Auxiliary safety warning light system for a vehicle

• US 6,326,888 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ching-Yung Wang
• Original Assignee: Ching-Yung Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Ching-Yung
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/492,035
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/479, 340/466, 340/467, 340/464, 340/468, 340/471, 340/485, 340/441, 340/472, 340/475, 340/465, 362/485, 362/488, 362/800, 362/487
• US Class Current: 340/463
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

An auxiliary safety warning light system for a vehicle includes a light assembly having a first side lighting portion, a mediate lighting portion and a second side lighting portion and a control unit connecting the light assembly to the light-control system of the vehicle or independently to the steering panel of the vehicle. The light assembly can light and/or blink in different conditions so as to facilitate the identification of the state and intentions of the vehicle and decrease the likelihood of accidents to secure the driver'"'"'s safety.

Claims

1. An auxiliary safety warning light system for a vehicle comprising:

a light assembly having a mediate lighting portion, a first side lighting portion located at a first end of the mediate lighting portion and a second side lighting portion located at a second end of the mediate lighting portion and a light control unit so configured that each lighting portion is capable of lighting and/or blinking independently;

wherein the mediate lighting portion of the light assembly is a light-emitting bar distinguishably separated from the first and the second side lighting portion;

whereby the light control unit is so configured that the mediate lighting portion of the auxiliary safety warning light system can light continuously when a vehicle equipped with the auxiliary safety warning light system is together with the first side lighting portion blinking when the vehicle turns left and the second side lighting portion blinking when the vehicle turns right; and

wherein the first/second side lighting portion and the mediate lighting portion are operated synchronously.

2. The auxiliary safety warning light system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light control unit is electrically connected to the light-control system of a car.

3. The auxiliary safety warning light system as claim in claim 1, wherein the light control unit is independently, electrically connected to the steering panel of a car.

4. The auxiliary safety warning light system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lighting portions (11, 12, 13) of the light assembly (10) comprises

a housing consisting of a first casing (34) and a second casing (36) attached to the first casing (34), the first casing (34) having two panels (342, 344) integrally extending therefrom and the second casing (36) having two panels (362, 364) integrally extending therefrom with each panel (362, 364) having a recess (3620, 3640) defined therein and aligned with the panel (342, 344) in the first casing (34),

a base (36) received in the housing and having two portions respectively passing through the recesses (3620, 3640), such that the base (36) is separated into three portions, and

multiple light-emitting devices (39) mounted on each portion of the base (36) and separated by the panels (342, 344, 362, 364) into three groups.

5. The auxiliary safety warning light system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lighting portions (11, 12, 13) of the light assembly (10) comprise

a hollow housing with a first side lighting portion (22), a second side lighting portion (23) and a mediate portion (21) situated between the first and second side lighting portions (22, 23),

a base (210) mounted in the mediate portion (21),

two panels (221, 231) respectively mounted on the first and the second side lighting portions (22, 23) to respectively separate the mediate portion (21) from the first and the second side lighting portions (22, 23) with each panel (221, 231) having an opening (222, 232) defined therein, and

three light-emitting devices (212, 213, 211) respectively mounted on the base (210) with the light-emitting device (212) extending through the opening (222) into the first side lighting portion (22) and the light-emitting device (213) extending through the opening (232) into the second side lighting portion (23).

6. The auxiliary safety warning light system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is a central processing unit (CPU).

7. The auxiliary safety warning light system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is an control loop capable of independently and simultaneously controlling each one of the lighting portions (11, 12, 13).

8. The auxiliary safety warning light system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mediate lighting portion (11), the first side lighting portion (12) and the second side lighting portion (13) are LCD (liquid crystal display).

9. The auxiliary safety warning light system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mediate lighting portion (11), the first side lighting portion (12) and the second side lighting portion (13) are arranged on a base (38) and arranged into three groups so as to serve as the light assembly alone and function well also.

10. The auxiliary safety warning light system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mediate lighting portion (11), the first side lighting portion (12) and the second side lighting portion (13) are of the same color.

11. The auxiliary safety warning light system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mediate lighting portion (11), the first side lighting portion (12) and the second side lighting portion (13) are LED (light-emitting display).

12. The auxiliary safety warning light system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mediate lighting portion (11), the first side lighting portion (12) and the second side lighting portion (13) are lamps.

13. The auxiliary safety warning light system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mediate lighting portion (11), the first side lighting portion (12) and the second side lighting portion (13) are BL (back light).