Wide-angle-viewing safety light for towing vehicles

• US 5,351,171 A
• Filed: 12/21/1992
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald P. Bushey
• Original Assignee: Ronald P. Bushey
• Inventors: Bushey, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US07/994,263
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/80, 362/83.3, 362/82, 362/83, 362/230, 362/240, 362/249, 362/252, 362/263, 362/267, 362/227, 362/251
• US Class Current: 362/485
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles

Abstract

High intensity beam lights are mounted on each side of a towing vehicle in units of two or three beams positioned at diverging angles creating a 180-degree lighted area. The lights are activated by a control switch in the driving compartment both simultaneously or each side separately. Replaceable sealed beam units are housed in casings attached to the sides of the body of the vehicle adjacent to the driving compartment. The wide angle safety lighting system provides a wide field of vision necessary for turning or backing vehicles towing trailers or other units.

Claims

1. A wide-angle high intensity safety lighting system for lighting the entire turning area of towing vehicles, wherein each towing vehicle is towing a trailer, wherein the towing vehicle has a right side and a left side, wherein the towing vehicle and trailer cover a wide turning area in turning right or left in backward and forward movements, and wherein the wide-angle high intensity safety lighting system comprises:

at least two high intensity beam driving lights mounted on and protruding from each of two sides of a towing vehicle, wherein the high intensity lights are positioned side by side at diverging light-directing angles, directing light in a 180 degree sweep on each of the two sides of the towing vehicle, wherein light from the lighting system extends outwardly from the towing vehicle to encompass an entire turning area of the towing vehicle and trailer.

a housing means for protecting the lights and electrically insulating the lights;

an electrical connecting means connecting lights to a control panel inside a driving compartment of the vehicle;

a switching means for activating and deactivating the lights exclusive of other lights on the vehicle.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the switching means comprises a single switch for activating the lighting system on both of the two sides of the towing vehicle.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the switching means comprises a separate switch for activating the lighting system on each of the two sides of the towing vehicle.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the lighting system comprises three lights mounted on and protruding from each of the two sides of the towing vehicle mounted with a central light having a centerline of the central light perpendicular to each of the two sides of the towing vehicle and each of two adjacent lights having centerlines diverging at an acute angle away from the central light.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the acute angle is thirty degrees.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the lighting system comprises two adjacent lights mounted on and protruding from each of the two sides of the towing vehicle mounted with a centerline of each housing means perpendicular to each of the two sides of the towing vehicle on which the housing means is mounted and each of the two adjacent lights having centerlines in each housing means diverging at an acute angle away from the housing means centerline.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the acute angle is at most forty-five degrees.

8. The invention of claim 1 further comprising an indicator light inside the driving compartment of the towing vehicle visible to the driver, which indicator light is activated when the wide-angle high intensity safety lighting system is activated.

12. The invention of claim 1 wherein the high intensity beam lights are mounted on each of the two sides of the towing vehicle adjacent to a driving compartment of the towing vehicle.

13. The invention of claim 1 wherein the electrical connecting means comprises a wiring system with a negative ground connected to a frame of the vehicle and an in-line fuse means.

9. A wide-angle high intensity safety lighting system for lighting the entire turning area of towing vehicles, wherein each towing vehicle is towing a trailer, wherein the towing vehicle has a right side and a left side, wherein the towing vehicle and trailer cover a wide turning area in turning right or left in backward and forward movements, and wherein the wide-angle high intensity safety lighting system comprises:

at least two high intensity beam driving lights mounted on and protruding from each of two sides of a towing vehicle, wherein the high intensity lights are positioned side by side at diverging light-directing angles, directing light in a 180 degree sweep on each of the two sides of the towing vehicle, wherein light from the lighting system extends outwardly from the towing vehicle to encompass an entire turning area of the towing vehicle and trailer;

a housing means for protecting the lights and electrically insulating the lights;

an electrical connecting means connecting the lights to a control panel inside a driving compartment of the towing vehicle, wherein the electrical connecting means comprises a wiring system with a negative ground connected to a frame of the towing vehicle and an in-line fuse means;

a switching means for activating and deactivating the lights exclusive of other lights on the vehicle.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein each light is a sealed beam unit plugged into the electrical connecting means, which sealed beam unit is replaceable.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein each light is a quartz halogen driving light.