Automotive, front and side brake/running/turn signal light

• US 5,844,479 A
• Filed: 06/28/1995
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward B. Walton
• Original Assignee: Edward B. Walton
• Inventors: Walton, Edward B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/496,040
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 340/479, 340/475, 340/473, 340/472, 340/471, 340/469, 340/468, 340/467, 340/464, 340/463
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/442 visible on the front side of the vehicle, e.g. for pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

The present invention is a front mounted, combination brake/signal/turn signal light. In one embodiment, an assembly with three light chambers is provided. The light in one chamber is connected to the ignition and brake circuits of the vehicle. Connection is made so that this first light lights when the vehicle is operating and goes out when the brakes are applied. The light in the second chamber is connected to the brake circuit of the vehicle. This second light is lighted whenever the brakes are applied. The light in the third chamber is connected to the turn signal circuit of the vehicle. The preferred colors are blue for the stop signal, white or clear for the daytime running lights and amber for the turn signal. Thus the assembly provides a visual signal that is white whenever the vehicle is in operation, changes from white to blue when the brakes are applied, changes from blue back to white again when the use of brakes is terminated and in addition flashes amber when the vehicle is turning. Two lamp variations of this embodiment are also described. The first lamp is connected to the brake circuit while the second may be connected to the brake/ignition circuits or the turn circuit. Illumination may be provided by regular incandescent lights, fiber optic cable, LEDs, or electrochromic elements. Colors may be provided by multicolored lenses or by appropriate circuitry to the illuminating element.

Claims

1. A vehicle signaling light assembly adapted to be mounted on the front or forward sides of a vehicle, said vehicle including a braking system, and brake, turning and ignition circuits comprising:

a base member, said base member including a turn light chamber, a signal light chamber and a stop light chamber, said respective chambers being substantially optically isolated from each other, said chambers being adapted to emit different colored light;

a first signal illuminating arrangement, associated with and adapted to illuminate said signal light chamber, said first signal illuminating arrangement being adapted to being operatively connected to said ignition and brake circuits of said vehicle so that said first signal illuminating arrangement illuminates said signal light chamber most intensely whenever said ignition circuit is activated and said brake circuit is not activated;

a stop signal illuminating arrangement, associated with and adapted to illuminate said stop light chamber, said stop signal illuminating arrangement being adapted to being operatively connected to said brake circuit of said vehicle so that said stop signal illuminating arrangement illuminates said stop light chamber only when said brake circuit is activated by application of braking force to said vehicle; and

a turn signal illuminating arrangement, associated with and adapted to illuminate said turn light chamber;

said turn signal illuminating arrangement being adapted to being operatively connected to said turn light circuit of said vehicle so that said turn signal illuminating arrangement illuminates said turn light chamber whenever said turn light circuit is activated.

2. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 wherein said base member is adapted to be attached to said front or forward sides of said vehicle.

3. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 including a light intensity control device, whereby the intensity of the illumination provided by said stop signal illuminating arrangement is adapted to vary directly with the amount of braking force applied to said vehicle, and the intensity of the illumination provided by the first signal illuminating arrangement is adapted to vary inversely with the amount of braking force applied to said vehicle.

4. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 in which said vehicle signaling light assembly includes a first lens element having a first color over said signal light chamber a second lens element having a second color over said stop light chamber and a third lens element having a third color over said turn light chamber.

5. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 4 wherein said first color is generally white, said second color is generally blue and said third color is generally yellow or amber.

6. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 4 wherein said first, second and third lens elements are integral with one another.

7. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 wherein said first signal illuminating arrangement includes an incandescent signal lamp.

8. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 wherein said first signal illuminating arrangement includes a fiber optic signal light conductor.

9. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 wherein said stop signal illuminating arrangement includes an incandescent stop lamp.

10. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 wherein said stop signal illuminating arrangement includes a fiber optic stop light conductor.

11. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 wherein said turn signal illuminating arrangement includes an incandescent turn lamp.

12. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 wherein said turn signal illuminating arrangement includes a fiber optic turn signal light conductor.

13. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 including a light intensity control device, whereby said first signal illuminating arrangement is adapted to being illuminated only when no braking force is being applied to said vehicle.

14. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 including a pair of said vehicle signaling light assembly adapted to be mounted on opposite front sides of said vehicle, and a monochrome light assembly adapted to be mounted on the front of said vehicle, said monochrome light assembly being operatively connected to said brake circuit so that said monochrome light assembly is illuminated only when said brake circuit is activated by the application of braking force to said vehicle.

15. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 14 wherein said monochrome light assembly is adapted to emit generally blue light.

16. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 1 in which said first signal illuminating arrangement comprises a first light emitting diode which glows a first color, said stop signal illuminating arrangement comprises a second light emitting diode which glows a second color, and said third turn signal illuminating arrangement comprises a third light emitting diode which glows a third color.

17. A vehicle signaling light assembly of claim 16 wherein said first color is generally white and said second color is generally blue and said third color is generally yellow or amber.