Front safety brake lights

• US 6,864,787 B1
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sherri Coseo Veach
• Original Assignee: Sherri Coseo Veach
• Inventors: Veach, Sherri Coseo
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/004,933
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 340/479, 340/467, 340/463, 340/464, 340/468, 340/471, 362/494, 362/496, 362/505, 362/506
• US Class Current: 340/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/442 visible on the front side of the vehicle, e.g. for pedestrians

Abstract

A supplemental brake light assembly for viewing from the front of the vehicle includes embodiments where the indicator is visible for one hundred eighty degrees (180°) and may be afforded by the implementation of one or more sources. The primary light can be integrated within the bumper or retrofitted, and in one embodiment is elongated to go along the bumper and around the edges to be visible from both the front and sides of the vehicle. In another embodiment three brake lights are front-mounted to present an inverted triangle for so distinguishing from the conventional triangle appearance of the rear brake lights. The upper lights are positioned adjacent the headlight assemblies or the turn signals to form the top of the triangle, and are wrapped about the corners of the vehicle to obtain one hundred eighty degrees (180°) of visibility. The primary light is attached to the front bumper to form the apex of the inverted triangle. In one embodiment optical fibers are used to present a forward facing display.

Claims

1. In combination with a brake lighting system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a front and rear structure, a front bumper in the front structure, a brake and an electric brake light system having at least one brake light positioned on the vehicle rear structure and electrical wiring, the rear brake light system being electrically wired to respond to the application of the brake by causing the at least one brake light to shine, a supplemental electric brake light assembly, comprising:

a first, second and third electric light source;

a first enclosure for enclosing the first light source, a second enclosure for enclosing the second light source, and a third enclosure for enclosing the third light source, the first, second and third enclosures being positioned on the vehicle front structure;

said first and second enclosures being located above and spaced from said front bumper and from each other, and said third enclosure located on said front bumper so that a triangle is formed when viewed from the front of the vehicle;

supplemental electrical wiring for including the supplemental brake light assembly in the vehicle electric brake light system such that the first, second and third supplemental electric brake light light sources shine in response to application of the vehicle brake; and

said vehicle having two headlight assemblies each assembly having an inner edge, and the third enclosure has a left end and right end, the third enclosure being positioned such that the left end and right end are between vertical lines extending downwardly from the headlight assemblies inner edges.