Integrated in-surface lens assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12377781-B2
Application number	US-202418937343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2024
Priority date	Apr 14, 2022
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel. The vehicle panel has an inside surface and an outside surface. The vehicle panel has a light aperture extending from the inside surface of the vehicle panel to the outside surface of the vehicle panel. Connected to the inside surface of the vehicle panel is a bracket. The seamless lighting arrangement further includes a lens with a bracket connection portion that connects to the bracket and a transmission portion positioned within the light aperture of the vehicle panel. The lens further includes a light unit fixedly connected to the lens. The light unit has a projector port for emitting light from a light source. The light transmission portion of the lens has a light input surface region formed on an inside surface of the lens and a light output surface region formed on an outside surface of the lens.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel comprising:
a vehicle panel having an inside surface and an outside surface;
a light aperture extending from the inside surface of the vehicle panel to the outside surface of the vehicle panel;
a bracket connected to the inside surface of the vehicle panel, wherein the bracket includes a first wall having a lock aperture spaced at a distance from the light aperture and a second wall having a locator aperture spaced at a distance from the light aperture, and
a locking lens with a lens portion, a locking tab and a locator tab, wherein the lens portion, the locking tab and the locator tab are each integrated together as one piece, wherein the locking lens connects to the bracket so that the locator tab slides through the locator aperture and the locking tab engages the lock aperture such that the locator tab aligns the lens portion so a light output surface of the lens portion is positioned into the light aperture, and the locking tab secures the locking lens to the bracket so that the light output surface of the locking lens is positioned in the light aperture of the vehicle panel, wherein the locking lens further includes one or more lock structures formed in the locking lens;
a light unit having a light output surface for emitting light from a light source, wherein the light output surface engages a light input side of the locking lens, and the light unit further includes one or more lens engagement structures for engaging the one or more lock structures of the locking lens to connect the light unit to the locking lens.

2. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lock structures of the locking lens further includes at least one locking datum formed on the locking lens and at least one lock engagement extending from the light unit that engages the at least one locking datum to connect the light unit to the locking lens.

3. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein a transmission portion of the locking lens and an outside surface of the vehicle panel are flush when the light unit is connected to the bracket.

4. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the light source is controlled by signals received from a controller located remote from the light unit.

5. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the bracket has a flange that connects the bracket to the inside surface of the vehicle panel using adhesives, welding, fastener clips, snap lock features or fasteners.

6. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 1 , further comprising:
a raised ridge formed on the light input side of the lens portion of the locking lens; wherein the light output surface of the light unit includes a lock ring around a portion of a perimeter of the light output surface that is configured to engage and snap onto the raised ridge of the lens portion so that a desired focal point and light pattern will be projected from the seamless lighting arrangement.

7. A seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel comprising:
a vehicle panel having an inside surface and an outside surface;
a light aperture extending from the inside surface of the vehicle panel to the outside surface of the vehicle panel;
a bracket connected to the inside surface of the vehicle panel, wherein the bracket includes a first wall having a lock aperture spaced at a distance from the light aperture and a second wall having a locator aperture spaced at a distance from the light aperture;
a locking lens with a lens portion, a locking tab and a locator tab, wherein the lens portion, the locking tab and the locator tab are each integrated together as one piece and the locking lens connects to the bracket so that the locator tab slides through the locator aperture and the locking tab engages the lock aperture such that the locator tab aligns the lens portion so a light output surface of the lens portion is positioned into the light aperture, and the locking tab secures the locking tab secures the locking lens to the bracket so that the light output surface of the locking lens is positioned in the light aperture of the vehicle panel;
an upper locking datum that is a tab extending from an edge of the locking lens located above a light input side of the locking lens;
a lower locking datum that is a slot formed in the locking lens with a tab located below the upper locking datum;
a light unit having a light output surface for emitting light from a light source, wherein the light output surface engages a light input side of the locking lens, wherein the light unit;
an upper lens engagement structure that is configured to engage the tab of the upper locking datum, and
a lower lens engagement structure that is configured to slide into the slot and engage the tab of the lower locking datum.

8. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 7 , wherein the tab of the upper locking datum is located above the locking tab of the locking lens.

9. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 7 , wherein the slot of the lower locking datum extends below the light input side of the locking lens.

10. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 7 , wherein a transmission portion of the locking lens and an outside surface of the vehicle panel are flush when the light unit is connected to the bracket.

11. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 7 wherein the light source is controlled by signals received from a controller located remote from the light unit.

12. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 7 , wherein the bracket has a flange that connects the bracket to the inside surface of the vehicle panel using adhesives, welding, fastener clips, snap lock features or fasteners.

13. The seamless lighting arrangement for a vehicle panel of claim 7 , further comprising:
a raised ridge formed on the light input side of the lens portion of the locking lens; wherein the light output surface of the light unit includes a lock ring around a portion of a perimeter of the light output surface that is configured to engage and snap onto the raised ridge of the lens portion so that a desired focal point and light pattern will be projected from the seamless lighting arrangement.

Assignees

• Magna Exteriors Inc

Inventors

• Vander Sluis Daniel
• Gerrity Patrick
• Pace Oliver

Classifications

• F21V5/04

  of lens shape · CPC title

• B60Q1/0035

  relative to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60Q3/54

  Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners · CPC title

• B60Q3/51

  for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor · CPC title

• F21V17/101

  permanently, e.g. welding, gluing or riveting · CPC title