Inertia brakelight flasher

• US 5,712,617 A
• Filed: 03/13/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Wai Quan
• Original Assignee: Hon Wai Quan
• Inventors: Quan, Hon Wai
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANNAVA, ASHOK K
• Application Number:
  US08/402,874
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 340/467, 340/468, 340/469, 340/478, 340/479, 340/686, 340/689, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.52, 200/61.48-61.51
• US Class Current: 340/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/445 controlled by inertial devices

Abstract

A flasher for intermittently operating a third brakelight in response to a predetermined deceleration of a vehicle. The inventive device includes a flasher relay electrically couplable to the power supply line of the third brakelight. A mechanical deceleration sensor is electrically coupled to the flashing relay to effect operation thereof during a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle. The mechanical deceleration sensor is pivotally mounted to the vehicle so as to remain level during traversing of the vehicle over inclined or declined terrain.

Claims

1. An inertia brakelight flasher comprising:

a flashing relay means electrically couplable to a third brakelight of a vehicle for effecting intermittent operation of the third brakelight;

a deceleration sensor means electrically coupled to the flashing relay means and electrically couplable to a power supply line of a brake system of the vehicle for effecting energization of the flashing relay means in response to actuation of a brakelight switch of the vehicle, wherein the deceleration sensor means operates to detect deceleration of the vehicle during braking to energize the flashing relay means, whereby the third brakelight is flashed to warn other drivers of deceleration of the vehicle; and

the deceleration sensor means comprises an outer pendulum;

an inner pendulum movably mounted within the outer pendulum such that a movement of the inner pendulum relative to the outer pendulum effects actuation of the deceleration sensor means to energize the flashing relay means, and locking solenoid means for securing a position of the outer pendulum relative to the vehicle upon deceleration of the vehicle.

2. The inertia brakelight flasher of claim 1, wherein the outer pendulum comprises a first conductive side;

a second conductive side supported in a substantially spaced and parallel orientation relative to the first conducting side;

an arcuate insulator extending between the conductive sides, and further wherein the inner pendulum comprises an annular ring formed of a conductive material positioned between the first conductive side and the second conductive side of the outer pendulum, and wherein the locking solenoid means provides electrical communication between the first and second conductive sides when the locking solenoid means secures the outer pendulum.

3. An inertia brakelight flasher comprising:

a flashing relay means electrically couplable to a third brakelight of a vehicle for effecting intermittent operation of the third brakelight;

a deceleration sensor means electrically coupled to the flashing relay means and electrically couplable to power supply line of a brake system of the vehicle for effecting energization of the flashing relay means in response to actuation of a brakelight switch of the vehicle, wherein the deceleration sensor means operates to detect deceleration of the vehicle during braking to energize the flashing relay means, whereby the third brakelight is flashed to warn other drivers of deceleration of the vehicle; and

the deceleration sensor means comprises an outer pendulum;

an inner pendulum movably mounted within the outer pendulum such that a movement of the inner pendulum relative to the outer pendulum effects actuation of the deceleration sensor means to energize the flashing relay means,

wherein the outer pendulum comprises a first conductive side;

a second conductive side supported in substantially in a spaced and parallel orientation relative to the first conducting side;

an arcuate insulator extending between the conductive sides, and further wherein the inner pendulum comprises an annular ring formed of a conductive material positioned between the first conductive side and the second conductive of the outer pendulum, wherein a center contact extends from the first conductive side of the outer pendulum and through a center of the annular ring of the inner pendulum; and

a pair of lateral contacts extend from the second conductive side of the outer pendulum and are positioned in a spaced relationship from the annular ring of the inner pendulum along respectively opposed sides thereof, and wherein a deceleration of the outer pendulum will cause the inner pendulum to roll along the arcuate insulator and into electrical communication with the center contact and one of the lateral contacts.

4. The inertia brakelight flasher of claim 3, wherein the outer pendulum is pivotally mountable within the vehicle by a pivotal mounting means such that the outer pendulum remains level during traversing of the vehicle over inclined and declined terrain;

and further comprising a locking solenoid means for securing a position of the outer pendulum relative to the vehicle in response to energization of the power supply line and for providing electrical communication between the conductive sides of the outer pendulum and the flashing relay means.

5. The inertia brakelight flasher of claim 4, wherein the locking solenoid means comprises a solenoid mounted proximal to the outer pendulum;

a first contact mounted to the solenoid and positioned for engagement with the first conductive side of the outer pendulum;

a second contact mounted to the solenoid and positioned for engagement with the second conductive side of the outer pendulum, the first contact and the second contact each being electrically coupled to the flashing relay means so as to permit communication between the flashing relay means and the power supply line when the inner pendulum is in electrical communication with the center contact and one of the lateral contacts during deceleration of the vehicle.

6. The inertia brakelight flasher of claim 5, wherein the first and second contacts communicate with the flashing relay means through a pair of secondary contacts which engage the first and second contacts during energization of the solenoid.

7. The inertia brakelight flasher of claim 6, wherein the flashing relay means comprises an oscillating flasher having a breaker bar positioned in a normally closed configuration so as to provide electrical communication across the flasher.