Engine brake indicator light

• US 6,137,401 A
• Filed: 02/11/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin L. Barrows
• Original Assignee: Kevin L. Barrows
• Inventors: Barrows, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie B.
• Application Number:
  US09/247,993
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 340/479, 340/463, 340/468, 340/475, 477/200, 477/201, 477/73, 192/30 W, 192/219
• US Class Current: 340/479
• 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

An engine brake indicator system is provided for use with a vehicular accessory power source and a pair of brake lights mounted on a rear of a vehicle. Included is an engine brake having a plurality of engine brake coils, a stage switch, and an engine brake master switch with a first orientation upon the engine brake being unemployed and a second orientation upon the engine brake being employed. In use, the engine brake master switch is connected between the power source and the brake lights for actuating the brake lights only upon being in the second orientation.

Claims

1. An engine brake indicator system comprising, in combination:

a vehicular accessory power source;

a pair of brake lights mounted on a rear of a vehicle and connected to ground for illuminating upon the actuation thereof;

a brake light switch connected to the power source and the brake lights for actuating the same upon the receipt of power, the brake light switch further connected to a brake pedal for being supplied with power upon the depression thereof;

an engine brake including a plurality of engine brake coils connected to ground, a stage switch having a first node connected to the engine brake coils and a second node, and an engine brake master switch having an open orientation upon the engine brake being unemployed and a closed orientation upon the engine brake being employed, wherein the engine brake master switch has a first node connected to the power source and a second node;

a diode being connected between the second node and the brake light switch for preventing feedback from the brake light switch from adversely affecting the stage switch;

a circuit breaker being connected between the diode and the second node to prevent the brake light switch from being damaged by a spike in current between the second node and brake light switch;

a normally closed clutch switch having an open orientation only upon the depression of a clutch of the vehicle, the clutch switch including a first node connected to the second node of the engine brake master switch and a second node; and

a normally closed throttle switch having an open orientation only upon the depression of a throttle of the vehicle, the throttle switch including a first node connected to the second node of the clutch switch and a second node connected to the second node of the stage switch of the engine brake and further the brake light switch;

wherein the brake light switch is supplied with power and the brake lights actuated upon the lack of the depression of the clutch switch and the throttle switch in combination with the closing of the engine brake master switch.

2. An engine brake indicator system comprising:

a vehicular power source;

at least one brake light mounted on a rear of a vehicle and connected to the power source for illuminating upon the actuation thereof;

an engine brake including a plurality of engine brake coils and a stage switch, the engine brake connected to the at least one brake light for actuating the same upon the engine brake being employed, a diode being connected between the stage switch and the at least one brake light for preventing feedback front the at least one brake light from adversely affecting the stage switch;

brake light switch connected to tile power source and the brake light for actuating the brake light upon the receipt of power; and

a circuit breaker being connected between the diode and the stage switch to prevent the brake light switch from being damaged by a spike in current between the stage switch and the brake light switch.

3. An engine brake indicator system as sel forth in claim 2 and further including a clutch switch for precluding the actuation of the brake light upon the employment of the engine brake in combination with a clutch of the vehicle being depressed.

4. An engine brake indicator system as set forth in claim 2 and further including a throttle switch for precluding the actuation of the brake light upon the employment of the engine brake in combination with a throttle of the vehicle being depressed.

5. An engine brake indicator system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the brake light is connected to a brake pedal for actuating unconditionally upon the depression thereof.