Signalling light visible through a rear view window of a vehicle

• US 5,663,707 A
• Filed: 07/02/1996
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary M. Bartilucci
• Original Assignee: Gary M. Bartilucci
• Inventors: Bartilucci, Gary M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US08/675,242
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 340/464, 340/463, 340/467, 340/465, 340/479, 340/466, 340/468, 340/469, 340/470, 340/461, 340/471, 340/472, 116/35 R, 116/56, 362/61
• US Class Current: 340/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window

Abstract

A signalling light visible through a rear window of a vehicle including a primary electrically energizable signaling light unit having a first array of green light-emitting diodes, a second array of red light-emitting diodes, and a third array of yellow light-emitting diodes. A pair of secondary electrically energizable signaling light units including a fourth array of red light-emitting diodes are positioned at a left extent of the rear window and a fifth array of red light-emitting diodes are positioned at a right extent of the rear window.

Claims

1. A signalling light visible through a rear window of a vehicle for signaling a driver'"'"'s intent in a rearward direction based upon actuation of vehicle controls such as an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, a lever of the vehicle'"'"'s transmission system, and a turn signal lever comprising, in combination:

a primary electrically energizable signaling light unit having a rectangular planar clear flexible plastic casing with three rectangular recesses formed therein, the casing measuring about 12 inches long by about 4 inches wide by about 3/8 inches thick, a layer of adhesive disposed upon an outwardly positioned surface of the casing for allowing the securement thereof to a center of a rear window of a vehicle, a rectangular cut out formed thereon for allowing the unit to fit snugly about an upper extent of a central braking light of a vehicle, a pair of rigid L-shaped brackets integral with and extended downwards from the casing and further including a circular through hole formed on a lower extent thereof for receiving a fastener thereby allowing the securement thereof to a recipient surface, a first array of green light-emitting diodes arranged in a rectangular matrix within one of the recesses, a second array of red light-emitting diodes arranged in a rectangular matrix and secured within another of the recesses, and a third array of yellow light-emitting diodes arranged in a rectangular matrix and secured within the remaining recess and with each of the arrays covered with a translucent plastic sheet for defocusing light emitted therefrom to essentially project a collimated beam;

a pair of secondary electrically energizable signaling light units each having a rectangular planar clear flexible plastic casing with a rectangular recess formed therein, a layer of adhesive disposed upon an outwardly positioned surface of the casing for allowing the securement thereof to opposite ends of the rear window of the vehicle, a L-shaped rigid bracket integral with and extended downwards from the casing and further including a circular through hole formed on a lower extent thereof for receiving a fastener thereby allowing the securement thereof to a recipient surface, a fourth array of red light-emitting diodes arranged in a rectangular matrix and secured within the recess of one of the secondary units wherein the fourth array is positioned at a left extent of the rear window, a fifth array of red light-emitting diodes arranged in a rectangular matrix and secured within the recess of the other secondary unit wherein the fifth array is positioned at a right extent of the rear window;

a multi-conductor sheathed electrical power cable having five proximal terminal ends a distal plug end and with each terminal end extended through a grommet on the casing and further separately coupled to one of the arrays for providing electrical energy to the corresponding light-emitting diodes;

first pressure sensitive switch coupled to an accelerator pedal of the vehicle for transmitting an acceleration indication signal when the vehicle'"'"'s accelerator pedal is depressed;

second pressure sensitive switch coupled to a brake pedal of the vehicle for transmitting a braking indication signal when the vehicle'"'"'s brake pedal is depressed;

third switch coupled to a lever of a transmission system of the vehicle for transmitting an enabling signal when a transmission of the vehicle is placed in a mode of operation for traveling forwards, wherein the enabling signal is received from a detection unit of the transmission system;

fourth switch coupled to a turn signal lever for transmitting a left turn indication signal upon the lowering of the turn signal lever and a right turn indication signal upon the raising of the turn signal lever; and

electrically energizable logic circuitry situated within a rigid box shaped container with an open top and a lid removably secured thereto, the logic circuitry coupled to the plug end of the power cable and to the first, the second, the third switch, and the fourth switch and further couplable to a power supply of the vehicle for enabling the signaling light system based upon receipt of the enabling signal, energizing only the first array based upon receipt of the acceleration indication signal and the enabling signal, energizing only the second array, the fourth array, and the fifth array based upon receipt of the braking indication signal and the enabling signal, energizing the fourth array intermittently upon receipt of the left turn indication signal in combination with the braking indication signal and the enabling signal, and energizing the fifth array intermittently upon receipt of the right turn indication signal in combination with the braking indication signal and the enabling signal, the logic circuitry comprising a NOR gate for energizing only the third array upon receipt of only the enabling signal;

whereby the secondary electrically energizable signaling light units utilize a following driver'"'"'s conventional attention to the rear window and associated central brake light to indicate that a lead driver is both braking and preparing for a turn.