External cruise control warning light

• US 5,486,808 A
• Filed: 04/19/1993
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safe Life Co.
• Original Assignee: Safe Life Co.
• Inventors: Nejdl, Benjamin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan J.
• Application Number:
  US08/049,104
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/464, 340/465, 340/466, 340/467, 340/468, 340/470, 340/471, 340/472, 340/461, 340/90 S
• US Class Current: 340/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045

Abstract

The invention provides a kit for a vehicle having an electrical system and a selectively operable cruise control, for advising persons outside of the vehicle that the cruise control system is controlling the speed of the vehicle. The kit comprises a light having a light bulb and a globe or light emitting diodes, an electrical cable and a connector to connect the cable to said vehicle electrical system.

The invention also provides a vehicle comprising an engine and a cruise control coupling a speed sensor to the engine to maintain the vehicle at a fixed speed, and external warning means operable when the cruise control is engaged.

Claims

1. A kit for a vehicle having a rear window, an internal combustion engine, an operator, an electrical system and means for the operator to maintain the speed of the vehicle fixed at any operator selectable speed, said kit comprising a light mounted immediately in front of said rear window, said light having lettering indicating said speed maintenance means is operable when said light is activated, an electric cable connected to said light, and operator controllable means for connecting the electric cable to said vehicle electrical system to create an electric circuit to activate said light, said operator controllable means comprising electrical relay means, said electrical relay means comprising means for sensing said speed maintenance means is activated and switch means for connecting said light to said electrical system, whereby when said light is activated by connecting said electric cable to said vehicle electrical system persons outside of the vehicle are advised the speed of the vehicle is being maintained at a fixed rate.

2. The kit of claim 1 wherein said lettering spells the words "ON CRUISE" or "CRUISE ON".

3. The kit of claim 1 wherein said lettering spells the words "SPEED SET" or "SET SPEED".

4. The kit of claim 1 wherein said light comprises a series of light emitting diodes arranged to form letters indicating that said speed control means is operable.

5. The kit of claim 1 wherein said light comprises a series of light emitting diodes behind a globe and said globe has lettering indicating that said speed control means is operable.

6. An automobile having an operator, the automobile comprising a rear window and a propulsion means including an operator interface, means for sensing the velocity of the automobile, velocity stabilizing means allowing said operator to set and stabilize the velocity of the automobile at any desired speed and velocity stabilization warning means mounted immediately inside the rear window, said velocity stabilization warning means comprising at least one light and a single set of alphanumeric characters coupled to said velocity stabilizing means by an electrical relay, said relay including means for sensing electrical current to said stabilizing means and means for carrying electrical current to said warning means whereby said warning means automatically notifies persons outside of the automobile that said velocity stabilizing means is operable when said operator sets and stabilizes the velocity of the automobile.

7. The automobile of claim 6 wherein said propulsion means comprises an internal combustion engine and said operator interface comprises a throttle valve for said internal combustion engine and an accelerator pedal linked to said throttle valve.

8. The automobile of claim 7 wherein said means for sensing the speed of the automobile also comprises means for converting said speed sensed into an electrical signal.

9. The automobile of claim 8 wherein said velocity stabilizing means also comprises means to convert said set velocity to an electrical signal.

10. The automobile of claim 9 wherein said velocity stabilizing means comprises means to read said electrical signal of said speed sensing means, compare said signal with said speed set electrical signal and advance or retard said throttle in response to said read speed signal.

11. A vehicle having an operator, said vehicle comprising a rear window and a propulsion means including an internal combustion engine, means for said operator to control said propulsion means including speed sensing means, speed setting means, means for selectively coupling said speed setting means to said speed sensing means to maintain the vehicle at a fixed speed selected by said operator, and means for selectively uncoupling said speed setting means to said speed sensing means, and external velocity stabilization warning means comprising relay means for sensing coupling of said speed setting means to said speed sensing means and at least one light and a single set of alphanumeric characters mounted immediately inside the rear window, and operable when said speed setting means is coupled to said speed sensing means for warning persons outside of the vehicle that the speed of the vehicle is being maintained at a fixed rate.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 also comprising a steering column and wherein said means for selectively coupling said speed setting means to said speed sensing means comprises an electrical switch mounted on said steering column.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 also comprising braking means and brake warning means and said means for selectively uncoupling said speed sensing means to said speed setting means is coupled to said braking means.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said external warning means is extinguished when said brake warning means is lit.