U-turn indicator

• US 20050168347A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Douglas Sanicola
• Original Assignee: Joseph Douglas Sanicola
• Inventors: Sanicola, Joseph Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,245,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.450
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps

Abstract

A U-turn indicator for motor vehicles having a light fixture housing and a plurality of light sources located therein. The housing is divided into a U-turn indicating region and a non-U turn indicating region, and the plurality of light sources located in the U-turn indicating region are lightable separately from the plurality of light sources in the non-U turn indicating region. The light fixture housing forms a light fixture housing for one of a left and right turn signal indicator on a front and rear of a automobile. The light fixture functions as one of a left and right turn signal indicator when the plurality of light sources in both the U-turn indicating region and the non-U turn indicating region are activated, and as a U turn indicator when only the plurality of light sources in the U-turn indicating region are activated.

Claims

1. A U-turn indicator for motor vehicles, comprising:

a plurality of light sources which are dividing into a U-turn indicating group and a non-U turn indicating group, wherein the plurality of light sources in the U-turn indicating group are lightable separately from the plurality of light sources in the non-U turn indicating group.

2. The U-turn indicator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise LED lights.

3. The U-turn indicator of claim 1, further comprising a light fixture housing in which the plurality of light sources are located.

5. The U-turn indicator of claim 2, wherein at least the light sources in the U-turn indicating group comprise LEDs that have one color when functioning for U-turn indicating, and another color, which is the same as the LED light sources in the non U-turn indicating group, when the LED light sources in the U-turn indicating group are functioning as turn signal indicator light sources.

6. The U-turn indicator of claim 1, further comprising separators for the plurality of light sources in the U-turn indicating group and the plurality of light sources in non-U turn indicating group.

7. The U-turn indicator of claim 6, wherein the separators comprise walls which define a desired outline.

8. The U-turn indicator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources in the U-turn indicating group at least one of flash, pulsate, and sequentially light up to imply movement.

9. The U-turn indicator of claim 1, wherein the U-turn indicating region is generally U-shaped.

10. The U-turn indicator of claim 1, further comprising a noise generator to signal that a U-turn is going to be made.

11. The U-turn indicator of claim 1, wherein the U-turn indicator is provided as original equipment in an automobile.

13. The U-turn indicator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise LED lights.

4. The U-turn indicator of claim 4, wherein the light fixture housing comprises a light fixture housing for one of a left and right turn signal indicator on a front and rear of a automobile, and wherein the light fixture functions as one of a left and right turn signal indicator when the plurality of light sources in both the U-turn indicating group and the non-U turn indicating group are activated, and as a U turn indicator when only the plurality of light sources in the U-turn indicating group are activated.

12. A U-turn indicator for motor vehicles, comprising:

light fixture housing; and

a plurality of light sources which are located in the light fixture housing, which housing is divided into a U-turn indicating region and a non-U turn indicating region, wherein the plurality of light sources located in the U-turn indicating region are lightable separately from the plurality of light sources in the non-U turn indicating region.

14. The U-turn indicator of claim 12, wherein the light fixture housing comprises a light fixture housing for one of a left and right turn signal indicator on a front and rear of a automobile, and wherein the light fixture functions as one of a left and right turn signal indicator when the plurality of light sources in both the U-turn indicating region and the non-U turn indicating region are activated, and as a U turn indicator when only the plurality of light sources in the U-turn indicating region are activated.

15. The U-turn indicator of claim 12, wherein at least the light sources in the U-turn indicating group comprise LEDs that have one color when functioning for U-turn indicating, and another color, which is the same as the LED light sources in the non U-turn indicating group, when the LED light sources in the U-turn indicating group are functioning as turn signal indicator light sources.

16. The U-turn indicator of claim 12, further comprising separators for the plurality of light sources in the U-turn indicating group and the plurality of light sources in non-U turn indicating group.

17. The U-turn indicator of claim 16, wherein the separators comprise walls which define a desired outline.

18. The U-turn indicator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of light sources in the U-turn indicating group at least one of flash, pulsate, and sequentially light up to imply movement.

19. A U-turn indicator for motor vehicles, comprising:

light fixture housing;

a plurality of light sources which are located in the light fixture housing, which housing is divided into a U-turn indicating region and a non-U turn indicating region, wherein some of the plurality of light sources are located in the U-turn indicating region and some of the plurality of light sources are located in the non-U turn indicating region; and

a layer which is located above at least the lights in the non-U-turn indicating region, which layer is in a state of being generally non-light translucent when the light fixture is utilized as a U-turn indicator and is in a state of being generally light translucent when being used for other purposes.

20. The U-turn indicator for motor vehicles of claim 19, wherein the other purposes comprise one of use as conventional turn signal indicators and brake lights.