LED TAIL LIGHT HEATER

ELEMENT CHAUFFANT POUR FEU ARRIERE A DEL

English Abstract

An apparatus for the prevention of snow on a LED light of a motor vehicle comprising: an LED light heating element cover, said cover containing a heating element powered by the same DC voltage generated by the vehicle to power the LED lights, said heating element positioned adjacent to LED lights to thereby minimally obscure light projecting therefrom. In a preferred aspect of the invention the heating element cover comprises a circular ring surrounding the led light and the heating element cover covers only the heating element. In another aspect cover is centrally transparent and covers not only the heating element but additionally the LED light to thereby trap heat generated under the cover. In yet another aspect the cover further comprises the LED light and the combined apparatus can be used to replace a conventional non LED light on the vehicle, or alternatively, as the original lamp.

French Abstract

Il est décrit un appareil empêchant la présence de neige sur une lampe à DEL dun véhicule à moteur comprenant un boîtier pour lélément chauffant dune lampe à DEL. Ledit boîtier comprend un élément chauffant alimenté par la même tension continue générée par le véhicule pour alimenter les lampes à DEL. Ledit élément chauffant se trouve à proximité des lampes à DEL, dans le but den obstruer la projection lumineuse le plus minimalement possible. Dans un aspect souhaité de linvention, le boîtier de lélément chauffant comprend une bague circulaire entourant la lampe à DEL et couvre uniquement lélément chauffant. Dans un autre aspect, le centre du boîtier est transparent et le boîtier couvre à la fois lélément chauffant et la lampe à DEL, dans le but de conserver la chaleur générée sous le boîtier. Dans un autre aspect, le boîtier comprend également la lampe à DEL et lappareil combiné peut être utilisé pour remplacer une lampe traditionnelle du véhicule ou agir comme lampe dorigine.

Claims

The Embodiments of the Present Invention in Which an Exclusive Property or
Privilege is claimed are as
follows:
1) An apparatus for the prevention and accumulation of snow and/ or ice on
a LED light unit secured
to a motor vehicle comprising:
an LED light heating element cover adapted to cover and surround the LED light
unit, wherein said
LED light heating element cover is securable to the motor vehicle independent
of the LED light
unit;
said cover containing a heating element powered by the same DC voltage
generated by the vehicle
to power the LED light unit, said heating element positioned adjacent to LED
light unit to thereby
minimally obscure light projecting therefrom.
2) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the heating element further comprises
a thermostatically
controlled sensor and switch to switch off power to the heating element above
a threshold temperature.
3) An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the heating element cover comprises a
circular ring
surrounding the led light unit and the heating element cover covers only the
heating element.
4) An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the cover is centrally transparent
and covers not only the
heating element but additionally the LED light unit to thereby trap heat
generated under the cover.
5) An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the cover further comprises the LED
light unit and wherein the
combined apparatus is outwardly shaped similarly to a lamp unit on a
particular vehicle so that it can be
used to replace a conventional non LED light unit on the vehicle, or
alternatively, as the original lamp unit
on the vehicle.
6) A method for the prevention and accumulation of snow and/ or ice on the
LED light unit of a
vehicle comprising the following steps:
providing an apparatus as described in claim 1 so as to surround the LED light
unit independent
of the LED light unit;
electrically connecting wires extending from the heating element to electrical
power of which is
automatically switched off when the vehicle is not running; and
attaching the apparatus adjacent to the LED light unit on the vehicle to
thereby radiate heat over
an exterior side of the LED light unit.
7) A method for the prevention and accumulation of snow and/ or ice on the
LED light unit of a
vehicle comprising the following steps:
providing an apparatus as described in claim 4;
electrically connecting wires extending from the heating element to electrical
power of which is
automatically switched off when the vehicle is not running; and
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Date Regue/Date Received 2023-01-09

positioning the apparatus on the vehicle independent of the LED light unit
over the LED light unit
so as to surround the LED light unit.
8) A
method for the prevention and accumulation of snow and/ or ice on the LED
light unit of a
vehicle comprising the following steps:
providing an apparatus as described in claim 5;
removing an existing lamp unit on the vehicle;
electrically connecting the heating element to electrical power of the vehicle
which is
automatically switched off when the vehicle is not running;
additionally connecting controlled power wires to the lamp unit;
replacing the removed existing lamp unit on the vehicle with the LED light
unit; and
securing the LED light heating element cover to the vehicle around the LED
light unit
independently of the LED light unit.
8
Date Regue/Date Received 2023-01-09

Description

CA 02842369 2014-02-10
LED TAIL LIGHT HEATER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the removal of snow and ice from LED lights. More
particularly
this invention relates to a an apparatus and method for attaching the
apparatus to LED tail lights
on a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the inventors operates trucks used for commercial hauling in Canada.
When the
trucks are fitted with LED tail lights there is a problem with snow and ice
accumulation. Unlike
conventional tail lights which generate a small amount of heat when the they
are operated, the
LED tail lights generate so little heat. that even if they are cleaned prior
to operation, one cannot
be assured that snow and ice will not accumulate thereon while the LEDs are
on, and while the
vehicle is being driven on the roadway during winter driving conditions.
Obviously driving a
vehicle have obscured tail lights is unsafe.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to disclose an apparatus to prevent the
accumulation of
snow and ice on the LED tail lights of a vehicle. More particularly it is an
object of this
invention to disclose an apparatus which can be either added on, or
alternatively originally
incorporated on the LED tail lights of a tractor trailer, or the LED tail
lights of a trailer pulled by
1

CA 02842369 2014-02-10
a tractor trailer. It is an object of this invention to improve the safety of
vehicles having LED
tail lights operated in winter conditions. It is yet a further object of this
invention to disclose an
apparatus and method of easing the difficulty and stress related to driving a
tractor trailer having
LED tail lights in winter driving conditions.
One aspect of this invention provides for an apparatus for the prevention and
accumulation of snow and/ or ice on a LED light of a motor vehicle comprises
an LED light
heating element cover, said cover containing a heating element powered by the
same DC voltage
generated by the vehicle to power the LED lights, said heating element
positioned adjacent to
LED lights to thereby minimally obscure light projecting therefrom.
In a preferred aspect of this invention the heating element cover comprises a
circular
ring surrounding the led light and the heating element cover covers only the
heating element.
In a yet another preferred aspect of this invention the cover which is
centrally
transparent and covers not only the heating element but additionally the LED
light to thereby trap
heat generated under the cover.
In a yet another preferred aspect of this invention the cover further
comprises the LED
light and wherein the combined apparatus is outwardly shaped sufficiently
similar to a lamp unit
on a particular vehicle then it can be used to replace a conventional non LED
light on the vehicle,
or alternatively, as the original lamp unit on the vehicle.
Various other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become
apparent to
those skilled in the art from the following description in conjunction with
the accompanying
drawings.
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CA 02842369 2014-02-10
FIGURES OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a partial perspective view of a LED heater
mounted on
a rear bumper of a trailer of the type hauled by an eighteen wheeler tractor.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the LED tail light heater taken along
line 2-2
shown in figure 1.
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the LED tail light heater shown in figure 1.
Figure 4 is a perspective of the heating element holding ring as viewed from
the rear
inner side. It is the rear inner side of the heating element holding ring
which receives the heating
element therein.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the heating element housed in heating
element holding
ring shown in figure 4.
The following is a discussion and description of the preferred specific
embodiments of
this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, wherein the
same reference
numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It
should be noted that
such discussion and description is not meant to unduly limit the scope of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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CA 02842369 2014-02-10
Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to figure 1 we have a
perspective view
of partial perspective view of a LED heater 20 mounted on a rear bumper 18 of
a vehicle (or the
trailer of the type hauled by an eighteen wheeler tractor). Most generally an
apparatus for the
prevention and accumulation of snow and/ or ice on a LED light of a motor
vehicle 16 comprises
an LED light heating element cover 22, said cover containing a heating element
24 powered by
the same DC voltage generated by the vehicle to power the LED light 26, said
heating element
positioned adjacent to LED lights 26 to thereby minimally obscure light
projecting therefrom.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the heating element housed in heating
element holding
ring 28 shown in figure 4. Figure 4 is a perspective of the heating element
holding ring 28 as
viewed from the rear inner side. It is the rear inner side of the heating
element holding ring 28
which receives the heating element 24 therein. In one aspect of the invention
the heating element
24 may be positioned within a silicone ring 32 that is configured to fit
within the heating element
holding ring 28. Most preferably, the heating element 24 further comprises a
thermostat and
temperature sensor 34 configured to cut off power to the heating element 24
above a specified
temperature. The heating element 24, as wel as the thermostat and temperature
34 are all
embedded in the silicone ring 32. The heating element 24 is powered by voltage
generated by the
vehicle 16. In a prototype constructed the heating element was configured to
consume 3-4 watts
of power. In the aspect of the invention shown in figure 1, 2, 4, and 5 the
heating element 24
cover comprises a circular ring surrounding the led light 22 and the heating
element cover 22
covers only the heating element 24.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the LED tail light heater 20 taken along
line 2-2
shown in figure 1. In figure 2 a cover 22 is shown which is centrally
transparent. Said cover
shown in figure 4, covers not only the heating element 24 but additionally the
LED light 26 to
thereby trap heat generated under the cover 22.
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CA 02842369 2014-02-10
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the LED tail light heater 20 shown in figure
1. In
another aspect of the invention the cover further comprises the LED light and
wherein the
combined apparatus is outwardly shaped sufficiently similar to a lamp unit on
a particular vehicle
16 so that it can be used to replace a conventional non LED light on the
vehicle 16, or
alternatively, as the original lamp unit on the vehicle 16. It is noted that
for the combined
apparatus to be able to replace a conventional non LED light on a vehicle not
only the attachment
size and structure must be sufficiently similar, but additionally the
electrical connector used to
receive the controlled power line for the light must be compatible.
A method for the prevention and accumulation of snow and/ or ice on the LED
lights
26 of a vehicle 16 comprising the following steps: providing an apparatus 21
as most generally
described above; electrically connecting wires 35 extending from the heating
element 24 to
electrical power of the vehicle 16 which is automatically switched off when
the vehicle 16 is not
running; attaching the apparatus 21 adjacent to the LED light 26 on the
vehicle 16 to thereby
radiate heat over an exterior side of the LED light 26.
A method for the prevention and accumulation of snow and/ or ice on the LED
lights 26
of a vehicle 16 comprising the following steps: providing an apparatus 21 as
described above
wherein the cover 22 is centrally transparent and covers not only the heating
element 24 but
additionally the LED light 26 to thereby trap heat generated under the cover
22; electrically
connecting wires 35 extending from the heating element 24 to electrical power
of the vehicle 16
which is automatically switched off when the vehicle 16 is not running; and,
positioning the
apparatus 21 on the vehicle over the LED light 26.
A method for the prevention and accumulation of snow and/ or ice on the LED
light 26 of
a vehicle 16 comprising the following steps: providing an apparatus 21 as
described above

CA 02842369 2014-02-10
wherein the cover 22 further comprises the LED light 26 and wherein the
combined apparatus
comprises a LED lamp unit 40 is outwardly shaped sufficiently similar to a
lamp unit on a
particular vehicle 16; removing an existing lamp unit 16 on the vehicle;
electrically connecting
wires 35 extending from the heating element 24 to electrical power of which is
automatically
switched off when the vehicle 16 is not running; additionally connecting
controlled power to the
lamp unit; and, replacing the remove existing lamp unit on the vehicle with
the provided
apparatus 21.
While the invention has been described with preferred specific embodiments
thereof, it
will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to
limit the scope of the
invention, which is defined by the following claims.
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Representative Drawing