VEHICLE DRIVER-ACTUATED SAFETY SIGNAL LIGHT ASSEMBLY

• US 3,665,392 A
• Filed: 08/24/1970
• Issued: 05/23/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John T. Annas
• Original Assignee: John T. Annas
• Inventors: Annas, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leimer, Kenneth N.
• Application Number:
  US05/066,276
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 340/55,67,79,80,84,85,87,97,98,366,380,382,383
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window

Abstract

A driver communication signal mounted against the front windshield of a motor vehicle, visible to pedestrians and oncoming traffic and automatically energized upon brake application to indicate driver'"'"''"'"'s intention to stop. The invention provides a double light source and driver-observed light source monitoring means as well as provision to ensure good visibility even on bright sunshine days.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle comprising a forwardly directed windshield, forwardly directed head lamp means, first rearwardly directed tail lamp means, a source of electrical potential, first switch means effective for completing an electrical circuit from said source to said head lamp means and said first tail lamp means, second forwardly directed warning lamps, second rearwardly directed tail lamp means, second switch means effective for selectively energizing said second warning lamps and said second tail lamp means in a manner whereby said second warning lamps and said second tail lamp means are cyclically energized in a flasher sequence, third rearwardly directed tail lamp means, a signal light device situated in the upper portion of a forwardly directed area of said vehicle at an elevation substantially above the height of said head lamp means and all of said tail lamp means, and directed forwardly thereof, and third switch means effective upon application of a braking system of said vehicle to cause energization of said signal light device so as to create a warning light visible forwardly of said vehicle and cause energization of said third rearwardly directed tail lamp means, said signal light device comprising a housing providing a relatively narrow and elongated chamber area space therewithin, signal light means mounted in said chamber area space, said signal light means comprising first and second bulbs respectively carried by first and second mounting plates, said mounting plates including portions for completing an electrical connection between said respective bulbs and related electrical circuitry, said first and second mounting plates being respectively carried by first and second bracket means carried within said chamber area, a transparent light diffusing lens mounted in the front of said housing, a louvered sun shade adjacent said lens, and a mounting ring surrounding said lens and in engagement with said housing, said ring being effective to operatively engage said forwardly directed upper portion of said vehicle and hold said housing secured thereto.

2. A driver communication signal comprising a housing providing a relatively narrow and elongated chamber area space therewithin, signal light means mounted in said chamber area space, said signal light means comprising first and second bulbs respectively carried by first and second mounting plates, said mounting plates including portions for completing an electrical connection between said respective bulbs and related electrical circuitry, said first and second mounting plates being respectively carried by first and second bracket means carried within said chamber area, a transparent light diffusing lens mounted in the front of said housing, a louvered sun shade adjacent said lens, and a mountiNg ring surrounding said lens and in engagement with said housing, said ring being formed to provide substantially close fitting engagement with the inside of a vehicle windshield centrally and near the top edge thereof.

3. A driver communication signal according to claim 2, including a second colored lens, said second lens being situated rearwardly of said light diffusing lens and between said louvered sun shade and said first and second bulbs.

4. A driver communication signal according to claim 2, including a second colored lens, said second lens being situated rearwardly of said light diffusing lens and between said louvered sun shade and said first and second bulbs, wherein said light diffusing lens includes a generally peripherally extending flange portion, wherein said louvered sun shade is received within the confines of said flange portion, and including fastener means operatively carried by said light diffusing lens and passing through openings formed in said louvered sun shade and said second lens for holding said light diffusing lens, said second lens and said sun shade in assembled relationship with respect to each other.

5. A driver communication signal according to claim 2, wherein said housing comprises a rearwardly disposed wall having concave first and second interior wall portions disposed generally rearwardly of said first and second bulbs, said concave wall portions being effective to serve as reflectors for reflecting the light from said first and second bulbs when energized forwardly through said light diffusing lens.

6. A driver communication signal according to claim 2, including light monitoring means effective for communicating a monitor signal to said driver whenever said first and second bulbs are energized and thereby illuminated.

7. A driver communication signal comprising a housing providing a relatively narrow and elongated chamber area space therewithin, signal light means mounted in said chamber area space, said signal light means comprising first and second bulbs respectively carried by first and second mounting plates, said mounting plates including portions for completing an electrical connection between said respective bulbs and related electrical circuitry, said first and second mounting plates being respectively carried by first and second bracket means carried within said chamber area, a transparent light diffusing lens mounted in the front of said housing, a louvered sun shade adjacent said lens, a second colored lens, said second lens being situated in said front of said housing so as to have said louvered sun shade situated between said second colored lens and said transparent light diffusing lens thereby defining a lens assembly, a plurality of receiving openings formed in said housing, and a plurality of retainer portions carried by said lens assembly, said plurality of openings being effective for receiving therein said plurality of retainer portions in order to hold said lens assembly in assembled relationship with said housing.