High signal lights for automotive vehicles

• US 5,845,990 A
• Filed: 03/11/1996
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hilite Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hilite Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Hymer, Jeff L.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spark, Matthew J.
• Application Number:
  US08/613,308
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 362/74, 362/80, 362/81, 362/82, 362/83, 362/83.3, 362/227, 362/234, 362/236, 362/237, 362/240, 362/242, 362/243, 362/244, 362/251, 362/485, 362/540, 362/541
• US Class Current: 362/541
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
• 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

Abstract

A device for an automotive vehicle to signal braking, deceleration, turning of the vehicle or an emergency situation. The device has two bodies facing rearwardly, mounted near the top of the back or the highest point of the vehicle adjacent the sides of the vehicle. Each body has a base and a cover with translucent lenses. Light sources and reflectors are disposed on the base for illuminating the lenses to create the signaling as required. Lighting one or more lenses in the cover indicate braking while lighting an arrow shaped lens in the cover and a side lens facing out from the vehicle indicate intended turning. The light transmitted through the lenses in the cover is directed downwardly either by a downward tilt to the cover or by directional configurations formed on the lenses. The lenses signifying braking are formed from red material while the arrow shaped and side lenses signifying turning are formed from red or yellow material. The device can be powered directly from the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system or from a separate back-up battery that can be trickle charged as the vehicle is operating. A deceleration sensor such as a piezo electric crystal also operates the braking signals. An auxiliary switch near the back of the vehicle activates the turn indicators to operate in an intermittent emergency mode.

Claims

1. A device for a vehicle for signalling braking of the vehicle and indicating intended turning of the vehicle comprising,

at least two bodies, each body having a base and a cover joined to the base, means for attaching the base to the vehicle, the cover having at least one side,

at least one of the two bodies being mountable adjacent to the top of the vehicle, adjacent to a first corresponding side of the vehicle and with the cover facing rearwardly, the other of the two bodies being mountable adjacent to the top of the vehicle, adjacent to a second corresponding side of the vehicle and with the cover facing rearwardly,

each of the bodies having means in the respective cover for signalling braking,

each of the bodies having means for indicating intended turning of the vehicle, and

the at least one side of each of the covers being locateable nearest the respective corresponding side of the vehicle and having means for indicating intended turning of the vehicle,

wherein the means for signalling braking and the means for indicating intended turning of the vehicle comprise

a first translucent lens and a second translucent lens in each cover,

a third translucent lens in the side of each cover nearest the respective corresponding side of the vehicle,

the first translucent lens in each cover indicating braking of the vehicle,

the second translucent lens in each cover nearer the respective corresponding side of the vehicle than the first translucent lens,

the second translucent lens in each cover and the third translucent lens in the at least one side of each cover indicating intended turning of the vehicle,

a first means for illuminating the first translucent lens to indicate vehicle braking, and

a second means for illuminating the second translucent lens and the third translucent lens to indicate intended turning of the vehicle.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second means for illuminating comprise a power source, at least two bulbs electrically connected to the power source to generate light, and

at least two reflectors to direct the light from the at least two bulbs.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the power source comprises a battery attached to each body.

4. The device according to claim 3 including means to trickle charge the battery from at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s tail light, brake light and turn signal electric circuits to which the device is attachable.

5. The device according to claim 2 wherein the power source comprises a thin film battery attached to the base of the body.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the cover of each body is inclined downwardly to nearer the base.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the lenses in each cover have directional configurations for directing the light downwardly from the lenses.

8. The device according to claim 7 including a horizontal cross-arm transverse mountable on the vehicle, said bodies being mounted adjacent each end of the cross-arm.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the bodies are mountable on rear doors of the vehicle, said bodies having means thereon to protect against impact when the doors are opened.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein the second translucent lens in each cover for indicating intended turning of the vehicle has a shape indicating direction of turning.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second translucent lenses have differing colors.

12. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first translucent lens has a circular shape.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first translucent lens has a non-circular shape.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein the cover is tethered to the base.

15. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a weather seal disposed between the base and the vehicle.

16. The device according to claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary switch on the vehicle for operating at least one of the first and second means for illuminating the first and second translucent lenses in the cover.

17. A device for a vehicle for signalling braking of the vehicle and indicating intended turning of the vehicle comprising,

at least two bodies, each body having a base and a cover joined to the base, means for attaching the base to the vehicle, the cover having at least one side,

at least one of the two bodies being mountable adjacent to the top of the vehicle, adjacent to a first corresponding side of the vehicle and with the cover facing rearwardly, the other of the two bodies being mountable adjacent to the top of the vehicle, adjacent to a second corresponding side of the vehicle and with the cover facing rearwardly,

each of the bodies having means in the respective cover for signalling braking,

each of the bodies having means for indicating intended turning of the vehicle, and

the at least one side of each of the covers being locateable nearest the respective corresponding side of the vehicle and having means for indicating intended turning of the vehicle,

and further comprising means attached to at least one body for indicating sudden deceleration in motion of the vehicle in excess of braking deceleration.

18. The device according to claim 17 wherein the means for indicating sudden deceleration of the vehicle comprises a piezo electric crystal mounted between the base and the cover.