No turn warning apparatus for a motor vehicle and method of projecting a no turn warning toward an oncoming motor vehicle

• US 6,603,395 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John S. Wilson
• Original Assignee: John S. Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US09/897,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 340/468, 340/463, 340/465, 340/470, 340/471, 340/472, 340/902, 340/906, 340/464
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/547 for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake

Abstract

An apparatus and method of projecting a no turn warning to an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian. The no turn warning indicates the motor vehicle is proceeding in a straight pathway through an intersection rather than turning either to the left or to the right. At least one visible light is mounted to the frontal exterior of the motor vehicle for projecting the no turn warning. When more than one visible light is mounted to the frontal exterior of the motor vehicle, the no turn signal can flash serial, sequentially or concurrently, in accordance with the controller'"'"'s preprogrammed paradigm.

Claims

1. In combination with an emergency motor vehicle, a no turn indicator apparatus for projecting a no turn warning toward an oncoming person, comprising:

a) a frontal exterior of said emergency motor vehicle, wherein said frontal exterior further comprises;

i) a bumper including a first preselected position for mounting said no turn warning;

ii) a hood including a second preselected position for mounting said no turn warning;

iii) a first headlight and a second headlight positioned above said bumper;

iv) a first turn signal proximate to said first headlight positioned at a first location of said frontal exterior;

said first location for said first no turn signal positioned beneath an apex of said hood;

v) a second turn signal proximate to said second headlight positioned at a second location of said frontal exterior;

vi) a windshield including a third preselected position for mounting said no turn warning;

vii) a span above said windshield including a fourth preselected position for mounting said no turn warning; and

viii) a forward member located between said bumper, said hood, said first headlight and said second headlight including a fifth preselected position for mounting said no turn warning;

b) a first visible light mounted about either said first, said second, said third, said fourth or said fifth preselected position such that upon illumination said first visible light projects said no turn warning to said oncoming person;

c) an operator'"'"'s compartment situated behind said frontal exterior of said emergency motor vehicle further including;

i) a switch for activating a controller for energizing said no turn warning; and

ii) an indicator for evidencing activation of said no turn warning;

d) a first circuit coupled to said controller and said first visible light; and

e) a power source for supplying energy to said no turn warning, wherein, upon engagement of said switch, said first visible light flashingly projects said no turn warning toward said oncoming person such that said no turning warning is projected forward from said emergency motor vehicle warning said oncoming person that said emergency motor vehicle is traveling through an intersection rather than turning to the right or to the left.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second visible light mounted about one of said preselected positions having no visible light previously mounted thereon and coupled to a second circuit linked to said controller, wherein said controller orders illumination of said first and said second visible lights to flashingly project said no turn warning toward said oncoming person.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a third visible light mounted about one of said preselected positions having no visible light previously mounted thereon and coupled to a third circuit linked to said controller, wherein said controller orders illumination of said first, said second and said third visible lights to flashingly project said no turn warning toward said oncoming person.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first visible light is arranged to project said no turn warning as a first flashing arrow.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein a light bulb beams said first visible light.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein a laser beams said first visible light.

7. The invention of claim 4 wherein fiber optics beam said first visible light.

8. In combination with a motor vehicle, a no turn indicator apparatus for projecting a no turn warning toward an oncoming person, comprising:

a) a frontal exterior of said motor vehicle, wherein said frontal exterior further comprises;

i) a bumper including a first preselected position for mounting said no turn warning;

ii) a hood including a second preselected position for mounting said no turn warning;

iii) a first headlight and a second headlight positioned above said bumper;

iv) a first turn signal proximate to said first headlight positioned at a first location of said frontal exterior;

said first location for said first no turn signal positioned beneath an apex of said hood;

v) a second turn signal proximate to said second headlight positioned at a second location of said frontal exterior;

vi) a windshield including a third preselected position for mounting said no turn warning;

vii) a span above said windshield including a fourth preselected position for mounting said no turn warning; and

viii) a forward member located above said bumper, below an apex of said hood, and between said first headlight positioned below said apex of said hood and said second headlight, wherein said forward member includes a fifth preselected position for mounting said no turn warning;

b) an operator'"'"'s compartment situated behind said frontal exterior of said motor vehicle further including;

i) a switch for activating a controller for energizing said no turn warning;

ii) an indicator for evidencing activation of said no turn warning; and

iii) a rearview mirror providing a sixth preselected position for mounting said no turn warning;

c) a first visible light mounted about either said first, said second, said third, said fourth, said fifth or said sixth preselected position;

d) a first circuit coupled to said controller and said first visible light;

e) a second visible light mounted about either said first, said second, said third, said fourth, said fifth or said sixth preselected position not already having said first visible light mounted thereon;

f) a second circuit coupled to said controller and said second visible light;

g) a third visible light aligned with said first visible light and said second visible light and mounted about either said first, said second, said third, said fourth, said fifth or said sixth preselected position not already having said first visible light or said second visible light mounted thereon;

h) a third circuit coupled to said controller and said third visible light; and

i) a power source for supplying energy to said no turn warning, wherein, upon engagement of said switch, said controller orders said first visible light, said second visible light and said third visible light to flashingly project said no turn warning toward said oncoming person such that said no turning warning is projected forward from said motor vehicle warning said oncoming person that said motor vehicle is traveling through an intersection rather than turning to the right or to the left.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a fourth visible light mounted about one of said preselected positions having no visible light previously mounted thereon and coupled to a fourth circuit linked to said controller, wherein said controller serially orders illumination of said first, said second, said third and said fourth visible lights to flashingly project said no turn warning toward said oncoming person.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a fourth visible light mounted about one of said preselected positions having no visible light previously mounted thereon and coupled to a fourth circuit linked to said controller, wherein said controller sequentially orders illumination of said first, said second, said third, and said fourth visible lights to flashingly project said no turn warning toward said oncoming person.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first visible light is arrayed to project said no turn warning as a flashing arrow.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a fourth visible light mounted about one of said preselected positions having no visible light previously mounted thereon and coupled to a fourth circuit linked to said controller, wherein said controller concurrently orders illumination of said first, said second, said third, and said fourth visible lights to flashingly project said no turn warning toward said oncoming person.

13. The invention of claim 11 wherein a laser beams said first visible light.

14. The invention of claim 11 wherein fiber optics beam said first visible light.

15. The method of flashing a no turn warning, from a motor vehicle approaching an intersection, at an oncoming person, comprising the steps of:

a) medially mounting a first visible light on a forward member of said motor vehicle for projecting said no turn warning forward from said motor vehicle and toward said oncoming person, wherein said forward member is located above a bumper, below said apex of a hood of said motor vehicle and between a first headlight and its corresponding turn signal and a second headlight and its corresponding turn signal;

b) establishing other locations about either said bumper, said hood, a windshield, a span or a rearview mirror of said motor vehicle for mounting other visible lights, wherein said other locations are aligned with said first visible light;

c) mounting a second visible light at one of said other locations for projecting said no turn warning forward from said motor vehicle and toward said on coming person;

d) programming a controller linked to said visible lights to energize said flashing no turn warning, according to a predetermined paradigm;

e) prior to said motor vehicle'"'"'s entry into said intersection, engaging a switch in an operator'"'"'s compartment coupled to said controller to activate said controller such that said flashing no turn warning is projected forward toward said oncoming person to indicate that said motor vehicle is proceeding through said intersection rather than turning either to the right or to the left; and

f) evidencing, via an indicator, to an occupant of said operator'"'"'s compartment said no turn warning is flashing.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

a) mounting a third visible light at one of said other locations not previously having said first or said second visible light mounted thereon; and

b) linking said third visible light to said controller.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said controller serially energizes said first, said second and said third visible lights.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said controller sequentially energizes said first, said second and said third visible lights.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said controller concurrently energizes said first, said second and said third visible lights.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein either said first, said second or said third visible light of said no turn warning is projected at said oncoming person in arrow-like appearance.