# US 8,571,754 B2 · Securable cover for vehicle lights and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,571,754 B2 - Document ID: US8571754B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/471,578 - Filed: 2012-05-15 - Published: 2012-09-27 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-30 - Assignees: Control Solutions LLC - Applicants: Alyn Brown; James Wiff - Inventors: Alyn Brown; James Wiff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571754B2 ## CPC - F21S 41/28: {Cover glass} - B60Q 1/14: having dimming means - F21S 41/645: {by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices} - F21S 45/10: Protection of lighting devices (cooling of lighting devices F21S45/40; waterproofing of lighting devices F21S45/50) - F21V 1/16: characterised by the material - F21V 9/08: for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light (with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40) - G02F 1/15165: {Polymers} - G02F 2203/64: Normally black display, i.e. the off state being black - G02F 2203/66: Normally white display, i.e. the off state being white - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract A cover for use in connection with one or more vehicle lights is provided. A lens of the cover contains an electrically activatable material that prevents the transmission of visible light from entering into and reflecting out from the one or more vehicle lights when the electrically activatable material is set to a light inhibiting state. A device holds the lens with the device configured to be releasably or removably secured over one or more vehicle lights. The electrically activatable material of the lens is configured to get to the light inhibiting state such that the lens prevents the transmission of visible light from entering into and reflecting out from the one or more vehicle lights to reduce the observability of the one or more vehicle lights. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cover for use in connection with one or more vehicle lights, comprising: a lens having an electrically activatable material in which the electrically activatable material prevents the transmission of visible light from entering into and reflecting out from the one or more vehicle lights when the electrically activatable material is set to a light inhibiting state; a device that holds the lens, the device adapted to be releasably or removably secured over the one or more vehicle lights; and wherein the electrically activatable material of the lens is adapted to be set to the light inhibiting state such that the lens prevents the transmission of visible light from entering into and reflecting out from the one or more vehicle lights to reduce the observability of the one or more vehicle lights. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1 wherein the electrically activatable material is an electrochromatic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cover of claim 2 wherein the electrochromatic material comprises at least one layer of electrochromatic film. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cover of claim 3 wherein the at least one layer of electrochromatic film is affixed to at least one layer of a transparent material of the lens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cover of claim 4 wherein the transparent material is a glass or a polycarbonate material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cover of claim 5 wherein the transparent material is glass material comprising at least one of: (a) plexiglass; and (b) bullet resistant glass. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The cover of claim 3 wherein the electro chromatic film is disposed between layers of transparent material of the lens. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1 wherein the device includes a bezel releasably secured to the one or more vehicle lights by at least one releasably securable rim. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cover of claim 8 wherein the releasably securable rim is formed of a metal, rubber molded material or composite material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1 wherein the device includes a bezel removably secured over the one or more vehicle lights by screws affixed to a lighting assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1 wherein the vehicle lights are military combat vehicle lights or security vehicle lights. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cover of claim 11 wherein the electrically activatable material is adapted to selectively pass light of a particular spectrum and block out light at wavelengths outside of the spectrum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cover of claim 12 wherein the electrically activatable material selectively passes light ranging from 700 nanometers to 1200 nanometers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1 further comprising a coupling device adapted to electrically couple, at least in part, the electrically activatable material to an electrical power source; and an actuator that sets the electrically activatable material of the lens to the light inhibiting state in response to user operation. ### Claim 15 A method of utilizing a cover in connection with one or more vehicle lights comprising: releasably securing a device over the one or more vehicle lights, wherein the device holds a lens having an electrically activatable material in which the electrically activatable material prevents the transmission of visible light from entering into and reflecting out from the one or more vehicle lights when the electrically activatable material is set to a light inhibiting state; and switching the electrically activatable material of the lens from a light passing state to the light inhibiting state such that, in the light inhibiting state, the lens prevents the transmission of visible light from entering into and reflecting out from the one or more vehicle lights to reduce observability of the one or more vehicle lights. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the electrically activatable material further comprises at least one layer of electro chromatic film. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising positioning the at least one layer of electrochromatic film between layers of transparent material of the lens. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the transparent material is glass material comprising at least one of: (a) plexiglass; and (b) bullet resistant glass. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the vehicle lights are military combat vehicle lights or security vehicle lights. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising selectively passing light of a particular spectrum through the lens and blocking out light at wavelengths outside the spectrum. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 further comprising selectively passing light ranging from 700 nanometers to 1200 nanometers through the lens.