US 5,966,073 AGranted

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

OwnerEdward B. Waltoninventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The present invention is a vehicle with front side and/or front mounted, brake and turn signal lights. The respective front side mounted lights, when mounted on passenger vehicles, are generally mounted below the windshield, behind the front wheel and ahead of the forward edge of the front door where they are generally visible for almost 180 degrees. When so mounted the lights are below the operator's line of sight, so they do not interfere with or distract the operator. The brake lights on the rear of the vehicle are generally red, and those on the side and front of the vehicle are generally blue. When forward facing daytime running lights are provided, generally these lights are on so long as the ignition circuit is on, except when the brake lights are activated, then they are extinguished as the blue brake lights on the front side and/or front are illuminated. When turn signals of one side of the vehicle are activated so as to flash intermittently, the turn signals on the opposite side may be actuated to burn continuously. The brake lights are generally actuatable whether the ignition of the vehicle is on or not. Generally, the turn signal lights are not actuatable when the ignition circuit is off.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A powered vehicle including a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, a first front wheel on said first side, a second front wheel on said second side, a forward facing windshield, at least said first side including a front door having a forward edge located rearward of said front wheels and generally below said forward facing windshield, a braking system, and activatable brake, turning and ignition circuits, said powered vehicle comprising:

at least one rear brake light member mounted on said rear end, said rear brake light member being operatively coupled to said braking system through said brake circuit, and adapted to being illuminated responsive to the activation of said braking system, said rear brake light member emitting light having a generally red hue;
a first light source mounted below the level of said forward facing windshield on said first side between said first front wheel and said forward edge, and a second light source mounted on said second side generally symmetrically opposite said first light source, each of said light sources including a turn light emitting member and a side brake light emitting member, said turn light emitting member being of a generally yellow or amber hue and said side brake light emitting member being of a generally blue hue, said turn light emitting members being operatively coupled to said turning circuit, said turning circuit being adapted to deactivate both turn light emitting members simultaneously or to intermittently activate one of said turn light emitting members while steadily activating the other of said turn light emitting members, said side brake light emitting members being operatively coupled to said brake circuit, said brake circuit being adapted to activate said side brake light emitting members so long as said braking system is activated, said side brake and turn light emitting members being inoperative when said ignition circuit is not activated, and operative when said ignition circuit is activated.

A vehicle including a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, a first front side location on said first side, a second front side location on said second side, a forward facing windshield, said vehicle including a braking system, and activatable brake, turning and ignition circuits, said vehicle comprising:

at least one rear brake light emitting member mounted on said rear end, said rear brake light emitting member being operatively coupled to said braking system through said brake circuit and adapted to being illuminated responsive to the activation of said braking system, said rear brake light emitting member emitting light having a first hue;
a first light source mounted at said first front side location, and a second light source mounted on said second front side location generally symmetrically opposite said first light source, each of said first and second light sources including a turn light emitting member and a side brake light emitting member, said turn light emitting member being of a second hue and said side brake light emitting member being of a third hue, said first and third hues being different, said turn light emitting members being operatively coupled to said turning circuit, said turning circuit being adapted to intermittently activate one of said turn light emitting members at a time, said side brake light emitting members being operatively coupled to said brake circuit, said brake circuit being adapted to activate said side brake light emitting members at least when said braking system and ignition circuits are activated;
and
a third light source mounted to said front end, said third light source including a first front brake light emitting member, said first front brake light emitting member generally emitting said third hue, said first front brake light emitting member being operatively coupled to said brake circuit, and said brake circuit being adapted to activate said first front brake light emitting member when said side brake light emitting members are activated.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/968,517Filed 12 Nov 1997 · continuation in part
Priority: 28 Jun 1995
Granted: 12 Oct 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B60Q 1/143
Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic: combined…
B60Q 1/28
The devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic: for indicating front of vehicle
B60Q 1/44
The devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic: for indicating braking…
B60Q 1/442
For indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal: visible on the front side of…