Integrated warning device for providing flashing brake lights

• US 6,864,786 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C2 Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: C2 Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Spezia, Anthony L. III, Davis, Nathan T., Jordan, Benjamin S., Speckhart, Frank H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHMOOD, JENNIFER
• Application Number:
  US10/367,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 340/467, 340/479, 340/464, 200/61.45 R
• US Class Current: 340/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/447 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing the shape or intensity of the indication

Abstract

A deceleration warning device for providing a visual indication of severe vehicular deceleration to the driver of a following vehicle. The deceleration warning device independently detects severe deceleration through an onboard accelerometer and is installed by securing the device to an existing OEM brake light/taillight fitting of a vehicle. The deceleration warning device is installed in the vacancy of a taillight lamp, and includes an illumination element that serves as a taillight, a brake light, and a severe deceleration indicator.

Claims

1. An integrated warning device for being mounted in a taillight fitting of a standard, equipped, motorized vehicle and for providing flashing brake lights when deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predefined deceleration threshold, said device comprising:

a housing having a mounting element for being received in the taillight fitting of the vehicle and for establishing electrical communication between the vehicle and said device;

a spherical mass member carried interior of a guide within said housing whereby said mass member moves unrestricted within said guide in response to deceleration above a predefined threshold to a preselected location;

a detector for sensing movement of said mass member to said preselected location;

an illumination element for emitting light; and

an electrical circuitry providing electrical communication between the vehicle, said detector, and said illumination element, said electrical circuitry activating said illumination element thereby causing flashing in response to sensing said mass member at said preselected location indicating vehicle deceleration above a threshold level.

2. An integrated warning device for being mounted in a taillight fitting of a standard equipped, motorized vehicle and for providing flashing brake lights when deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predefined deceleration threshold, said device comprising:

a mass member;

a conically shared guide for defining a path in which said mass member travels;

a detector for identifying the position of said mass member at a location along said path indicating that deceleration of the vehicle has reached a threshold value;

an illumination element for emitting light;

an electrical circuitry providing electrical communication between the vehicle, said detector and said illumination element, said electrical circuitry activating said illumination element in response to deceleration of said equipped vehicle above a threshold level; and

a housing for said warning device and including a mounting element for being received in the taillight fitting of a vehicle and for establishing electrical communication between the vehicle and said device, said mounting element cooperating with said standard taillight socket to provide a plug-and-play feature;

wherein said mass member is a sphere such that movement of said sphere within said conically shaped guide is independent of the rotational position of said warning device.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said detector comprises a photo interrupter which generates a signal indicative of said mass member moving to a preselected location indicating that the vehicle deceleration has exceeded a threshold level.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said illumination element comprises a light emitting diode (LED) which flashes upon vehicle deceleration above a threshold level.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said illumination element comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said electrical circuitry cycles the illumination element through an ON state and an OFF state upon said detector detecting the position of said mass member that indicates a deceleration exceeding a preselected deceleration threshold.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein said electrical circuitry provides a delayed discontinuation of said cycling of said illumination element with regard to said mass member assuming a position that indicates a deceleration below said predefined deceleration threshold.

8. An integrated warning device for being mounted in a taillight fitting of a standard, equipped, motorized vehicle and for providing flashing brake lights when deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predefined deceleration threshold, said device comprising:

an accelerometer disposed to rotate about a longitudinal axis within said warning device, said accelerometer including a mass member bounded by a guide through which said mass member moves unrestricted during deceleration of the vehicle, said accelerometer is rotatable about said axis such that movement of said mass member bounded by said guide is independent of the rotational position of said warning device;

an illumination element for emitting light;

electrical circuitry providing electrical communication with the vehicle, said accelerometer, said illumination element, said electrical circuitry activating said illumination element in response to the vehicle'"'"'s deceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold causing a preselected signal to be generated by said accelerometer; and

a housing for carrying said accelerometer, said illumination element, and said electrical circuitry, said housing including a mounting element for being received within a standard taillight fitting of the vehicle for establishing electrical communication between the vehicle and said warning device upon insertion to provide a plug-and-play feature.

9. An integrated warning device for being mounted in a taillight fitting of a standard, equipped, motorized vehicle and for providing flashing brake lights when deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predefined deceleration threshold, said device comprising:

a housing having a mounting element for being received in the taillight fitting of the vehicle and for establishing electrical communication between the vehicle and said device;

a mass member carried by said housing whereby said mass member pivotably moves in response to deceleration above a predefined threshold to a preselected location, movement of said mass member being impacted by the traveling of an equipped vehicle along an inclined surface or declined surface such that said movement of said mass member is retarded or enhanced respectively due to the increase or decrease of the angle of incline;

a detector for sensing movement of said mass member to said preselected location;

an illumination element for emitting light; and

an electrical circuitry providing electrical communication between the vehicle, said detector, and said illumination element, said electrical circuitry activating said illumination element thereby causing flashing in response to sensing said mass member at said preselected location indicating vehicle deceleration above a threshold level.

10. An integrated warning device for being mounted in a taillight fitting of a brake light equipped vehicle and for providing flashing brake lights when deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predefined deceleration threshold, said device comprising:

a mass member;

a guide having an enclosed inclined plane for defining a path in which said mass member travels in unrestricted movement during deceleration of the vehicle, whereby movement of said mass member is impacted by the vehicle traveling along an inclined surface or declined surface such that movement of said mass member through said guide is retarded or enhanced respectively due to the increase or decrease in angle of the surface traveled by the vehicle;

a detector for identifying the position of said mass member at a location along said path indicating that deceleration of the vehicle has reached a threshold value;

an illumination element for emitting light;

an electrical circuitry providing electrical communication between the vehicle, said detector, and said illumination element, said electrical circuitry activating said illumination element in response to deceleration of said equipped vehicle above a threshold level; and

a housing for said warning device and including a mounting element for being received in the taillight fitting of a vehicle and for establishing electrical communication between the vehicle and said warning device, said mounting element cooperating with said standard taillight socket to provide a plug-and-play feature.

11. The warning device of claim 10 wherein said housing includes a shaft aligned along a longitudinal axis of said housing in which said guide is disposed, said guide is pivotably attached to said shaft whereby said guide rotates freely about said shaft such that movement of said mass member in said guide having said enclosed inclined plane is independent of the rotational position of said mounting element of said housing being received in the taillight fitting of the vehicle.

12. The warning device of claim 10 wherein said detector comprises a photo interrupter which generates a signal indicative of said mass member moving to a preselected location in said guide having said enclosed inclined plane thereby indicating that the vehicle deceleration has exceeded said threshold level.