# US 5,351,171 A · Wide-angle-viewing safety light for towing vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,351,171 A - Document ID: US5351171A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/994,263 - Filed: 1992-12-21 - Granted: 1994-09-27 - Earliest claimed: 1992-12-21 - Inventors: Ronald P. Bushey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5351171A ## CPC - B60Q 1/0035: {relative to the vehicle} - B60Q 1/22: for reverse drive - B60Q 1/305: {Indicating devices for towed vehicles} - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract High intensity beam lights are mounted on each side of a towing vehicle in units of two or three beams positioned at diverging angles creating a 180-degree lighted area. The lights are activated by a control switch in the driving compartment both simultaneously or each side separately. Replaceable sealed beam units are housed in casings attached to the sides of the body of the vehicle adjacent to the driving compartment. The wide angle safety lighting system provides a wide field of vision necessary for turning or backing vehicles towing trailers or other units. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wide-angle high intensity safety lighting system for lighting the entire turning area of towing vehicles, wherein each towing vehicle is towing a trailer, wherein the towing vehicle has a right side and a left side, wherein the towing vehicle and trailer cover a wide turning area in turning right or left in backward and forward movements, and wherein the wide-angle high intensity safety lighting system comprises: at least two high intensity beam driving lights mounted on and protruding from each of two sides of a towing vehicle, wherein the high intensity lights are positioned side by side at diverging light-directing angles, directing light in a 180 degree sweep on each of the two sides of the towing vehicle, wherein light from the lighting system extends outwardly from the towing vehicle to encompass an entire turning area of the towing vehicle and trailer. a housing means for protecting the lights and electrically insulating the lights; an electrical connecting means connecting lights to a control panel inside a driving compartment of the vehicle; a switching means for activating and deactivating the lights exclusive of other lights on the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 wherein the switching means comprises a single switch for activating the lighting system on both of the two sides of the towing vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 wherein the switching means comprises a separate switch for activating the lighting system on each of the two sides of the towing vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 wherein the lighting system comprises three lights mounted on and protruding from each of the two sides of the towing vehicle mounted with a central light having a centerline of the central light perpendicular to each of the two sides of the towing vehicle and each of two adjacent lights having centerlines diverging at an acute angle away from the central light. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The invention of claim 4 wherein the acute angle is thirty degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 wherein the lighting system comprises two adjacent lights mounted on and protruding from each of the two sides of the towing vehicle mounted with a centerline of each housing means perpendicular to each of the two sides of the towing vehicle on which the housing means is mounted and each of the two adjacent lights having centerlines in each housing means diverging at an acute angle away from the housing means centerline. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The invention of claim 6 wherein the acute angle is at most forty-five degrees. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 further comprising an indicator light inside the driving compartment of the towing vehicle visible to the driver, which indicator light is activated when the wide-angle high intensity safety lighting system is activated. ### Claim 9 A wide-angle high intensity safety lighting system for lighting the entire turning area of towing vehicles, wherein each towing vehicle is towing a trailer, wherein the towing vehicle has a right side and a left side, wherein the towing vehicle and trailer cover a wide turning area in turning right or left in backward and forward movements, and wherein the wide-angle high intensity safety lighting system comprises: at least two high intensity beam driving lights mounted on and protruding from each of two sides of a towing vehicle, wherein the high intensity lights are positioned side by side at diverging light-directing angles, directing light in a 180 degree sweep on each of the two sides of the towing vehicle, wherein light from the lighting system extends outwardly from the towing vehicle to encompass an entire turning area of the towing vehicle and trailer; a housing means for protecting the lights and electrically insulating the lights; an electrical connecting means connecting the lights to a control panel inside a driving compartment of the towing vehicle, wherein the electrical connecting means comprises a wiring system with a negative ground connected to a frame of the towing vehicle and an in-line fuse means; a switching means for activating and deactivating the lights exclusive of other lights on the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The invention of claim 9 wherein each light is a sealed beam unit plugged into the electrical connecting means, which sealed beam unit is replaceable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The invention of claim 10 wherein each light is a quartz halogen driving light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 wherein the high intensity beam lights are mounted on each of the two sides of the towing vehicle adjacent to a driving compartment of the towing vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The invention of claim 1 wherein the electrical connecting means comprises a wiring system with a negative ground connected to a frame of the vehicle and an in-line fuse means.