Automatic warning signal system for vehicles
First Claim
1. An automatic warning signal system for use with a leading vehicle, an energy source, and a signal means that produces a warning signal when activated;
- the leading vehicle including at least one brake light and a brake switch for activating the at least one brake light when closed;
the automatic warning signal system including;
(a) detector means for detecting if a following vehicle comes within a target area behind the leading vehicle;
(b) circuit means for coupling the detector means to the signal means and the energy source and for activating the signal means to automatically produce a warning signal to warn the driver of the following vehicle if the detector means detects the following vehicle within the target area behind the leading vehicle; and
(c) means for preventing the circuit means from activating the signal means when the brake switch is closed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle (e.g., an automobile, car, truck, tanker, van, bus, motor home, motorcycle, or other vehicles, etc., as well as trailers of all kinds in-tow, etc.) including a detector for detecting when a following vehicle comes within a target area too close to the rear of the leading vehicle, and a circuit for coupling a signal device and an energy source to cause the signal device to produce a warning signal which includes activating the brake light or lights of the leading vehicle without the actual application of the brakes to caution the driver of the following vehicle when the detector detects the following vehicle within the target area too close to the rear of the leading vehicle, causing the driver of the following vehicle to slow down and thus increase the distance between the two vehicles and prevent rear end collision in case of an emergency.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An automatic warning signal system for use with a leading vehicle, an energy source, and a signal means that produces a warning signal when activated;
- the leading vehicle including at least one brake light and a brake switch for activating the at least one brake light when closed;
the automatic warning signal system including;(a) detector means for detecting if a following vehicle comes within a target area behind the leading vehicle;
(b) circuit means for coupling the detector means to the signal means and the energy source and for activating the signal means to automatically produce a warning signal to warn the driver of the following vehicle if the detector means detects the following vehicle within the target area behind the leading vehicle; and
(c) means for preventing the circuit means from activating the signal means when the brake switch is closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- the leading vehicle including at least one brake light and a brake switch for activating the at least one brake light when closed;
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14. An automatic warning signal system for warning the driver of a following vehicle when the following vehicle comes within a target area behind a leading vehicle or a towed vehicle being towed by the leading vehicle, the leading vehicle including at least one brake light and a brake switch for activating the at least one brake light when closed;
- the automatic warning signal system comprising;
(a) an electrical energy source;
(b) a first signal means associated with the leading vehicle for producing a warning signal when electrically energized to warn the driver of the following vehicle;
(c) a second signal means associated with the towed vehicle for producing a warning signal when electrically energized to warn the driver of the following vehicle;
(d) a first detector means for detecting if a following vehicle comes within a target area behind the leading vehicle;
(e) a second detector means for detecting if a following vehicle comes within a target area behind the towed vehicle;
(f) circuit means for electrically coupling the first detector means to the first signal means and the energy source, for electrically coupling the second detector means to the second signal means and the energy source, and for activating at least one of the first and second signal means to automatically produce a warning signal to warn the driver of the following vehicle if at least one of the first and second detector means detects the following vehicle within the target area behind the leading or towed vehicle; and
(g) means for preventing the circuit means from activating the signal means when the brake switch is closed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
- the automatic warning signal system comprising;
Specification