Automotive, front and side brake / running/ turn signal light

• US 5,966,073 A
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward B. Walton
• Original Assignee: Edward B. Walton
• Inventors: Walton, Edward B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/968,517
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 340/479, 340/475, 340/467, 340/463, 340/464, 340/465, 340/468, 340/469, 340/471, 340/472
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• 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 1/442 visible on the front side of the vehicle, e.g. for pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

The present invention is a vehicle with front side and/or front mounted, brake and turn signal lights. The respective front side mounted lights, when mounted on passenger vehicles, are generally mounted below the windshield, behind the front wheel and ahead of the forward edge of the front door where they are generally visible for almost 180 degrees. When so mounted the lights are below the operator'"'"'s line of sight, so they do not interfere with or distract the operator. The brake lights on the rear of the vehicle are generally red, and those on the side and front of the vehicle are generally blue. When forward facing daytime running lights are provided, generally these lights are on so long as the ignition circuit is on, except when the brake lights are activated, then they are extinguished as the blue brake lights on the front side and/or front are illuminated. When turn signals of one side of the vehicle are activated so as to flash intermittently, the turn signals on the opposite side may be actuated to burn continuously. The brake lights are generally actuatable whether the ignition of the vehicle is on or not. Generally, the turn signal lights are not actuatable when the ignition circuit is off.

Claims

1. A powered vehicle including a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, a first front wheel on said first side, a second front wheel on said second side, a forward facing windshield, at least said first side including a front door having a forward edge located rearward of said front wheels and generally below said forward facing windshield, a braking system, and activatable brake, turning and ignition circuits, said powered vehicle comprising:

at least one rear brake light member mounted on said rear end, said rear brake light member being operatively coupled to said braking system through said brake circuit, and adapted to being illuminated responsive to the activation of said braking system, said rear brake light member emitting light having a generally red hue;

a first light source mounted below the level of said forward facing windshield on said first side between said first front wheel and said forward edge, and a second light source mounted on said second side generally symmetrically opposite said first light source, each of said light sources including a turn light emitting member and a side brake light emitting member, said turn light emitting member being of a generally yellow or amber hue and said side brake light emitting member being of a generally blue hue, said turn light emitting members being operatively coupled to said turning circuit, said turning circuit being adapted to deactivate both turn light emitting members simultaneously or to intermittently activate one of said turn light emitting members while steadily activating the other of said turn light emitting members, said side brake light emitting members being operatively coupled to said brake circuit, said brake circuit being adapted to activate said side brake light emitting members so long as said braking system is activated, said side brake and turn light emitting members being inoperative when said ignition circuit is not activated, and operative when said ignition circuit is activated.

2. A vehicle including a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, a first front side location on said first side, a second front side location on said second side, a forward facing windshield, said vehicle including a braking system, and activatable brake, turning and ignition circuits, said vehicle comprising:

at least one rear brake light emitting member mounted on said rear end, said rear brake light emitting member being operatively coupled to said braking system through said brake circuit and adapted to being illuminated responsive to the activation of said braking system, said rear brake light emitting member emitting light having a first hue;

a first light source mounted at said first front side location, and a second light source mounted on said second front side location generally symmetrically opposite said first light source, each of said first and second light sources including a turn light emitting member and a side brake light emitting member, said turn light emitting member being of a second hue and said side brake light emitting member being of a third hue, said first and third hues being different, said turn light emitting members being operatively coupled to said turning circuit, said turning circuit being adapted to intermittently activate one of said turn light emitting members at a time, said side brake light emitting members being operatively coupled to said brake circuit, said brake circuit being adapted to activate said side brake light emitting members at least when said braking system and ignition circuits are activated; and

a third light source mounted to said front end, said third light source including a first front brake light emitting member, said first front brake light emitting member generally emitting said third hue, said first front brake light emitting member being operatively coupled to said brake circuit, and said brake circuit being adapted to activate said first front brake light emitting member when said side brake light emitting members are activated.

3. A vehicle of claim 2 wherein said turning circuit is adapted to steadily illuminate the other of said turn light emitting members while said one turn light emitting member is intermittently activated.

4. A vehicle of claim 2 wherein said first hue is generally red, said second hue is generally amber or yellow, and said third hue is generally blue.

5. A vehicle of claim 2 wherein all said light emitting members comprise light emitting diodes.

6. A vehicle of claim 2 including forward visible daylight running lights which are operatively connected to said circuits so as to be on whenever said ignition circuit is on except when said first front brake light emitting member is activated.

7. A vehicle of claim 2 including a second front brake light emitting member mounted to said front end and being coupled to said brake circuit and operable with said first front brake light emitting member.

8. A vehicle of claim 2 wherein all said light emitting members comprise fiber optic cables.

9. A vehicle of claim 2 wherein said light sources comprise multi-chambered members mounted on a single base.

10. A vehicle of claim 9 wherein said light sources comprise two chambers.

11. A vehicle of claim 9 wherein said light sources comprise three chambers.

12. A vehicle of claim 2 wherein said light sources each comprise a base member including a turn light chamber and a stop light chamber, said respective chambers being adapted to emit light of different hues, said chambers being substantially optically isolated from each other.

13. A vehicle of claim 2 wherein each of said light sources comprise a first lens element having said second hue and being associated with said turn light emitting member, and a second lens element having said third hue and being associated with said side brake light emitting member.