A tail light guard that routes impact forces into the vehicle body
An aftermarket tail light guard made of a two-piece assembly: a base plate mounted to the vehicle body around a projecting tail lamp and a mating cage that covers the lamp’s rear/outer faces. When bolted together the parts surround the lamp and transfer impact loads from the cage into the vehicle body rather than into the lamp housing. Intended for off‑road vehicles and Jeep‑style rear lamps that protrude from the body.
(57) What the patent covered
The main independent claim covered a two‑part tail light guard comprising (1) a base sized to mount against the vehicle body with at least part of the base extending around the lamp’s vehicle‑facing surface, (2) a cage that mates to the base and at least partially covers the lamp’s back (rear‑facing) surface, and (3) fasteners that mount the assembled guard to the vehicle body; configured so external forces are diverted around the lamp and transferred directly into the vehicle body to prevent lamp breakage or loss of function.
The distinctive part: The combination of a base that fastens to the vehicle body (not to the lamp) plus a mating cage that routes impact loads into that base so forces bypass the tail lamp itself.
Novelty 3/5. In 2015 guards and cages for off‑road tail lights were common, but most attached to the lamp or lens; this patent’s different approach was to mount a base to the body and mate a separate cage to it to divert impact forces.
Making it
Stamped or formed steel cage, stamped or stamped/machined base plate or injection‑molded plate, finish coating (powder coat), and mechanical assembly with bolts and a compressible gasket to the vehicle body.
Materials: stamped or formed steel (cage), sheet metal or molded plate (base), fasteners: bolts, studs, nuts, rubber or foam gasket (likely)
Manufacturability 4/5. Requires several simple stamped/molded parts, standard fasteners and hand assembly; tooling for stamping or molding and mating features for reliable fit are needed but no electronics or precision machining.
Is anyone buying?
Comparable products are on sale; this exact design wasn't found. Typical retail price: $54–$70. In-stock listing with multiple finish options; includes pre-drilled install hardware and 5-year warranty.
- Rugged Ridge Euro Tail Light Guards · NAPA Auto Parts
This demand check was run with a web search in the week of Oct 5, 2026. Listings change often, so treat it as a starting point for your own research.
Who buys it: off‑road vehicle owners, Jeep owners, aftermarket accessory shops
Before you make it
We didn't find any related continuation or divisional patents still in force, although that doesn't rule out design patents, trademarks or unrelated patents covering the same product.
Practical issues include making sure the guard matches specific lamp and body contours for a tight transfer of loads, weather sealing where the base meets the body, and crowded market of universal and vehicle‑specific light guards; patent has lapsed so no legal encumbrance is claimed here.
Owners occasionally revive lapsed patents (about 1.5% are), and this page is a research lead rather than legal advice, so get a freedom-to-operate opinion before you manufacture anything.