Pilot lamp mechanism of a parking brake circuit

• US 4,185,268 A
• Filed: 03/29/1978
• Issued: 01/22/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakakibara, Shigemi
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/891,388
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 340/71, 340/69, 340/95, 340/87, 340/84, 340/89, 362/80
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/486 for indicating that vehicle is in a parked state
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments

Abstract

This invention relates to a parking brake pilot lamp mechanism which, when a parking brake of a car is actuated, turns on not only a brake warning lamp of an electric circuit but also a rear pilot lamp, and specifically to the mechanism of the type wherein said rear pilot lamp has a warning function to following cars as well as an illuminating function of the trunk room.

Claims

1. In a pilot mechanism interposed separately from brake warning lamp into a brake warning lamp circuit, a pilot lamp machanism of a parking brake circuit, the improvement wherein a pilot lamp is provided at the rear end portion of a trunk lid and has warning lens means which extends both to left and right sides of the center portion of said trunk lid, said lens means being shaped as a body having visible portions located outside and inside of said trunk lid with light from said pilot lamp passing through said lens means being visible to drivers of automobiles approaching from the rear from the portion of said lens means outside said lid when said lid is closed and from at least a part of said portion inside said lid when said lid is open.

2. The pilot lamp mechanism of a parking brake circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said portion of said lens means outside and a part of said lens means inside of said trunk lid is red, the rest of said portion of said lens means inside having an illuminating color to aid one in observing the inside of the trunk.

3. The pilot lamp mechanism of a parking brake circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said portion of said lens means outside and a part of said lens means inside of said trunk lid is red, a part of said lens means inside said trunk having an illuminating color.

4. The pilot lamp mechanism of a parking brake circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein said rest of said lens means having the illuminating color is located at a forward portion of said lens means inside said trunk lid.

5. The pilot lamp mechanism of a parking brake circuit as defined in claim 3, wherein an outward extending flange is provided between the red color part and the illuminating color part of said portion of said lens means inside said trunk lid, said flange being projected from said lens means to project the illuminating color against the back of automobiles when the trunk lid is opened.