COMPARTEMENT

The invention relates to lighting in and around a vehicle. In particular, although not exclusively, it relates to an improved lighting system for the rear luggage compartment of a vehicle.

The rear luggage compartment of a vehicle is that volume located immediately behind the most rearward passenger seats. Typically, the rear luggage compartment is used to transport cargo, which is generally loaded and unloaded via an up-and-over door, commonly known as the tailgate of the vehicle. Most rear luggage compartments are equipped with one or more electric lights that facilitate loading and unloading of cargo when there is little or no natural/external light. Such lights, often referred to as courtesy lights, are embedded in the side walls of the luggage compartment. It is common for courtesy lights to be part of an electrical circuit that has a courtesy logic, i.e. is responsive to the position of the tailgate: the lights remain off as long as the door is closed but are powered on as soon as it is opened. That said, even where courtesy lights are controlled by courtesy logic, they typically have an overriding manual switch.

A disadvantage of known courtesy lights is that they sometimes fail to perform their task of lighting up the interior of the luggage compartment because they are obscured by luggage resting against the side walls. Furthermore, whilst conventional courtesy lights embedded in rear luggage compartments can assist during the loading and unloading of cargo in the absence of natural/external light, they lack flexibility. They do not, for example, enable a vehicle user to direct a substantial amount of light outside the luggage compartment. Thus, conventional courtesy lights fail to provide users with light when they are

forced to change a tyre, need to search the area surrounding the vehicle, or carry out repairs to the vehicle's engine, in the dark.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting system for a vehicle which removes or alleviates at least one of the aforementioned problems.

According to a first aspect, the present invention resides in a lighting system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a luggage compartment accessible via a tailgate, wherein the lighting system comprises: a holder for housing within the tailgate; and a light module including a light source, the light module being removably mountable in the holder to illuminate at least a part of the interior of the luggage compartment. The holder may be installed in, or integral with, the tailgate.

The system of the present invention mitigates the problem of luggage obstructing the interior lighting of a luggage compartment because a light module is mountable in a holder in the tailgate, where it is very unlikely to be obscured. As the tailgate is opened, the light module is elevated above the contents of the luggage compartment and thus always provides adequate illumination, making the system of the present invention more effective than conventional ones.

The system of the present invention is also more flexible than conventional ones, since it includes a light module that is removable from the tailgate holder in the tailgate and can therefore, for example, be used to illuminate the outside of the vehicle. This additional flexibility could be crucial in a medical emergency and is also helpful in more routine situations, for example if a vehicle user wishes to change a tyre, or search the area surrounding the vehicle in the dark. The system of the present invention thus enhances vehicular safety and provides vehicle users with additional comfort.

Preferably, the lighting system according to the invention may further comprise a connector means for electrically connecting the light module to an electrical circuit in the vehicle when the light module is mounted in the holder. Advantageously, the connector means is arranged to electrically connect the light module to a courtesy light circuit of the vehicle having courtesy logic.

To enhance the flexibility of the system, the connector means may comprise a male jack-plug formed in, or forming part of, the holder and a female jack-plug socket formed in, or forming part of, the light module, wherein the female jack- plug socket is suitable for receiving the jack-plug when the light module is mounted in the holder.

In alternative embodiment, the male and female parts of the connector means may be reversed.

It is a preferred feature that the light module comprises a battery for operating the light source, which battery may optionally be recharged when the light module is mounted in the holder. Furthermore, the light module may beneficially comprise a switch that controls the light source. Preferably, the switch may be constructed such that it can be brought into a first position in which the light source receives power from the battery, a second position in which the light source does not receive power, and a third position in which the light bulb is connected to an electrical circuit outside the light module.

For safety reasons, it is preferred that the light module is held firmly in place when mounted in the holder. For example, this can be achieved by means of a catch that co-operates with the light module when received within the holder.

To improve the flexibility of the light module when it is used independently, the light module may preferably comprise a magnet for affixing it to metallic surfaces, such as the body or chassis of the vehicle. Additionally or

alternatively, the light module may comprise means for changing the angle of emission of the light source and/or a handle that facilitates mounting the light module in the light holder.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of the light module of a lighting system according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the holder of the same lighting system, with the light module detached;

Figure 3 is an end view of the light module depicted in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the light module depicted in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the light module depicted in Figure 1.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4, a lighting system according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises a holder or socket (1), and a light module (2) which is designed to be removably mountable therein.

The light module (2) has an upper surface (3), a lower surface (4), first and second side surfaces (5, 6) and first and second end surfaces (7, 8). As illustrated by Figure 1, the upper surface (3) of the module comprises a rectangular translucent window (9) such that a light bulb (not indicated), located behind said translucent window (9) within the module (2), can emit light into the module's surroundings.

The holder (1) is installed in the tailgate of a vehicle and is of a size and shape suitable for receiving the light module (2). In an alternative arrangement not shown, the holder is integral with the tailgate. Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the holder (1) comprises a box shaped recess (10), having a bottom surface (11), two elongate side walls (12, 13) and two end walls (14, 15), which fits tightly around the lower surface (4), first and second side surfaces (5, 6), and first and second end surfaces (7, 8) of the light module, leaving the upper surface (4) of the module (2) exposed.

The holder (1) comprises an inward biased, hook-shaped catch (16), which is mounted within the first end wall (14). The hook-shaped catch (16) automatically engages with a complementary recess (17) in the first end surface (7) of the light module (2) when the light module (2) is fully mounted in the holder (1). With the help of this catch (16), the holder (1) is capable of holding the light module (2) firmly in place. This is important given that the holder (1) is in the tailgate of a vehicle, where it is exposed to movement, particularly vibration. Once mounted and secured in the holder (1), the light module (2) is firmly attached to the tailgate of the vehicle, with its upper surface (3) facing towards the inside of the luggage compartment, which can thus be illuminated.

To allow removal of the light module (2) from the holder (1), the biased catch (16) comprises a protrusion (not identified), which extends above the rim of the first end wall (14) through a separate opening (14a) in the rim of the first end wall (14), and allows a user to urge the catch (16) out of the complementary recess (17). First and second handles (2a) and (2b) on the upper surface (3) of the light module (2) to assist with removal of the light module (2) from the holder (1).

When mounted in its holder (1), the light module (2) is electrically connected to the vehicle via a connector means including a male jack-plug (18), which is wired up to the vehicle's electric systems. The male jack plug (18) fits into a

female jack-plug socket (19) of the connector means, the female jack-plug socket (19) being provided in the lower surface (4) of the light module (2). Specifically, the jack-plug (18) projects from the bottom surface (11) of the holder (1) into the recess (10) of the holder (1) such that it is fully inserted into the female jack-plug socket (19) to establish a connection whenever the light module (2) is mounted in the holder (1).

Figure 5 shows a circuit diagram which illustrates how the light module of this embodiment is wired. The light bulb (9a) of the light module (2) is controlled by a three way switch (20), which is accessible via the upper surface (3) of the light module (2) and has the following three positions:

Pl: The switch (20) closes a first electrical circuit formed with the help of wires within the light module (2), between the light bulb (9a) and a rechargeable battery (9b). A first connector (23) within the male jackplug must be closed to establish a connection to ground. In this position, the light bulb (9a) is powered on by the electric current generated by the rechargeable battery (9b).

P2: The switch (20) closes a second electrical circuit, formed with the help of wires within the light module (2), between the light bulb (9a) and a second connector (24) within the male jack-plug (18). In this position the light bulb (9a) is only powered on if the first connector (23) within the male jack-plug (18) is connected to the external circuit leading to Ground (GND).

It is envisaged that the jack-plug (18) is wired to a courtesy light circuit of the vehicle and, when inserted into the female jack-plug socket (19), connects the second electrical circuit thereto. Consequently, if the light module (2) is fully mounted and the switch (20) of the light module (2) is in the third position (P3), the system of the present embodiment

provides for the light bulb (9a) within the light module (2) to be controlled by the courtesy logic of the vehicle.

P3: The switch does not close any circuits. In this position the light bulb (9a) remains powered off and does not emit light.

In summary, when the light module (2) is mounted in the holder (1), the three way switch (20) allows the light bulb (9a) to be switched on permanently (Pl), switched onto courtesy logic (P2), or switched off permanently (P3). Furthermore, referring still to Figure 5, the rechargeable battery is wired, via the male jack-plug (18) and the female jack-plug socket (19) to a circuit which permanently recharges it.

Alternatively, if the light module (2) is removed from its holder (1), it can still function as a light source independently when the switch (20) is in position Pl, as long as the rechargeable battery (9b) contains enough power to light up the bulb (9a). This is of great benefit to users since it enables the illumination of areas outside the luggage compartment when the light module is detached.

Referring again to Figure 4, the independent usability of the light module (2) is further enhanced by a flat magnet (21) attached firmly to its lower surface (4); the magnet (21) allows the light module (2) to be conveniently affixed to metallic or magnetic surfaces. It is, for example, possible to attach the light module (2), via the magnet (21) on its lower surface, to a part of the vehicle, relieving a user of the burden of having to hold the light module (2) whilst changing a tyre or performing repairs.

Having described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be appreciated that the embodiment in question is exemplary only, and that variations and modifications, such as those that will occur to those possessed of the appropriate knowledge and skills, may be made without departure from the

scope of the invention as set forth, in the appended claims. For example, the light module does not necessarily have to be block shaped and could instead be part-spherical. It is also possible to make the light source within the light module adjustable, for example by mounting it on a swivelling axis, so that the angle of light emission from the light module can be varied.