U-turn signal apparatus

• US 5,663,708 A
• Filed: 04/01/1996
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis M. Strawn
• Original Assignee: Dennis M. Strawn
• Inventors: Strawn, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/625,246
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/465, 340/475, 340/468, 340/464, 340/471, 340/472, 340/461
• US Class Current: 340/465
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps

Abstract

A U-turn signal apparatus including a vehicle with a front end and a rear end having two colored lights. The colored lights include a front left light situated on the front end at a left extent thereof and a rear left light situated on the rear end at a left extent thereof. The front left light is positioned adjacent to a conventional turn signal light. The rear left light is positioned adjacent to a conventional reverse light. Finally, control circuitry is situated within the vehicle and electrically connected to the front left light and rear left light. The control circuitry is adapted to actuate the front left light and the rear left light at the discretion of a user.

Claims

1. A new and improved U-turn signal apparatus comprising, in combination:

a vehicle with a front end and a rear end having two green lights including a front left light situated on the front end at a left extent thereof and a rear left light situated on the rear end at a left extent thereof, the front left light situated within a conventional turn signal indicator housing with a clear frosted translucent cover and positioned adjacent to a conventional turn signal light located therein, the rear left light situated within a conventional reverse indicator housing with a clear frosted translucent cover and further positioned adjacent to a conventional reverse light located therein;

control circuitry situated within the vehicle and electrically connected to the front left light, rear left light, and a plurality of conventional turn signals lights including a front left turn signal, a rear left turn signal, a front right turn signal, and a rear right turn signal, the control circuitry adapted to intermittently actuate a first combination of lights including the front left turn signal and the rear left turn signal upon the activation thereof in a first mode operation and a second combination of turn signals including the front right turn signal and the rear right turn signal upon the activation thereof in a second mode of operation, the control circuitry further adapted to actuate the front left light and the rear left light intermittently upon the actuation thereof in a third mode of operation and further preclude the activation of the conventional turn signals, front left light, and rear left light in a fourth mode of operation;

an interior U-turn indicator icon centrally situated on a control panel of the vehicle and adapted to intermittently actuate upon the activation of the control circuitry in a third mode of operation; and

a throw control switch with an associated lever positioned within the vehicle adjacent to a steering column thereof and further electrically connected to the control circuitry, the control switch adapted to actuate the control circuitry in a first mode of operation when in a first orientation thereof for signalling a left turn to other drivers, actuate the control circuitry in a second mode of operation when in a second orientation thereof for signalling a right turn to other drivers, actuate the control circuitry in a third mode of operation when in a third orientation thereof for signalling a U-turn to other drivers, and actuate the control circuitry in a fourth mode of operation when in a final orientation thereof for disabling all of the lights, whereby the lever of the switch has five orientations consisting of vertically aligned notches with a center notch corresponding to the final orientation of the control switch, a lower notch situated adjacent to the center notch associated with the first orientation of the control switch for signalling a left turn to other drivers, an upper notch also situated adjacent to the center notch associated with the second orientation of the control switch for signalling a right turn to other drivers, an uppermost notch situated adjacent to the upper notch associated with the third orientation of the control switch for signalling a U-turn to other drivers, and a lowermost notch situated adjacent to the lower notch also associated with the third orientation of the control switch for signalling a U-turn to other drivers, wherein the control switch and associated lever are further adapted to accommodate other standard vehicular functions including the switching of headlights of the vehicle from a normal intensity to a bright intensity and visa-versa.