DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present subject matter relates to a vehicle, more particularly, to a tail lamp assembly for the vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[002] The most important consideration for a vehicle is the safety and comfort being provided to a rider. It is also important that the safety considerations of the vehicle do not hamper the fuel efficiency or abruptly increase the cost of the vehicle. Hence there is a need for an improved safety feature enabling the rider to travel at night without increasing the cost of the vehicle nor affecting the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[003] The present invention is described with reference to figures. This invention is implementable in two-wheeled vehicles or three-wheeled vehicles. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components. Further, the inventive features of the invention are outlined in the appended claims.
[004] Figure 1 illustrates a left side view of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[005] Figure 2a illustrate a rear view of a tail lamp assembly on a rear fender of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[006] Figure 2b illustrate an exploded view of the tail lamp assembly mounting on the rear fender of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[007] Figure 3 illustrate a front view of the tail lamp assembly of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[008] Figure 4 illustrate an exploded view of the tail lamp assembly of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[009] An existing conventional vehicle is provided with safety features which enables the rider to drive the vehicle at night. One such safety feature, which enables this movement, is a tail lamp assembly which is provided at the rear portion of the vehicle.
[010] Generally tail lamp for two wheelers are provided to at least partially lit the road in darkness/night to help the driver of the vehicle to drive safely in darkness and give indication to rear oncoming vehicles with the help of tail function & stop function.
[011] The tail lamp assembly not only provides the freedom and flexibility to the rider to travel at night, but also gives indication to any incoming vehicle regarding the position of the rider.
[012] The tail lamp is further positioned in the rear portion of the vehicle and is mounted on plastic parts. The tail lamp is also positioned on the rear fender of the vehicle in the rear portion and is moulded inside plastic parts for avoiding short circuit and also to provide rigidity to the tail lamp assembly. The tail lamp assembly when aligned with the rear fender of the vehicle leads to higher risks of damage to the tail lamp assembly due to sudden impact.
[013] The existing conventional design of the tail lamp assembly is provided with an incandescent bulb. The incandescent bulbs have filaments which are non-robust and often the filament gets broken or worn out during normal wear and tear and functioning of the vehicle.
[014] Additionally, the incandescent bulbs in the tail lamp assembly consumes a large amount of energy to keep on running. This in turn affects the fuel efficiency of the vehicle and hence there is a need to improve the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
[015] Furthermore, the incandescent bulb is fixedly attached on the rear portion of the vehicle using multiple screws which are often prone to loosening of the screws. This further causes the problem that the incandescent bulb can fall off anywhere during the running condition of the vehicle which threatens the safety of the rider.
[016] Additionally, the contact area for illumination in the incandescent bulb is more than any other forms of illumination. However, in order to achieve a large contact area of illumination, a higher number of support parts must be assembled along with the tail lamp assembly to support the incandescent bulb. Furthermore, it disrupts a compact packaging requirement in the rear portion of the vehicle which already suffers from space constraints.
[017] Additionally, in order to meet requirement for homologation and safety regulations, a large reflector is mounted in the tail lamp assembly using the incandescent bulb. This large reflector not only disrupts the profile of the tail lamp due to its large size, but also disrupts a compact packaging arrangement for the tail lamp of the vehicle.
[018] Thus, one of the possible solutions to overcome the problems of the incandescent bulb is to replace it with a LED bulb. However, the conventional design of the LED bulb in the tail lamp assembly does not provide optimum safety.
[019] In an existing design of tail lamp assembly with the LED bulb, the positioning of the LED bulb in an offline filter often leads to creation of irregular hotspots of LED bulb. These hotspots clearly identify the location of the LED bulb in the tail lamp assembly. Further, if one of the LED bulbs is damaged or shorted, all the LED bulbs are disconnected from the offline filter and the tail lamp is disabled. This threatens the safety of the rider and also the safety of the incoming vehicles.
[020] In another existing design of the tail lamp assembly with the LED bulb, an additional tail lamp mounting bracket is required to mount the LED bulb on the rear fender of the vehicle. This tail lamp mounting bracket protects the LED bulb from vibrations during the running condition of the vehicle, however this additional bracket increases the cost and the weight of the vehicle.
[021] In another existing design of the tail lamp assembly with the LED bulb as disclosed in a prior art, the LED tail lamp bulb has reflecting lens to reflect the light (Fresnel lens) in order to achieve homogenous distribution of light in the tail lamp assembly of the vehicle. The Fresnel lens is configured with a collimator to achieve homogeneous light and also to resolve the problems of hotspot lighting of LED bulbs. However, the Fresnel lens is costly and the use of such an expensive Fresnel lens in the tail lamp assembly increases the cost of the vehicle.
[022] Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved design of the tail lamp assembly in the vehicle which overcomes all problem cited above and other problems of known art.
[023] It is further an object of the present invention to prevent entry of water or dirt inside the tail lamp assembly.
[024] It is further an object of the present invention to provide the LED bulb in the tail lamp assembly and reduce the hotspots of LED bulbs in the tail lamp assembly.
[025] It is further an object of the present invention to provide an optimum mounting location of the tail lamp assembly in the rear portion of the vehicle.
[026] It is another object of the present invention to mount the tail lamp assembly in the rear portion of the vehicle without any additional mounting brackets.
[027] As per an aspect of the present invention, a tail lamp assembly of a vehicle is disclosed, the tail lamp assembly comprises of a top member, a centre member and a bottom member, and the centre member is configured to be attached onto the top member and the bottom member.
[028] As per an embodiment, the center member of the tail lamp assembly comprises a lens unit configured to accommodate one or more tail lamp lenses, a light bar which is electrically connected to a PCB unit and the PCB unit is provided with plurality of LED illumination sources. The light bar is further disposed within the lens unit. Further, the light bar and the PCB unit disposed in the lens unit, are further enclosed by an assembly of the lens unit in a housing unit in a sandwich layout.
[029] As per another embodiment, the bottom member includes one or more lens cavity to accommodate the one or more tail lamp lenses of the center member. Further, the center member is attached to the bottom member aligning the one or more tail lamp lenses with the light bar of the center member. Furthermore, the top member covers at least a portion of the center member and the bottom member from top, in an assembled condition. Further, the bottom member is attached to a rear fender of the vehicle such that at least a portion of the tail lamp assembly is disposed ahead of a vehicle lateral plane, the vehicle lateral plane being along a top most portion of the rear fender.
[030] As per another embodiment, the top member of the tail lamp assembly includes a curved portion and a flat portion. The curved portion forms a C-shaped cavity configured to accommodate a portion of a pillion handle of the vehicle. The curved portion includes a plurality of bottom mounting points attached with the bottom member. The flat portion has one or more top mounting points to be attached to the center member.
[031] As per another embodiment, the bottom member of the tail lamp assembly includes a center portion and a pair of side extensions. The center portion is capable of receiving the one or more tail lamp lenses. Further, each of the pair of side extensions protrude outward from the sides of the center portion to form a housing space, and the housing space is capable of receiving the center member. Further, the pair of side extensions are attached through one or more mounting points to the center member.
[032] As per another embodiment, the pair of side extensions extend outwards, and the outermost end of the pair of side extensions and extend upwards forming an upwards extending portion. Further, the one or more mounting points are provided on the upward extending portion of the pair of side extensions.
[033] As per another embodiment, the housing unit of the tail lamp assembly has one or more top mounting points to attach it to the top member. Further, the housing unit has plurality of bottom mounting members, and the housing unit is attached with the one or more mounting points of the bottom member. The housing unit further has a heat dissipation unit and heat dissipating vents. Further, the light bar in the housing unit includes a collimator unit, the collimator unit projects light outwards from the plurality of LED illumination sources onto the lens unit. The light bar further has protrusions on its rear end corresponding to the bottom mounting portions of the housing unit for fastening the PCB unit, the light bar and the lens unit together with the housing portion in a sandwich layout configuration.
[034] As per another embodiment, the one or more tail lamp lenses in the lens unit are shaped as inverted numeral seven. Further, the one or more tail lamp lenses receives projected light from the collimator unit of the light bar and the one or more tail lamp lenses achieves homogeneous distribution of light in the tail lamp assembly of the vehicle.
[035] In accordance with this configuration, one of the advantages of the present invention is that a compact packaging layout of the tail lamp assembly is achieved in the rear fender of the vehicle.
[036] In accordance with this configuration, one of the advantages of the present invention is that thermal problems related to heating of incandescent bulbs are significantly reduced.
[037] In accordance with this configuration, one of the advantages of the present invention is that reduction in cost of the tail lamp assembly due to absence of an expensive Fresnel lens in the light to achieve optimum projection of light.
[038] In accordance with this configuration, one of the advantages of the present invention is that optimum homogeneous light distribution is achieved specifically on the one or more tail lamp lenses further providing focused distribution of light to achieve more brightness.
[039] In accordance with this configuration, one of the advantages of the present invention is that the colour and intensity of the LED illumination sources is maintained.
[040] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[041] Figure 1 illustrates a left side view of a vehicle (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. A vehicle (100) comprising a head tube (101), said head tube being configured to support a front wheel (102). The vehicle (100) further comprising a rider seat (103) and a pillion rider seat (104) to provide a seating arrangement for the rider. The said rider seat (103) and the pillion rider seat (104) is configured to be attached to the middle frame portion (109) of the vehicle (100).
[042] The vehicle (100) is further configured to comprise an instrument cluster (105) with an in-built electronic control unit (not shown in the figure) in the front portion of the vehicle (100). The electronic control unit is further configured to control a tail lamp assembly (108). The tail lamp assembly (108) is configured to be fixedly attached using attachment means on a rear fender (107) of the vehicle (100). The rear fender (107) is configured to be positioned above a rear wheel (106) in the rear portion of the vehicle (100). The tail lamp assembly (108) is configured to be attached fixedly to the rear portion of the vehicle (100).
[043] Figure 2a illustrates a rear perspective view of a tail lamp assembly (108) on a rear fender (107) of the vehicle (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Figure 2b illustrates an exploded view of the tail lamp assembly (108) mounting on the rear fender (107) of the vehicle (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. For brevity Figure 2a and Figure 2b will be discussed together. The tail lamp assembly (108) of the vehicle (100) includes a top member (200), a bottom member (201) and a center member (208).
[044] The center member (208) is configured to be attached to the top member (200) through a first mounting point (203) such that a second mounting point (204) of the top member (200) is attached to the first mounting point (203) using a first attachment means (203a). The first attachment (203a) may include any known attachment means such as fasteners, snap fit, Velcro or the like.
[045] The center member (208) comprising of a pair of third mounting point (205, 206), is configured to be attached to the bottom member (201) using a pair of fourth mounting point (207) of the bottom member (201). The pair of third mounting point (205, 206) and the fourth mounting point (207) are fixed together using a pair of second attachment means (205a, 206a). The top member (200) being configured to at least partially cover the center member (208) and the bottom member (201) from top in an assembled condition.
[046] The bottom member (201) is configured to be attached to the rear fender (107) of the vehicle (100), such that at least a portion of the tail lamp assembly (108) is disposed in a plane lying ahead of a top most portion (209) of the rear fender (107). The top most portion (209) of the top member (200) is configured with a curved portion (210) and a flat portion (211). The curved portion (210) forms a C-shaped cavity configured to accommodate a portion of a pillion handle of the vehicle (100). The curved portion (210) is further comprising of a plurality of bottom mounting points (212) configured to be attached with the bottom member (201). The plurality of bottom mounting points (212) are configured to be attached to the bottom member (201) using plurality of attachment means such as fasteners, welded joints or by using a snap fit mechanism. A flat portion (211) is configured with the one or more top mounting points (204) configured to be attached to the center member (208).
[047] The bottom member (201) is comprising of a center portion (213) and a pair of side extensions (214). The center portion (213) being provided with a one or more tail lamp lens cavity (215). Each of the pair of side extensions (214) protrudes outward from the sides of the center portion (213) to form a housing space for the center member (208). The pair of side extensions (214) are configured to be extending outwards. The outermost end of the pair of side extensions (214) extends upwards (214’), and the pair of fourth mounting point (207) of the one or more mounting points, being configured to be provided on the upward extended portion (214’) of the pair of side extensions (214). The pair of side extensions (214) are configured to be substantially a hollow receiving U-shaped profile with a solid support portion which extends in the outward direction. The hollow receiving profile of the pair of side extensions (214) is configured to receive the center member (208) which abutting snugly and thereby fits into said profile.
[048] Figure 3 illustrate a perspective view of the center member (208) of the tail lamp assembly (108) of the vehicle (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The tail lamp assembly (108) comprising the center member (208) is configured to be attached using one or more mounting points (203,204, 205, 206, 207). The center member (208) further comprises a one or more tail lamp lenses (300). The one or more tail lamp lenses (300) is configured in an inverted numeral seven shape in form of a left and right mirror image forming a one or more V shapes between them. The one or more tail lamp lenses (300) are configured to achieve homogenous distribution of light in the tail lamp assembly (108) of the vehicle (100). The one or more tail lamp lenses (300) is configured to fit snugly in alignment with a one or more tail lamp lens cavity (215). The one or more tail lamp lens cavity (215) is configured to be made of plastic or any other material alike. In one embodiment, the bottom member (201) being configured with one or more slots to accommodate the one or more tail lamp lenses (300) of the center member (208) and one or more tail lamp lenses (300) being configured to be attached through fasteners. The center member (208) is attached to the bottom member (201) such that the one or more tail lamp lenses (300) are aligned with the center member (201).
[049] Figure 4 illustrate an exploded view of the tail lamp assembly (108) of the vehicle (100) with few parts omitted for clarity, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The centre member (208) includes a lens unit (407), a light bar (406), a PCB unit (405) and a housing unit (404). The lens unit (407) being configured to accommodate the one or more tail lamp lenses (300). The light bar (406) being electrically connected to the PCB unit (405). The PCB unit (405) being provided with a plurality of LED illumination sources (408). The light bar (406) being disposed within the lens unit (407).
[050] The light bar (406) and the PCB unit (405) are disposed in the lens unit (407) being configured to be covered by the housing unit (404) from a one side and the lens unit (407) from the other side forming a sandwich layout between them. The housing unit (404) is configured to be attached to said lens unit (407) by sandwiching the light bar (406) and the PCB unit (405) between the lens unit (407) and the housing unit (404), the attachment being through a bottom mounting member (400), the bottom mounting member (400) being configured to be attached using attachment means (402, 403). The housing unit (404) is configured to be attached to the fourth mounting point (207) of the bottom member (201).
[051] The light bar (406) in the housing unit (404) is comprising a collimator unit (not shown in the figure), said collimator unit being configured to project light outwards from the plurality of LED illumination sources (408) onto the lens unit (407). The light bar (406) is configured to have protrusion mounting portions (409) on its rear surface corresponding to a one or more mounting portions on the rear of housing unit (404) for fastening the PCB unit (405), the light bar (406) and the lens unit (407) together with the housing unit (404). The housing unit (404) is further configured to accommodate a heat dissipation unit (401) and heat dissipating vents (not shown in the figure) for ventilation. The housing unit (404) being configured to have an opening for electrical wiring to be routed to wiring harness of the vehicle.
[052] As per an embodiment of the present invention, the light bar (406) and the lens unit (407) can be attached together using a snap fit mechanism, or can be welded together or can be joined using fastening means.
[053] While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes in form, connection, and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Reference Numerals
100-vehicle 407- lens unit
101-headtube 408-LED illumination sources
102-front wheel 409-protrusion mounting portions
103-rider seat
104-pilion rider seat
105-instrument cluster
106-rear wheel
107-rear fender
108-tail lamp assembly
109-middle frame portion
110-rear frame portion
200-top member
201- bottom member
203,204, 205,206,207- one or more mounting points
203a-first attachment
208-center member
209- top most portion
210-curved portion
211-flat portion
212-bottom mounting points
213-center portion
214-a pair of side extensions
215-one or more tail lamp lenses cavity
300- one or more tail lamp lenses
400-plurality of bottom mounting members
401- heat dissipation unit
402, 403- attachment means
404- housing unit
405-PCB unit
406-light bar

,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A tail lamp assembly (108) of a vehicle (100) comprising:
a top member (200);
a centre member (208);
a bottom member (201); and
wherein said centre member (208) being attached onto said top member (200), and said centre member (208) being attached onto said bottom member (201).
2. The tail lamp assembly (108) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said centre member (208) comprising a lens unit (407), a light bar (406), a PCB unit (405) and a housing unit (404);
said lens unit (407) being configured to accommodate one or more tail lamp lenses (300);
said light bar (406) being electrically connected to said PCB unit (405), wherein said PCB unit (405) being provided with a plurality of LED illumination sources (408), and wherein said light bar (406) being disposed within said lens unit (407);
wherein said light bar (406) and said PCB unit (405) being disposed inside said lens unit (407) and being configured to be enclosed by an assembly of said lens unit (407) and said housing unit (404) in a sandwich layout;
wherein said bottom member (201) being configured with one or more lens cavity (215) to accommodate said one or more tail lamp lenses (300) of said center member (208);
wherein said center member (208) being attached to said bottom member (201) aligning said one or more tail lamp lenses (300) with said light bar (406) of said center member (208);
wherein said top member (200) being configured to cover at least a portion of said center member (208) and said bottom member (201) from top in an assembled condition.
3. The tail lamp assembly (108) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom member (201) being attached to a rear fender (107) of said vehicle (100), wherein at least a portion of said tail lamp assembly (108) being disposed in a vehicle lateral plane, said vehicle lateral plane being ahead of a top most portion of said rear fender (107).
4. The tail lamp assembly (108) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top member (200) comprising:
a curved portion (210);
a flat portion (211);
wherein said curved portion (210) forms a C-shaped cavity configured to accommodate a portion of a pillion handle of said vehicle (100),
wherein said curved portion (210) having a plurality of bottom mounting points (212) configured to be attached with said bottom member (201),
wherein said flat portion (211) comprising a one or more top mounting points (204) configured to be attached to said center member (208).
5. The tail lamp assembly (108) as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein said bottom member (201) comprising:
a center portion (213);
a pair of side extensions (214);
said center portion (213) being capable of receiving said one or more tail lamp lenses (300);
wherein each of said pair of side extensions (214) protrudes outward from sides of said center portion (213) to form a housing space, wherein said housing space being capable of receiving said center member (208),
wherein said pair of side extensions (214) being provided with one or more mounting points (207) configured to be attached to said center member (208).
6. The tail lamp assembly (108) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said pair of side extensions (214) extending outwards, and wherein an outermost end of said pair of side extensions (214) extend upwards forming an upwards extending portion (214’), and said one or more mounting points (207) being provided on said upward extending portion (214’) of said pair of side extensions (214).
7. The tail lamp assembly (108) in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein said housing unit (404) having one or more top mounting configured to be attached to said top mounting of said top member (200),
said housing unit (404) being configured to include a plurality of bottom mounting members (400);
said housing unit (404) being configured to be attached to said one or more mounting points (207) of said bottom member (201);
said light bar (406) in said housing unit (404) comprising a collimator unit, wherein said collimator unit being configured to project light outwards from a plurality of LED illumination sources onto said lens unit (407);
wherein said light bar (406) being configured to have protrusions on rear end of said light bar (406), wherein said protrusions corresponding to said bottom mounting members (400) of said housing unit (404) for fastening said PCB unit (405), said light bar (406) and said lens unit (407) together with said housing unit (404) in a sandwich layout configuration;
said housing unit (404) being configured to accommodate a heat dissipation unit (401) and heat dissipating vents.
8. The tail lamp assembly (108) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lens unit (407) comprising one or more tail lamp lenses (300), said tail lamp lenses (300) being configured to be shaped as inverted numeral seven;
said one or more tail lamp lenses (300) being capable of receiving projected light from said collimator unit of said light bar (406);
said one or more tail lamp lenses (300) being capable of achieving a homogenous distribution of light in said tail lamp assembly (108) of said vehicle (100).