Indicator light system for towed objects

• US 7,557,699 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quikflag Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quikflag Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Walton, Douglas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walk; Samuel J
• Application Number:
  US11/604,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20070120654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/472, 340/479, 280/493
• US Class Current: 340/472
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions

Abstract

An indicator light assembly is provided for use with a towed object having a substantially planar rear end, at least one substantially planar side orthogonal to the end, and an intersection between the side and the end. The indicator light assembly includes a transmitting assembly and at least one tail-light assembly. The transmitting assembly transmits wireless signals corresponding to vehicular indicator light signals when coupled to an indicator light energizing circuit of the vehicle. The tail-light assembly includes a support structure, as well as an indicator light, a receiver, and a controller attached to the support structure. The support structure includes a first planar portion and a second planar portion orthogonal to the first portion, where at least one of the first and second portions includes a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners. The receiver receives the wireless signals. The controller processes the received wireless signals, and energizes the indicator light in a manner corresponding to the vehicular indicator light signal. The support structure is adapted to be mounted on the intersection in a mounted position, whereby the first portion engages the side, the second portion engages the end, and the indicator light is appropriately positioned for viewing from a selected position spaced from the rear end. The support structure is adapted to be secured in the mounted position by inserting the fasteners through the apertures and into the towed object.

Claims

1. An indicator light assembly for use with an object being towed by a towing vehicle, the towed object including a substantially planar rear end, at least one substantially planar side orthogonal to the end, and a first intersection between the side and the end, the indicator light assembly comprising:

a transmitting assembly adapted to transmit at least one wireless signal that corresponds to a vehicular indicator light signal when coupled to an indicator light energizing circuit of the vehicle; and

at least one tail-light assembly, comprising;

a support structure including a first planar portion and a second planar portion orthogonal to the first portion, wherein at least one of the first and second portions includes a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners;

an indicator light attached to the support structure;

a receiver attached to the support structure, and adapted to receive the wireless signal; and

a controller attached to the support structure, and adapted to process the received wireless signal, and to energize the indicator light in a manner corresponding to the vehicular indicator light signal;

wherein the support structure is adapted to be mounted on the first intersection of the towed object in a mounted position, whereby the first portion engages the side, the second portion engages the end, and the indicator light is appropriately positioned for viewing from a selected position spaced from the rear end; and

wherein the support structure is adapted to be secured in the mounted position by inserting the fasteners through the apertures and into the towed object.

2. The indicator light assembly of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal corresponds to a vehicular indicator light signal selected from the group consisting of an amber light signal, a brake light signal, a left turn-signal light signal, a right turn-signal light signal, a running light signal, and a hazard light signal.

3. The indicator light assembly of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal includes at least one code specific to the indicator light assembly, and wherein the controller is adapted to energize the indicator light only upon receiving the code.

4. The indicator light assembly of claim 1, where the towed object includes a substantially planar left side orthogonal to the end, a substantially vertical left intersection between the left side and the end, a substantially planar right side orthogonal to the end, and a substantially vertical right intersection between the right side and the end wherein the at least one tail-light assembly comprises:

a left tail-light assembly including a left support structure adapted to be mounted on the left intersection so as to position the indicator light of the left tail-light assembly proximal to the left intersection, wherein the controller of the left tail-light assembly is adapted to energize the indicator light of the left tail-light assembly only if the vehicular indicator light signal is a left vehicular indicator light signal; and

a right tail-light assembly including a right support structure adapted to be mounted on the right intersection so as to position the indicator light of the right tail-light assembly proximal to the right intersection, wherein the controller of the right tail-light assembly is adapted to energize the indicator light of the right tail-light assembly only if the vehicular indicator light signal is a right vehicular indicator light signal.

5. The indicator light assembly of claim 4, wherein a left vehicular indicator light signal is selected from the group consisting of an amber light signal, a brake light signal, a left turn-signal light signal, a running light signal, and a hazard light signal, and wherein a right vehicular indicator light signal is selected from the group consisting of an amber light signal, a brake light signal, a right turn-signal light signal, a running light signal, and a hazard light signal.

6. The indicator light assembly of claim 4, wherein the shape and configuration of the left support structure is a mirror image of the shape and configuration of the right support structure.

7. The indicator light assembly of claim 1, wherein the support structure of the tail-light assembly includes a handle attached to the support structure, the handle including an aperture that enables a user to insert their fingers therethrough so that the user may carry the tail-light assembly when it is detached from the towed object.

8. The indicator light assembly of claim 1, wherein the indicator light is selected from the group consisting of an amber light, a brake light, a turn-signal light, and a running light.

9. The indicator light assembly of claim 1, where the towed object includes a first substantially planar side, a second substantially planar side orthogonal to the first side, and a second intersection between the first and second sides, and wherein the indicator light assembly further comprises at least one side-light assembly, including:

a side-light support structure having at least a third substantially planar portion and a fourth substantially planar portion orthogonal to the third portion, wherein at least one of the third and fourth portions includes a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners;

a side-light attached to the side-light support structure;

a side-light receiver attached to the side-light support structure, and adapted to receive the wireless signal; and

a side-light controller attached to the side-light support structure, and adapted to process the received wireless signal, to determine whether the wireless signal corresponds to a specific vehicular turn-signal light signal, and to energize the side-light if the wireless signal corresponds to the specific vehicular turn-signal light signal;

wherein the side-light support structure is adapted to be mounted on the second intersection in a second mounted position, whereby the third portion engages the first side, the fourth portion engages the second side, and the indicator light is appropriately positioned for viewing from a selected position spaced from the first side; and

wherein the side-light support structure is adapted to be secured in the second mounted position by inserting the fasteners through the apertures and into the towed object.

10. The indicator light assembly of claim 9, where the towed object includes a substantially planar left side orthogonal to a substantially planar bottom side, a substantially horizontal left intersection between the left side and the bottom side, a substantially planar right side orthogonal to the bottom side, and a substantially horizontal right intersection between the right side and the end, and wherein the at least one side-light assembly comprises:

a left side-light assembly including a left turn-signal light, and a left side-light support structure adapted to be mounted on the left intersection so as to position the indicator light of the left side-light assembly proximal to the left side, wherein the controller of the left side-light light assembly is adapted to energize the left turn-signal light only if the vehicular indicator light signal is a left vehicular turn-signal signal; and

a right side-light assembly including a right turn-signal light, and a right side-light support structure adapted to be mounted on the right intersection so as to position the indicator light of the right side-light assembly proximal to the right side, wherein the controller of the right side-light assembly is adapted to energize the right turn-signal light only if the vehicular indicator light signal is a right vehicular turn-signal signal.

15. The indicator light assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one tail-light assembly comprises:

a left tail-light assembly, the controller of the left tail-light assembly being adapted to energize the indicator light of the left tail-light assembly only if the vehicular indicator light signal is a left vehicular indicator light signal; and

a right tail-light assembly, the controller of the right tail-light assembly being adapted to energize the indicator light of the right tail-light assembly only if the vehicular indicator light signal is a right vehicular indicator light signal.

16. The indicator light assembly of claim 15, wherein a left vehicular indicator light signal is selected from the group consisting of an amber light signal, a brake light signal, a left turn-signal light signal, a running light signal, and a hazard light signal, and wherein a right vehicular indicator light signal is selected from the group consisting of an amber light signal, a brake light signal, a right turn-signal light signal, a running light signal, and a hazard light signal.

11. An indicator light assembly for use with an object being towed by a towing vehicle, the towed object including a rear end, the indicator light assembly comprising:

a transmitting assembly adapted to transmit at least one wireless signal corresponding to a vehicular indicator light signal when coupled to an indicator light energizing circuit of the vehicle; and

at least one tail-light assembly, comprising;

a support structure extending along a first longitudinal axis, and having first and second ends;

an indicator light attached to the support structure;

a receiver attached to the support structure, and adapted to receive the wireless signal;

a controller attached to the support structure, and adapted to process the received wireless signal, and to energize the indicator light in a manner corresponding to the vehicular indicator light signal;

a first arm extending along a second longitudinal axis, and having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the first arm is adapted to selectively attach in a plurality of positions to the second end of the support structure whereby, for each discrete position, the first longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the second longitudinal axis, and the second end of the arm is spaced from the second end of the support structure;

a first securing device coupled to the first end of the support structure; and

a second securing device coupled to the second end of the first arm;

wherein the distance between the first securing device and the second end of the support structure can be selectively adjusted by changing the attachment position of the arm relative to the support structure;

wherein the first and second securing devices each are adapted to selectively engage portions of the towed object, and cooperatively are adapted to secure the support structure in a mounted position proximal to the rear end of the towed object, whereby the indicator light is appropriately positioned for viewing from a selected position spaced from the rear end.

12. The indicator light assembly of claim 11, wherein the wireless signal includes at least one code specific to the indicator light assembly, and wherein the controller is adapted to energize the indicator light only upon receiving the code.

13. The indicator light assembly of claim 11, where the rear end of the towed object is substantially planar, and where the towed object further includes a substantially planar top side disposed at a transverse angle relative to the rear end, and an intersection between the top side and the rear end, wherein the second securing device includes a hook extending away from the second end of the first arm to form a point, and wherein the first arm and the support structure are adapted to hang from the top side in a mounted position proximal to the rear end when the point is engaged with a portion of the top side adjacent to the intersection.

14. The indicator light assembly of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one tail-light assembly further includes a second arm extending along a third longitudinal axis, and having first and second ends, the second end of the second arm being adapted to selectively attach in a plurality of position to the first end of the support structure whereby, for each discrete position, the third longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and the first end of the second arm is spaced from the first end of the support structure;

the first securing device is coupled to the first end of the second arm; and

the distance between the first securing device and the first end of the support structure can be selectively adjusted by changing the attachment position of the arm relative to the support structure.

17. The indicator light assembly of claim 11, wherein the support structure of the tail-light assembly includes a handle attached to the support structure, the handle including an aperture that enables a user to insert their fingers therethrough so that the user may carry the tail-light assembly when it is detached from the towed object.

18. The indicator light assembly of claim 11, wherein the indicator light is selected from the group consisting of an amber light, a brake light, a turn-signal light, and a running light.

19. The indicator light assembly of claim 11, where the towed object includes a first substantially planar side, a second substantially planar side orthogonal to the first side, and an intersection between the first and second sides, and wherein the indicator light assembly further comprises at least one side-light assembly, including:

a side-light support structure having at least a first substantially planar portion and a second substantially planar portion orthogonal to the first portion, wherein at least one of the first and second portions includes a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners;

a side-light attached to the side-light support structure;

a side-light receiver attached to the side-light support structure, and adapted to receive the wireless signal; and

a side-light controller attached to the side-light support structure, and adapted to process the received wireless signal, to determine whether the wireless signal corresponds to a specific vehicular turn-signal light signal, and to energize the side-light if the wireless signal corresponds to the specific vehicular turn-signal light signal;

wherein the side-light support structure is adapted to be mounted on the first intersection in a second mounted position, whereby the first portion engages the first side, the second portion engages the second side, and the indicator light is appropriately positioned for viewing from a selected position spaced from the first side; and

wherein the side-light support structure is adapted to be secured in the second mounted position by inserting the fasteners through the apertures and into the towed object.

20. The indicator light assembly of claim 19, where the towed object includes a substantially planar left side orthogonal to a substantially planar bottom side, a substantially horizontal left intersection between the left side and the bottom side, a substantially planar right side orthogonal to the bottom side, and a substantially horizontal right intersection between the right side and the end, and wherein the at least one side-light assembly comprises:

a left side-light assembly including a left turn-signal light, and a left side-light support structure adapted to be mounted on the left intersection so as to position the indicator light of the left side-light assembly proximal to the left side, wherein the controller of the left side-light assembly is adapted to energize the left turn-signal light only if the vehicular indicator light signal is a left vehicular turn-signal signal; and

a right side-light assembly including a right turn-signal light, and a right side-light support structure adapted to be mounted on the right intersection so as to position the indicator light of the right side-light assembly proximal to the right side, wherein the controller of the right side-light assembly is adapted to energize the right turn-signal light only if the vehicular indicator light signal is a right vehicular turn-signal signal.