Blackout control system

• US 5,644,290 A
• Filed: 07/05/1995
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael E. Rhodes
• Original Assignee: Michael E. Rhodes
• Inventors: Rhodes, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/498,433
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/468, 340/471, 340/472, 340/479, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/00 Arrangement of monitoring devices for devices provided for in groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q9/00

Abstract

An improved blackout control system located within the passenger compartment allows the driver to alter the normal and emergency lighting features of the vehicle. The blackout control system comprises an illuminated control panel unit modified by harness and control units which are attached to the lighting system of a conventional emergency vehicle. Three emergency "Red" switches are provided as an improvement on the control panel. A fourth blackout switch is provided on the panel which disables the brake and backup lights of the vehicle. A fifth switch for blacking out the tail lights, parking and/or corner lights is provided. A sixth sneak light switch is provided to activate a hooded sneak light located in front of the vehicle which may be used to provide less lighting in front of the vehicle than the normal horizontally disposed headlights. Other modifications are: (1) reduction of the switch panel and switch illumination for daytime, nighttime or blackout driving; (2) safety reset of blacked out lighting; (3) interior dome light extinguished while the red lights are on; and optional flashing features of emergency lights in the blackout system including the substitution of turn signal lights in smaller unmarked vehicles for the red grill lights of marked squad cars. Bypass plug-in units are provided for inactivating the blackout control system without requiring the removal of the blackout control system harness from a vehicle.

Claims

1. An improved blackout control system for use in an emergency vehicle having emergency lights including, high and low beam headlights, running lights, front lights selected from red grill lights and turn signal lights, a rear window brake light, brake lights, and backup lights controlled by a backup switch for supplying power to backup lights of the vehicle when the vehicle is placed in reverse, a manually activated running light switch to provide power to running lights of the vehicle, an interior dome light activated by opening doors, and a brake switch for supplying power to brake lights of the vehicle when a brake pedal within the vehicle is engaged, said improved blackout control system containing a blackout panel unit, a harness unit and a control unit comprising:

(a) a blackout panel unit comprising;

a first manually activated emergency light switch supplying power to the high beam headlights of the vehicle;

a second manually activated emergency light switch supplying power to red grill lights;

a third manually activated emergency light switch supplying power to brake and backup lights;

a first manually activated blackout switch to deactivate the brake lights;

a second manually activated tail lights'"'"' blackout switch to deactivate the running lights;

a third manually operated sneak light switch to activate the sneak lights and to deactivate the right low beam headlight;

(b) a harness unit connected to all the switches in said blackout panel of the emergency vehicle; and

(c) a control unit connected to said harness unit and to the lighting system of a vehicle;

wherein when any of the first, second and third emergency light switches is selected, power to the blackout switches for the brake and backup lights, running lights, interior dome light, digital radio display light, digital heater display light, low beam headlights, and the sneak lights is simultaneously interrupted and stay off until the power is restored by a reset means with the exception of the first emergency light switch deactivating the interior dome light.

2. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein said blackout panel is illuminated by separate panel lights and each panel switch comprises an illuminated rocker switch and a light emitting diode illuminated upon activation.

3. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle also includes an ignition switch, a headlight switch, a digital radio display and a digital heater control display, said digital displays operable in a daytime mode in which said digital displays thereof are fully illuminated upon activation of said ignition switch, and a nighttime mode in which said digital displays are partially illuminated upon activation of said running lights'"'"' switch, said taillights blackout means, including means for placing said digital displays of both said radio and heater control displays in said nighttime mode of operation, and said tail lights'"'"' blackout including means for eliminating power going to said digital displays of both said radio and heater control displays.

4. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein said emergency vehicle further includes a highbeam headlight switch to activate right and left high beam headlights, said emergency lights including right and left side emergency red grill lights located proximate to the grill of the vehicle and between said high beam headlights, and front wigwag flasher means activated upon the activation of said manually activated emergency light switch for alternately flashing the right high beam headlight in unison with the left side red grill light and the left high beam headlight in unison with the right side red grill light for a controlled flash pattern.

5. A blackout control system according to claim 4, further including a high beam headlight override means for deactivating said front wigwag flasher means in response to the activation of said high beam headlight switch.

6. A blackout control system according to claim 4, further including a manually activated front headlight flasher override switch for deactivating said front headlight flasher means upon activation of the running lights'"'"' switch.

7. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the first emergency light switch activates the flashing of the headlights with front lights selected from the red grill lights and turn signal lights, backup lights and brake lights, wherein the rear brake lights alternate flashing with the backup lights, and the interior dome light is deactivated.

8. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the first emergency light switch activates the second and third emergency light switches, whereby all emergency lights are activated for a pursuit.

9. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the second emergency light switch activates the flashing of the lights selected from red grill lights and the turn signal lights with the brake lights and backup lights, and inactivates the interior dome light.

10. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein activation of the third emergency light switch alternately flashes said brake lights with said backup lights and deactivates the interior dome light.

11. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the first blackout light switch additionally deactivates the brake lights, the backup lights and the interior dome light.

12. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the second blackout light switch additionally deactivates the lighting of the running lights, the headlight sentinel, the digital radio display, and the digital heater display.

13. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the third blackout light switch additionally activates sneak lights at high and low illumination.

14. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the blackout switch panel unit is combined with a siren control head.

15. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein a bypass plug-in circuit unit is inserted onto said harness unit to replace said control unit to return the vehicle to its original lighting condition.

16. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the blackout switches return to full illumination after the operator turns off the headlights as a safety feature.

17. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the illumination of the blackout switches is lowered to minimize glare while the user drives in a blackout phase.

18. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein the interior dome light is prevented from illuminating when any of the first, second and third emergency light switches are engaged.

19. A blackout control system according to claim 1, wherein a headlight sentinel blackout means is provided to deactivate the headlights in the daytime or in the nighttime mode.