Automotive light for preventing rear end collision

• US 4,059,824 A
• Filed: 08/25/1976
• Issued: 11/22/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kiyotaka Tanimura
• Original Assignee: Kiyotaka Tanimura
• Inventors: Tanimura, Kiyotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/717,558
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 340/71, 340/66, 340/94
• US Class Current: 340/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence

Abstract

An automotive light system for warning or notifying the drivers of the trailing cars includes green lamps the number of which being lit indicates the relative position of depression of the accelerator pedal, amber lamps for indicating an engine braking operation, and an intake pressure sensor for detecting the intake pressure of an engine of the automobile to extinguish the green lamps and to light the amber lamps when the intake pressure decreases below a predetermined level upon an engine braking operation.

Claims

1. A vehicular light assembly for indicating the speed of movement of a vehicle and for indicating engine braking of the vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a lamp including at least three first color lights and at least three second color lights;

first switch means responsive to the relative position of the accelerator pedal of the vehicle, said first switch means comprising first and second contacts, a plurality equal to the number of first color lights of first contact portions one each electrically connected to a respective one of said first color lights, and a plurality equal to the number of second color lights of second contact portions one each electrically connected to a respective one of said second color lights, said first and second contacts being movable between and relative to said first and second contact portions as a function of the position of the accelerator pedal of the vehicle, with said first contact electrically contacting a respective one of said first contact portions and said second contact electrically contacting a respective one of said second contact portions;

first circuit means for electrically connecting said first contact to an electrical power source of the vehicle and for thereby lighting selected of said first color lights as a function of the position of said first contact with respect to said first contact portions, thereby giving a visual indication of the speed of the vehicle;

second switch means, electrically coupled to said first circuit means and responsive to the intake pressure of the engine of the vehicle, for electrically opening said first circuit means upon the decrease of said intake pressure below a predetermined level indicative of engine braking and for thereby extinguishing all of said first color lights;

second circuit means for electrically connecting said second contact to the electrical power source of the vehicle and for thereby lighting selected of said second color lights as a function of the position of said second contact with respect to said second contact portions;

a relay electrically coupled to said first circuit means and responsive to opening or closing thereof by said second switch means;

said second circuit means including relay switch means responsive to and operable by said relay for opening said second circuit means when said first circuit means is closed and for closing said second circuit means when said first circuit means is open; and

dimming resistor means, electrically coupled to said second circuit means in parallel with said relay switch means, for electrically coupling said second contact with the vehicle electrical power source when said second circuit means is opened and for lighting said selected second color lights at a dimmed intensity.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lamp includes five first color lights and five second color lights.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first color lights are green and said second color lights are amber.