Lighting features for a lift gate of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12589687-B2
Application number	US-202419000428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2024
Priority date	Feb 14, 2024
Publication date	Mar 31, 2026
Grant date	Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

Rear lighting systems of a vehicle may include lights sources that function as taillights, brake lights, turn lights, fog lights. Some lights sources may surround, or at least partially surround, other lights sources. Further, some light sources are mounted on a lift gate, and may be visible to other drivers and/or pedestrians behind the vehicle regardless of whether the lift gate is in an open or closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising: a first light source comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and a second light source comprising a first C-shape, the second light source surrounding, at the first end, a first plurality of surfaces of the first light source based on the first C-shape; and a third light source comprising a second C-shape, the second light source surrounding, at the second end, a second plurality of surfaces of the first light source based on the second C-shape, wherein the third light source and the third light source are configured to illuminate to provide a vehicle indicator of a vehicle.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source are configured to couple with a lift gate of the vehicle.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second light source and the third light source are configured to provide the vehicle indicator in a first position of the lift gate and in a second position of the lift gate.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first light source comprises a taillight.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the second light source and the third light source comprise a U-shape.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first light source is positioned between the second light source and the third light source.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle indicator comprises a turn event for the vehicle.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle indicator comprises a braking event for the vehicle.

9 . An apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a body configured to transition from a first position to a second position different from the first position; a first light source carried by the body, the first light source configured to provide a first light beam in accordance with a first indication; and a second light source configured to provide a second light beam in accordance with a second indication different from the first indication, wherein:
in the first position, the first light source is further configured to direct the first light beam away from the vehicle and in a first direction parallel with respect to the body, and
in the second position, the second light source is further configured to direct the second light beam away from the vehicle and in a second direction parallel with respect to the body.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the first position comprises a closed position, and in response to the body in the closed position, the first light beam is perpendicular with respect to the body.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the second position comprises an open position, and in response to the body in the open position, the first light beam is parallel with respect to the body.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a lens carried by the body that covers the first light source and the second light source, wherein the lens defines an edge of the body.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the second light source is carried by the body, and the second light source is further configured to direct the second light beam away from the vehicle in the first position or the second position.

14 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the first light source comprises a taillight, and the second light source comprises a brake light.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the second light source at least partially surrounds the first light source.

16 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first light source is movable with respect to the second light source based on the body moving from the first position to the second position.

17 . A vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle body; a first apparatus coupled with the vehicle body, the first apparatus comprising a first light source and a lens that covers the first light source; a spoiler coupled with the vehicle body, the spoiler at least partially covering the lens; a lift gate coupled with, and rotatable with respect to, the vehicle body; a second apparatus carried by the lift gate, the second apparatus comprising:
a first light source comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a second light source that surrounds the first end; and
a third light source that surrounds the second end, wherein the second light source and the third light source are configured to simultaneously illuminate to provide an indication.

18 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein:
the spoiler defines a space between the vehicle body, and the lens at least partially protrudes from the spoiler.

19 . The vehicle of claim 17 , further comprising a fog light, wherein:
the fog light is below the lift gate in a closed position of the lift gate, and the fog light is above the lift gate in an open position of the lift gate.

20 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the second light source and the third light source are configured to provide a vehicle indicator in a first position of the lift gate and in a second position of the lift gate.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Baker Simon
• Casey Siobhan Marie
• Beaven Timothy
• Castiglione Micheal Richard
• Wickramasinghe Shammika Ashan

Classifications

• B60Q1/2607 Primary

  comprising at least two indicating lamps · CPC title

• B60Q1/44

  for indicating braking action {or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal} · CPC title

• B60Q1/34

  for indicating change of drive direction (B60Q1/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60Q1/304

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

• B60Q1/0041

  of several lamps in relation to each other · CPC title