Enhanced deceleration condition disclosing device

• US 4,843,368 A
• Filed: 04/10/1987
• Issued: 06/27/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vincent M. Poulos
• Original Assignee: Vincent M. Poulos
• Inventors: Poulos, Vincent M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUMM, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US07/037,247
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 340/72, 340/71, 340/66, 340/76, 340/669, 340/67, 200/61.47, 200/183, 200/185
• US Class Current: 340/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/445 controlled by inertial devices

Abstract

A device for attachment in a vehicle brake light circuit for causing flashing of the brake lights when the vehicle undergoes an enhanced degree of deceleration comprising an accelerometer for determining when the enhanced degree of deceleration is reached, a first circuit component to determine whether the incoming power to the brake lights are for brake light operation or turn signal operation, a second circuit component to activate a pulse generating component, a timer component to stop the pulse generating component after a predetermined period of time and means to accumulate these various inputs and produce a time pulse flashing in the brake lights.

Claims

1. A device for imposition solely in a vehicular brake light electric circuit, whether of the single-wire type or of the double-wire type, to generate a signal disclosing the achievement of an enhanced degree of vehicular deceleration for display in the brake lights, comprising:

(a) a first means for receiving incoming energy applied through the brake light electric circuit for continuously developing an output logic pattern in response thereto that distinguishes between one of the brake lights being used as a turn signal and both lights simultaneously being used as brake lights;

(b) a second means for continuously receiving the output logic patterns from said first means and including an automatically re-settable inertia-actuated switch that is activated when the vehicle has undergone an enhanced degree of deceleration, said second means producing one continuous logic pattern when said switch is not activated and a different logic pattern when said switch is activated;

(c) a third means for receiving the output of the logic patterns produced and developed in said second means, and in response thereto, causing the appropriate incoming energy to be connected to the respective brake light for displaying the appropriate use as a turn signal or as a brake light; and

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(d) a fourth means interconnected said second means and said third means and activated by the logic pattern developed in said second means when said inertia switch closes for generating a separate warning signal, in the form of a sequence of energy pulses, to input to said third means at a pulse rate that, coupled with the persistence of the incandescent brake light generally used in the vehicular brake light electric circuit, produces an attention-getting flashing, for passage through said third means to the respective brake lights to warn those following the vehicle that the vehicle is undergoing an enhanced degree of deceleration.

2. The device of claim 1 where said pulse rate is 4.8 cycles per second.

3. The device of claim 1 further including timer means for producing a time-delay signal for latching said separate warning signal into said third means to continue production of said warning signal to the brake lights for a timed duration notwithstanding cessation of said enhanced degree of deceleration while the brake lights are displaying either a braking action or a turn signal action.

4. The device of claim 1 further including remote indicator means, actuated by said third means, for indicating, at a location other than at the brake lights, the achievement of the enhanced degree of deceleration that is signalled by the brake lights.

5. The device of claim 1 including further means for nullifying said separate warning signal when said device has been tampered with to attempt to indicate a constant achievement of enhanced deceleration.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said inertia-actuated switch includes a mercury switch set at an inclined angle to the horizontal plane of the vehicle and adapted to close when sufficient deceleration is experienced in the braking of the vehicle.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said mercury switch is adjustable as to inclined angle to the horizontal plane of the vehicle to close at different rates of deceleration of the vehicle.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said inertia-actuated switch is an accelerometer.

9. A device for imposition solely in a vehicular brake light electric circuit, whether of the single-wire type or of the double-wire type to generate a signal disclosing the achievement of an enhanced degree of vehicular deceleration for display in the brake lights, comprising:

(a) a first means including a pair of signal transistors whose collectors are energized through incoming energy applied through the brake light electric circuit for developing an output logic in response thereto that distinguishes between one of the brake lights being used as a turn signal and both lights simultaneously being used as brake lights;

(b) a second means for receiving the output logic patterns from said first means and including a mercury switch set at an inclined angle to the horizontal plane of the vehicle and adapted to close when sufficient deceleration is experienced in the braking of the vehicle, said second means producing one logic pattern when said switch is not activated and a different logic pattern when said switch is activated;

(c) a third means for receiving the output of the logic patterns produced and developed in said second means, and in response thereto, causing the appropriate incoming energy to be connected through cascaded drive transistors to the respective brake light for displaying the appropriate use as a turn signal or as a brake light;

(d) a fourth means interconnected said second means and said third means and activated by the logic pattern developed in said second means when said mercury switch closes for generating a separate warning signal for passage through said third means to the respective brake light to warn those following the vehicle that an enhanced degree of deceleration has been achieved;

(e) wherein said fourth means produces a sequence of energy pulses to input to said third means at a pulse rate that, coupled with the persistence of the incandescent brake light generally used in the vehicular brake light electric circuit, produces an attention-getting flash;

(f) a fifth timer means for producing a time-delay signal for latching said separate warning signal into said third means to continue production of said warning signal to the brake lights for a timed duration of notwithstanding cessation of said enhanced degree of deceleration while the brake lights are displaying either a braking action or a turn signal action;

(g) a sixth remote indicator means, actuated by said third means, for indicating, at a location other than the brake lights, of the achievement of the enhanced degree of deceleration that is signalled by the brake lights; and

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(h) a seventh means for nullifying said separate warning signal once said device has been tampered with to attempt to indicate a constant achievement of enhanced deceleration.