Vehicle signaling system

• US 20070109113A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Owen
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Owen
• Inventors: Owen, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a conventional tail light arrangement, and also includes an indicator light that can be actuated by a vehicle operator. The indicator light is configured to provide a signal to a driver of another vehicle that the other driver is “tailgating” or otherwise following the lead vehicle too closely. The indicator light arrangement may include a timer that turns the indicator light off a preselected time, such that the light is not turned on again unless the vehicle operator again actuates the switch.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle of the type having left and right spaced-apart tail lights to signal when an operator is braking, turning, or backing up, the improvement comprising:

an indicator light at a rear portion of the vehicle, at least a portion of the indicator light positioned horizontally between the left and right tail lights, wherein the indicator light has a visual appearance when lit that is readily distinguishable from a visual appearance of the left and right tail lights;

a movable switch having an ON position and an OFF position, the switch being biased into the ON position, the switch positioned in an interior of the vehicle to be readily accessible to an operator of the vehicle, wherein the switch is coupled to the indicator light and initially turns the indicator light on when the switch is in the ON position; and

a timer circuit feature operably coupled to the indicator light and turning the indicator light off after a predetermined time interval has passed from when the indicator light was turned on, wherein the indicator light is not turned on again unless the switch is again moved to the ON position.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the indicator light is red when lit.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the indicator light is an elongated member extending horizontally between the left and right tail lights.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the left and right tail lights produce a plurality of light colors and intensities to define a plurality of signals corresponding to driver actions;

the indicator light is of a color that is different than those of the left and right tail lights.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the indicator light has a light intensity that is substantially greater than a vehicle running light intensity.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the left and right tail lights include brake lights defining a brake light intensity; and

the indicator light has a light intensity that is about the same as, or greater than, the brake light intensity.

7. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the indicator light has a color other than white, red, yellow or amber when lit.

8. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the indicator light comprises an LED light source.

9. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the indicator light comprises an incandescent light source.

10. A motor vehicle signaling system, comprising:

first and second spaced-apart lights configured to be mounted to a vehicle;

a manually actuatable switch;

an electrical device operably coupled to the lights and the switch, wherein the electrical devices turns the first and second lights on and off in an alternating left and right blinking manner upon actuation of the switch.

11. The motor vehicle signaling system of claim 10, wherein:

the electrical device turns off both the first and second lights after a preselected period of time.

12. The motor vehicle signaling system of claim 10, wherein:

the first and second lights comprise turn signal lights configured to blink to indicate a turning direction.

13. The motor vehicle signaling system of claim 10, wherein:

the electrical device turns on the first light at about the same time the electrical device turns off the second light, and the electrical device turns off the first light at about the same time as the electrical device turns on the second light.

14. The motor vehicle signaling system of claim 10, wherein:

the first and second lights do not emit any light when turned off.

15. A motor vehicle signaling system, comprising:

a first group of rear vehicle lights, the first group including at least turn signal lights, brake lights and back up lights, the first group of lights defining a plurality of distinct visual appearances when selected ones of the lights are turned on;

an indicator light having a visual appearance when lit that is substantially different than the distinct visual appearances of the first group of lights;

a manually operable switch located remote from the first group of lights and the indicator light;

a timer coupled to the switch and the indicator light, and wherein;

the indicator light is initially lit when the switch is actuated, and the timer turns the indicator light off after a preselected time interval.

16. The motor vehicle signaling system of claim 15, wherein:

the first group of lights have a first group of colors;

the indicator light has a color that is not one of the first group of colors.

17. The motor vehicle signaling system of claim 15, wherein:

the switch is movable between first and second positions, and the switch turns the indicator light on when in the second position.

18. The motor vehicle signaling system of claim 17, wherein:

the switch is biased to the first position.

19. The motor vehicle signaling system of claim 18, wherein:

the switch comprises a push button.

20. The motor vehicle signaling system of claim 15, wherein:

the turn signal lights include spaced-apart left and right turn signal lights; and

the indicator light is positioned horizontally between the left and right turn signal lights.