IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,986,597
Granted Patent B2
US 6,986,597 · App. 10/699,714 · Granted Jan 17, 2006

Lighted vehicle grille

Assignee: Putco, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,986,597
App. No.
10/699,714
Granted
Jan 17, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lighted vehicle grille includes a grille or grille insert mounted to the front of a vehicle with a plurality of lights mounted to the vehicle grille. The lights may be mounted within holes in the grille or may be otherwise attached to the grille. The lights are connectable to the electrical circuitry of the vehicle, and are adapted to turn on simultaneously with the selective turning on of other vehicle lights.

Claims (13)

1. A combination comprising:

a vehicle having a grille opening at the front thereof and having a light electrical circuit;

a grille mounted within the grille opening, the grille comprising a plate-like material having a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of grille holes therein;

a grille light mounted within one of the grille holes of the grille, the light being connected to the electrical circuit and being capable of selective actuation to activate the light; wherein the grill light includes a threaded cylinder extending through the hole and protruding from the front and rear faces of grill, a front nut being threaded over the cylinder protruding from the front face of the grille and a back nut being threaded over the cylinder protruding from the rear face of the grill.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the grille light includes wires extending from the rear surface of the grille and being electrically connected into the light electrical circuit.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the threaded cylinder surrounds one or more LEDs.

4. A lighting system for a vehicle having a grille opening on the front thereof, the lighting system comprising:

a grille insert mounted within the grille opening, the grille insert comprising a plate-like material having a front face, a back face, and a plurality of grille holes therein;

an electrical lighting circuit including at least one vehicle light adapted to be actuated for selective lighting;

a grille light mounted within one of the grille holes of the grille insert and having grille light wires extending therefrom;

the grille light wires being electrically connected to the electrical lighting circuit for causing the grille light to be actuated and lit simultaneously with the selective actuation of the one vehicle light; a cylinder within the one grill hole; said cylinder includes a front threaded end protruding from the front face of the grill insert and the back threaded end protruding from the back face of the grill insert, a front nut being threaded on the front threaded end of the cylinder and a back nut being threaded on the back threaded end of the cylinder.

5. The lighting system according to claim 4 wherein the front nut engages the front face of the grille insert and the back nut engages the back face of the grille insert to attach the grille light to the grille.

6. The lighting system according to claim 5 wherein the grille light wire protrudes from the back threaded end of the cylinder and one or more LEDs protrude from the from threaded end of the cylinder.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2004
From: ELWELL, JAMES P.
To: PUTCO, INC.
Reel/Frame 014331/0198 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2003
From: UEHARA, NAOHISA
To: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 014673/0690 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050094409A1 · May 5, 2005