Brake light and radar detection device

• US 4,893,112 A
• Filed: 11/23/1987
• Issued: 01/09/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Howard R. Hatcher
• Original Assignee: Howard R. Hatcher
• Inventors: Hatcher, Howard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/123,772
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 340/904, 340/87, 340/479, 340/468, 340/435, 340/436, 342/20, 343/711, 343/713, 343/781 R, 343/834, 180/167
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window

Abstract

A brake light and radar detection device (A) is disclosed which includes a brake light unit (B), a radar detection unit (C), and a radar receiving unit (D). A housing (16) includes a horizontal housing (18) and a vertical support housing (20) for elevating housing (18). Radar detector unit (C) is included in vertical housing (20) and radar receiving unit (D) is included in horizontal housing (18) opposite brake light unit (B). A reflector (54) of radar receiver unit (D) gathers and reflects radar waves (56) to vertical waves (58) for impingement upon radar detector (C).

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle, a combination vehicle brake light and radar detection device for providing increased detection of radar waves emitted from a traffic speed radar unit and mounting to said motor vehicle in a generally theft-proof manner, said device comprising:

a housing for mounting to said vehicle having a brake light compartment facing a rear of said vehicle with a translucent brake light window;

means for mounting said housing to a surface of a vehicle;

a radar detector for detecting said radar waves; and

radar receiver means carried within said housing forward of said brake light compartment facing a front of said vehicle for receiving said radar waves coming from a direction forward of said vehicle, and delivering said radar waves to said radar detector.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said receiver means includes a radar reflector for gathering and reflecting radar waves;

a passage formed in said housing for transmission of said radar waves through said housing; and

said reflector means reflecting and condensing said radar waves for transmission through said passage and impingement upon said detector means.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said brake light means comprises:

plural spaced apart brake lights defining a space between adjacent lights; and

said radar detector being carried in said housing disposed for receiving radar waves approximate within said space between said lights.

4. The device of claim 3 including a light reflector for reflecting the illumination from said plural lights through said translucent brake light window wherein said reflector includes a pair of concave reflecting surfaces.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said housing comprises a base housing having a vertical shaft;

and

a brake light housing carried atop said base housing.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said radar detector means is carried in a vertical configuration within said vertical shaft of said base housing;

and

said radar receiver means carried in said brake light housing for redirecting said radar waves from a generally horizontal direction to a generally vertical direction for impingement upon said radar detector.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said radar receiver means comprises a reflector for receiving said horizontal radar waves and for focusing said waves through said passage for transmission to said radar detector.

8. In a vehicle brake light unit of the type having a brake light housing for mounting to a surface of said vehicle, and said brake light housing including a brake light unit which includes a light reflector, brake light bulb, and brake light window facing rearwardly of said vehicle, the improvement comprising:

a radar detector carried near said housing for detecting radar waves emitted from a traffic speed radar unit; and

radar receiving means carried within said housing forward of said brake light compartment facing a front of said vehicle receiving said radar waves coming from a direction forward of said vehicle for gathering and focusing said radar waves for impingement upon said radar detector.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said radar receiving means is disposed remotely from said radar detector in said housing and comprises a reflector for receiving and gathering said radar waves coming from a generally horizontal direction and reflecting said radar waves for impingement upon said radar detector.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said reflector includes converging reflecting surfaces for receiving said radar waves from said generally horizontal direction and focusing said waves upon said radar detector.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein said brake light housing unit is of the type which includes a vertical base housing and a brake light housing carried on said vertical base, and wherein said improvement comprises:

said radar detector being carried in a vertical shaft of said vertical base;

a passage formed in said brake light housing; and

said radar receiving means carried ins aid brake light housing for reflecting said radar waves through said passage for transmission to said radar detector.

12. Apparatus for converting a conventional high mount brake light having a brake light housing into a combined brake light unit/radar detector device for receiving and detecting radar waves emitted from a traffic speed radar unit, said brake light housing having a brake light unit with a reflector, light bulb, and brake light window facing rearwardly of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a radar detector adapted for mounting within a vertical shaft of said high mount brake light unit; and

a radar receiver means adapted for being carried in said brake light housing forwardly of said brake light housing and above said radar detector, for receiving said radar waves coming from a generally horizontal direction and reflecting and transmitting said radar waves in a generally vertical direction through said vertical shaft to said radar detector.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 including means for converting said brake light unit from a single bulb unit to a plural bulb unit which includes a plurality of brake lights, and a light reflector for reflecting light from said plurality of brake lights.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 including a space defined between said plurality of said brake lights, a passage formed in said brake light housing for reflection and transmission of said radar waves by said radar receiver means, and said passage formed in said housing between said brake lights.