Vehicular safety system

• US 5,798,687 A
• Filed: 10/15/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Golembieski, Terry Mijal
• Original Assignee: James Golembieski, Terry Mijal
• Inventors: Littlejohn, Jerry D., Sears, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US08/729,863
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/471, 340/467, 340/472, 340/474, 340/479, 340/464, 340/326, 340/513
• US Class Current: 340/426.23
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

A warning system for a vehicle in which a control circuit is actuated to turn on selected exterior lights of the vehicle when the horn switch is actuated. The control circuit includes a relay that has a first contact connected to the battery, a second contact conductively connected to the first contact when the control circuit is actuated, and a plurality of unidirectionally conductive circuits, each connected in series between the second contact and selected electric lights and polarized to be conductive in the direction to conduct operating current from the battery to those lights to turn them on when the horn switch is actuated.

Claims

1. A warning system for a vehicle that comprises a battery, an electrically operated horn, a horn switch electrically connected in series between the battery and the horn to actuate the horn when the switch is closed, a plurality of electric lights visible from outside the vehicle, a plurality of switch-controlled circuits each connecting selected ones of the electric lights to the battery to turn on the selected electric lights when the respective switch-controlled circuit is actuated, a control circuit comprising:

(a) relay means comprising a control section connected to the horn switch to be actuated when the horn switch is actuated, and a contact section comprising a first contact connected to the battery and a second contact to be conductively connected to the first contact when the control section is actuated; and

(b) a plurality of unidirectionally conductive circuit means each connected in series between the second contact and specific ones of the electric lights and polarized to be conductive in the direction to conduct operating current from the battery to the specific lights to turn on the specific lights when the horn switch is closed to actuate the horn.

2. The warning system of claim 1 in which the unidirectionally conductive circuit means comprises semiconductor means connected in series between the first switch and the selected lights, the semiconductor means being conductive only when the first switch is actuated.

3. The warning system of claim 2 in which the semiconductor means comprise a diode.

4. The warning system of claim 1 in which the external electric lights are headlights of the vehicle.

5. The warning system of claim 1 in which the external electric lights are parking lights of the vehicle.

6. The warning system of claim 5 in which the external electric lights are high-beam filaments of the headlights of the vehicle.

7. The warning system of claim 5 in which the external electric lights are low-beam filaments of the headlights of the vehicle.

8. The warning system of claim 1 in which the external electric lights are running lights of the vehicle.

9. The warning system of claim 1 in which the external electric lights are back-up lights of the vehicle.

10. The warning system of claim 1 in which the external electric lights are parking lights of the vehicle.

11. The warning system of claim 1 in which the external electric lights are emergency flasher lights of the vehicle.

12. The warning system of claim 1 comprising:

(a) a pulsating flasher circuit connected to actuate the emergency flasher lights of the vehicle; and

(b) semiconductor means connecting the pulsating flasher circuit to the unidirectionally conductive circuit means and polarized to be conductive to actuate the pulsating flasher circuit when the unidirectionally conductive circuit means is conductive.

13. The warning system of claim 1 in which the external electric lights are emergency flasher lights of the vehicle.

14. The warning system of claim 1 in which the external electric lights are back-up lights of the vehicle.

15. The warning system of claim 1 in which the external electric lights are perimeter lights of the vehicle.

16. A warning system for a vehicle having a battery, electrically-operated emergency-operated means, a first switch electrically connected in series between the battery and the emergency-operated means to actuate the emergency-operated means when the switch is closed, external electric lights, and switching means connected in series between the battery and the electric lights to turn on the electric lights when the switching means is actuated, said system comprising:

(a) unidirectionally conductive circuit means connected in series between the emergency-operated means and the electric lights and polarized to be conductive in the direction to connect the lights to the battery to turn on the lights when the first switch is closed to actuate the emergency-operated means and the second switch is open.

17. The warning system of claim 16 in which the emergency-operated means comprises an anti-locking brake system.

18. The warning system of claim 16 in which the emergency-operated means comprises a horn.