Side turn indicator integrated with a fender of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12589688-B2
Application number	US-202419000432-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2024
Priority date	Mar 6, 2024
Publication date	Mar 31, 2026
Grant date	Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

Vehicle fenders for vehicles include a side turn indicator. A vehicle fender may include a recess portion, and the side turn indicator, including a light source, may be disposed in the recessed portion. The vehicle fender may hide, or otherwise obscure, the light source when the side turn indicator in an inactive mode (e.g., not illuminated). However, when the light source is in an active mode (e.g., the side turn indicator is illuminated), light from the light source is visible through any structure of the side turn indicator and the side turn indicator is visible to present an indication to which the vehicle may turn. Further, the side turn indicator, when illuminated, is generally no longer hidden/obscured by the vehicle fender.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a vehicle fender configured to surround a wheel of a vehicle; and a light source on the vehicle fender; a transparent overlay that covers the light source; an indicium disposed on the transparent overlay; and a material coated on the transparent overlay, wherein:
in an inactive mode of the light source, the material is configured to hide the indicium, and
in an active mode of the light source, the light source generates light to the indicium and through the transparent overlay.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the transparent overlay comprises lettering and is coupled with the vehicle fender, and the light source is configured to direct the light to the lettering.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the vehicle fender comprises a recessed portion, and the light source is disposed in the recessed portion.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle fender comprises a U-shaped body.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the transparent overlay comprises lettering, and the light source is configured to direct a portion of the light to the lettering on a vehicle fender.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a lens between the transparent overlay and the light source, wherein:
the light source comprises a side turn indicator for a vehicle, and the overlay includes lettering that at least partially covers the side turn indicator.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein:
the transparent overlay comprises a coating, and the coating is configured to at least partially match a color of the vehicle fender.

8 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a housing configured to carry the light source and couple with the vehicle fender, wherein the lens is positioned between the transparent overlay and the housing.

9 . A vehicle fender, comprising:
a fender body configured to surround a wheel of a vehicle; and a side turn indicator carried by the fender body, the side turn indicator configured to provide a turn signal for the vehicle, the side turn indicator comprising:
a housing,
a light source carried by the housing,
a molded overlay that defines an indicium,
a cover separate from the housing and configured to project light from the side turn indicator, wherein the light provides the turn signal, and
a material that covers the molded overlay, wherein:
in an inactive mode of the light source, the material is configured to hide the indicium, and
in an active mode of the light source, the light source generates light to the indicium and through the cover to provide the turn signal.

10 . The vehicle fender of claim 9 , further comprising:
a housing coupled with the fender body, wherein the housing carries the light source; and an overlay coupled with the housing, wherein the light source is configured to direct light toward the overlay.

11 . The vehicle fender of claim 10 , further comprising a lens, wherein the lens is positioned between the housing and the overlay.

12 . The vehicle of fender claim 11 , wherein the light source is positioned between the housing and the lens.

13 . The vehicle fender of claim 10 , wherein:
the overlay comprises an indicium, and the light source is configured to direct light toward the indicium.

14 . The vehicle fender of claim 13 , wherein the indicium is selected from a group consisting of lettering or a logo.

15 . The vehicle fender of claim 13 , further comprising a coating disposed on the overlay, wherein the coating is configured to at least partially match a color of the fender body.

16 . The vehicle fender of claim 9 , wherein:
the fender body comprises a recessed portion, and the light source is disposed in the recessed portion.

17 . A vehicle, comprising:
a wheel; and a fender that at least partially surrounds the wheel, the fender comprising:
a fender body comprising a recessed portion; and
a side turn indicator carried by the fender body at the recessed portion, the side turn indicator configured to provide a turn signal, the side turn indicator comprising:
a housing,
a transparent overlay coupled with the housing,
a light source carried by the housing,
a molded overlay that defines in part an indicium,
a cover positioned between the light source and the molded overlay, the cover configured to project light from the side turn indicator, and
a material that covers the molded overlay, wherein:
in an inactive mode of the light source, the material is configured to hide the indicium, and
in an active mode of the light source, the light source generates light to the indicium and through the cover to provide the turn signal.

18 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the housing is coupled with the fender body and carries the side turn indicator.

19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein:
the light source further comprises a lens, and the lens is positioned between the housing and the molded overlay.

20 . The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the light source is positioned between the housing and the lens.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Baker Simon
• Beaven Timothy
• Casey Siobhan Marie
• Szczupak Jonathan James

Classifications

• F21S43/265 Primary

  Transparent cover plates, e.g. for protecting the interior of the signalling devices against environmental influences · CPC title

• F21S43/2817

  Coatings, e.g. anti-reflection coatings · CPC title

• F21W2103/20

  Direction indicator lights · CPC title

• B60Q1/326

  on or for wheels · CPC title

• B60Q1/503

  using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text · CPC title