Collision avoidance device
First Claim
1. A collision avoidance device for providing an integrated visual indication of safety conditions between a leading and a trailing vehicle, comprising:
- a unitary housing for central mounting on the rear of a leading vehicle at approximateley center eye level for viewing by the driver of the trailing vehicle;
a brake light mounted in said unitary housing, and a safe distance signal light mounted in said unitary housing and spaced sufficiently from said brake light to avoid diffusion therebetween, said safe distance signal light comprising a plurality of discrete circumscribed opaque spaces being of respective uniform width, only one opaque space being assigned to each corresponding distance between the vehicles, the widths of the plurality of opaque spaces increasingly sequentially with respect to such distances, each opaque space separating at least two adjacent discrete circumscribed unpaired illuminated areas of any desired size unrelated to the distance between the vehicles, whereby the opaque spaces will progressively appear to the viewer of the driver of the trailing vehicle upon the closure of the distance between the vehicles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collision avoidance device for providing integrated and more standardized visual indications and methods as a system of the degree of safety space cushion following distance conditions between leading and following vehicles. The device is mounted on a central housing placed on the rear of a leading vehicle at approximately center eye level for viewing by the drivers of the following vehicles. A safe distance light is included in the housing as well as a brake light. The safe distance signal light includes a plurality of illuminated areas with opaque spaces therebetween. The opaque spaces are of sequentially increasing width or thickness. The opaque spaces will progressively disappear to the view of the driver of the following vehicles with greater distance from the leading vehicle. Additional safety lights can be included such as a green safety light as well as directional signals. The green light can be used to indicate acceleration, or may be used to indicate that the set belts are fastened. The lights in the device can be formed to blink with emergency stopping. The integration of all of the various safety illuminated factors provides a basic method of visual stimulation and an increase in the driver'"'"' s earlier visual perception and mental awareness of the safety conditions so as to improve the resultant earlier reaction time for stopping as well as based upon an awareness of proper safe spacing between the vehicles indicating visual cues as perceived by the drivers of the following vehicles.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A collision avoidance device for providing an integrated visual indication of safety conditions between a leading and a trailing vehicle, comprising:
- a unitary housing for central mounting on the rear of a leading vehicle at approximateley center eye level for viewing by the driver of the trailing vehicle;
a brake light mounted in said unitary housing, and a safe distance signal light mounted in said unitary housing and spaced sufficiently from said brake light to avoid diffusion therebetween, said safe distance signal light comprising a plurality of discrete circumscribed opaque spaces being of respective uniform width, only one opaque space being assigned to each corresponding distance between the vehicles, the widths of the plurality of opaque spaces increasingly sequentially with respect to such distances, each opaque space separating at least two adjacent discrete circumscribed unpaired illuminated areas of any desired size unrelated to the distance between the vehicles, whereby the opaque spaces will progressively appear to the viewer of the driver of the trailing vehicle upon the closure of the distance between the vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a unitary housing for central mounting on the rear of a leading vehicle at approximateley center eye level for viewing by the driver of the trailing vehicle;
- 20. A collision avoidance device for providing a visual indication to the driver of a trailing vehicle when the distance between his vehicle and a leading vehicle is safe, caution required, or hazardous, said device comprising a plurality of discrete circumscribed opaque spaces being of respective uniform width, only one opaque space being assigned to each corresponding distance between the vehicle, the widths of the opaque spaces increasing sequentially with respect to such distances, each opaque space separating at least two adjacent discrete circumscribed unpaired illuminated areas of any desired size unrelated to the distance between vehicles, whereby appearance of all the opaque spaces indicates a hazardous condition of distance between the vehicles, and the sequential disappearance of the opaque spaces as the adjacent illuminated areas merge indicates safer conditions of distances between the vehicles.
Specification