Graphical taillight system

• US 7,791,465 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amr S. El-Massry
• Original Assignee: Amr S. El-Massry
• Inventors: El-Massry, Amr S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Quang
• Application Number:
  US12/024,137
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/464, 340/479, 340/466, 340/467, 340/468, 340/469, 340/471, 340/472, 340/441, 340/478, 340/465, 362/545, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/478
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text

Abstract

A graphical taillight system for efficiently alerting a driver of a vehicle behind a signaling vehicle of the operations (e.g. braking, turning, reversing, etc.) of the signaling vehicle. The graphical taillight system generally includes a tail light cover including a rear surface, wherein the rear surface is comprised of a substantially nontransparent configuration. At least one signaling portion extends through the rear surface of the tail light cover, wherein the signaling portion is comprised of a substantially transparent configuration and wherein the signaling portion is graphically shaped to represent at least one operation of a vehicle. At least one light is aligned with the respective signaling portion, wherein the light shines through the signaling portion.

Claims

1. A graphical taillight system, comprising:

a tail light cover including a rear surface, wherein said rear surface is comprised of a substantially nontransparent configuration; and

a first signaling portion extending through said rear surface of said tail light cover, wherein said first signaling portion is comprised of a substantially transparent configuration;

wherein said first signaling portion is graphically shaped to represent a braking operation of a vehicle;

at least one first light aligned with said first signaling portion, wherein said at least one first light shines through said first signaling portion;

wherein said first signaling portion is comprised of a shape of a warning sign;

a second signaling portion extending through said rear surface of said tail lighting unit cover, wherein said second signaling portion is comprised of a substantially transparent configuration;

wherein said second signaling portion is graphically shaped to represent a turning operation of a vehicle;

at least one second light aligned with said second signaling portion, wherein said at least one second light shines through said second signaling portion;

wherein said second signaling portion is comprised of a shape of an elongated broken arrow or a plurality of spaced arrows arranged in a circular manner;

a third signaling portion extending through said rear surface of said tail lighting unit cover, wherein said third signaling portion is comprised of a substantially transparent configuration; and

wherein said third signaling portion is graphically shaped to represent a reversing operation of a vehicle; and

at least one third light aligned with said third signaling portion, wherein said at least one third light shines through said third signaling portion;

wherein said first graphical shape of said first signaling portion, said second graphical shape of said second signaling portion, and said third graphical shape of said third signaling portion are each different in shape;

wherein a first portion of said third signaling portion is shaped of a pair of rotating hands or a pair of arrows lighting in an every other manner and wherein a second portion of said third signaling portion is shaped of a rear end of a vehicle remaining constantly lit.

2. The graphical taillight system of claim 1, wherein said at least one first light, said at least one second light, and said at least one third light each include a plurality of lights.

3. The graphical taillight system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of lights of said at least one second light flash one after another in a sequential manner.

4. The graphical taillight system of claim 3, wherein said plurality of lights of said at least one second light flash one after another in a continuous manner.

5. A graphical taillight system, comprising:

a tail light cover including a rear surface, wherein said rear surface is comprised of a substantially nontransparent configuration;

a first signaling portion extending through said rear surface of said tail lighting unit cover, wherein said first signaling portion is comprised of a substantially transparent configuration;

wherein said first signaling portion is comprised of a first graphical shape to represent a braking operation of a vehicle;

at least one first lighting unit aligned with said first signaling portion, wherein said at least one first lighting unit shines through said first signaling portion;

a second signaling portion extending through said rear surface of said tail lighting unit cover, wherein said second signaling portion is comprised of a substantially transparent configuration;

wherein said second signaling portion is comprised of a second graphical shape to represent a turning operation of the vehicle;

at least one second lighting unit aligned with said second signaling portion, wherein said at least one second lighting unit shines through said second signaling portion;

a third signaling portion extending through said rear surface of said tail lighting unit cover, wherein said third signaling portion is comprised of a substantially transparent configuration;

wherein said third signaling portion is comprised of a third graphical shape to represent a reversing operation of the vehicle; and

at least one third lighting unit aligned with said third signaling portion, wherein said at least one third lighting unit shines through said third signaling portion;

wherein said first graphical shape is comprised of a shape of a warning sign having an exclamation point surrounded by a triangular structure;

wherein said second graphical shape is comprised of a shape of an elongated broken arrow or a plurality of spaced arrows arranged in a circular manner;

wherein a first portion of said third graphical shape is comprised of a shape of a pair of rotating hands or a pair of arrows lighting in an every other manner and wherein a second portion of said third graphical shape is shaped of a rear end of a vehicle remaining constantly lit.

6. The graphical taillight system of claim 5, wherein said at least one second lighting unit is comprised of a plurality of turning lights.

7. The graphical taillight system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of turning lights flash one after another in a sequential manner.

8. The graphical taillight system of claim 5, wherein said at least one third lighting unit is comprised of a plurality of reversing lights.

9. A method for conveying vehicle operations, comprising:

providing a tail light cover for a vehicle, said tail light cover being comprised of a non transparent configuration, and said tail light cover having;

a first signaling portion extending therethrough and comprised of a transparent warning sign shape;

a second signaling portion extending therethrough and comprised of a transparent first directional conveying shape; and

a third signaling portion extending therethrough and comprised of a transparent second directional conveying shape different than said first directional shape;

providing a plurality of lights aligned with said signaling portions;

illuminating a first portion of said plurality of lights when a braking operation of a vehicle is performed;

causing said first portion to illuminate said first signaling portion;

illuminating a second portion of said plurality of lights when a turning operation of a vehicle is performed;

causing said second portion to illuminate said second signaling portion;

illuminating a third portion of said plurality of lights when a reversing operation of a vehicle is performed; and

causing said third portion to illuminate said third signaling portion;

wherein said first directional conveying shape is comprised of a shape of an elongated broken arrow or a plurality of spaced arrows arranged in a circular manner;

wherein said second directional conveying shape is comprised of a first portion is a pair of spaced symbols lighting in an every other manner and a second portion in a shape of a rear end of a vehicle remaining constantly lit.

10. The method for conveying vehicle operations of claim 9, including the step of blinking said first portion of said plurality of lights when a braking operation is performed.

11. The method for conveying vehicle operations of claim 9, including the step of constantly illuminating said first portion of said plurality of lights when a braking operation is performed.

12. The method for conveying vehicle operations of claim 9, wherein said plurality of spaced arrows are each illuminated as a whole in a continuous and sequential manner.

13. The method for conveying vehicle operations of claim 12, including an illuminating process of said plurality of spaced arrows comprising:

illuminating a first sequential grouping of arrows in a sequential manner;

then

illuminating a next arrow after said first sequential grouping of arrows;

while

simultaneously causing a first arrow of said first sequential grouping of arrows to dim;

forming a second sequential grouping of arrowing with said next arrow and said first sequential grouping of arrows minus said first arrow;

continuing to form illuminated sequential grouping of arrows until a last arrow of said plurality of spaced arrows is illuminated;

then

dimming a first arrow of a last said sequential grouping of arrows;

then

continuing to sequentially dim arrows of said last sequential grouping of arrows until all arrows of said plurality of arrows are dim;

then

restarting said illuminating process of said plurality of spaced arrows.

14. The method for conveying vehicle operations of claim 13, wherein each sequential grouping of arrows is comprised of at least three sequential arrows.

15. The method for conveying vehicle operations of claim 14, wherein each sequential grouping of arrows is comprised of at least four sequential arrows.

16. The method for conveying vehicle operations of claim 13, wherein said plurality of spaced arrows are arranged in a circular curved manner.

17. The method for conveying vehicle operations of claim 9, wherein said first signaling portion is comprised of a shape of warning sign having an exclamation point surrounded by a triangular structure.