Improved laterally extending backup light for a vehicle

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a laterally extendable backup light system (10) for placement on the trailer (12) of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer truck (16). The backup light (10) is mounted (30) below the outer edge of the trailer (12) of the tractor-trailer (16) so that the backup light (10) is extendable laterally away from the edge of the trailer (12) and a light portion (34) extends outward sufficiently to travel beyond the outer edge of the trailer (12) so that a light beam (36) emanating therefrom illuminates an area behind the rear (26) of the trailer (12). A linear actuator (50), controlled wirelessly or via hardwire by the truck (16) driver, activates the light portion (34) of the device (10), causing the light portion (34) to extend out of or retract into the enclosure (32) beyond the end of the trailer (12) of the truck trailer (16).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to vehicle accessories, and more particularly to a backup light for placement on the trailer of an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer truck or other vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Devices related to the present invention are described in the related art. However, none of the related art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0347247, dated December 1, 2016, Espey et al. disclosed a vehicle mountable safety light system. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003 / 0063475, dated April 3, 2003, Simmons disclosed a retractable and concealable rear light system for vehicles. In U.S. Patent No. 6,923,564, dated August 2, 2005, Steward disclosed a selectively deployable driving light. In U.S. Patent No. 6,260,990, dated July 17, 2001, Saunders disclosed a truck light. In U.S. Patent No. 6,409,367, dated June 25, 2002, Pratt disclosed a rear mounted vehicle lighting system. In European Patent Application No. 3351429A1, dated January 23, 2018, Tagliatti disclosed a foldable position light. In U.S. Patent No. 11,041,610, dated June 22, 2021, Smith disclosed a laterally extending backup light for a truck trailer that is pneumatically operated, has many more components, and is much more complex than the present invention. While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they are not suitable for the purposes of the present invention, which will be described below. As will be shown by the description and drawings, the present invention functions in a novel way and differently from the related art. What is relevant to the present invention has been described in the related art. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention discloses a laterally extendable backup light system for placement on the trailer of an 18-wheel tractor trailer truck. The light of the present invention is mounted under the outer edge of the tractor trailer so that the light is extendable laterally away from the edge of the trailer and the light portion of the present invention extends sufficiently outward beyond the outer edge of the tractor trailer so that the light beam emanating therefrom illuminates the rear area at the rear of the trailer. A linear actuator operated by an electrical switch / actuator controlled by the truck driver activates the light portion of the present invention, causing it to extend from the enclosure of the present invention, causing the light to extend beyond the edge of the truck trailer trailer when the gear is put into reverse and then retracted into the enclosure by the electrical switch / actuator when the gear is put out of reverse.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a backup light system for use on a tractor trailer truck.It is a further object of the present invention to provide a laterally extendable backup light system that extends sufficiently beyond the end of the trailer to illuminate the rear area behind the tractor trailer truck.It is a further object of the present invention to provide a backup light for a trailer that may be easily operated by a user.It is a further object of the present invention to provide a backup light system for a trailer that may be relatively easily and inexpensively manufactured.

[0005] The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but it should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

[0006] The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown operatively connected; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown operatively connected; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the light portion of the present invention extending from the housing. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an electrical flow diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an electrical flow diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 illustrate the present invention, which discloses a laterally extending back-up light system for a tractor trailer truck, generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0009] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the present invention 10 disposed on a trailer 12 behind a tractor 14 of a tractor trailer truck 16 attached to the side 18 of the trailer, the trailer 12 having sides 18, a top 20, a bottom 22, a front 24, and a rear 26, and the present invention 10 connected to any suitable frame member 28 below 30 the trailer 12 of the tractor trailer truck 16. It can be seen that the present invention 10 has a housing 32 and a light portion 34 extending from the enclosure such that the light portion shines a beam of light 36 toward the rear 26 of the trailer 12 of the tractor trailer 16. The light portion 34 of the present invention 10 is mounted on a shaft 38 extending from the enclosure 32 of the present invention 10. Although FIG. 1 shows only the driver's side of the tractor trailer 16, the present invention 10 may be mounted on both the driver's side and the passenger's side of the tractor trailer. The present invention 10 may also be used with other types of trucks, such as straight trucks or buses without trailers.

[0010] 2, the present invention 10 is shown mounted to the underside 30 of a trailer 12 having an enclosure 32 that is attached to the frame 28 of the trailer 12 using a number of mounting bolts 40 or the like as described with respect to FIG 1. Also shown alternatively is the present invention 10 mounted vertically to the trailer 12 showing lights 34 in extended and reverse positions along with other previously disclosed features.

[0011] 3, the present invention 10 operates with a conventional 12 volt electrical system which would be expected to be supplied by a vehicle power source 42, e.g., a battery. Power from the power source 42 of the truck / tractor 14 is supplied to the control box 43 via an electrical wiring harness 68 and to the light portion 34 via an electrical wiring harness 70. The present invention 10 includes an enclosure 32 which contains the light portion 34, the light being mounted on an adjustable base 46 such that the light may be angularly pivoted at 48, the base 46 being mounted on a shaft 38 which extends from and retracts into the enclosure 32. The shaft 38 is extended and retracted from the housing 32 by a linear actuator, generally designated by reference numeral 50, which includes a drive motor 52 having a rotary output drive shaft 54 ​​with a set of gears forming a gear assembly 56 within a gearbox or enclosure, and the drive shaft 58 is mechanically coupled to a threaded ball screw / spindle 60 having a set of threads 62 that interconnect with mating threads on a ball nut 63 such that as the threaded ball screw / spindle 60 is rotated by the drive motor 52, the ball nut 63 moves linearly along the thread / spindle 60. The ball nut 63 is interlocked with a cover 61 or enclosure 32 to prevent it from rotating such that as the threaded ball screw / spindle 60 rotates, the shaft 38 moves linearly along the enclosure 32, thereby extending and retracting the light 34 from and into the enclosure 32 in response to rotation of the motor 52 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

[0012] The base 46 of the light portion 34 also has an extendable / retractable stabilized electrical conduit shaft 72 which encloses electrical wires 70 and aids in the waterproofing of the waterproof enclosure 32 .

[0013] The light portion 34 is mounted to the enclosure / housing 32 so as to emit light at the rear 26 of the trailer 12 when the light portion 34 is turned on. The light portion 34 may include any type of light emitting device including incandescent, fluorescent, or light emitting diodes, as would be performed in a standard manner by one skilled in the art. It is anticipated that the present invention 10 should be mounted forward of the rear tandem wheels of the trailer 12, or forward of the drive axle of a straight truck.

[0014] The control box 43 of the present invention 10 can receive input data either hardwired or wirelessly. If the present invention 10 is controlled wirelessly, the transceiver 44 must be connected to the control box 43 to receive input transmission data from a manually operated remote control handheld device 64, such as, for example, a fob commonly used with remote control door systems in automobiles. Alternatively, the present invention 10 may be controlled via hardwire by a manually operated switch 66 mounted in a convenient location within the cab of the truck tractor 14, according to a user selectable location as per the designer's desires. The fob 64 is essentially a portable remote control wireless device, handheld with an internal battery, and is expected to have, for example, a first open button that turns on the light 34 and extends it from the enclosure 32, and a second close button that turns off the light and retracts it into the enclosure.

[0015] 4, there is shown an electrical flow diagram for an embodiment in which the present invention 10 is controlled via hardwires including the battery 42 of the tractor trailer 16, a switch 66, whereby the present invention 10 and the back-up light 34 (which includes the light portion 34 shown in FIG. 3) are turned on when the switch is turned on as shown at 80 and the light extends from the enclosure 32 to 84. When the switch 66 is turned off, the back-up light 34 is turned off as shown at 82 and retracted into the enclosure 32 at 86.

[0016] 5, there is shown an electrical flow diagram for an embodiment in which the present invention 10 is wirelessly controlled including a wireless remote control 64 whereby the present invention 10 and the backup light 34 (which includes the light portion 34 shown in FIG. 3) are turned on when the switch is turned on as shown at 80 and the light extends from the enclosure 32 to 84. When the remote control 64 is turned off at 82, the backup light 34 is turned off as shown at 82 and retracted into the enclosure 32 at 86.

[0017] As a general description, and referring to Figures 1-5, a linear actuator 50 is an actuator that produces linear motion in response to a rotating shaft from a conventional electric motor 52. In general, the electric motor 52 of the linear actuator is mechanically coupled to a rotating threaded screw 60 that has a continuous helical thread 62 machined on its circumference that extends along the length of the threaded screw. Threaded onto the threaded screw 60 is a ball nut 63 having a mating corresponding helical thread, and the ball nut is prevented from rotating with the threaded screw by interlocking the ball nut with a non-rotating portion of the actuator body, such as the enclosure 32. Thus, as the rotating screw 60 rotates, the ball nut 63 is driven linearly along the thread 62 of the rotating screw. The direction of movement of the ball nut 63 is determined by the direction of rotation of the threaded ball screw 60. Many types of motors 52 may be used with the linear actuator system, including all types of DC motors, stepper motors, reversible motors, and any other suitable motor electric motors.

[0018] The remote control 64 of the present invention 10 operates on radio frequency or similar wave technology so does not require line of sight for operation and its mode of motion control is expected to use either instantaneous or sustained action, where instantaneous action means that the actuator will only move as long as the button on the remote control is pressed to provide precision of control, or sustained action means pressing a directional button on the remote control once, ensuring that the actuator will move to the end of its stroke in the direction the operator pushes, with internal limit switches integrated within the actuator so that once the actuator reaches the end of its stroke no further action is required.

[0019] What is claimed to be new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A laterally extending backup light system for a vehicle, comprising: a) a laterally extending first housing mounted along one side of a body of the vehicle and below an outer edge of a trailer of a tractor trailer; b) an adjustable base adjacent a distal end of the first housing; and c) a linear actuator within the first housing having a shaft extending through the distal end of the first housing for supporting the adjustable base; d) said linear actuator comprising: a threaded ball screw, the threaded ball screw having a distal end connected to a proximal end of the shaft in the first housing; a cover enclosing the screw; and a ball nut interlocked with the cover to prevent rotation of the ball nut, the ball nut threadably engaging the screw such that as the screw rotates, the ball nut moves linearly along the screw, such that movement of the ball nut along the screw extends or retracts the shaft depending on the direction of rotation of the screw. e) an electric motor and gear assembly mounted to the proximal end of the first housing for driving the screw in one direction to extend the adjustable base or in the opposite direction to retract the adjustable base; f) an electric controller for controlling operation of said linear actuator using said electric motor and said gear assembly; and g) a backup light mounted to the adjustable base; h) the backup light system, wherein when a driver of the vehicle activates the backup light to illuminate a rear area while the vehicle is reversing, the shaft extends laterally from the body away from the linear actuator.

2. The backup light system of claim 1 , wherein the backup light system is hardwired.

3. The backup light system of claim 1 , wherein the backup light system is wireless.

4. The backup light system of claim 1 , wherein the backup light system uses momentary motion control.

5. The backup light system of claim 1 , wherein the backup light system uses continuous motion control.

6. 6. The backup light system of claim 5, wherein the backup light is pivotally mounted to the bracket to allow for position adjustment of the backup light.

7. The backup light system of claim 6 , wherein the first housing is disposed in front of a rear wheel of the vehicle.

8. 8. The backup light system of claim 7, further comprising a second housing identical to the first housing mounted on an opposite side of the vehicle such that the surrounding rear area on both sides of the vehicle is illuminated while the vehicle is in reverse.

9. 1. A method for illuminating an area behind a vehicle while reversing, comprising: a) mounting a first housing extending laterally beneath an outer edge of a trailer of a tractor trailer and along one side of said trailer; b) providing an adjustable base adjacent a distal end of the first housing; c) providing a linear actuator within the first housing having a shaft extending through one end of the first housing for supporting the adjustable base; d) said linear actuator comprising a threaded ball screw, said threaded ball screw having a distal end connected to a proximal end of said shaft in said first housing, a cover enclosing said screw, and said ball nut interlocked with said cover to prevent rotation of said ball nut, said ball nut threadably engaging said screw such that as said screw rotates, said ball nut moves linearly along said screw, such that movement of said ball nut along said screw extends or retracts said shaft depending on the direction of rotation of said screw; e) providing an electric motor and gear assembly mounted to a proximal end of said first housing for driving said screw in one direction to extend said adjustable base or in the opposite direction to retract said adjustable base; f) controlling the operation of said linear actuator with an electrical controller; g) mounting said backup light to said adjustable base; and h) a driver of the tractor trailer shifting into reverse to extend the shaft laterally from the linear actuator and activate the backup lights to illuminate the rear area while the vehicle is reversing.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the backup light system is hardwired.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the backup light system is wireless.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the backup light system uses momentary motion control.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the backup light system uses continuous motion control.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of pivotally adjusting the backup light on the adjustable base.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first housing is disposed in front of the rear wheels of the vehicle.

16. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising having a second housing identical to the first housing mounted on opposite sides of the vehicle such that surrounding rear areas on both sides of the vehicle are illuminated while the vehicle is reversing.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising controlling the operation of the linear actuator with a hardwired switch.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising controlling the operation of the linear actuator with a wireless remote control.

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