Retrofit circuitry for enhanced vehicle hazard warning lights
AssigneeTrixcel, LLP
InventorsJack A. Ekchian, Berj A. Terzian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A third light is added above the lower two rear turn signal lights of an automotive vehicle Detection hardware is included which senses when both lower lights begin flashing simultaneously due to activation of the vehicle's 4-way hazard warning system. Such detection also introduces current pulses to the third light which flashes simultaneously with the lower two lights to generate a triangular configuration of the three flashing lights. Retrofit circuitry is described to enable installing the modified triangular signal into existing vehicles.
Claims27
In an automotive vehicle having 4-way hazard warning lights, at least two of which are located on the left and right sides of the vehicle's rear, a system for exhibiting a triangular rear hazard warning signal which comprises:
- (a) a third light located above the lower two lights to enable generating a triangular pattern of lights when all three are activated;
- (b) means for detecting current pulses transmitted simultaneously to the two lower rear lights to flash said lights;
- and
- (c) means responsive to such detection for simultaneously transmitting current pulses to the third light to generate a flashing triangular hazard signal formed by the three lights.
In a motor vehicle having 4-way hazard warning lights, two of which are located on the right and left sides of the vehicle's rear, a method of retrofitting the vehicle with an enhanced hazard signal which comprises:
- (a) including at least an additional light above the two lights in the vehicle's rear to enable flashing all three lights in a triangular configuration,
- (b) providing a detector having at least dual inputs and at least one output, said detector becoming electrically conductive when it detects simultaneous electrical pulses being transmitted to the two lower lamps from the vehicle's flasher,
- (c) connecting the dual inputs to leads that generate flashing respective right or left turn signals with the two lower lamps, said connections bridging across the turn signal leads to transmit the simultaneous electrical pulses thereof to the dual inputs of the detector,
- (d) connecting said output to said additional light, thus retrofitting the modified system to an existing vehicle
- whereby upon activation of the vehicle's 4-way hazard warning lights the detector senses the simultaneous pulses in the turn signal leads and transmits such pulses through its input leads and output lead also to the additional light to generate a flashing triangular hazard warning signal.
In a vehicle having 4-way hazard warning lights, two of which are located on the right and left sides of the vehicle's rear, a method of retrofitting the vehicle with an enhanced hazard signal which comprises:
- (a) including at least an additional light above the two lights in the vehicle's rear to enable flashing all three lights in a triangular configuration,
- (b) providing a detector having at least dual inputs and at least one output, said detector becoming electrically conductive when it detects simultaneous electrical pulses being transmitted to the two lower lamps from the vehicle's flasher,
- (c) connecting the dual inputs to leads that generate flashing respective right or left turn signals with the two lower lamps, said connections bridging across the turn signal leads to transmit the simultaneous electrical pulses thereof to the dual inputs of the detector,
- (d) providing a relay that is connected to the output of said detector and to at least one of the leads that generate flashing respective right or left turn signals so that when the detector is conductive the relay is closed and the electricity from at least one of the rear lights reaches the third light, thus retrofitting the modified system to an existing vehicle,
- whereby upon activation of the vehicle's 4-way hazard warning lights the detector senses the simultaneous pulses in the turn signal leads and closes a relay which transmits such pulses through the relay to the additional light to generate a flashing triangular hazard warning signal.
In a motor vehicle having a 4-way hazard warning system, the system comprising at least one lamp located on the left side and at least one lamp on the right side of the vehicle's rear which are in substantial horizontal alignment and operable as either flashing left or right turn signals, the improvement comprising:
- (a) at least a third lamp located substantially equidistant from said at least two lamps which are operable as left or right turn signals,
- (b) a switch which is operable to initiate synchronous flashing of said at least one lamp on the left side, at least one lamp on the right side and third lamp, on and off, in a predetermined frequency, no white light being exhibited during each off phase of each flashing cycle, whereby the three flashing lamps provide improved visibility and efficacy of the resulting hazard warning signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.