Vehicle warning system and method

• US 7,242,287 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Giovinazzo
• Original Assignee: Joseph Giovinazzo
• Inventors: Giovinazzo, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/968,657
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 340/479, 340/468, 340/467, 340/425.5, 340/436, 340/465, 340/469, 340/438, 340/453, 340/472, 340/463, 200/61.89, 307/10.1, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal

Abstract

A vehicle warning system and a method of modifying a vehicle is provided. The system is installable on a vehicle having a brake pedal operatively connected to a brake light mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle. In one aspect, the vehicle warning system includes a distance proximity sensor adapted for mounting on the rear portion of the vehicle and a controller operatively connected to the sensor. The controller is adapted to receive a brake signal when the brake pedal of the vehicle is depressed, which activates the controller to send a start flashing signal to the brake light. The sensor sends a stop flashing signal to the controller upon sensing a vehicle within a selected distance behind the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle warning system for a vehicle having a brake pedal operatively connected to a brake light mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle, said vehicle warning system comprising:

(a) a distance proximity sensor mounted on the rear portion of a vehicle; and

(b) a controller operatively connected to said sensor and receiving a brake signal when the brake pedal of the vehicle is depressed, said brake pedal activating said controller to send a start flashing signal to the brake light;

wherein said sensor sends a stop flashing signal to the controller upon sensing a vehicle within a selected distance behind the vehicle; and

wherein said sensor is waterproof, the selected distance is forty feet or less, and the controller sends a start flashing signal to the brake light only when a vehicle is at a distance greater than the selected distance.

2. The vehicle warning system according to claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a timer/relay circuit having a trigger input.

3. The vehicle warning system according to claim 1 wherein the controller is operatively connected to a center brake light of the vehicle and the start flashing signal causes the center brake light to flash approximately two times a second.

4. The vehicle warning system according to claim 1 wherein the controller receives power only when the brake pedal is depressed.

5. A method of modifying a vehicle having a brake pedal operatively connected to a brake light mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle to provide a flashing warning comprising the steps of:

(a) mounting a distance proximity sensor on the rear portion of the vehicle;

(b) operatively connecting a controller to receive a brake signal when the brake pedal of the vehicle is depressed and to send a start flashing signal to the brake light; and

(c) operatively connecting the sensor to the controller to deactivate the controller upon sensing a vehicle within a selected distance behind the vehicle;

wherein the sensor is waterproof, the selected distance is forty feet or less, and the sensor deactivates the controller upon sensing a vehicle within the selected distance so that the controller sends a start flashing signal to the brake light only when a vehicle is at a distance greater than the selected distance.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the controller comprises a timer/relay circuit having a trigger input and is installed in an interior portion of the vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the controller is operatively connected to a center brake light of the vehicle and the start flashing signal causes the center brake light to flash approximately two times a second.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein the controller receives power only when the brake pedal is depressed.