AUTOMATIC VEHICLE SIGNAL SYSTEM

• US 3,665,391 A
• Filed: 06/15/1970
• Issued: 05/23/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William H. Bumpous
• Original Assignee: William H. Bumpous
• Inventors: Bumpous, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Application Number:
  US05/057,430
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 340/56,66,67,70,71,72,76
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/447 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing the shape or intensity of the indication

Abstract

An electrical circuit for a motor vehicle including a plurality of electrical signals, an inertial starting switch, a time delay mechanism and one or more inertial signal switches to energize the signals for brief periods of time to indicate different operational conditions of the vehicle, including different degrees of deceleration.

Claims

1. A signal system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a. a tail-lamp circuit including a high-intensity tail lamp, b. a tail-lamp relay, including a coil and a relay switch, c. an electrical source of energy, d. a brake switch operatiVely connected to a brake pedal for closing upon depression of said brake pedal, e. an electrical relay coil circuit connecting said brake switch to said tail-lamp relay coil, f. said relay switch being electrically connected to said source and being adapted to open and close said tail-lamp circuit, g. said relay coil being energized by the closing of said brake switch to cause said relay switch to close said tail-lamp circuit thereby energizing said high-intensity tail lamp, h. a first electrical timing element in said electrical relay coil circuit adapted to limit the duration of the illumination of said tail lamp to a brief period after said relay coil has been energized, i. a daylight circuit in parallel with said first timing element, j. said daylight circuit including, in series, a daylight switch and a second electrical timing element, k. a main light switch in said vehicle for controlling the head lamp circuit of said vehicle, l. said daylight switch and said main light switch being operatively connected so that said daylight switch is closed when said main light switch is open, and vice-versa, m. the value of said second timing element being such that when said daylight switch is closed, the duration of illumination of said tail lamp is substantially longer than said brief period.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said first electrical timing element comprises a first condenser, and said second electrical timing element comprises a second condenser.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which said tail lamp comprises means for alternately emitting high and low beams when said tail lamp is energized.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which said vehicle includes a turn-signal circuit and turn signals, and further comprising switch means for connecting said turn signal circuit to said tail-lamp circuit, said switch means being operatively connected to said main light switch so that when said main light switch is open, said switch means is closed and said tail lamp will be energized by the actuation of one of said turn-signals.

5. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a pilot-light circuit connected to said brake switch and including in series a pilot light and a second daylight switch, said second daylight switch being operatively connected to said first daylight switch to close said pilot-light circuit when said first daylight switch is closed and when said main light switch is open, and vice versa.

6. The invention according to claim 1 in which said vehicle includes a reverse-gear mechanism, and further comprising a reverse-gear circuit connecting said source to said relay coil, said reverse-gear circuit including switch means operatively connected to said reverse gear mechanism to normally open said reverse-gear circuit when said reverse-gear mechanism is disengaged, and for closing said reverse-gear circuit when said reverse gear mechanism is engaged in order to energize said coil and cause said tail lamp to illuminate.