Vehicle hazard warning lights
AssigneeTritel, LLC
InventorBerj A. Terzian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle hazard warning system and method are provided wherein a center high mounted rear stop light (“CHMSL”) is connected to the vehicle's 4-way emergency flasher circuit so that it flashes simultaneously with at least the vehicle's rear turn signal lights, and preferably with the front turn signal lights as well. This creates a more effective warning signal that the vehicle is a potential hazard to other vehicles approaching from the rear. The CHMSL can also be connected to automatically commence such flashing simultaneously with activated steady back up lights of the vehicle, whenever the vehicle is moving rearward.
Claims16
In a motor vehicle having an emergency 4-way flasher circuit with 4-way emergency lamps, a CHMSL and a brake light switch, an enhanced hazard warning light system consisting essentially of:
- (a) means for transmitting pulsed electrical current from the 4-way flasher circuit to the CHMSL when the circuit is activated, thereby simultaneously flashing both the CHMSL and the emergency lamps on and off, and
- (b) means for transmitting a steady electrical current from the brake light switch to the CHMSL whenever the vehicle's brakes are engaged, whereby
- (1) when the flasher circuit is activated, the CHMSL is automatically and simultaneously flashed on and off together with the 4-way emergency lamps,
- (2) when the vehicle's brakes are thereafter engaged, the steady electrical current from the brake light switch automatically overrides and suppresses flashing, and initiates steady illumination, of the CHMSL while the emergency lamps continue flashing, and
- (3) when the vehicle's brakes are disengaged, simultaneous on and off flashing of the CHMSL together with the 4-way emergency lamps is automatically resumed, the flashing cycle of the CHMSL with the 4-way emergency lamps not including white light during the off periods of such cycle.
In a motor vehicle having an emergency 4-way flasher circuit with 4-way emergency lamps, a CHMSL and a brake light switch, a method of creating an enhanced hazard warning light system consisting essentially of:
- (a) connecting the 4-way flasher circuit to the CHMSL, and
- (b) connecting the brake light switch separately from the 4-way flasher circuit to the CHMSL, whereby
- (1) when the 4-way flasher circuit is activated, pulsed electrical current from the circuit automatically initiates simultaneous on and off flashing of the CHMSL together with the vehicle's 4-way emergency lamps,
- (2) when the vehicle's brakes are thereafter engaged, steady electrical current from the brake light switch automatically overrides and suppresses flashing, and initiates steady illumination, of the CHMSL while the emergency lamps continue flashing, and
- (3) when the vehicle's brakes are disengaged, simultaneous on and off flashing of the CHMSL together with the 4-way emergency lamps is automatically resumed, the flashing cycle of the CHMSL with the 4-way emergency lamps not including white light during the off periods of such cycle.
In a motor vehicle having an emergency 4-way flasher circuit with 4-way emergency lamps, a CHMSL and a brake light switch, an enhanced hazard warming light system consisting of:
- (a) means for transmitting pulsed electrical current from the 4-way flasher circuit to the CHMSL when the circuit is activated thereby simultaneously flashing both the CHMSL and the emergency lamps on and off, and
- (b) means for transmitting a steady electrical current from the brake light switch to the CHMSL whenever the vehicle's brakes are engaged, whereby
- (1) when the flasher circuit is activated, the CHMSL is automatically and simultaneously flashed on and off together with the 4-way emergency lamps,
- (2) when the vehicle's brakes are thereafter engaged, the steady electrical current from the brake light switch automatically overrides and suppresses flashing, and initiates steady illumination, of the CHMSL while the emergency lamps continue flashing, and
- (3) when the vehicle's brakes are disengaged, simultaneous on and off flashing of the CHMSL together with the 4-way emergency lamps is automatically resumed, the flashing cycle of the CHMSL with the 4-way emergency lamps not including white light during the off periods of such cycle.
In a motor vehicle having an emergency 4-way flasher circuit with 4-way emergency lamps, a CHMSL and a brake light switch, a method of creating an enhanced hazard warning light system consisting of:
- (a) connecting the 4-way flasher circuit to the CHMSL, and
- (b) connecting the brake light switch separately from the 4-way flasher circuit to the CHMSL, whereby
- (1) when the 4-way flasher circuit is activated, pulsed electrical current from the circuit automatically initiates simultaneous on and off flashing of the CHMSL together with the vehicle's 4-way emergency lamps,
- (2) when the vehicle's brakes are thereafter engaged, steady electrical current from the brake light switch automatically overrides and suppresses flashing, and initiates steady illumination, of the CHMSL while the emergency lamps continue flashing, and
- (3) when the vehicle's brakes are disengaged, simultaneous on and off flashing of the CHMSL together with the 4-way emergency lamps is automatically resumed, the flashing cycle of the CHMSL with the 4-way emergency lamps not including white light during the off periods of such cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.