Exit lighting system for off-road vehicle

A lighting system for an off-road vehicle comprising:

• (A) an electrical power source;
• (B) a system of running lights including at least one headlamp;
• (C) at least one side flood lamp;
• and
• (D) a control system that is coupled to said power source, to said running lights, and said side flood lamp and that controls operation of said running lights and said side flood lamp, said control system including
• (1) a manually-operated switch movable between
• (a) an OFF position in which neither said running lights nor said side flood lamp are coupled to said power source,
• (b) a running light activation position in which at least said running lights are coupled to said power source, and
• (c) an exit light activation position, wherein said OFF position is located between said running light activation position and said exit light activation position in a direction of switch movement, and wherein said switch is not latchable in said exit light activation position and is biased toward said OFF position from said exit light activation position, and
• (2) a timer that is operatively coupled to said switch and to said side flood lamp, said timer being operable, in response to selection of said exit light activation position of said switch, to couple at least said side flood lamp to said power source for a designated period of time.

An exit light control system for controlling an off-road vehicle lighting system that includes at least one running light and at least one exit light that illuminates an area adjacent a dismount location on the vehicle, said exit light control system comprising:

• (A) a manually-operated switch that is movable between
• (1) an OFF position,
• (2) a running light activation position in which at least said running light is activated, and
• (3) an exit light activation position;
• and
• (B) a timer that is operatively coupled to said switch and that is configured to be coupled at least to the exit light, wherein said switch and said timer are coupled to one another and configured such that, when said exit light control system is incorporated into the off-road vehicle lighting system, selection of said OFF position of said switch deactivates the running lights and selection of said running light activation position of said switch activates at least the running lights, and selection of said exit light activation position of said switch activates at least the exit light for a designated period of time determined by said timer.

An off-road vehicle, comprising:

• (A) a self-propelled chassis;
• (B) an operator's station that is mounted on said chassis;
• (C) an electrical power source;
• (D) at least one running light that is supported on said chassis;
• (E) at least one exit light that is supported on said chassis in the vicinity of said operator's station and that is operable to illuminate an area adjacent said operator's station;
• and
• (F) a lighting control system that is coupled to said power source and to said lights and that controls operation of said running light and said exit light, said lighting control system including
• (1) a manually-operated switch movable between
• (a) an OFF position in which neither said running light nor said exit light is coupled to said power source,
• (b) a running light activation position in which at least said running light is coupled to said power source, and
• (c) an exit light activation position, and
• (2) a timer that is operatively coupled to said switch and to said exit light, said timer being operable, in response to selection of said exit light activation position of said switch, to couple said exit light to said power source for a designated period of time.