Lamp selectively connectable to moveable or fixed vehicle panel and lamp placement method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10800323-B2
Application number	US-201916710876-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2019
Priority date	Aug 17, 2018
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle assembly includes a lamp, a moveable panel configured such that the lamp is operably mountable to the moveable panel under a first operating condition, and a fixed panel configured such that the lamp is operably mountable to the fixed panel under a different, second operating condition. The lamp is configured to be powered through the moveable panel when operably mounted to the moveable panel. The lamp is configured to be powered through the fixed panel when operably mounted to the fixed panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle assembly, comprising:
a first lamp;
a moveable panel configured such that the first lamp is operably mountable to the moveable panel under a first operating condition, the first lamp at least partially received within a moveable panel pocket of the moveable panel when the first lamp is operably mounted to the moveable panel; and
a fixed panel configured such that the first lamp is operably mountable to the fixed panel under a different, second operating condition, the first lamp at least partially received within a fixed panel pocket of the fixed panel when the first lamp is operably mounted to the fixed panel, wherein the first lamp is configured to be powered through the moveable panel when operably mounted to the moveable panel, wherein the first lamp is configured to be powered through the fixed panel when operably mounted to the fixed panel,
wherein, under the first operating condition, the fixed panel pocket lacks any different, second lamp,
wherein, under the second operating condition, the moveable panel pocket lacks any different, second lamp.

2. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first operating condition corresponds to the moveable panel being in a closed position, and the second operating condition corresponds to the moveable panel being in an open position.

3. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising, an electrical connector of the first lamp, an electrical connector of the moveable panel, and an electrical connector of the fixed panel, wherein the electrical connector of the first lamp engages the electrical connector of the moveable panel when the first lamp is operably mounted to the moveable panel, wherein the electrical connector of the first lamp engages the electrical connector of the fixed panel when the first lamp is operably mounted to the fixed panel,
wherein, under the first operating condition, the electrical connector of the fixed panel is disengaged from any electrical connector of any different, second lamp,
wherein, under the second operating condition, the electrical connector of the moveable panel is disengaged from any electrical connector of any different, second lamp.

4. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a rub strip configured to attach to the fixed panel to cover at least a portion of the fixed panel pocket when the first lamp is operably mounted to the moveable panel, the rub strip configured to attach to the moveable panel to cover at least a portion of the moveable panel pocket when the first lamp is operably mounted to the fixed panel.

5. The vehicle assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a reflector disposed adjacent to the fixed panel pocket outside the fixed panel pocket.

6. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the moveable panel is a liftgate at a rear of a vehicle.

7. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fixed panel is a rear fascia.

8. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lamp is a rear lamp of a vehicle.

9. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lamp is a combination lamp.

10. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lamp is operably mountable to the moveable panel or the fixed panel when the first lamp is in a first orientation, and the first lamp is operably mountable to the moveable panel or the fixed panel when the first lamp is in a second orientation that is 180 degrees offset from the first orientation.

11. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lamp is a driver side brake lamp, and further comprising a passenger side brake lamp,
the moveable panel configured such that the passenger side brake lamp is operably mountable to the moveable panel under the first operating condition,
the fixed panel configured such that the passenger side brake lamp is operably mountable to the fixed panel under the second operating condition.

12. A lamp placement method, comprising:
under a first operating condition, operably mounting a lamp within a moveable panel pocket of moveable panel of a vehicle, and powering the lamp through the moveable panel when the lamp is operably mounted to the moveable panel;
operably demounting the lamp from the moveable panel pocket; and
under a different, second operating condition, operably mounting the lamp to a fixed panel of the vehicle, and powering the lamp through the fixed panel when the lamp is operably mounted to the fixed panel without operably mounting another lamp within the moveable panel pocket.

13. The lamp placement method of claim 12 , wherein the first operating condition corresponds to the moveable panel being in a closed position, and the second operating condition corresponds to the moveable panel being in an open position.

14. The lamp placement method of claim 13 , further comprising transitioning an indicator if the moveable panel is in the open position and the lamp is not operably mounted to the fixed panel.

15. The lamp placement method of claim 14 , wherein the transitioning of the indicator comprises illuminating an indicator within a display.

16. The lamp placement method of claim 13 , wherein the moveable panel is in the closed position when latched, and the moveable panel is in the open position when unlatched.

17. The lamp placement method of claim 12 , further comprising connecting an electrical connector of the moveable panel to an electrical connector of the lamp when the lamp is operably mounted to the moveable panel, and connecting an electrical connector of the fixed panel to the electrical connector of the lamp when the lamp is operably mounted to the fixed panel.

18. The lamp placement method of claim 12 , further comprising at least partially receiving the lamp within a fixed panel pocket of the fixed panel when the lamp is operably mounted to the fixed panel, and covering at least a portion of the fixed panel pocket with a rub strip when the lamp is operably mounted to the moveable panel in the first operating condition, and
covering the moveable panel pocket with the rub strip when the lamp is operably mounted to the moveable panel in the second operating condition.

19. The lamp placement method of claim 12 , wherein the lamp is a brake lamp, and the moveable panel is a liftgate.

20. A lamp placement method, comprising:
under a first operating condition, operably mounting a lamp to a moveable panel of a vehicle, and powering the lamp through the moveable panel when the lamp is operably mounted to the moveable panel; and
under a different, second operating condition, operably mounting the lamp to a fixed panel of the vehicle, and powering the lamp through the fixed panel when the lamp is operably mounted to the fixed panel, wherein the first operating condition corresponds to the moveable panel being in a closed position, and the second operating condition corresponds to the moveable panel being in an open position; and
blocking a shifting of the vehicle to a gear if the moveable panel is in the open position and the lamp is not operably mounted to the fixed panel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ekladyous Albert
• Hohmann Lisa
• Singh Hardyal
• Hashemi Masoud

Classifications

• B60Q1/263 Primary

  Snap-in fasteners · CPC title

• B60Q1/30 Primary

  for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces · CPC title

• B60Q1/304

  Adaptations of signalling devices having a part on the vehicle body and another on the boot door · CPC title

• B60Q1/2619

  built in the vehicle body · CPC title

• B60Q7/02

  to be attached to overhanging loads or extending parts of vehicle · CPC title