Wireless light and accessory control system for golf carts and other vehicles

• US 9,174,570 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Gasper
• Original Assignee: Joseph Gasper
• Inventors: Gasper, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US12/480,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,338 Days
• Field of Search: 340/468, 340/463, 340/465, 340/471, 340/475, 340/479, 340/429, 340/426.13, 340/573.1, 340/332, 340/467, 362/61, 362/545, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.52
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1415 Dimming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions

Abstract

A wireless light and accessory control system for golf carts (18) and other vehicles having a sender (1) that permits a user to remotely activate various accessories, such as headlights (2), turn signals (4), horns (5) and other accessories, such as radios, dome lights, etc., by sending signals via a wireless transmitter (12) located in the sender to controllers (13) located in each of the accessories. In addition, brake lights (3) may be activated and deactivated by a motion sensing means (10) in addition to being deactivated after a predetermined amount of time by a timer (11).

Claims

1. A control system for a golf cart, comprising:

at least one brake light, wherein the at least one brake light is mounted on a rear of a golf cart;

at least one power source,

wherein the at least one power source is positioned on the golf cart and is configured to provide power to the at least one brake light;

a controller, wherein the controller is positioned on or in the golf cart, wherein the controller is configured to control whether the at least one brake light is on or off,

a tilt switch, wherein the tilt switch is configured to send a detection signal to the controller upon sensing a change in motion of the golf cart, wherein the change in motion is a deceleration of the golf cart in a forward direction of the golf cart, wherein the tilt switch is mounted on the golf cart such that a deceleration of the golf cart in the forward direction of the golf cart of at least a threshold deceleration results in the tilt switch sending the detection signal to the controller, wherein upon receiving the detection signal from the tilt switch the controller turns on the at least one brake light; and

at least one timer, wherein the at least one timer is configured to send a time signal to the controller upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time after the controller turns on the at least one brake light, wherein the controller is configured to turn the at least one brake light off upon receipt of the time signal from the at least one timer;

wherein after the controller turns on the at least one brake light, the at least one timer sends the time signal to the controller upon the expiration of the predetermined period of time after the controller turns on the at least one brake light,

wherein the controller turns the at least one brake light off upon receipt of the time signal from the at least one timer,

wherein the deceleration of the golf cart in the forward direction of the golf cart of at least a threshold deceleration results in the at least one brake light being turned on, and the at least one brake light being turned off upon the expiration of the predetermined period of time after the at least one brake light being turned on.

2. The control system for a golf cart of claim 1, further comprising:

a sender mounted on the golf cart, wherein the sender has at least one wireless transmitter for sending wireless signals, wherein the controller is configured to receive the wireless signals from the at least one wireless transmitter; and

at least one accessory mounted on the golf cart and connected to the controller such that the controller controls the at least one accessory in response to the wireless signals.

3. The control system according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one timer is located in the controller.

4. The control system according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one brake light being turned on for the predetermined period of time warns third parties behind the golf cart that the golf cart is braking.

5. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

the golf cart.

6. The control system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one brake light being turned on for the predetermined period of time warns third parties behind the golf cart that the golf cart is braking.

7. A method of controlling a brake light on a vehicle, comprising:

positioning a controller with respect to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a brake light mounted on the rear of the vehicle and a power source positioned on the vehicle and configured to provide power to the brake light, wherein the controller is configured to control whether the brake light is on or off;

positioning a tilt switch with respect to the vehicle such that when the tilt switch senses a change in motion of the vehicle the tilt switch closes and sends a change in motion sensed signal to the controller, wherein the change in motion is a deceleration of the vehicle in a forward direction of the vehicle of at least a threshold deceleration, wherein when the controller receives the change in motion sensed signal, the controller turns the brake light on, wherein after a predetermined period of time after the controller turns the brake light on the controller turns the brake light off; and

decelerating the vehicle in a forward direction of the vehicle of at least the threshold deceleration, such that

(i) the tilt switch closes and sends the change in motion sensed signal to the controller,

(ii) the controller turns the brake light on when the controller receives the change in motion sensed signal, and

(iii) the controller turns the brake light off after the predetermined period of time after the controller turned the brake light on,

wherein the deceleration of the vehicle in the forward direction of the vehicle of at least the threshold deceleration results in the brake light being turned on, and the brake light being turned off after the predetermined period of time after the brake light was turned on.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle is a golf cart.

9. The method according to claim 8,

wherein the brake light being turned on for the predetermined period of time warns third parties behind the golf cart that the golf cart is braking.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

the golf cart.

11. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the brake light being turned on for the predetermined period of time warns third parties behind the golf cart that the golf cart is braking.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

positioning a timer with respect to the vehicle such that after the predetermined period of time after the controller turns the brake light on the timer sends a time expiration signal to the controller, wherein upon receipt of the time expiration signal the controller turns the brake light off.

13. The method according to claim 7,

wherein the controller comprises a timer.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein the brake light being turned on for the predetermined period of time warns third parties behind the vehicle that the vehicle is braking.

15. A control system for a vehicle brake light, comprising:

a brake light, wherein the brake light is mounted on a rear of a vehicle;

a power source, wherein the power source is positioned on the vehicle and is configured to provide power to the brake light;

a tilt switch, wherein when the tilt switch senses a change in motion of the vehicle the tilt switch closes, wherein the change in motion is a deceleration of the vehicle in a forward direction of the vehicle, wherein the tilt switch is mounted on the vehicle such that a deceleration of the vehicle in the forward direction of the vehicle of at least a threshold deceleration results in the tilt switch closing; and

a controller, wherein the controller is interconnected with the power supply, the brake light, and the tilt switch such that when the tilt switch closes the controller turns on the brake light, wherein after a predetermined period of time after the controller turns on the brake light the controller turns off the brake light,

wherein the deceleration of the vehicle in the forward direction of the vehicle of at least a threshold deceleration results in the brake light being turned on, and the brake light being turned off after the predetermined period of time after the brake light was turned on.

16. control system according to claim 15,

wherein the brake light being turned on for the predetermined period of time warns third parties behind the vehicle that the vehicle is braking.

17. The control system according to claim 15, further comprising:

the vehicle.

18. The control system according to claim 17,

wherein the brake light being turned on for the predetermined period of time warns third parties behind the vehicle that the vehicle is braking.