SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOTORIZED VEHICLES & METHODS OF USE THEREOF

• US 20110316421A1
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oscar Fuentes
• Original Assignee: Oscar Fuentes
• Inventors: FUENTES, OSCAR
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/77
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/01 Electric circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/26 warning or informing other road users, e.g. police flash lights

Abstract

Embodiments of a safety device for motorized vehicles and methods of use thereof are herein disclosed. In one embodiment, the safety device includes a mountable lighting device in electrical communication with a momentary switch. The lighting device may include a plurality of non-coherent light sources which may flash in a particular sequence. In one embodiment, the lighting device may be activated to flash once to signal to a motorist that a motorcyclist is to pass. The lighting device may be activated to flash twice to signal to a motorist that the motorcyclist is approaching. The lighting device may be activated to flash three times to signal to a motorist that the motorcyclist is passing.

Claims

1. A safety device for alerting a vehicle, comprising:

a lighting device capable of sending discrete flashing signals; and

a biased switch in electrical communication with the lighting device.

2. The safety device of claim 1 wherein the lighting device comprises:

a housing having a top component and a bottom component configured to define a front aperture when assembled together;

at least one opaque component within the front aperture of the housing;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes within the housing and projected toward the at least one opaque component;

a panel having a plurality of openings to receive the plurality of light-emitting diodes;

at least one printed circuit within the housing; and

at least one power source within the housing.

3. The safety device of claim 2 wherein the lighting device further comprises:

at least one port for receiving a Universal Serial Bus connector; and

at least one circuit board within the housing.

4. The safety device of claim 2 where the plurality of light-emitting diodes are in a linear array.

5. The safety device of claim 3, further comprising, a connector in electrical communication with the at least one port.

6. The safety device of claim 1 wherein the biased switch is a momentary push-button switch.

7. A method for a motorcyclist to safely pass a vehicle, comprising:

activating a switch to cause a lighting device to flash one time, the single flash signaling a warning to a motorist that a motorcyclist is to pass;

activating the switch to cause the lighting device to flash two times, the double flash signaling a warning to the motorist that the motorcyclist is approaching the motorist; and

activating the switch to cause the lighting device to flash three times, the triple flash signaling a warning to the motorist that the motorcyclist is passing the motorist.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein activating the switch comprises applying pressure to a momentary push-button biased switch located on a motorcycle handlebar.