Tailgate illumination system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsStuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An illumination system for a vehicle includes a truck bed defining a cargo space, a bumper positioned vehicle rearward of the truck bed, and a tailgate defining a recessed surface and rotatable between substantially open and substantially closed positions. A first optically interactive portion is positioned on the truck bed and a second optically interactive portion is positioned on the tailgate. A light source is positioned on the recessed surface of the tailgate. The light source and the first and second optically interactive surfaces are configured to illuminate the cargo space when the tailgate is in the substantially open position and illuminate the bumper when the tailgate is in the substantially closed position.
Claims19
A vehicle, comprising:
- a truck bed defining a cargo space;
- a bumper positioned vehicle rearward of the truck bed;
- a tailgate defining a recessed surface, the tailgate rotatable between substantially open and substantially closed positions;
- and
- an illumination system comprising:
- a first optically interactive portion positioned on the truck bed;
- a second optically interactive portion positioned on the tailgate;
- and
- a light source positioned on the recessed surface of the tailgate, wherein the light source and the first and second optically interactive surfaces are configured to illuminate the cargo space when the tailgate is in the substantially open position and illuminate the bumper in the substantially closed position.
A vehicle comprising:
- a truck bed defining a cargo space;
- a bumper positioned vehicle rearward of the truck bed;
- a tailgate operable between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position;
- and
- an illumination system comprising a light source positioned on the tailgate such that the light source illuminates the bumper when the tailgate is in the closed position and illuminates the cargo space when the tailgate is in the open position.
A vehicle comprising:
- a truck bed, defining a cargo space and having an optically interactive portion positioned thereon;
- a bumper positioned vehicle rearward of the truck bed, the bumper defining a license plate area;
- a trailer hitch mounted below the bumper;
- and
- a light source positioned on a tailgate which is operable between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position, wherein the optically interactive portion and light source are configured to cooperatively illuminate the cargo space when the tailgate is in the open position and illuminate the license plate area of the bumper and the trailer hitch in the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.