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US 9,849,830 B1Granted
Tailgate illumination
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsStuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Christopher Anthony Danowski, Pietro Buttolo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle tailgate includes a substrate operable between open and closed positions and defining an inboard surface, an outboard surface and a top surface. A light assembly is positioned on the substrate. A first lens is positioned over the inboard surface and the top surface. A second lens is positioned over the top surface and the outboard surface. A plurality of light sources is positioned between the substrate and the first and second lenses.
Claims18
A vehicle tailgate, comprising:
- a substrate operable between open and closed positions of the tailgate defining an inboard surface, an outboard surface and a top surface;
- and
- a light assembly positioned on the substrate, comprising:
- a first lens positioned over the inboard surface and the top surface;
- a second lens positioned over the top surface and the outboard surface;
- and
- a plurality of light sources positioned between the substrate and the first and second lenses.
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a cargo box defining a cargo space;
- a tailgate substrate coupled to the cargo box and operable between open and closed positions and defining an inboard, an outboard and a top surface;
- and
- a light assembly comprising a composite of adjacent lenses disposed over the inboard, outboard and top surfaces, wherein the light assembly is configured to emit light into the cargo space when the tailgate is in both the open and closed positions.
1 more element
A vehicle comprising:
- a cargo box defining a cargo space;
- and
- a tailgate coupled to the cargo box and operable between open and closed positions, the tailgate comprising:
- a substrate defining an inboard surface, an outboard surface and a top surface;
- and
- a light assembly positioned over the substrate including a plurality of lenses extending over the inboard and outboard surfaces, wherein the light assembly is configured to emit light into the cargo space and directly beneath the tailgate when the tailgate is in the open position, wherein a printed circuit board is bent around the outboard and top surfaces.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.