Two-stage brake light system
First Claim
1. A two-stage brake light system for a vehicle equipped with a brake pedal, comprising:
- a power source;
warning light means for signalling that said brake pedal has been depressed a first selected amount;
stop light means for a signalling that said brake pedal has been depressed a second selected amount which is greater than said first selected amount;
switch means mounted proximate said brake pedal responsive to the quantity of depression of said brake pedal such that said warning signal means is connected to said power source when said brake pedal is depressed by said first selected amount and such that said stop light means is connected to said power source when said brake pedal is depressed by said second selected amount, said switch means having a plunger which is mechanically engaged by said brake pedal when said brake pedal is depressed, a housing that defines an internal cavity which slidably receives a portion of said plunger therein, and biasing means disposed within said cavity for urging said plunger outwardly towards said brake pedal, said switch means further including first and second contact pairs, said first of said contact pairs being warning light contacts electrically connected with said warning light means and said second of said contact pairs being stop light contacts electrically connected with said stop light means, said warning light contacts being actuated by contact actuators to energize said warning light means from said power source when said plunger is moved with respect to said housing by said first selected amount, and said stop light contacts being actuated by further contact actuators to energize said stop light means from said power source when said plunger is moved with respect to said housing by said second selected amount, said contact actuators and said further contact actuators being displaced by the surface contour of said plunger.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A two-stage brake light system (10) for a vehicle equipped with a brake pedal (12). The system (10) includes a power supply (14) such as a battery of an automobile. An improved switch (20) is provided which is responsive to the quantity of depression of the brake pedal (12). This switch (20) serves to energize a warning light (16) when the brake pedal (12) has been depressed by a first selected amount. The switch (20) also energizes a stop light (18) when the brake pedal has been depressed a selected second amount which is greater than the first selected amount. The switch (20) is designed such that it can be readily installed and adjusted to accommodate the particular mechanism to which it is responsive.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A two-stage brake light system for a vehicle equipped with a brake pedal, comprising:
-
a power source; warning light means for signalling that said brake pedal has been depressed a first selected amount; stop light means for a signalling that said brake pedal has been depressed a second selected amount which is greater than said first selected amount; switch means mounted proximate said brake pedal responsive to the quantity of depression of said brake pedal such that said warning signal means is connected to said power source when said brake pedal is depressed by said first selected amount and such that said stop light means is connected to said power source when said brake pedal is depressed by said second selected amount, said switch means having a plunger which is mechanically engaged by said brake pedal when said brake pedal is depressed, a housing that defines an internal cavity which slidably receives a portion of said plunger therein, and biasing means disposed within said cavity for urging said plunger outwardly towards said brake pedal, said switch means further including first and second contact pairs, said first of said contact pairs being warning light contacts electrically connected with said warning light means and said second of said contact pairs being stop light contacts electrically connected with said stop light means, said warning light contacts being actuated by contact actuators to energize said warning light means from said power source when said plunger is moved with respect to said housing by said first selected amount, and said stop light contacts being actuated by further contact actuators to energize said stop light means from said power source when said plunger is moved with respect to said housing by said second selected amount, said contact actuators and said further contact actuators being displaced by the surface contour of said plunger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A two-stage switch means for mounting in a vehicle proximate a brake pedal of said vehicle to provide selective energization of a warning light and a stop light by a power source depending upon the amount of depression of said brake pedal, which comprises:
-
a housing means defining a cavity therein, said housing means provided with mounting means for mounting said housing proximate said brake pedal; a substantially cylindrical plunger means having a portion slidable received within said cavity, said plunger means having a first end exterior said housing means for contact with said brake pedal whereby said plunger means is moved axially when said brake pedal is depressed, said plunger means having spaced-apart portions of a first diameter and spaced-apart portions of a second and larger diameter proximate a second end of said plunger means within said cavity; biasing means disposed within said cavity for urging said plunger outwardly towards said brake pedal; a first pair of contact actuators mounted within said cavity, said first pair of contact actuators for mechanical contact with the surface of said plunger means; a second pair of contact actuators mounted within said cavity, said second pair of contact actuators for mechanical contact with said surface of said plunger means; a first pair of contacts electrically connected to, and operated by, said first pair of contact actuators, said first pair of contacts electrically connected to said warning light, said first pair of contacts being open when said first pair of contact actuators are in contact with said portions of said second and larger diameter of said plunger means and closed when said first pair of contact actuators are in contact with said portions of said first diameter; a second pair of contacts electrically connected to, and operated by, said second pair of contact actuators, said second pair of contacts electrically connected to said brake light, second pair of contacts being open when said second pair of contact actuators are in contact with said portions of said second and larger diameter of said plunger means and closed when said second pair of contact actuators are in contact with said portions of said first diameter; said portions of said first and second diameters of said plunger means being spaced along said plunger means whereby said second pair of contact actuators contact said portions of said first diameter when said brake pedal is depressed a first amount whereby said warning light is energized from said power source, and whereby said first pair of contact actuators contact said portions of said first diameter when said brake pedal is depressed a second and larger amount whereby said stop light is energized from said source. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A two-stage switch means for mounting in a vehicle proximate a brake pedal of said vehicle to provide selective energization of a warning light and a stop light by a power source depending upon the amount of depression of said brake pedal, which comprises:
-
a housing means defining a cavity therein, said housing means provided with mounting means for mounting said housing proximate said brake pedal; a substantially cylindrical plunger means having a portion slidable received within said cavity, said plunger means having a first end exterior said housing means for contact with said brake pedal whereby said plunger means is moved axially in said cavity when said brake pedal is depressed and a second end disposed within said cavity, said second end of said plunger means defining a further cavity, said plunger means having spaced-apart portions of a first diameter and spaced-apart portions of a second and larger diameter proximate said second end of said plunger means within said cavity; biasing means disposed within said further cavity for urging said plunger means outwardly towards said brake pedal; a first pair of contact actuators mounted within said cavity, said first pair of contact actuators for mechanical contact with the surface of said plunger means; a second pair of contact actuators mounted within said cavity, said second pair of contact actuators for mechanical contact with said surface of said plunger means; a first pair of contacts electrically connected to, and operated by, said first pair of contact actuators, said first pair of contacts electrically connected to said warning light, said first pair of contacts being open when said first pair of contact actuators are in contact with said portions of said second and larger diameter of said plunger means and closed when said first pair of contact actuators are in contact with said portions of said first diameter; a second pair of contacts electrically connected to, and operated by, said second pair of contact actuators, said second pair of contacts electrically connected to said brake light, said second pair of contacts being open when said second pair of contact actuators are in contact with said portions of said second and larger diameter of said plunger means and closed when said second pair of contact actuators are in contact with said portions of said first diameter; and electrical plug means mounted on an exterior surface of said housing means and electrically connected to said first and second pairs of contact actuators for connecting said switch means into electrical circuits of said vehicle containing said warning light and said stop light; said portions of said first and second diameter of said plunger means being spaced along said plunger means whereby said second pair of contact actuators contact said portions of said first diameter when said brake pedal is depressed a first amount whereby said warning light is energized from said power source, and whereby said first pair of contact actuators contact said portions of said first diameter when said brake pedal is depressed a second and larger amount whereby said stop light is energized from said source.
-
Specification