Flashing led safety lights for demarcating the sides of a vehicle

• US 4,912,454 A
• Filed: 01/13/1989
• Issued: 03/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wolo Manufacturing Corporation (1847 Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wolo Manufacturing Corporation (1847 Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Solow, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scutch, III, Frank M.
• Application Number:
  US07/297,598
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/80, 315/82, 315/134, 315/157, 315/159, 340/422, 340/469, 340/901, 340/905, 340/468, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 340/472
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights

Abstract

A vehicle warning system is provided having a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a rearward facing portion of a housing, that may be attached to the side of the vehicle. A switching transistor selectively supplies current to the LED'"'"'s, through a flashing circuit. The base of the transistor is driven by electrical connection to the junction of first and second phototransistors, which are mounted on the housing and directed skywardly and rearwardly, respectively. During the day the skywardly pointing phototransistor grounds the base of the transistor so that the LED'"'"'s remain off. At night, the LED'"'"'s are turned on responsive to the headlights of an oncoming vehicle, which will activate the rearwardly facing phototransistor.

Claims

1. A light responsive vehicle warning system comprising:

a housing;

means for attaching said housing to a vehicle;

a plurality of light emitting elements supported by said housing;

a voltage source providing means;

first and second photosensitive elements having means, actuated responsive to light, for changing from a high resistance state to a lower resistance state, said elements being mounted on said housing for facing skyward and rearward, respectively;

first circuit means for serially connecting said first and second photosensitive elements between said voltage source providing means and ground;

switching means having an input and output, and a base for selectively conducting current from said input to said output responsive to an applied voltage;

second circuit means connected at a junction of said first and second photosensitive elements for connecting said junction to the base of said switching means, for selectively applying voltage to said base;

third circuit means for connecting said voltage source providing means to the input of said switching means; and

fourth circuit means coupled to the output of said switching means for activating said light emitting elements;

whereby during daylight said first and second photosensitive elements are in said lower resistance state and said switching means is off; and

whereby at night said first photosensitive element is in said higher resistance state and said switching means, and thereby said light emitting elements, are turned on responsive to incident light on said second photosensitive element.

2. The vehicle warning system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light emitting elements are light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s).

3. The vehicle warning system according to claim 2, wherein said photosensitive elements are phototransistors.

4. The vehicle warning system according to claim 3, wherein said switching means is an NPN type transistor.

5. The vehicle warning system according to claim 4, wherein said fourth circuit means comprises integrated circuit means for producing a first, oscillating output for flashing said LED'"'"'s.

6. The vehicle warning system according to claim 5, wherein said integrated circuit means includes a second output and means for providing a power boost to said second output;

and wherein said fourth circuit means comprises means for connecting said LED'"'"'s to said second output, a second NPN transistor, having a base, connected between said LED'"'"'s and ground, and means for connecting said first output to the base of said second NPN transistor.

7. The vehicle warning system according to claim 6, wherein said rearward facing portion of said housing has a reflective surface.

8. The vehicle warning system according to claim 6, wherein said voltage source providing means comprises a battery and said housing further includes means for holding said battery.

9. The vehicle warning system according to claim 8, wherein said voltage source providing means comprises jack means on said housing for connection to a second voltage supply.

10. The vehicle warning system according to claim 1, wherein said voltage source providing means comprises a lead wire extending out of said housing and being connectable to the existing vehicle battery circuit.

11. A light responsive warning system, comprising:

a warning apparatus;

a photosensitive circuit comprising a first photosensitive element oriented to respond to ambient light and a second photosensitive element oriented to receive light from an approaching vehicle, said circuit being arranged to provide a first output signal when said second photosensitive element detects light from an approaching vehicle and said first photosensitive does not detect ambient light and to provide a second output signal when said first photosensitive element detects ambient light and to provide said second output signal when said second photosensitive element does not detect light from an approaching vehicle;

and a switching circuit, responsive to said first output signal of said photosensitive circuit to activate said warning apparatus and responsive to said second output signal to de-activate said warning apparatus.

12. A light responsive warning system as specified in claim 11 wherein said first and second photosensitive elements comprise series connected phototransistors, and wherein said first and second output signals are provided at the junction between said series connected phototransistors.

13. A light responsive vehicle warning system as specified in claim 11 wherein said warning apparatus comprises at least one warning light.