Signalling system for requesting a driver of a motor vehicle to dim or turn on his vehicle's headlights
First Claim
1. In a motor vehicle of the type having a pair of front low-beam headlights, a pair of front high-beam headlights, a pair of rear stop lights and a pair of rear turn signal lights, the improvement comprising a signalling light mounted on the front of said vehicle for transmitting a flashing high intensity light beam forwardly repeatedly "on" and "off" to signal a driver of an oncoming vehicle to dim or turn on his vehicle'"'"'s headlights;
- a signalling light mounted on the rear of said vehicle for transmitting a flashing high intensity light beam rearwardly "on" and "off" to signal a driver of a vehicle behind said vehicle having said signalling light to dim or turn on his vehicle'"'"'s headlights; and
a control system for selectively operating said front and said rear signalling lights, said control system having two operating states, a first operating state wherein said signalling lights automatically flash "on" and "off" repeatedly for a predetermined interval of time and a second manual operating state wherein said signalling lights repeatedly flash "on" and "off" continuously.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for improving vehicle safety and reducing driver stress by signalling drivers of oncoming vehicles and vehicles behind a vehicle to dim or turn on their vehicle'"'"'s headlights. The signalling system comprises a front signalling light, a rear signalling light and a control system. The signalling lights are focused and aimed in the direction of drivers of oncoming vehicles and vehicles behind a vehicle to gain their attention without disturbing other drivers. A series of flashing light beams are transmitted in a controlled manner to distinguish the lights from other vehicle and traffic lights. The signalling system is activated by a switch which is located adjacent to a driver'"'"'s hand to reduce the time for activating the system. The system has two operating states, one state where the signalling lights are timed to flash "on" and "off" for a predetermined amount of time and another state where the signalling lights flash continuously "on" and "off". Several embodiments are disclosed to illustrate the broad scope of the invention.
14 Citations
49 Claims
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1. In a motor vehicle of the type having a pair of front low-beam headlights, a pair of front high-beam headlights, a pair of rear stop lights and a pair of rear turn signal lights, the improvement comprising a signalling light mounted on the front of said vehicle for transmitting a flashing high intensity light beam forwardly repeatedly "on" and "off" to signal a driver of an oncoming vehicle to dim or turn on his vehicle'"'"'s headlights;
- a signalling light mounted on the rear of said vehicle for transmitting a flashing high intensity light beam rearwardly "on" and "off" to signal a driver of a vehicle behind said vehicle having said signalling light to dim or turn on his vehicle'"'"'s headlights; and
a control system for selectively operating said front and said rear signalling lights, said control system having two operating states, a first operating state wherein said signalling lights automatically flash "on" and "off" repeatedly for a predetermined interval of time and a second manual operating state wherein said signalling lights repeatedly flash "on" and "off" continuously. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- a signalling light mounted on the rear of said vehicle for transmitting a flashing high intensity light beam rearwardly "on" and "off" to signal a driver of a vehicle behind said vehicle having said signalling light to dim or turn on his vehicle'"'"'s headlights; and
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7. The signalling system recited in claim l further comprising a means in said front signalling light for transmitting a flashing colored light beam to said oncoming vehicle.
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33. In a motor vehicle of the type having a pair of front low-beam headlights, a pair of front high-beam headlights, a pair of rear stop lights, a pair of rear turn signal lights and a switch for operating said headlights, the improvement comprising:
- a front signalling light mounted in the left front corner of said vehicle for repeatedly transmitting a flashing high intensity signalling light beam forwardly and outwardly from said vehicle to request a driver of an oncoming vehicle to dim or turn on his vehicle'"'"'s headlights without disturbing drivers of other vehicles, said signalling light including a housing mounted in the left front corner of said vehicle and open at the forward end portion thereof, said housing having a parabolic portion for focusing said signalling light beam, a lamp, mounted inside of said housing, having at least one filament for generating said light beam, a socket mounted in said housing for receiving said lamp;
a lens mounted to said housing for covering said open end portion; and
a control system for operating said signalling light, said control system having two operating states, a first automatic operating state wherein said high intensity signalling lights repeatedly flash "on" and "off" for a predetermined interval of time and a second manual operating state wherein said high intensity signalling lights repeatedly flash "on" and "off" continuously. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
- a front signalling light mounted in the left front corner of said vehicle for repeatedly transmitting a flashing high intensity signalling light beam forwardly and outwardly from said vehicle to request a driver of an oncoming vehicle to dim or turn on his vehicle'"'"'s headlights without disturbing drivers of other vehicles, said signalling light including a housing mounted in the left front corner of said vehicle and open at the forward end portion thereof, said housing having a parabolic portion for focusing said signalling light beam, a lamp, mounted inside of said housing, having at least one filament for generating said light beam, a socket mounted in said housing for receiving said lamp;
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38. In a motor vehicle of the type having in the rear of said vehicle a pair of stop lights, a pair of turn signal lights and a deck lid, the improvement comprising:
- a rear signalling light mounted on the rear of said vehicle for signalling a driver of a vehicle behind the signalling vehicle to dim or turn on his vehicle'"'"'s headlights, said signalling light having a lamp, said lamp having a pair of filaments, one of said filaments being adapted for transmitting a high intensity light beam and the other of said filaments being adapted for transmitting a non-flashing signalling low intensity light beam, and a control system for regulating said lamp to transmit a flashing high intensity light beam simultaneously with a low intensity light beam, said control system having two operating states, a first automatic operating state wherein said signalling light repeatedly flashes "on" and "off" for a predetermined interval of time and a second manual operating state wherein said signalling light repeatedly flashes "on" and "off" continuously.
- View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. In a motor vehicle of the type having in the rear of said vehicle a pair of stop lights, a pair of turn signal lights and a deck lid, the improvement comprising:
- at least one signaling system for signalling a driver of another vehicle to dim or turn on his vehicle'"'"'s headlights, said signalling system comprising a means for repeatedly transmitting a flashing light beam to a driver of another vehicle, a means for transmitting a non-flashing light beam to said driver of said other vehicle simultaneously with said flashing light beam and a control system, said control system including a switch in the interior of said signalling vehicle for enabling a driver of said vehicle to activate said signalling system and having two operating states, a first automatic operating state wherein said signalling light repeatedly flashes "on" and "off" for a predetermined interval of time and a second manual operating state wherein said signalling light repeatedly flashes "on" and "off" continuously.
- View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. In a motor vehicle of the type having in the rear of said vehicle a pair of turn signal lights and a pair of stop lights, the improvement comprising:
- a rear signalling light mounted on the rear of said vehicle for signalling drivers of vehicles behind said signalling vehicles to dim or turn on their vehicle'"'"'s headlights, said signalling light comprising a pair of outer signalling lamps and a center signalling lamp;
a switch mounted in the interior of said signalling vehicle for enabling a driver to activate said signalling system; and
a control system for controlling the operation of said signalling system, said control system having a means for repeatedly alternately flashing said outer signalling lamps and said center signalling lamp to distinguish said signalling lights repeatedly flash "on" and "off" for a predetermined interval of time and a second manual operating state wherein said signalling lights repeatedly flash "on" and "off " continuously. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
- a rear signalling light mounted on the rear of said vehicle for signalling drivers of vehicles behind said signalling vehicles to dim or turn on their vehicle'"'"'s headlights, said signalling light comprising a pair of outer signalling lamps and a center signalling lamp;
Specification