System and method for mounting an interior light bar within a vehicle

Abstract

A mounting system for an interior light bar is provided having a pair of brackets pivotally mounted at opposite ends of a housing of a light bar so that the brackets and housing rotate with respect to each other. The brackets each have a front platform with adhesive material for attaching the brackets against a glass surface within a vehicle. With the brackets stationary against a glass surface, the light bar housing is pivoted to horizontally level the light bar despite any curvature or slope of the glass surface. Each of brackets has a pawl member having protrusions which when rotated engage different sets detents along a curved ratchet surface along the back of the housing to releasibly lock the housing and brackets with respect to each other along one of multiple pivot positions.

1 . A system for mounting for a light bar within a vehicle comprising:
 a pair of brackets pivotally mounted at opposite ends of a housing of a light bar that provides warning light signals in which said brackets independently rotate from each other, each of said brackets being mountable to an interior glass surface of a vehicle so that said housing is rotatable; with respect to the brackets to one of a plurality of different pivot positions.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising a pawl member along each of said brackets which releasibly engages a ratchet surface along said housing at each of said plurality of different pivot positions. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein each of said ends of said housing has an opening, and each of said brackets has a shaft about which the bracket pivots with respect to said opening to rotate said pawl member along said ratchet surface. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4  wherein said shaft rotates along a rotational axis, and said ratchet surface is curved about said rotational axis. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 8  wherein said material is one of a double sided adhesive tape or a layer of adhesive material. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein each of said brackets has a front portion with material for mounting said bracket to the glass surface and enables releasable attachment therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . A mounting system for an interior light bar comprising:
 a pair of brackets pivotally mounted at opposite ends of a housing of a light bar providing warning light signals so that the brackets rotate with respect to said housing along a common rotational axis;   each of said brackets has a fastener along a front of the bracket for attaching the bracket against a glass surface within a vehicle, in which said brackets each independently rotate with respect to each other until said brackets are attached to the glass surface; and   each of said brackets has a pawl member having one or more protrusions which is rotatable to engage detents along a ratchet surface along the housing to releasibly lock the housing and brackets with respect to each other along one of multiple pivot positions to at least approximately horizontally level the light bar despite any curvature or slope of the glass surface when the brackets are attached to the glass surface.   
     
     
         10 . The mounting system according to  claim 9  wherein said ratchet surface is curved about said rotational axis. 
     
     
         11 . A method for mounting a light bar comprising the steps of:
 mounting a pair of brackets to opposite ends of a housing of a light bar providing warning light signals so that the brackets independently rotate with respect to each other;   attaching each of the brackets along a front thereof to a glass surface within a vehicle so that said brackets lie stationary against the glass surface;   rotating the housing with respect to the brackets to one of multiple pivot positions to at least approximately level the light bar after said attaching step is carried out; and   releasibly locking the housing and the brackets with respect to each other at said one of multiple pivot positions.   
     
     
         12 . A bracket for mounting a light bar to glass surface comprising:
 a front portion with a support surface for a fastener for attachment onto a glass surface;   a rear portion with a pawl member having one or more protrusions which engages teeth along a housing of a light bar providing warning light signals; and   a pivot member between said front portion and said rear portion, said pivot member being a shaft receivable in an opening of said housing for rotating the bracket about a rotational axis along an angular pivot range with respect to said housing to selectably engage said one or more protrusions to different sets of said teeth along said range.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said glass surface is along the interior of one of a windshield or window of said vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said warning light signals extend from said light bar outward from said vehicle via said glass surface. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising an optical system in said housing of said light bar for generating said warning light signals having one or more of flashing and patterns of illumination. 
     
     
         16 . The mounting system according to  claim 9  wherein said housing comprises a front opening between said ends of said housing, and said warning light signals are outputted from said housing via said front opening which faces said glass surface so that said warning light signals from said light bar are directed outward from said vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . A system for mounting a light bar within a vehicle comprising:
 a housing for a light bar that provides warning light signals, said housing having two ends;   a pair of brackets pivotally mounted at the ends of the housing for rotation about an axis of rotation;   a shaft at each of the ends of said housing defining said rotation axis about which each of the brackets pivot with respect to said housing; and   each of said brackets being mountable to an interior glass surface of a vehicle so that said housing is rotatable with respect to the brackets to orient said housing with respect to the glass surface.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein said housing is rotatable with respect to the brackets to one of a plurality of different pivot positions. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18  further comprising means for releasibly locking the brackets with respect to the housing at one of said plurality of different pivot positions. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 18  further comprising a pawl member along each of said brackets which releasably engages a ratchet surface along said housing at each of said plurality of different pivot positions. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein said brackets each independently rotate with respect to each other until said brackets are mounted to the glass surface. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein at each of said ends of said housing is an opening for receiving the shaft at said end of the housing, and said shaft at said end of the housing extends from a different one of said brackets.