Light-emitting structures of an automotive exhaust tailpipe, muffler, or the like

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6623134
  • Patent Number
    6,623,134
  • Date Filed
    Friday, January 4, 2002
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 23, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A light-emitting structure of the automotive exhaust tailpipe includes an outer tubular member which is fitted over the exhaust tailpipe and is provided with an inner tubular member fitted thereinto along with a first retaining member. A second retaining member is fitted over the inner tubular member such that a receiving space is formed between the first retaining member and a second retaining member for receiving a heat-resistant piece. The second retaining member is provided with a plurality of light bulb sockets. The automotive exhaust tailpipe is thus provided with a light-emitting effect to reinforce the warning effect of the tail lights of the motor vehicle.
Description




RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS




Not applicable.




STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT




Not applicable.




REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX




Not applicable.




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to a light-emitting structure, and more particularly to a light-emitting structure of automotive parts, such as exhaust tailpipe, muffler, or the like, for reinforcing the warning effect of tail lights of the motor vehicle.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The motor vehicle is provided at the rear thereof with tail lights to warn the vehicles approaching from behind. In view of the fact that the warning effect of the tail lights is not sufficient, the exhaust tailpipe is provided with a light-emitting structure serving to reinforce the warning effect of the tail lights. However, there is a technical problem involving the addition of the light-emitting structure to the automotive exhaust tailpipe through which the extremely hot fumes are discharged. In other words, the light emitting structure must be provided with an effective heat insulation to prolong the service life span of the light-emitting structure of the automotive exhaust tailpipe.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an automotive exhaust tailpipe or the like with a light-emitting structure comprising an inner tubular member, an outer tubular member, a heat resistant member, and a light-emitting set which is held by the heat resistant member such that the light-emitting set is located at the discharge end of the automotive exhaust tailpipe.











The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention





FIG. 2

shows an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 3

shows a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




The light-emitting structure of the present invention is intended for use along with an automotive exhaust tailpipe, muffler, or the like.




As shown in

FIGS. 1-3

, a light-emitting structure embodied in the present invention comprises an automotive exhaust tailpipe


20


, an inner tubular member


30


, an outer tubular member


40


, a first retaining member


50


, a second retaining member


51


, and a plurality of light bulbs


57


.




The outer tubular member


40


has a tapered shape, and a front end which corresponds in location to a discharge end of the exhaust tailpipe


20


and is provided with a wire hole


41


. The inner tubular member


30


is fitted into a first retaining member


50


which is fitted securely into the front end of the outer tubular member


40


. The second retaining member


51


is fitted over the inner tubular member


30


such that a receiving space


52


is formed between the first retaining member


50


and a second retaining member


51


. The walls of the receiving space


52


are coated with a heat-resistant ceramic layer


53


. The receiving space


52


is used to hold a heat-resistant piece


54


which is made of ceramic fiber and is provided with a plurality of bonding wires


58


. The second retaining member


51


is provided with a plurality of threaded holes


55


for fastening a plurality of light bulb sockets


56


. The light bulb sockets


56


are provided with a light bulb


57


and a bonding wire


58


which is connected with one of the bonding wires


58


of the heat-resistant piece


54


. The bonding wire


58


is connected with a bonding wire of the tail lights via the wire hole


41


of the front end of the outer tubular member


40


.




The advantages of the present invention are readily apparent. The present invention is resistant to heat, thanks to the ceramic coatings


53


of the receiving space


52


which is formed jointly by the first retaining member


50


and the second retaining member


51


, and the heat resistant piece


54


which is made of a ceramic fiber material.




The embodiment of the present invention described above is to be regarded in all respects as being merely illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. For example, the present invention may comprise an electronic controller (not shown in the drawings) which is connected with the bonding wires


58


of the light bulb sockets


56


for bringing about a specific light-emitting pattern so as to enhance the warning effect. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A light-emitting structure comprising:an automotive exhaust tailpipe having a discharge end; an outer tubular member fitted over said exhaust tailpipe such that an end of said outer tubular member is adjacent said discharge end of said exhaust tailpipe, said outer tubular member having a opposite end with a wire hold formed therein; an inner tubular member; a first retaining member fitted over said inner tubular member, said first retaining member fitted into said opposite end of said outer tubular member; a second retaining member fitted over said inner tubular member so as to define a receiving space between said first retaining member and said second retaining member, said receiving space having a heat-resistant coating and a heat-resistant piece mounted therein, said heat-resistant piece having a plurality of bonding wires, said second retaining member having a plurality of threaded holes formed therein; a plurality of light bulb sockets fastened respectively to said plurality of threaded holes, each of said plurality of light bulb sockets having a bonding wire extending therefrom, the bonding wire of the light bulb socket connected to a respective bonding wire of said plurality of bonding wires of said heat-resistant piece; and a plurality of light bulbs respectively received within said plurality of light bulb sockets.
  • 2. The light-emitting structure of claim 1, said heat-resistant coating being a ceramic coating.
  • 3. The light-emitting structure of claim 1, said heat-resistant piece being a ceramic fiber material.
  • 4. The light-emitting structure of claim 1, further comprising:an electronic controlling means connected to the light bulb socket, said controlling means for generating a desired light-emitting pattern for light from said plurality of light bulbs.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number Name Date Kind
3659131 Beggs Apr 1972 A
5857767 Hochstein Jan 1999 A
6471377 Stegall Oct 2002 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
2000159005 Jun 2000 JP