Ventilation system and method for automotive lighting systems

Abstract

A ventilation system and method for automotive lighting systems includes at least two tortuous paths between the interior of the lighting enclosure and the surrounding atmosphere. The two paths include portions which are at least partially vertical and gravity assists in separating foreign material from air drawn through these portions. By providing at least two paths, foreign material in one path will not be drawn into the enclosure as air can still pass through the other path. The ventilation system and method can be integrally formed with the enclosure, or can be separately formed and attached to the enclosure.

1 . A lighting enclosure comprising:
 a body;   a lens, the lens being bonded to the body;   a vent on the body, the vent including at least two closed tortuous paths, each tortuous path extending between a passage through the body and at least one respective port exposed to the atmosphere outside the body, each tortuous path including a portion over which foreign material is separated by gravity from atmosphere moving into the enclosure and each tortuous path providing a path independent of the other path between the atmosphere and the vent passage to allow atmosphere to enter and exit the enclosure   
   
   
       2 . A lighting enclosure according to  claim 1  wherein each tortuous path is formed between upstanding ribs, the body of the enclosure and a cover plate. 
   
   
       3 . A lighting enclosure according to  claim 2  wherein the upstanding ribs are integrally formed on the body and the cover plate is affixed to the ribs. 
   
   
       4 . A lighting enclosure according to  claim 2  wherein the upstanding ribs are integrally formed on the cover plate and the ribs are affixed to the body. 
   
   
       5 . A lighting enclosure according to  claim 1  wherein each of the at least two tortuous paths terminates in at least two ports in communication with the atmosphere. 
   
   
       6 . A vent for allowing atmosphere in enter and exit a lighting enclosure while inhibiting the ingress of foreign material into the enclosure, the vent comprising:
 a vent passage in communication with the interior of the enclosure;   at least two ports, each port in communication with the atmosphere outside the enclosure; and   at least two tortuous paths to allow atmosphere to move between the vent passage and at least one of the at least two ports, each respective tortuous path being enclosed and extending between the vent passage and a respective one of the at least two ports and wherein each of the tortuous paths includes at least a portion of the path arranged in a substantially vertical manner to encourage the separation by gravity of foreign material from the atmosphere moving through the respective tortuous path to the vent passage.   
   
   
       7 . The vent according to  claim 6  wherein the at least two tortuous paths are formed between ribs upstanding from the body of the enclosure and a cover plate. 
   
   
       8 . The vent according to  claim 6  wherein the at least two tortuous paths are formed between the body of the enclosure and ribs upstanding from a cover plate. 
   
   
       9 . The vent according to  claim 7  wherein the ribs are integrally formed with the body and the cover plate is affixed to the ribs. 
   
   
       10 . The vent according to  claim 8  wherein the ribs are integrally formed with the cover plate and the ribs are affixed to the enclosure. 
   
   
       11 . A method for preventing the ingress and egress of foreign material into a lighting enclosure, comprising:
 providing a body having a passage;   providing a lens sealed to the body;   providing a vent operably associated with the passage of the body, the vent having at least two or more ports, and at least two or more tortuous paths connecting the passage of the body and the at least two or more ports, and a covet plate;   communicating the body and the atmosphere through the use of the passage, the at least two or more tortuous paths, and the at least two or more ports;   forming the at least two or more tortuous paths through upstanding ribs integrally formed in the vent; and   separating foreign material in the atmosphere communicating from the at least two or more ports and the body through the use of the at least two or more tortuous paths.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each the at least two or more tortuous paths are independent of each other. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of integrally forming the upstanding ribs on the body, and affixing the cover plate to the ribs. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of integrally forming the upstanding ribs on the cover plate, and affixing the upstanding ribs to the body. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of gravity separating foreign material from the atmosphere in the one or more tortuous paths.