Early warning brake light actuated by the accelerator pedal

• US 5,210,522 A
• Filed: 10/09/1991
• Issued: 05/11/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doneil J. Hoekman, Robert J. Hoekman
• Original Assignee: Doneil J. Hoekman, Robert J. Hoekman
• Inventors: Hoekman, Doneil J., Hoekman, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/773,223
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/464, 340/466, 340/467, 340/479, 340/458, 340/641, 340/642, 307/10.8, 200/61.47, 200/61.89
• US Class Current: 340/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal

Abstract

An early warning brake light system provides an accelerator pedal-mounted sensor and simple circuitry connected to a vehicle'"'"'s existing brake light switch circuit. During a panic stop the sensor attached to the accelerator pedal activates the early warning circuitry and immediately delivers current to illuminate the rear brake lights, even before the brake pedal has been depressed, giving trailing vehicles an advance warning that the lead vehicle will be braking.

Claims

1. An early warning brake light circuit for a vehicle having an accelerator pedal, and a brake light switch circuit for selectively illuminating a brake light, said early warning brake light circuit comprising:

a sensor switch mechanically attached to said vehicle accelerator pedal, said sensor switch conditioned to temporarily close when said accelerator pedal is quickly released;

early warning circuit means including relay means electrically connected to said sensor switch and across said brake light switch circuit, wherein when said accelerator pedal is quickly released, said sensor switch temporarily closes and activates said relay means to close said brake light switch circuit to illuminate said brake light, and further including capacitance means electrically connected to said sensor switch and said relay means to continue to activate said relay means and close said brake light switch circuit to illuminate said brake light for a first duration of time after said sensor switch has reopened; and

protection circuit means for deactivating said relay means after a second duration of time after said sensor switch has closed.

2. The early warning brake light circuit of claim 1 wherein said sensor witch comprises a mercury switch.

3. The early warning brake light circuit of claim 1 further including an indicator of brake light illumination.

4. The early warning brake light circuit of claim 3 wherein said indicator comprises a light emitting diode electrically connected to said early warning circuit means.