Combination windshield wiper/headlight switch

• US 5,168,196 A
• Filed: 08/29/1991
• Issued: 12/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter J. Jr. Briggette, Peter J. Sr. Briggette
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Jr. Briggette, Peter J. Sr. Briggette
• Inventors: Briggette, Peter J. Sr., Briggette, Peter J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, SON T
• Application Number:
  US07/751,505
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/77, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 200/61.54
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light

Abstract

An apparatus for simultaneously activating the lights and windshield wipers of an automobile comprising a housing formed as a half cylinder with a curved inside surface; securing means to hold the housing on the turn signal of an automobile; a multi-position thumb switch located on the outside surface of the housing; wires coupled to the switch, one wire coupled to a source of electrical potential and the other wire coupled to a windshield wiper motor and the head and tail lights; and means to sense darkness and retain the head and tail lights energized when turning off the switch in the dark.

Claims

1. An apparatus for simultaneously activating an automobiles lights and windshield wipers comprising:

a cylindrical casing formed of housing halves of sufficient inside diameter to fit on a turn signal post of an automobile;

a hinge located along adjacent outside edges of the housing halves;

a locking means located adjacent other outside edges of the housing halves opposite the hinge;

a multi-position switch located on the outside surface of the one housing half between the hinge and the locking means;

a plurality of wires coupled to the multi-position switch, one wire leading to a source of potential, and another wire leading to the windshield wiper motor and the headlights;

a light sensor positioned in one housing half adjacent to its exterior surface;

a voice alarm which activates if the light sensor indicates darkness and the multi-position switch is in use.

2. For use with an automobile having head lights, tail lights, turn signals and windshield wipers, an apparatus for simultaneously activating the lights and windshield wipers of an automobile comprising:

a housing formed as a half cylinder with a curved inside surface;

securing means to hold the housing on the turn signal of an automobile;

a multi-position thumb switch located on the outside surface of the housing;

wires coupled to the switch, one wire coupled to a source of electrical potential and the other wire coupled to a windshield wiper motor and the head and tail lights; and

means to sense darkness and means to alert the driver if the light sensor indicates darkness and multi-position thumb switch in use.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein means to alert the driver is a voice alarm.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the switch is selectively movable by an operator between an inoperative open position and an operative closed position coupling the battery to the wiper motor and the head and tail lights and a light sensor all in electrical parallel.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and further including a voice alarm following the light sensor in electrical series therewith.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and further including electrical means coupling the wiper motor and the head and tail lights with a further mechanism for activation.

7. For use in an automobile having lights and windshield wipers, an apparatus for simultaneously activating the lights and windshield wipers of an automobile comprising:

a housing positionable in an automobile for being utilized by a driver;

a multi-position switch located on the outside surface of the housing movable between an activated closed position and an inactivated open position;

a plurality of wires coupled to the multi-position switch, one wire leading to a source of potential, and another wire leading to the windshield wiper motor and the headlights;

a light sensor positioned in the housing adjacent to its exterior surface to determine when it is dark and the switch is in the activated closed position;

an alarm coupled to the light sensor and switch adapted to be energized to alert the driver if the light sensor indicates darkness and the multi-position switch is in the activated closed position.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the alarm is positioned in the housing.