Inclement weather safety system

• US 6,456,206 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1996
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard M. Rocca
• Original Assignee: Richard M. Rocca
• Inventors: Rocca, Richard M., Jacobson, Irving
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/730,236
• Time in Patent Office: 2,164 Days
• Field of Search: 340/468, 340/469, 340/471, 340/475, 340/463, 340/465, 340/438, 340/439, 340/901, 340/905, 340/425.5, 315/80, 315/82, 307/10.8, 362/61
• US Class Current: 340/975
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2603 Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/18 for varying the light intensity

Abstract

The present invention relates to a inclement weather safety system where the purpose of the system is to allow other drivers in your vicinity to see your vehicle at a further distance away, when there is very severe weather conditions by strobing the head lights or fog lights or strobe lights at microsecond speed and/or increasing the illumination of various secondary lights of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. An inclement weather safety system having left and right strobe lights, an inclement weather system switch, an inclement weather system indication, a humidity sensitivity/climate control switch, and a Direct Current (DC) to Direct Current (DC) converter, for a motor vehicle having an ignition switch, a main lamp switch, turn directional signal switch, left and right headlights and fog lights, and marking, brake, directional, license plate and warning lights for operation by a driver, comprising:

A) a power means; and

B) an inclement weather safety system control unit (22) which is electronically connected to a motor vehicle turn directional signal switch (24) and to a Direct Current (DC) to Direct Current (DC) converter 30 which is electronically connected to marking, brake, directional, license plate and warning lights (32), the inclement weather system control unit (22) also being electronically connected to a humidity sensitivity/climate control switch (20) which is electronically connected to an inclement weather safety system switch (16) which is electronically connected to an inclement weather safety system indication (18), the inclement weather safety system switch (16) also being electronically connected to a main lamp switch (14) which is electronically connected to a motor vehicle ignition switch (12) which is electronically connected to the power means;

when the motor vehicle ignition switch (12) is activated by the driver, and the main lamp switch (14) is also activated by the driver the main lamp switch provides voltage to the inclement weather system switch (16) concurrently activated, the inclement weather safety system indication (18) also concurrently activates, the humidity sensitivity/climate control switch (20) activates the inclement weather safety system control unit (22) which occurs when inclement weather including fog, heavy rain or snow, are detected, the inclement weather safety system control unit (22) activates the Direct Current (DC) to Direct Current (DC) converter (30) which is electronically connected to marking, brake, directional, license plate and warning lights (32) to increase their illumination, the turn directional signal switch (24) is electronically connected to the inclement weather safety system control unit (22) which flashes at microsecond speed a light selected from a group of lights consisting of left headlight, fog light, strobe light (26), right headlight, fog light, strobe light (28) which is determined by the position of the turn directional signal switch (24).

2. A motor vehicle inclement weather safety system comprising:

A) power means;

B) an inclement weather safety system features;

automobile battery (10) which is electronically connected to an ignition switch (12) which is electronically connected to a main lamp switch (14) which is electronicaly connected to an inclement weather system switch (16) which is electronically connected to both an inclement weather system indication (18) and a humidity sensitivity/climate control switch (20) which is electronically connected to an inclement weather system control unit (22) which is concurrently electronically connected to a Dc to Dc converter (30) which is electronically connected to marking, brake, directional, license plate, warning lamps (32);

the inclement weather system control unit (22) is electronically connected to the right head or fog lamp or strobe light (28);

the inclement weather system control unit (22) which is also electronically connected to the left head or fog lamp or strobe light (26);

the inclement weather system control unit (22) which is electronically connected to the turn signal switch (24);

C) whereby when the motor vehicle ignition switch (12) is activated and the main lamp switch (14) is activated and the inclement weather system switch (16) is activated and when inclement weather conditions exist, the humidity sensitivity climate control switch (20) detects said weather conditions and is activated and in turn activates the inclement weather system control unit (22) which increases the illumination of the inclement weather safety system indication (18) located on the dashboard and concurrently increases the illumination of the marking, brake, directional, license plate and warning lights (32);

the inclement weather safety system control unit (22) also intensifies brightness of at least one head light or fog light or strobe light which flashes at a microsecond speed which is triggered by the directional signal switch (24).

3. A motor vehicle inclement weather safety system comprising:

A) power means;

B) an inclement weather safety system having an ignition switch, a main lamp switch, an inclement weather system switch, an inclement weather system indication, a humidity sensitivity/climate control switch, an inclement weather system control unit, and “

a DC to DC converter, features an automobile battery which is electronically connected to an ignition switch which is electronically connected to a main lamp switch which is electronically connected to an inclement weather system switch which is electronically connected to both an inclement weather system indication on a dashboard and to a humidity sensitivity/climate control switch which is electronically connected to an inclement weather system control unit which is concurrently electronically connected to a DC to DC converter which is electronically connected to marking, brake, directional, license plate and warning lamps;

the inclement weather system control unit is also electronically connected to the right head or fog lamp or strobe light;

the inclement weather system control unit is also electronically connected to the left head or fog lamp or strobe light;

the inclement weather system control unit is also electronically connected to the turn signal switch;

C) whereby when the motor vehicle ignition switch is activated and the main lamp switch is activated and the inclement weather system switch is activated and when inclement weather conditions exist, the humidity sensitivity/climate control switch detects said weather conditions and is activated and in turn activates the inclement weather system control unit which increases the illumination of the inclement weather safety system indication located on the dashboard and concurrently increases the illumination of the marking, brake, directional, license plate and warning lights;

the inclement weather safety system control unit also intensifies brightness of at least one head light or fog light or strobe light which flashes at a microsecond speed which is triggered by the directional signal switch.

4. A motor vehicle inclement weather safety system comprising:

A) power means;

B) an inclement weather safety system having an ignition switch, a main lamp switch, an inclement weather system switch, an inclement weather system indication, a humidity sensitivity/climate control switch, an inclement weather system control unit, and “

a DC to DC converter, features automobile battery (10) which is electronically connected to an ignition switch (12) which is electronically connected to a main lamp switch (14) which is electronically connected to an inclement weather system switch (16) which is electronically connected to both an inclement weather system indication (18) and to a humidity sensitivity/climate control switch (20) which is electronically connected to an inclement weather system control unit (22) which is concurrently electronically connected to a DC to DC converter (30) which is electronically connected to marking, brake, directional, license plate, warning lamps (32);

C) whereby when the motor vehicle ignition switch (12) is activated and the main lamp switch (14) is activated and the inclement weather system switch (16) is activated and when inclement weather conditions exist, the humidity sensitivity/climate control switch (20) detects said weather conditions and is activated and in turn activates the inclement weather system control unit (22) which increases the illumination of the inclement weather safety system indication (18) located on the dashboard and concurrently increases the illumination of the marking, brake, directional, license plate and warning lights (32).

5. A motor vehicle inclement weather safety system comprising:

A) power means;

B) an inclement weather safety system having an ignition switch, a main lamp switch, an inclement weather system switch, an inclement weather system indication, a humidity sensitivity/climate control switch, an inclement weather system control unit, and “

a DC to DC converter, features automobile battery which is electronically connected to an ignition switch which is electronically connected to a main lamp switch which is electronically connected to an inclement weather system switch which is electronically connected to both an inclement weather system indication on a dashboard and a humidity sensitivity climate control switch which is electronically connected to a inclement weather system control unit which is electronically connected to a DC to DC converter which is electronically connected to marking, brake, directional, license plate and warning lamps;

C) whereby when the motor vehicle ignition switch is activated and the main lamp switch is activated and the inclement weather system switch is activated and when inclement weather conditions exist, the humidity sensitivity/climate control switch detects said weather conditions and is activated and in turn activates the inclement weather system control unit which increases the illumination of the inclement weather safety system indication located on the dashboard and concurrently increases the illumination of the marking, brake, directional, license plate and warning lights.

6. In a vehicle having a turn directional signal and a mechanism for activating the signal, a strobe light, and apparatus for activating the strobe light when the turn directional signal is activated.

7. A vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the strobe light is a vehicle headlight.

8. A vehicle according to claim 6, and that has a humidity sensor, and an arrangement preventing the apparatus from activating the strobe light when the humidity is below a predetermined level.

9. A vehicle according to claim 6, and the vehicle has other lights that are brightened when the humidity is above a predetermined level.

10. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the other lights comprise marking lights.

11. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the other lights comprise brake lights.

12. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the other lights comprise directional lights.

13. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the other lights comprise license plate lights.

14. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the other lights comprise warning lights.

15. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein an inclement weather safety system indication is located on a dash board, and circuitry for activating the indication when the humidity sensor senses humidity above a predetermined level.

16. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein an inclement weather safety system indication is located on a dash board, and circuitry for activating the indication when the humidity sensor senses humidity above a predetermined level.

17. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the other lights are brightened using a DC to DC converter.

18. A vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the DC to DC converter converts a direct current at one voltage level to an alternating current and then to a higher voltage level direct current.

19. A vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the higher voltage level direct current increases illumination of the lights by fifteen percent.

20. For use in a vehicle having a turn directional signal, a mechanism for activating the signal, and a headlight, an inclement weather safety system comprising means for strobing the headlight, apparatus for activating the strobing means when the turn directional signal is activated, a humidity sensor, and an arrangement for preventing the apparatus from activating the strobing means when the humidity is below a predetermined level.