DRIVER'S COMMUNICATING SIGNAL LIGHTS FOR ACCELERATING, BRAKING AND TURNING OPERATIONS

• US 3,784,974 A
• Filed: 05/14/1971
• Issued: 01/08/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl H. Hamashige
• Original Assignee: Carl H. Hamashige
• Inventors: Hamashige, Carl H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leimer, Kenneth N.
• Application Number:
  US05/143,432
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 340/66,67,73,74,81R,81F,84,87,89
• US Class Current: 340/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2657 mounted on a shaft, e.g. telescopic

Abstract

An electrically operated communicating signal light assembly that is mounted on an automotive vehicle, and is automatically actuated to visually indicate from either the rear, front or side thereof that the vehicle is being accelerated, braked or turned, and if turning whether the same is at a steady or accelerated rate of speed.

Claims

1. A communicating assembly mountable upon an internal combustion engine-powered automotive vehicle having a source of electric energy that has first and second terminals, with said first terminal being connected to a ground, and said vehicle including an ignition system, accelerator pedal, transmission, and brake pedal, said assembly including:

a. a pair of laterally spaced masts that extend upwardly from said vehicle;

b. first and second pairs of electrically operated red and green lamps mounted on the left and right rear portions of said vehicle;

c. third and fourth pairs of electrically operated red and green lamps mounted on the left and right front portions of said vehicle;

d. fifth and sixth pairs of electrically operated red and green lamps mounted on the upper ends of said masts;

e. first and second turn switch assemblies on said vehicle that each occupy first positions when said vehicle is traveling straight, with said first and second switch assemblies occupying second positions when said vehicle is turning to the left, and said first and second switch assemblies occupying third positions when said vehicle is turning to the right;

f. a first electric circuit assembly that is so connected to said second terminal and said first turn switch assembly and said red lamps of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pairs that when said first turn switch assembly is in said first position and a first normally open electric switch that forms a part of said first circuit assembly is closed by actuation of said brake pedal said red lamps are illuminated with a steady light, with said first circuit assembly including a first flasher and a second normally open manually operated emergency switch, with said flasher when said first turn switch assembly is moved to a second position and said first switch is closed by actuation of said brake pedal causing said first, third and fifth red lamps to flash to indicate said vehicle is turning to the left at a decreasing rate, and said first turn switch assembly when moved to a third position and said first switch is closed causing said second, fourth and sixth red lamps to flash to indicate said vehicle is turning to the right at a decreasing rate. g. a second electric circuit assembly that is so connected to said second terminal and said second turn switch assembly and said green lamps of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pairs that when said second turn assembly is in said first position and third, fourth and fifth electric switches that form a part of said second electric circuit assembly are closed said green lamps in said pairs are illuminated and said ignition is energized to actuate said engine to move said vehicle, said third switch being closed by an ignition key, said fourth switch being closed by downward movement of said accelerator pedal, and said fifth switch being closed by actuation of said transmission, with said third, fourth and fifth switches when closed and said second turn switch assembly moved to said second position cooperating with a second flasher that forms a part of said second circuit assembly to flash said first, third and fifth green lamps to indicate a left turn is being made by said vehicle at an accelerated rate, and said second flasher when said second turn assembly is in said third position causing said second, fourth and sixth green lamps to flash to indicate that a right turn is being made by said vehicle at an accelerated rate.

2. A communicating signal assembly as defined in claim 1 in which each of said masts includes A plurality of telescopically joined tubular sections, and in addition:

h. power means for moving said sections relative to one another to raise and lower said lamps supported thereon.

3. A communicating signal assembly as defined in claim 2 in which said power means includes at least one spring that at all times tends to move said sections to dispose said lamps at maximum elevations and at least one electric motor that when energized so moves said sections that they telescope into one another to dispose said lamps supported on said sections at minimum elevations.

4. A communicating signal assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said masts are defined by a plurality of sections that removably interlock with one another.