Vehicle warning lamp

• US 7,651,242 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George H. Guerrant
• Original Assignee: George H. Guerrant
• Inventors: Guerrant, George H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Y My Quach
• Application Number:
  US12/249,375
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.03, 362/258, 362/286, 362/386, 362/387, 362/523, 362/526, 362/540, 362/131, 362/269, 362/275, 362/287, 362/427, 362/458, 116/173
• US Class Current: 362/286
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/22 telescopic

Abstract

A wheelchair lamp that is primarily for making a wheelchair more visible. The wheelchair lamp includes a housing that is mounted to the wheelchair. An extendable member having a light on top extends from the housing. The extendable member may be extended and retracted. A motor is contained within the housing to extend and retract the extendable member. An electrical conductor is longitudinally disposed with the extendable member. The electrical conductor electrically connects the light and the power source. A switch is used to selectively connect the motor to the power source causing the motor to operate so that the motor may extend or retract the extendable member. The light is extended and lit when a wheelchair user is near traffic or potentially at risk for a collision and is typically retracted when the user is indoors.

Claims

1. An extendable vehicle lamp comprising:

a housing mounted to a vehicle;

a multi-axis swivel connected between said housing and said vehicle, said multi-axis swivel rotatable about three axes so that said housing may be rotated in three axes relative to said vehicle;

an extendable member extending from said housing, said extendable member having a first retracted position and a second extended position said extendable member being movable between said first and second position;

a motor contained within said housing, said motor connected to said extendable member for moving said extendable member between said first retracted position and said second extended position;

a light mounted near a distal end of said extendable member;

an electrical conductor longitudinally disposed with said extendable member, said electrical conductor being electrically connected to said light and electrically connected to a power source; and

a switch selectively connecting said motor to said power source causing said motor to operate so that said motor may extend or retract said extendable member.

2. An extendable vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch is also electrically connected to said electrical conductor and said switch is electrically connected to said power source so that when said switch is switched to operate said motor to extend said extendable member, said light will be electrically connected to said power source thereby lighting said light when said switch is switched to extend said extendable member.

3. An extendable vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extendable member is comprised of telescoping members coaxially aligned in a sliding relationship.

4. An extendable vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 3, wherein said extendable member is hollow defining a passage which contains said electrical conductor.

5. An extendable vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 4, wherein said multi-axis swivel contains a hinged portion.

6. An extendable vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein a secondary signaling device that increases visibility is affixed near the distal end of said extendable member.

7. An extendable vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 6, wherein said secondary signaling device is a flag.

8. An extendable vehicle lamp comprising:

a housing mounted to a vehicle;

a multi-axis swivel connected between said housing and said vehicle, said multi-axis swivel rotatable about three axes so that said housing may be rotated in three axes relative to said vehicle;

an extendable member extending from said housing, said extendable member having a first retracted position and a second extended position movable between said first and second position;

a motor contained within said housing, said motor connected to said extendable member for moving said extendable member between said first retracted position and said second extended position;

a light mounted near a distal end of said extendable member;

an electrical conductor electrically connected to said light and electrically connected to a power source; and

a switch selectively connecting said motor to said power source causing said motor to operate so that said motor may extend or retract said extendable member.

9. An extendable vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein said extendable member is comprised of telescoping members coaxially aligned in a sliding relationship.

10. An extendable vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 9, wherein said multi-axis swivel contains a hinged portion.

11. An extendable vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein a secondary signaling device that increases visibility is affixed near the distal end of said extendable member.

12. An extendable vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 11, wherein said secondary signaling device is a flag.