Automatic hazard light for a motor vehicle
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for controlling a tail light of a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
- (a) a source of voltage;
(b) switch means for selectively connecting said voltage source with said tail light; and
(c) control means, coupled to said switch means, for automatically closing said switch means, thereby connecting said tail light with said voltage source, after the speed of said vehicle falls below a prescribed speed threshold for a prescribed period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electric circuit apparatus is disclosed for automatically controlling the tail light of a motor vehicle so as to assist in preventing accidents. An electronic control circuit operates an electrical power switch connected between the tail light and a source of voltage in such a way that the tail light is automatically turned on when the speed of the vehicle falls below a prescribed threshold, such as 15 mph, for a prescribed period of time, such as 10 seconds, and/or a number of other stated conditions occur.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling a tail light of a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a source of voltage; (b) switch means for selectively connecting said voltage source with said tail light; and (c) control means, coupled to said switch means, for automatically closing said switch means, thereby connecting said tail light with said voltage source, after the speed of said vehicle falls below a prescribed speed threshold for a prescribed period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, 22)
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12. Apparatus for controlling a tail light of a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a source of voltage; (b) switch means for selectively connecting said voltage source with said tail light; and (c) control means, coupled to said switch means, for closing said switch means, thereby connecting said tail light with said voltage source, after the instantaneous speed of said vehicle falls below a prescribed threshold value from the time average speed of said vehicle for a prescribed period of time.
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13. Apparatus for controlling a tail light of a first motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a source of voltage; (b) switch means for selectively connecting said voltage source with said tail light; (c) means for determining the difference in speed between said first vehicle and a second motor vehicle that is approaching said first vehicle from one of the front and rear thereof and that is proceeding in substantially the same direction as said first vehicle; and (d) control means, coupled to said switch means and to said speed difference determining means, for closing said switch means, thereby connecting said tail light with said voltage source, after said speed difference exceeds a prescribed threshold. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for controlling a tail light of a first motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a source of voltage; (b) switch means for selectively connecting said voltage source with said tail light; (c) means for determining the distance between said first vehicle and a second motor vehicle that is one of ahead and behind said first vehicle and is proceeding in substantially the same direction as said first vehicle; and (d) control means, coupled to said switch means and to said distance determining means, for closing said switch means, thereby connecting said tail light with said voltage source, after said distance falls below a prescribed threshold. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. Apparatus for controlling a tail light of a motor vehicle, said vehicle having a plurality of road wheels which rotate at substantially the same speed when said vehicle is in normal operation, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a source of voltage; (b) switch means for selectively connecting said voltage source with said tail light; (c) means for determining when a road wheel of said vehicle is not rotating at substantially the same speed as one or more other road wheels thereof; and (d) control means, coupled to said switch means and to said determining means, for closing said switch means, thereby connecting said tail light with said voltage source, when a road wheel of said vehicle is not rotating at substantially the same speed as one or more other road wheels thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. Apparatus for controlling a tail light of a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a source of voltage; (b) switch means for selectively connecting said voltage source with said tail light; (c) means automatically responsive to a disable condition of said vehicle for producing a "disabled" signal; and (d) control means, coupled to said switch means and to said disabled condition responsive means, for automatically closing said switch means, thereby connecting said trial light with said voltage source, when said vehicle is disabled.
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Specification