Signal lamps visible to driver

• US 5,072,340 A
• Filed: 03/25/1991
• Issued: 12/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Isiah Jones
• Original Assignee: Isiah Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Isiah
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US07/674,776
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 340/475, 362/80, 362/83, 362/83.3, 362/234, 362/61
• US Class Current: 362/487
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2626 Screw-nut fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/10 Retrofit arrangements

Abstract

A system of signal lamps for an auto or truck places the lamps where they are visible to the driver of the vehicle, as well as to the drivers of other vehicles. The lamps act as running lights and turn signal lights. The system comprises four omnidirectional, surface-mounted signal lamps. These are mounted in two pairs: an amber front pair and a red rear pair. The front pair is located on that surface of the vehicle which is the front-most upper surface of the vehicle where they are within the view of the driver. These front lamps alert the driver to the lamp condition directly, and also warn other motorists. The rear pair is side-mounted, in places where the driver can see each rear lamp in one of the side-view mirrors. These locations make the lamps highly visible to the driver, because they are visible in regions where the driver habitually looks, and because they are angularly close to the normal view straight ahead. They are more visible to other drivers, as well, both because they are omnidirectional and because they are located higher than ordinary lamps, and so are less likely to be hidden when vehicles are very close to one another. The system may be installed as original equipment or added onto an existing vehicle as accessories.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having a bilaterally symmetrical body, the body including an outer surface, a front end and a rear end, the vehicle having an operating position for a driver and at least one rear-view mirror for the driver to see toward the rear end, portions of the surface visible to the driver when the driver is in the operating position, the improvement comprising:

a pair of front lamps symmetrically disposed on front positions of the outer surface adjacent the front end, said front lamps directly visible to the driver, said front lamps adapted to light continuously, intermittently, or with varying intensity to indicate position or intended motion of the vehicle;

a pair of rear lamps symmetrically disposed on rear positions of the outer surface adjacent the rear end, said rear lamps indirectly visible to the driver in respective ones of the mirrors, said rear lamps adapted to light continuously, intermittently, or with varying intensity to indicate position or intended motion of the vehicle;

whereby

the driver may see said front lamps and at least one of said rear lamps from the operating position while driving the vehicle.

2. A vehicle as in claim 1 wherein said front lamps and said rear lamps are omnidirectional.

3. A vehicle as in claim 1 wherein said front lamps are adapted to emit a first color of light and said rear lamps are adapted to emit a second color of light.

4. A vehicle having a body including:

a generally horizontal left upper front surface;

a generally horizontal right upper front surface;

a generally vertical left rear side surface;

a generally vertical right rear side surface;

a left front lamp disposed on said left upper front surface;

a right front lamp disposed on said right upper front surface;

a left rear lamp disposed on said left rear side surfaces;

a right rear lamp disposed on said right rear side surfaces; and

means to light the lamps continuously, intermittently, or with varying intensity to indicate position or intended motion of the vehicle.

5. A vehicle as in claim 4 wherein the lamps are omnidirectional.

6. A vehicle as in claim 4 wherein

said left front lamp and said right front lamp emit a first color of light and said left rear lamp and said right rear lamp emit a second color of light.

7. A vehicle having a body including:

a left upper front surface;

a right upper front surface;

a left rear side surfaces;

a right rear side surfaces;

a left front lamp disposed on said left upper front surface;

a right front lamp disposed on said right upper front surface;

a left rear lamp disposed on said left rear side surfaces;

a right rear lamp disposed on said right rear side surfaces;

means to light the lamps continuously, intermittently, or with varying intensity to indicate position or intended motion of the vehicle;

said vehicle including a rear-view mirror and an operating position for a driver, and wherein said left front lamp and said right front lamp are directly visible to the driver, and said left rear lamp is indirectly visible to the driver in said mirror.

8. A vehicle as in claim 7, including a second rear-view mirror, and wherein said right rear lamp is indirectly visible to the driver in said second rear-view mirror.