Vehicle hazard light system

• US 6,323,766 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ayona F. Bartlett, Timothy O. Bartlett
• Original Assignee: Ayona F. Bartlett, Timothy O. Bartlett
• Inventors: Bartlett, Timothy O., Bartlett, Ayona F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/737,523
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/467, 340/468, 340/471, 340/475, 340/479
• US Class Current: 340/471
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

An improved vehicle hazard light system that includes an impact sensor switch which activates the hazard blinker lights after an impact of a predetermined magnitude has been sensed. Because the impact could come from any direction, impact sensor switch is adpated to sense impacts from any direction.

Claims

1. In a vehicle hazard light system including a number of emergency flasher lights controlled by a flasher relay that is activated by a manually operated flasher relay activation switch in connection with a flasher relay activation input of a flasher relay such that, when the manually operated flasher relay activation switch is in a closed position, power is supplied to the flasher relay activation input causing the flasher relay to supply power intermittently to the number of flasher lights such that the number of flasher lights flash on and off;

the improvement comprising;

an impact activated latching relay assembly;

said impact activated latching relay assembly including;

a dual contact latching relay having first and second latching inputs for closing and maintaining first and second pairs of relay contacts of said dual contact latching relay in closed positions while electrical power is supplied to either or both of said first and second latching inputs; and

a viscous fluid filled pendulum impact sensing switch including a sensing switch input connector having a first end in connection in electrical connection with an electrically conductive pendulum that is swivelly, pivotally suspended in a non-electrically conductive viscous fluid filled chamber and surrounded by an electrically conductive ring positioned within said viscous fluid filled chamber and having a sensor switch output connector in electrical connection therewith and positioned within said viscous fluid filled chamber such that when an electrically conductive pendulum mass portion of said electrically conductive pendulum swings a predetermined angle away from a center hanging position in any direction an electrical connection is formed between said sensing switch input connector and said sensing switch output connector;

the viscosity of said fluid in said viscous fluid filled chamber and the size and mass of said electrically conductive mass of said pendulum mass portion being selected to determine a magnitude of impact required to cause said electrically conductive pendulum to swing through said viscous fluid filled chamber to generate a closed electrical connection between said sensing switch input connector and said sensing switch output connector of said viscous fluid filled pendulum impact sensing switch;

said first pair of relay contacts being electrically wired in parallel with the manually operated flasher relay activation switch so as to bypass the manually operated flasher relay activation switch when said first pair of relay contacts are closed and supply power to said flasher relay activation input;

said second pair of relay contacts being wired in series connection between a power source, a normally closed manual disable switch and said second latching input of said dual contact latching relay such that, once said second pair of contacts of said dual contact latching relay close, power is continuously supplied to said second latching input of said dual contact latching relay causing said first and second pairs of contacts to remain in said closed position until electrical power is interrupted to said second latching input by momentarily depressing said normally closed manual disable switch;

said sensing switch input connector and sensing switch output connector being wired in series between a power source and said first latching input of said dual contact latching relay such that when said viscous fluid filled pendulum impact sensing switch senses an impact sufficient to form an electrical connection between said sensing switch input connector and sensing switch output connector power is momentarily supplied to said first latching input for a time sufficient to close said first and second pairs of relay contacts which remain closed until power is interrupted to said second latching input by momentarily depressing said normally closed manual disable switch.