Vehicle taillight indicator

• US 20100180420A1
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Howard Radgens
• Original Assignee: Thomas Howard Radgens
• Inventors: Radgens, Thomas Howard
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/428
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/005 for lighting devices, e.g. indicating if lamps are burning or not
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

A vehicle taillight indicator which provides an easy way for a driver to check the taillights of his or her vehicle on a regular basis, from within the vehicle, is composed of an elongated V shaped housing with two V shaped end covers with attached mounting brackets and the edge opposite the V angle of each end cover curved to accommodate an elongated rectangular shaped convex reflector which is viewable in the side opposite the V shaped angle of the housing. The taillight indicator is fastened vertically to an object so that its convex reflector is observed in the rear view mirror or side view mirror of a vehicle. Each operating taillight of a vehicle is reflected as a vertical red line in the convex reflector. A vehicle with two operating taillights will reflect two parallel vertical red lines in the convex reflector of the taillight indicator.

Claims

1. A method of producing a vehicle taillight indicator comprising the steps of:

folding a rectangular piece of sheet metal at the mid-point of its length to a V shaped angle to create a housing with two V shaped open ends and one elongated rectangular shaped open side;

cutting two pieces of sheet metal to fabricate end covers of a similar shape as the V shaped open ends of the housing but slightly larger;

cutting the two V shaped end covers opposite their V shaped angle to a circular shape;

folding the edges adjacent to the V shaped angle of each end cover inward;

fastening each end cover to the housing thereby closing the two V shaped open ends;

attaching a mounting bracket to each end cover;

molding styrofoam to fit within the elongated rectangular shaped open side of the V shaped housing;

forming the styrofoam opposite its V shaped angle to an elongated, cylindrical shaped convex curvature to match the circular shape of the end covers;

cutting a piece of semi-reflective sheet metal to a rectangular shape similar to the elongated styrofoam insert;

bending the semi-reflective rectangular piece of sheet metal lengthwise to fit the elongated cylindrical shaped convex curvature of the styrofoam insert to form an elongated convex reflector;

attaching said convex reflector over the elongated cylindrical shaped convex side of the styrofoam insert;

placing the V shaped styrofoam insert within the housing with the attached elongated convex reflector showing;

fastening the styrofoam insert within the housing with a sheet metal screw; and

whereby a user fastens the taillight indicator vertically to an object by means of the brackets of the housing and makes sure that the convex reflector of the taillight indicator is viewable in the rear view mirror or side view mirror of a vehicle and checks the taillights by observing a vertical red line in the convex reflector of the taillight indicator for each operating taillight of the vehicle.