TURN INDICATOR SYSTEM ACTUATABLE BY EITHER OF TWO SWITCH MEANS

• US 3,576,530 A
• Filed: 01/14/1965
• Issued: 04/27/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1965
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard G. Marshall, William R. Buechler
• Original Assignee: Richard G. Marshall, William R. Buechler
• Inventors: Buechler, William R., Marshall, Richard G.
• Application Number:
  US04/425,402
• Time in Patent Office: 2,294 Days
• US Class Current: 340/476
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps

Abstract

A turn signal system for an automotive vehicle comprising a steering wheel, a source of electrical energy, a flasher, a first turn signal lamp mounted on one side of said vehicle, a second turn signal lamp mounted on the other side of said vehicle, a turn signal switch having an open and two different closed positions for coupling either said first turn signal lamp or said second turn signal lamp to said source of electrical energy through said flasher to a selected one of said closed positions, means coupled to said steering wheel and to said turn signal switch for opening said turn signal switch if closed as said steering wheel is returned toward a neutral position after the completion of a turn, a first pushbutton switch means mounted on said steering wheel coupling said first turn signal lamp to said source of electrical energy through said flasher when manual pressure is applied to said first pushbutton switch means, a second pushbutton switch means mounted on said steering wheel at the opposite side from said first pushbutton switch means and coupling said second turn signal lamp to said source of electrical energy through said flasher when manual pressure is applied to said second pushbutton means.

Claims

1. A turn signal system for an automotive vehicle comprising a steering wheel, a source of electrical energy, a flasher, a first turn signal lamp mounted on one side of said vehicle, a second turn signal lamp mounted on the other side of said vehicle, a turn signal switch having an open and two different closed positions for coupling either said first turn signal lamp or said second turn signal lamp to said source of electrical energy through said flasher when moved to a selected one of said closed positions, means coupled to said steering wheel and to said turn signal switch for opening said turn signal switch as said steering wheel is returned toward a neutral position after the completion of a turn, a first pushbutton switch meanS mounted on said steering wheel coupling said first turn signal lamp to said source of electrical energy through said flasher when manual pressure is applied to said first pushbutton switch means, a second pushbutton switch means mounted on said steering wheel at the opposite side from said first pushbutton switch means and coupling said second turn signal lamp to said source of electrical energy through said flasher when manual pressure is applied to said second pushbutton means.

2. In a turn signal system for an automotive vehicle, a turn signal lamp mounted on one side of said vehicle, a source of electrical energy, a relay having a winding and a movable arm movable between a first position in which said relay winding is not energized and a second position in which said relay winding is energized, a steering wheel, a turn signal switch mounted adjacent said steering wheel and movable from a neutral position to a closed position for completing a circuit from said source of electrical energy through said relay winding, said turn signal switch including means cooperating with means operated by said steering wheel for returning said turn signal switch to said neutral position when said steering wheel is returned toward a neutral position after the completion of a turn, a flasher, circuit means completing a circuit from said source of electrical energy through said flasher and the movable arm of said relay when said relay winding is energized and said movable arm moves into said second position, a pushbutton switch in parallel circuit arrangement with said turn signal switch and mounted one said steering wheel for completing a circuit from said source of electrical energy through said relay winding when manual pressure is applied to said pushbutton switch, said turn signal lamp being energized from said source of energy through said flasher and the movable arm of said relay during the time manual pressure is applied to said pushbutton switch means.

3. In a turn signal system for an automotive vehicle, a first turn signal lamp mounted on one side of said vehicle, a second turn signal lamp mounted on the other side of said vehicle, a source of electrical energy, a first relay having a winding and a movable arm movable from a first position to a second position when said relay winding is energized, a second relay having a winding and a movable arm movable from a first position to a second position when said winding is energized, a steering wheel, a turn signal switch mounted adjacent said steering wheel and movable from a neutral position to one of two closed positions for completing a circuit from said source of electrical energy through either the winding of said first relay when moved to its first closed position or the winding of said second relay when moved to its second closed position said turn signal switch including means cooperating with means operated by said steering wheel for returning said switch to said neutral position when said steering wheel is returned toward a neutral position after the completion of a turn, a flasher, first circuit means completing a circuit from said source of electrical energy to said first turn signal lamp through said flasher and the movable arm of said first relay when said winding of said first relay is energized and said movable arm of said first relay moves into said second position, second circuit means completing a circuit from said source of electrical energy to said second turn lamp through said flasher and the movable arm of said second relay when the winding of said second relay is energized and the movable arm of said second relay moves into said second position, a first pushbutton switch in parallel circuit arrangement with said first circuit mean and mounted on said steering wheel for completing a circuit from said source of electrical energy through the winding of said first relay when manual pressure is applied to said first pushbutton switch means, said first turn signal lamp being energized from said source of eneRgy through said flasher and the movable arm of said first relay, a second pushbutton switch in parallel circuit arrangement with said second circuit means and mounted on said steering wheel for completing a circuit from said source of electrical energy through the winding of said second relay as long as manual pressure is applied to said second pushbutton switch means, said second turn signal lamp being energized from said source of electrical energy through said flasher and the movable arm of said second relay.

4. In a turn signal system for an automotive vehicle having a steering wheel, a first turn signal lamp mounted on one side of said vehicle, a second turn signal lamp mounted on the other side of said vehicle, a source of electrical energy, a flasher, a turn signal switch movable between an unactuated position and two different actuated positions, circuit means coupling said source of electrical energy, said flasher, said turn signal switch and turn signal lamp and completing a circuit from said source of electrical energy to a selected one of said turn signal lamps through said flasher in accordance with which one of said two actuated positions said turn signal switch has been moved to, means coupled to said steering wheel and operative to return said turn signal switch to said unactuated position when said steering wheel is returned toward neutral position after the completion of a turn, a first pushbutton switch means mounted on said steering wheel and coupled to said circuit means for causing said circuit means to complete a circuit from said source of electrical energy to said first turn signal lamp through said flasher when manual pressure is applied to said first pushbutton switch means, and second pushbutton switch means mounted on said steering wheel and coupled to said circuit means for causing said circuit means to complete a circuit from said source of electrical energy to said second turn signal lamp through said flasher when manual pressure is applied to said second pushbutton switch means.

5. In a turn signal indicating system for an automotive vehicle, a turn signal lamp mounted on one side of said vehicle, a source of electrical energy, a flasher, first manual switch means having contacts operable to open position and closed position, said switch means for coupling said turn signal lamp to said source of electrical energy through said flasher when moved to said closed position, a steering wheel, means operable to automatically open said first manual switch means when said steering wheel is returned toward the center position after completion of a turn, second manual switch means mounted on said steering wheel having normally open switch contacts, a bypass circuit around said contacts of said first manual switch means, said second manual switch means operable to energize said bypass circuit to connect said turn signal lamp to said source of electrical energy through said flasher when manual pressure is applied to said second manual switch means to close its switch contacts.

6. In a turn signal indicating system for an automotive vehicle, a turn signal lamp mounted on one side of said vehicle, a source of electrical energy, a flasher, a turn signal switch having contacts operable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, circuit means coupling said source of electrical energy, said flasher, said turn signal switch, and said turn signal lamp and completing a circuit from said source of electrical energy to said turn signal lamp through said flasher when said turn signal switch is in said actuated position, a steering wheel, means operable to automatically move said turn signal switch from said actuated position to said unactuated position when said steering wheel is returned toward the center position after completion of a turn, pushbutton switch means mounted on said steering wheel having normally open switch contacts, a bypass circuit around said contacts of said turn signal switch, said pushbutton switch means operable to enerGize said bypass circuit to complete a circuit from said source of electrical energy to said turn signal lamp through said flasher when manual pressure is applied to said pushbutton switch means to close its switch contacts.