Combination brake light and radio antenna

• US 5,448,456 A
• Filed: 06/17/1994
• Issued: 09/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven Huynh
• Original Assignee: Steven Huynh
• Inventors: Huynh, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/261,412
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 343/721, 343/872, 343/873, 343/713, 343/712, 340/479, 340/432, 340/478, 362/61, 362/80, 362/240, 362/252, 362/251, 362/237, 362/217
• US Class Current: 362/540
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2657 mounted on a shaft, e.g. telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

A combination brake light and radio antenna is disclosed. An elongated support structure includes a base for mounting to an automobile. At least one side wall of the device is made of a transparent or translucent material, such that lamps arranged in a linear array from the base to a top portion of the structure are visible from outside of the structure when the lamps are illuminated. A lamp driving circuit includes a power source and a switch for closing the circuit in response to a brake pedal of the automobile being depressed. The lamp driving circuit may illuminate the lamps in sequence, such as from bottom to top, for example, when the brake pedal is depressed. Further, the lamp driving circuit may illuminate the lamps at a brightness that is proportional to the pressure that is applied to the brake pedal, such that a relatively high application of pressure to the brake pedal results in the lamps being relatively brightly illuminated. An antenna wire from an appliance in the automobile is connected to the structure, which acts as an antenna in one embodiment.

Claims

1. A combination automotive brake light and radio antenna comprising:

an elongate support structure including at least one side wall for mounting upon a vehicle and extending upwardly therefrom and terminating in a top portion, the at least one side wall and the top portion, together, arranged to enclose an interior space within the support structure, and having at least one portion thereof of a material capable of passing light therethrough;

a linear array of individual electric lamps arranged within the support structure in sequence within the structure and positioned so as to be visible through the at least one portion from outside the support structure when the lamps are illuminated, the lamps interconnected to a lamp circuit including a power source for supplying a lamp illuminating current and a switch for closing the circuit in response to a brake pedal of the vehicle, the lamp circuit further providing means for illuminating each one of the lamps individually successively in sequence in response to the brake pedal being depressed, and for adjusting a set time duration for illuminating all of the lamps; and

a linearly configured metallic radio antenna means arranged congruent with the support structure and terminating at the top portion, the antenna means further interconnected with an appliance within the vehicle, the appliance requiring the radio antenna for operation thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lamp circuit provides means for setting each of the lamps at a selected brightness.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lamp circuit provides means for adjusting the illuminating current in accordance with a braking force applied to the brake pedal whereby a greater braking force results in a greater illuminating current and brighter illumination of the lamps.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the support structure is pyramidal in shape.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the top portion is at least partially spherical in shape.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the structure is make of a resilient and flexible material.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the antenna means is a wire routed within the structure.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the antenna means is at least one portion of the structure.