Vehicle light assembly

• US 4,149,141 A
• Filed: 08/17/1977
• Issued: 04/10/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kiyotaka Tanimura
• Original Assignee: Kiyotaka Tanimura
• Inventors: Tanimura, Kiyotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/825,456
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 340/66, 340/71, 340/87, 340/89, 340/94, 340/133
• US Class Current: 340/464
• 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

A vehicle light assembly for indicating operating conditions of the vehicle to drivers of trailing vehicles, and comprising a rotatable lamp housing having green and amber lamps on one side thereof and a red lamp on another side thereof, a position switch associated with the accelerator pedal of the vehicle to light the green lamps when the accelerator pedal is depressed, a pressure switch for extinguishing the green lamps and lighting the amber lamps upon a decrease of the intake pressure of the engine below a predetermined level, and a switch extinguishing the green and amber lamps and lighting the red lamp and energizing a rotating mechanism when braking system of the vehicle is applied.

Claims

1. A vehicle light assembly for indicating operating conditions of the vehicle to drivers of trailing vehicles, said assembly comprising:

a lamp housing rotatably mounted on the vehicle so as to selectively take either one of two angular positions, at least three green lamps and an amber lamp mounted on the lamp housing on another side thereof, means for urging normally the lamp housing to a first angular position wherein said one side of the lamp housing is directed rearwardly of the vehicle, means for rotating the lamp housing to a second angular position wherein said red lamp only may be visible by drivers of trailing vehicles, an electric source, a red lamp circuit operatively associated with a braking system of the vehicle for connecting the red lamp and said rotating means with the electric source when the braking system is applied, a green and amber lamp circuit connected to the electric source only when the red lamp circuit is deenergized and including a variable position switch operatively associated with the accelerator pedal of the vehicle to light a selected number of green lamps as a function of the position of the accelerator pedal, a pressure switch operatively associated with a sensor detecting intake pressure of the engine of the vehicle to extinguish the green lamps upon the decrease of the intake pressure below a predetermined level indicative of engine braking, a relay electrically coupled to said green lamps and operative to close a relay switch connected to the amber lamp when all of the green lamps are extinguished.

2. A vehicle light assembly for indicating operating conditions of the vehicle to drivers of trailing vehicles, said assembly comprising:

a lamp including at least three green lights and at least three amber 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 green lights of first contact portions one each electrically connected to a respective one of the green lights, and a plurality equal to the number of amber lights of second contact portions one each electrically connected to a respective one of the amber 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 green lights as a function of the position of the first contact with respect to said first contact portions, thereby giving a visual indication of the position of the accelerator pedal;

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 the intake pressure below a predetermined level indicative of engine braking for thereby extinguishing all of the green lights;

second circuit means for electrically connecting the second contact to the electrical power source of the vehicle and for thereby lighting selected of amber 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;

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 amber lights at a dimmed intensity;

a lamp assembly mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle and having said lamp having said green and amber lights on one side surface thereof and at least one red lamp on another side surface thereof, said lamp assembly being normally urged to a first angular position in which said green and amber lights can be observed by drivers of trailing vehicles and being rotatable to a second angular position in which said the other surface is directed rearwardly of the vehicle so that the red lamp can be observed by the drivers of the trailing vehicles; and

third switch means responsive to the actuation of the braking system of the vehicle for electrically opening said first and second circuit means when the braking system is actuated and electrically connecting the electrical power source of the vehicle to the red lamp and a rotating mechanism for rotating the lamp assemblies to said second angular position.