said light-transmissive cover.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A vehicle taillight according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is an LED.