Vehicle Light Bar with Straight and Curved Frame

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional light bars fail to fit well on modern pickup truck cabs, either being too far forward for straight designs or not matching the roof line for curved designs, and custom designs are impractical for manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A lighting apparatus with a frame featuring a straight central portion and curved end portions, incorporating a mix of spot and diffuse light sources to provide improved illumination patterns, and mounting brackets for secure attachment to the truck's A-pillars, allowing for a universal fit on most modern full-size pickup trucks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a straight light bar design is used, then manufacturing is simple, but it does not fit well on modern pickup truck cabs as it sits too far forward

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidfit to cab roof line
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The light bar frame is divided into three distinct segments: a straight central portion and two curved end portions. This segmentation allows each portion to serve its specific function - the straight portion maintains manufacturing simplicity while the curved portions provide the necessary aesthetic fit to the cab roof line, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and shape conformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the light bar frame have different geometric qualities - the central portion is straight while the end portions are curved. This local differentiation allows the light bar to maintain simplicity where needed (central portion) while achieving proper fitment where required (end portions matching the cab roof line), thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and shape conformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If a curved light bar design is used, then it matches the roof line better, but it sits too far forward and does not fit properly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic fit to roof lineVSAvoidproper positioning on cab
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is segmented into straight and curved portions, allowing the curved end portions to match the aesthetic roof line while the straight central portion enables proper positioning and mounting on the cab, thus resolving the contradiction between aesthetic fit and proper positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light bar employs local quality by applying curvature only where aesthetic fit is needed (end portions) while maintaining straight geometry where proper positioning is critical (central portion), thereby achieving both aesthetic conformity and correct mounting position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Shape

If custom light bar designs are created for each truck model, then fitment is perfect, but manufacturing becomes impractical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecise fitment to specific truck modelVSAvoidmanufacturing practicality
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light bar frame design achieves universality by combining straight and curved portions in a configuration that can fit multiple modern full-size pickup truck models (Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan) without requiring custom designs for each model, thus resolving the contradiction between precise fitment and manufacturing practicality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

By applying curvature only at the end portions and maintaining a straight central portion, the design achieves adequate fitment across multiple truck models without requiring fully custom designs for each model, balancing fitment quality with manufacturing simplicity and universality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Area of stationary object

If only diffuse light sources are used, then illumination covers wide area, but light beams lack directionality and concentration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination coverage areaVSAvoidlight beam concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

Different types of light sources are placed at different locations - diffuse light sources at the curved end portions for wide area coverage and spot light sources at the straight central portion for concentrated directional beams. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between wide coverage and beam concentration by assigning each light source type to the location where its特性 is most beneficial.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting system is segmented into different functional zones with different light source types - diffuse sources for peripheral wide-area illumination and spot sources for central concentrated beams, thereby achieving both wide coverage and high concentration in different spatial zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

5Illumination intensity

If only spot light sources are used, then light beams are concentrated and directional, but illumination coverage area is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight beam concentrationVSAvoidillumination coverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Spot light sources are positioned at the central portion where concentrated beams are needed for long-range illumination, while diffuse light sources are positioned at the end portions to expand coverage area, thereby achieving both beam concentration and wide coverage through strategic local placement of different light source types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting system segments spot and diffuse sources into different spatial zones - spot sources in the central region for concentrated coverage and diffuse sources at the periphery for area expansion, resolving the contradiction between beam concentration and coverage area through spatial segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10259377B2Vehicle light bar with straight and curved frame portions
Publication Date: 2019.04.16 TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
  • US10259377B2 patent drawing
  • US10259377B2 patent drawing
  • US10259377B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A lighting apparatus includes a frame having a straight central portion and first and second curved end portions, a plurality of spot light sources mounted on the straight central portion and aligned parallel to each other, and a plurality of diffuse light sources may be mounted on each of the curved end portions.