Moving fog lights

• US 7,500,772 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francis-Xavier J. Lebel
• Original Assignee: Francis-Xavier J. Lebel
• Inventors: Lebel, Francis-Xavier J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Gunyoung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/735,943
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 362/505, 362/507, 362/430, 362/427, 362523-526, 362/528, 362/529, 362/531, 362/35
• US Class Current: 362/525
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/20 Fog lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/36 Conjoint adjustments, i.e. a mechanical link allows conjoint adjustment of several units
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle

Abstract

A vehicle safety apparatus that includes a set of moving fog lights that are mounted within a housing that is mounted on the front undercarriage of a vehicle, with the fog lights being axially attached and capable of altering their light path in response to changes in steering. The fog lights would move through a connection to a reversible electric motor and an electronic controller. A series of drive arms or rods would link the motor to each of the fog lights. A pair of spaced magnetic sensor attachments linked to the steering rod of the vehicle would be also connected to the electronic controller, thereby allowing the fog lights to slightly move in the angle of direction to which the steering is moving at the same time.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety apparatus in combination with a vehicle, the vehicle safety apparatus comprising

a support, the support having two ends comprising a first end and a second end,

a pair of light sources, the pair of light sources comprising a first light and a second light,

means for mounting the pair of light sources to the support,

means for mounting the support to a vehicle,

means for altering a positioning of the pair of light sources when the vehicle changes direction,

wherein each of the light sources further comprises an external housing, and a light located within each external housing,

wherein each light source further comprises a fog light,

wherein the means for mounting the pair of light sources to the support further comprises

a pair of pin pivots comprising a first pin pivot and a second pin pivot, wherein the first pin pivot is attached to the first end of the support, and further wherein the second pin pivot is attached to the second end of the support,

a pair of bottom-mounted holes comprising a first hole and a second hole, the first bottom-mounted hole being located on the housing of the first light source, the second bottom-mounted hole being located on the housing of the second light source,

wherein the first light source is mounted over the first pin pivot by placing the first pin pivot through the first hole located on the housing of the first light source,

wherein the second light source is mounted over the second pin pivot by placing the first pin pivot through the second hole located on the housing of the second light source,

wherein the means for altering the positioning of the pair of light sources when the vehicle changes direction further comprises

a motor, the motor being housed in a motor housing, wherein the motor housing is fixedly attached to the support approximately halfway in between the first end and the second end of the support,

a controller located in the motor housing, the controller being physically connected to the motor, the controller also being connected to the motor housing,

means for connecting the pair of light sources to the motor,

a movement sensor attached to the vehicle,

a length of wiring connecting the movement sensor to the controller,

wherein the means for connecting the pair of light sources to the motor further comprises

a support rod having two ends comprising a first end and a second end,

a pair of loops comprising a first loop and a second loop, the first loop being attached to the first end of the support rod, the second loop being attached to the second end of the support rod,

a pair of rear rods comprising a first rear rod and a second rear rod, wherein the first rear rod is connected to the housing on the first light source, further wherein the second rear rod is connected to the housing on the second light source,

means for connecting the motor to the support rod,

wherein the first rear rod is inserted through the first loop, and

further wherein the second rear rod is inserted through the second loop.

2. A vehicle safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the motor to the support rod further comprises a connector rod connected to the motor, the connector rod also being connected to the support rod approximately halfway in between the first end of the support rod and the second end of the support rod.

3. A vehicle safety apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for mounting the support to a vehicle further comprises

(a) an undercarriage attached to the vehicle,

(b) wherein the support is mounted to the undercarriage of the vehicle.

4. A vehicle safety apparatus in combination with a vehicle, the vehicle safety apparatus comprising

(a) a support, the support having two ends comprising a first end and a second end,

(b) a pair of light sources, the pair of light sources comprising a first light and a second light, each of the light sources further comprising an external housing, each of the light sources further comprising a light located within external housing,

(c) means for mounting the pair of light sources to the support, said means comprising (i) a pair of pin pivots comprising a first pin pivot and a second pin pivot, wherein the first pin pivot is attached to the first end of the support, and further wherein the second pin pivot is attached to the second end of the support, (ii) a pair of bottom-mounted holes comprising a first hole and a second hole, the first bottom-mounted hole being located on the housing of the first light source, the second bottom-mounted hole being located on the housing of the second light source, (iii) wherein the first light source is mounted over the first pin pivot by placing the first pin pivot through the first hole located on the housing of the first light source, and (iv) wherein the second light source is mounted over the second pin pivot by placing the first pin pivot through the second hole located on the housing of the second light source,

(d) means for mounting the support to a vehicle, said means further comprising an undercarriage attached to the vehicle, wherein the support is mounted to the undercarriage of the vehicle, and

(e) means for altering a positioning of the pair of light sources when the vehicle changes direction, said means comprising (i) a motor, the motor being housed in a motor housing, wherein the motor housing is fixedly attached to the support approximately halfway in between the first end and the second end of the support, (ii) a controller located in the motor housing, the controller being physically connected to the motor, the controller also being connected to the motor housing, (iii) means for connecting the pair of light sources to the motor, said means comprising (1) a support rod having two ends comprising a first end and a second end, (2) a pair of loops comprising a first loop and a second loop, the first loop being attached to the first end of the support rod, the second loop being attached to the second end of the support rod, (3) a pair of rear rods comprising a first rear rod and a second rear rod, wherein the first rear rod is connected to the housing on the first light source, further wherein the second rear rod is connected to the housing on the second light source, (4) means for connecting the motor to the support rod, said means further comprising a connector rod connected to the motor, the connector rod also being connected to the support rod approximately halfway in between the first end of the support rod and the second end of the support rod, (5) wherein the first rear rod is inserted through the first loop, and (6) further wherein the second rear rod is inserted through the second loop, (iv) a movement sensor attached to the vehicle, and (v) a length of wiring connecting the movement sensor to the controller.

5. A vehicle safety apparatus in combination with a vehicle according to claim 4 wherein each light source further comprises a fog light.