Vehicle warning lighting system

Abstract

An emergency light system for an emergency vehicle. The light system can have a low profile configuration for improved aesthetics and aerodynamics. Further the light system can be configured to allow for customization of the individual emergency lights and/or easy access to the individual emergency lights.

1 . A roof-mounted emergency light system for an emergency vehicle having a roof with a sloped portion, said emergency light system comprising:
 a base configured for attachment to the sloped portion of the roof;   a lens coupled to said base,   wherein said emergency light system includes an interior region for supporting one or more emergency lights, with said interior region defined between said base and said lens,   wherein said lens is hingedly connected to said base such that said lens can be shifted between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the open position said interior region of said emergency light system is accessible for accessing said one or more emergency lights.   
     
     
         2 . The emergency light system of  claim 1 , wherein said emergency light system includes a front edge and a rear edge, and wherein said lens is hingedly connected to said base via a hinge positioned adjacent to said rear edge of said emergency light system. 
     
     
         3 . The emergency light system of  claim 2 , wherein said emergency light system includes a locking mechanism positioned adjacent to said front edge of said emergency light system, wherein said locking mechanism is operable to selectively lock said lens in the closed position and to release said lens to the open position. 
     
     
         4 . The emergency light system of  claim 3 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises one or more mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The emergency light system of  claim 1 , wherein said emergency light system presents a central front edge point (A), a central rear edge point (B), and a central peak point (C), wherein an obtuse interior angle (Θ) is defined between references lines extending from C to A and C to B, wherein Θ is at least 110 degrees and not more than 150 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The emergency light system of  claim 5 , wherein a first acute interior angle (α) is defined between references lines extending from A to C and A to B, wherein α is at least 15 degrees and not more than 60 degrees, wherein a second acute interior angle (β) is defined between references lines extending from B to C and B to A, wherein β is at least 15 degrees and not more than 60 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The emergency light system of  claim 5 , wherein the external radius of curvature (Rp) of said emergency light system at said central peak point (C) is at least 4 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The emergency light system of  claim 1 , wherein said emergency light system has a maximum depth (Dmax), a maximum height (Hmax), and a maximum width (Wmax), wherein the ratio of Dmax to Hmax is at least 2.5:1, wherein the ratio of Wmax to Dmax is at least 1.5:1 and not more than 2.5:1, wherein said base is configured to cover at least 8 square feet of said roof. 
     
     
         9 . The emergency light system of  claim 1 , wherein said base presents a generally upwardly facing lens supporting surface extending around at least a portion of said light supporting region, wherein said lens presents a generally downwardly facing attachment surface having a shape that substantially conforms to the shape of said lens supporting surface, wherein said lens supporting surface extends entirely around said light supporting region of said base, further comprising a sealing gasket positioned between said lens supporting surface of said base and said attachment surface of said lens. 
     
     
         10 . The emergency light system of  claim 1 , wherein said base includes emergency light supporting surfaces that are substantially flat and substantially vertical, wherein at least a portion of said emergency light supporting surfaces are at different elevations and/or face in different directions. 
     
     
         11 . An emergency vehicle comprising:
 a cab having roof presenting a downwardly-sloped portion; and   an emergency light system including—
 a base configured for attachment to the downwardly-sloped portion of said roof; 
 a lens coupled to said base, 
 wherein said emergency light system includes an interior region for supporting one or more emergency lights, with said interior region defined between said base and said lens, 
 wherein said lens is hingedly connected to said base such that said lens can be shifted between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the open position said interior region of said emergency light system is accessible for accessing said one or more emergency lights. 
   
     
     
         12 . The emergency vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein said sloped portion of said roof slopes a vertical distance of at least 8 inches and not more than 16 inches over a horizontal distance of 12 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The emergency vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein said cab comprises a front windshield, wherein said sloped portion of said roof is located immediately above said front windshield. 
     
     
         14 . The emergency vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein said emergency vehicle is an ambulance comprising a patient compartment and said emergency service equipment is medical equipment housed in said patient compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The emergency vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein said emergency light system further comprises a hinge for hingedly coupling said base and said lens to one another, wherein said emergency light system further comprises one or more releasable locking mechanisms for selectively locking said lens in said closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The emergency vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein said base is configured to cover at least 4 square feet of said roof. 
     
     
         17 . The emergency vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein said emergency light system has a maximum depth (Dmax), a maximum height (Hmax), and a maximum width (Wmax), wherein the ratio of Dmax to Hmax is at least 2:1, and wherein the ratio of Wmax to Dmax is at least 1.25:1 and not more than 3:1. 
     
     
         18 . The emergency vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein said emergency light system presents a central front edge point (A), a central rear edge point (B), and a central peak point (C), wherein an obtuse interior angle (Θ) is defined between references lines extending from C to A and C to B, wherein Θ is at least 100 degrees and not more than 170 degrees, wherein the external radius of curvature (Rp) of said emergency light system at said central peak point (C) is at least 2 inches. 
     
     
         19 . A method for accessing one or more emergency lights included within an interior region of an emergency light system of an emergency vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the emergency light system, which includes a base configured for attachment to a sloped portion of a roof of the emergency vehicle and a lens hingedly coupled to the base;   (b) unlocking the lens from the base;   (c) shifting the lens away from the base to provide access to the interior region,   wherein upon said shifting of step (c), the one or more emergency lights within the interior region are accessible.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the lens is hingedly coupled to the base via a hinge positioned adjacent to a rear edge of the emergency light system.