Automatic turn signal and safety device

• US 5,673,019 A
• Filed: 05/14/1996
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph L. Dantoni
• Original Assignee: Joseph L. Dantoni
• Inventors: Dantoni, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US08/645,879
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 340/478, 340/476, 340/465, 340/475, 200/61.27, 200/61.3, 200/61.34, 200/61.35
• US Class Current: 340/475
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/40 having mechanical, electric or electronic automatic return to inoperative position

Abstract

This invention has an Automatic Safety Turn Signal Adapter mounted on the steering shaft of a vehicle to control the flow of electricity. When the steering shaft is turned to the right or left the electric current from the vehicle battery is directed by the adapter to the electrodes that control the right or left side turn signals of the vehicle. The negative terminal of the battery is grounded to the vehicle frame. Power input flows from the battery positive pole, to the electrical apparatus of the adapter, to the turn signal lamps, to the negative grounded frame, and back to the battery negative pole, completing the electric circuit. As the current flows from the positive pole of the battery it passes through an electric circuit breaker which causes the turn signals to flash. The adapter has a switch to manually turn the turn signals off and on and a switch to manually turn the 4-way safety flashers off and on. The adapter controls the degree of turn, direction of turn and allows multiple turns of the steering wheel and shaft to meet the steering needs of modern vehicles.

Claims

1. An automatic vehicle turn signal and safety device for a vehicle having a rotatable steering mechanism, comprising:

sensors for automatically detecting the degree of turn of said steering mechanism, wherein said sensors detect the degree of rotation of the initial revolution in either direction from a neutral position and permit additional revolutions while maintaining said initial revolution detection,

a plurality of safety indication light components, including a first set of lights for indication of shallow turns and a second set of lights for indication of sharp turns, and

a control operatively connected to said sensors and said safety indication components for actuating said plurality of safety indication components in proportion to the degree of turn by actuation of said first set of lights upon detection of a shallow turn and said second set of lights upon detection of a sharp turn.

2. The automatic vehicle turn signal and safety device recited in claim 1 further comprising:

means for converting the turning motion of said steering mechanism into linear motion wherein said control means for actuating said plurality of safety indication components is responsive to said linear motion.

3. The device recited in claim 2 wherein said means for converting turning motion of said steering mechanism into linear motion includes:

a threaded steering shaft,

a rider mechanism operatively engaged by said threaded steering shaft, without limiting the rotational movement of said shaft, and

a slidable beam connected to said rider and positioned adjacent to said threaded steering shaft, wherein said beam is moved linearly with respect to said threaded steering shaft through said operative engagement of said rider upon rotation of said steering mechanism.

4. The device recited in claim 3 wherein said control means includes:

mechanical actuators mounted on said slidable beam, and

a plurality of microswitches mounted in a fixed relation to said steering column and divided into a left set and a right set of switches, the switches of each set being sequentially activated by said mechanical actuators upon said linear movement of said slidable beam, wherein,

a first one set of micro switches is fully actuated during a single rotation of said shaft and said beam continues to be moved by additional rotation of said shaft without any change in the actuation of said one set of microswitches.

5. The device recited in claim 4 wherein said control means includes:

said plurality of microswitches mounted on said slidable beam, and

said mechanical actuators mounted in a fixed relation to said steering column sequentially activated upon said linear movement of said slidable beam.

6. The device recited in claim 4 wherein said mechanical actuators actuate said plurality of safety indication components.

7. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of safety indication components includes:

three distinct levels of mechanical actuators,

three microswitches which are individually activated by said three distinct levels of mechanical actuators, and

three signal lamps which are individually activated by said three microswitches.

8. The device recited in claim 7 wherein said signal lamps are sequentially activated indicating the direction and degree of turn in a manner intuitive to observers.

9. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes:

an enlarged steering shaft,

a plurality of electrode wipers, operatively engaged by said enlarged steering column, and

a disc electrode plate with a plurality of concentric electrical contacts capable of contacting said electrode wipers, sequentially for right or left turn indicating the direction and degree of turn.

10. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said control means includes:

a steering shaft collar having a plurality of concentric contact rings and a void positioned on the radial edge of said steering shaft collar,

left and right indicator actuator contacts positioned to contact selected ones of said concentric contacts rings as said steering shaft is rotated,

a detent ball which catches said void when said steering column has completed a one half revolution turn, and

an insulator pole attached to said steering shaft collar which contacts a rotation stop when said steering column has completed a complete turn.

11. The device recited in claim 5 wherein said control comprises an easily removable and replaceable compact unit.

12. The device of claim 3, wherein said threaded shaft is of sufficient length to allow for multiple turns of the shaft to meet the needs of late model vehicles, without driving said rider to the limits of its travel.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising a compression spring operative to maintain said void and said detent ball in operative engagement while allowing for multiple turns of said steering shaft.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said insulator pole engages said stop, said detent ball rides within said void preventing rotation of said wipers after one half revolution of said shaft, while said shaft continues to rotate through multiple successive rotations.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising manual actuating means for selectively activating one or more of said safety indication lights.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said manual actuating means includes:

a lever actuatable in a first direction to activate a first set of safety indication lights and actuatable in a second direction to activate a second set of said safety indication lights and

a switch for simultaneous intermittent actuation of all of said safety indication lights.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of safety indication light components further includes a third set of lights for indication of a moderate turn.