Radio controlled light bar

• US 6,100,801 A
• Filed: 05/21/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Custer Products Limited
• Original Assignee: Custer Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Plummer, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/082,898
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/479, 340/475, 340/463, 362/61, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions

Abstract

A portable, radio controlled light bar magnetically affixable to a trailer or towed vehicle that receives signals from a transmitter magnetically affixable to the tow vehicle and electrically connected to its braking, turning and tail lighting systems. The light bar includes a pair of turn signals and a pair of tail/braking lights, each of which has a parabolic lens for magnifying the light emitted thereby requiring less light to provide sufficient brightness or lux. The transmitter includes a four prong receptacle that is readily connectable to a standard wiring harness on the tow vehicle. The radio frequency is adjustable so each unit has a unique radio frequency. The transmitter operates off of the voltage supplied by the tow vehicle while the light bar operates off of a rechargeable battery and the radio frequency signal received. A recharger is supplied on the light bar.

Claims

1. A lighting mechanism for use in connection with a trailer or towed vehicle that is towed behind a tow vehicle which has at least one electrical system including a light thereon for indicating one of tow vehicle braking or turning, or generally serving as tail lighting, the lighting mechanism comprising:

a tow vehicle unit removably attachable to the tow vehicle and including a connector for electrical connection to the at least one electrical system of the tow vehicle and a signal transmitter electrically connected thereto for transmitting a signal indicative of the electrical signals passing through the at least one electrical system;

a towed unit removably attachable to the trailer or towed vehicle and including a signal receiver for receiving the transmitted signal and at least one visual indicator electrically connected thereto for selective emanating a visual signal based upon the received signals;

the signal transmitter being a four channel transmitter, and the signal receiver being a four channel receiver that includes a first channel for brake indicating, a second channel for tail light indicating, a third channel for left turning indicating, and a fourth channel for right turn indicating; and

the channels being connected with the at least one visual indicator that includes a plurality of light bulbs electrically connected so as to indicate tail lighting by illuminating at least one of the light bulbs to a first visually noticeable level, to indicate braking by illuminating at least one of the light bulbs to a second visually noticeable level different from any other visually noticeable level that particular light bulb is illuminated to, to indicate left turning by illuminating at least one of the light bulbs on the left side of the towed unit to a third visually noticeable level different from any other visually noticeable level that particular light bulb is illuminated to, and to indicate right turning by illuminating at least one of the light bulbs on the left side of the towed unit to a fourth visually noticeable level different from any other visually noticeable level that particular light bulb is illuminated to.

2. The lighting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the tow vehicle unit further includes a rf oscillator and a modulator electrically connected thereto for coupling an oscillating frequency to the signal indicative of the electrical signals passing through the at least one electrical system.

3. The lighting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the tow vehicle unit further includes an analog to rf converter electrically connected thereto.

4. The lighting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the towed unit further includes a demodulator electrically connected thereto for decoupling an oscillating frequency from the received signal.

5. The lighting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the towed unit further includes a decoder electrically connected thereto for decoding the received signal and providing light directing signals.

6. The lighting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the towed unit further includes a rechargeable battery and a battery recharging system electrically coupled thereto.

7. The lighting mechanism of claim 1 wherein each of the tow unit and the towed unit includes magnets for removably attaching the units to the tow vehicle and towed vehicle respectively.

8. The lighting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator is a light bulb and a parabolic lens is provided over the light bulb for magnifying any light emanated therefrom.

9. A lighting mechanism for use in connection with a trailer or towed vehicle that is towed behind a tow vehicle which has at least one electrical system including a light thereon for indicating one of tow vehicle braking or turning, or generally serving as tail lighting, the lighting mechanism comprising:

a tow vehicle unit removably attachable to the tow vehicle and including a connector for electrical connection to the at least one electrical system of the tow vehicle and a signal transmitter electrically connected thereto for transmitting a signal indicative of the electrical signals passing through the at least one electrical system;

a towed unit removably attachable to the trailer or towed vehicle and including a signal receiver for receiving the transmitted signal and at least one visual indicator electrically connected thereto for selective emanating a visual signal based upon the received signal;

the tow vehicle unit further including a rf oscillator and a modulator electrically connected thereto for coupling an oscillating frequency to the signal indicative of the electrical signals passing through the at least one electrical system; and

a control for adjusting the oscillating frequency of the transmission.

10. A lighting mechanism for use in connection with a trailer or towed vehicle that is towed behind a tow vehicle which has a braking electrical system indicative of tow vehicle braking, a turning electrical system indicative of tow vehicle turning, and a tail light electrical system for providing tail lighting where each system includes a light therein for indicating braking or turning, or generally serving as tail lighting, respectively, the lighting mechanism comprising:

a transmission unit magnetically attachable to the tow vehicle and including a connector for electrical connection to the tow vehicle electrical systems via a multiple prong adaptor and a signal transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of the electrical signals passing through the electrical systems;

a receiver unit magnetically attachable to the trailer or towed vehicle and including a signal receiver for receiving the transmitted signal, a signal processor electrically connected thereto for processing the signal into light directing signals, and a plurality of lights electrically connected thereto for selective emanating of a visual signal indicative of at least one of tail lighting, brake lighting or turn signaling based upon the light directing signals;

the transmission unit further including a rf oscillator electrically connected thereto, a modulator electrically connected thereto for coupling an oscillating frequency to the signal indicative of the electrical signals passing through the at least one electrical system, and an analog to rf converter electrically connected thereto; and

a control being provided for adjusting the oscillating frequency of the transmission.

11. The lighting mechanism of claim 10 wherein the signal processor includes a demodulator electrically connected thereto for decoupling an oscillating frequency from the received signal, an rf to analog converter, and a decoder electrically connected thereto for decoding the received signal and providing light directing signals.

12. The lighting mechanism of claim 11 wherein the receiver unit further includes a plurality of lighting circuits electrically connected to at least a receiver tail and brake light and a pair of receiver turn signal lights whereby the lighting circuits selectively receive light directing signals.

13. The lighting mechanism of claim 10 wherein the receiver unit further includes a rechargeable battery and a battery recharging system electrically coupled thereto.