INERTIALLY-ACTUATED TAILLIGHT SYSTEM

• US 3,748,643 A
• Filed: 08/23/1971
• Issued: 07/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James W. Jacobs
• Original Assignee: James W. Jacobs
• Inventors: Jacobs, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leimer, Kenneth N.
• Application Number:
  US05/173,915
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 340/71,72 116/28,35-38,42-45,50,56 240/46.03,46.05
• US Class Current: 340/467
• 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

Vehicle taillight apparatus for indicating changes in vehicle speed. The taillight assembly includes a continuously energized lamp and first and second lenses fixedly secured to the vehicle so the lenses transmit light from the lamp rearwardly of the vehicle. A screen assembly including a first screen having a central aperture and a second screen having colored sections is slidably positioned between the lamp and the first lens so only light passing through the aperture strikes the first lens and only light passing through a colored section strikes the second lens. The screen assembly is biased to a certain position so inertial forces on the screen assembly due to vehicle acceleration and deceleration move the screen sufficient to vary the amount of light emanating from the first lens and the color of light emanating from the second lens. The taillight assembly also includes a brake switch actuated electromagnet for moving the screen assembly to a position indicative of maximum deceleration whenever the vehicle brakes are applied.

Claims

1. Apparatus for indicating changes in the speed of a vehicle comprising, in combination, a light source for generating light, first and second lenses for receiving and transmitting light emanating from the light source, an opaque screen having an aperture positioned between the light source and the first lens for limiting the area of the first lens exposed to light emanating from the light source, a second screen positioned between the light source and the second lens, the second screen having a plurality of diverse colored substantially transparent sections and being adapted for translational movement so as to selectively align each of the sections with the light source and the second lens as the screen is moved, and means for moving the screens relative to the light source in response to changes in the speed of the vehicle whereby the area of the first lens that is exposed to light from the light source and the color of the screen section that is positioned between the light source and the second lens are varied in response to acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, the area of light emanating from the first lens and the color of light emanating from the second lens thereby indicating whether the vehicle speed is constant, increasing, or decreasing.

2. Vehicle taillight apparatus comprising, in combination, a lamp rigidly secured to the rear of the vehicle for continuously generating light, a first lens fixedly positioned relative to and rearward of the lamp effective to transmit light from the lamp rearward of the vehicle, an opaque screen having an aperture movably positioned between the lamp and the first lens for varying the area of the first lens exposed to light from the lamp, a second lens positioned proximate the first lens and effective to transmit light from the lamp rearward of the vehicle, a second screen positioned between the lamp and the second lens, the second screen being adapted for translational movement and having a plurality of light transmitting sections of diverse colors, means for biasing the first and second screens to respective predetermined positions when the vehicle speed is constant so as to expose a certain area of the firsT lens to light from the lamp and to align a predetermined section of the second screen with the lamp and the second lens, and means responsive to acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle for effecting translation of the first screen relative to the lamp and the first lens so as to vary the area of the first lens exposed to light from the lamp in response to vehicle speed changes and effecting translation of the second screen so as to change the section of the second screen that is aligned with the lamp and the second lens in response to vehicle speed changes whereby both the color of light transmitted rearward of the vehicle by the second lens and the area of the first lens that transmits light rearward of the vehicle are varied in response to speed changes of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle taillight assembly for indicating acceleration, deceleration, and braking of the vehicle comprising, in combination, a lamp fixedly attached to the vehicle for continuously generating light, a first lens of a certain color fixedly positioned relative to the lamp and oriented to receive light from the lamp and to transmit light of the certain color rearwardly of the vehicle, a screen having an aperture positioned between the lamp and the lens for limiting the area of the first lens exposed to light from the lamp to that area which is aligned with the aperture and the lamp, the screen being adapted for movement between the lens and the lamp, biasing means for biasing the screen to a certain position when the vehicle speed is constant and for effecting translation of the screen between the lamp and the first lens when the speed of the vehicle is being changed, the inertia of the screen when the vehicle decelerates moving the screen toward the lamp so as to increase said area and, when the vehicle accelerates, moving the screen toward the first lens so as to decrease said area, said area and the amount of light transmitted by the first lens thereby being varied in response to acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, a substantially annular lens positioned so as to substantially surround and be concentric with the first lens to receive light from the lamp and to transmit light rearwardly of the vehicle, a substantially cylindrical screen having a plurality of colored light transmitting substantially cylindrical sections positioned between the annular lens and the lamp, the sections each being selectively alignable with the lamp and the annular lens so that light from the lamp passes through one of the sections to the annular lens, means for securing the cylindrical screen to the apertured screen for translational movement therewith so as to vary the color of light entering the annular lens in response to acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle whereby light entering the annular lens from the lamp passes through a certain section of the cylindrical screen when the speed of the vehicle is constant, through a section forward of the certain section when the vehicle is accelerating, and through a section rearward of the certain section when the vehicle is decelerating, and means responsive to application of the vehicle brakes for indicating deceleration of the vehicle by moving the screens to their forwardmost position when the vehicle brakes are applied regardless of actual speed changes of the vehicle, thereby increasing said area to a maximum and aligning a section rearward of the certain section with the lamp and the annular lens whenever the vehicle brakes are applied.