Light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle

Abstract

A light bar contains one or more rows of light-emitting diodes (LED's) in a housing which extends across substantially the entire width of a windshield of a vehicle and is narrow in width to minimize interference with visibility through the windshield. The housing has an interior forming a channel with a throat; the throat acting as a hood which directs the illumination out of the windshield and minimizes stray light. The LED's are arranged in banks generally symmetrically arrayed about the center of the length of the housing. Two of the banks, preferably equidistant from the center, are tilted in opposite directions to each other so as to project light toward the right side and left side of the vehicle. The LED's may be illuminated continuously or in selected sequence, as established by the user with a switch on the housing. Attached to the housing in a separate compartment is another bank of LED's which may direct light inside the vehicle for use as a dome or map light. A mechanism is provided for displacing and tilting the housing and may use pivotal arms attached to the end of the housing or adjustable Z-shaped hangers attached preferably to clamps such as visor clips already on the vehicle.

1 . A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle, through a window of the vehicle, said window being of a width extending laterally across the window, said window being of a height extending from bottom to top of the window, said light bar comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least one row of length corresponding substantially to the width of said window, a housing defining a channel containing said row of LED's, said channel having a throat which directs illumination from said row of LED's in a beam restricted by said throat through said window.  
   
   
       2 . The light bar according to  claim 1  wherein said window is a windshield of said vehicle and said housing being disposed immediately adjacent the top of said windshield.  
   
   
       3 . The light bar according to  claim 2  wherein said windshield is guarded by visors extending laterally in a direction across the width of said windshield and being movable between a position generally perpendicular to generally paralleling said windshield, said light bar housing being sufficiently narrow to fit between said visors and top of said window.  
   
   
       4 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . The light bar according to  claim 1  wherein said housing has upper and lower walls closed at opposite ends, said walls defining said channel and said throat thereof and a back between said walls and ends.  
   
   
       14 . The light bar according to  claim 13  wherein a light source is attached to a lower one of said walls for projecting light for selective illumination inside said vehicle.  
   
   
       15 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . The light bar according to  claim 13  wherein said walls have edges defining where said throat opens, said LED's being disposed inwardly of said edges.  
   
   
       21 . The light bar according to  claim 1  wherein said LED's are in rows selected from the group consisting of a single row, two parallel rows and three parallel rows.  
   
   
       22 . The light bar according to  claim 1  wherein said LED's are provided in banks constituting said row or a plurality of rows of LED's.  
   
   
       23 - 31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle through a window thereof having a width and height, comprising a housing defining a channel extending laterally, said channel having an elongated throat, a plurality of banks of LED's each having one or more rows of height less than said channel disposed in said housing facing said throat, at least one of said banks being oriented to project illumination in a different direction through said window than others of said banks.  
   
   
       33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . The light bar according to  claim 32  wherein the color of illumination from certain of said banks is different from the color of illumination from other of said banks.  
   
   
       35 . The light bar according to  claim 32  wherein first and second pluralities of said banks are disposed about a region centrally of said housing.  
   
   
       36 . The light bar according to  claim 35  wherein the disposition of said banks is generally symmetrically about said centrally disposed region.  
   
   
       37 . The light bar according to  claim 36  wherein two of said symmetrically disposed banks are tilted angularly with respect to each other away from said window to project illumination in directions angularly corresponding to the tilt thereof.  
   
   
       38 . The light bar according to  claim 37  wherein said banks disposed between said tilted banks are oriented generally in the same direction to project illumination in the same general direction out through said window.  
   
   
       39 . The light bar according to  claim 32  further comprising means for energizing said banks to selectively provide continuous and different sequences of flashing illumination.  
   
   
       40 . The light bar according to  claim 32  further comprising optics attached to said banks for each LED thereof for focusing illumination provided from said banks.  
   
   
       41 . The light bar according to  claim 40  wherein said optics represent separate plates of transparent material carrying lenses disposed on the LED's of each bank.  
   
   
       42 . A light bar mountable in the interior of a vehicle comprising: 
 a housing extending substantially across a window of said vehicle having a plurality of LED's for projecting light through said window in which said LED's are oriented to project said light in different directions;    said housing being sufficiently narrow to be located adjacent the top of said window without substantial obstruction of view through said window; and    means for energizing said LED's to provide one or more patterns of the light from said LED's.    
   
   
       43 . A method for providing an interior light bar for a vehicle, having a windshield comprising the steps of: 
 providing a light bar much narrower than said windshield in height, said bar having LED's for projecting light in different directions; and    attaching said light bar between the roof and visors of the vehicle to direct light from said light bar out of the windshield of the vehicle.    
   
   
       44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle, through a window of the vehicle, said light bar comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least one row, a housing containing said row of LED's, illumination from said row of LED's being projectable through said window, and wherein said housing has at least one wall and opposite ends, and a back along said wall and between said ends, and wherein said wall and ends are plates of flexible material.  
   
   
       46 . A light bar providing illumination from inside a vehicle, through a window of the vehicle, said light bar comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) in at least one row, a housing containing said row of LED's, illumination from said row of LED's being projectable through said window, and at least one member for adjustably mounting said housing with respect to said window.