GB2234804A

GB2234804A - Hazard warning lights capable of being simultaneously used as direction-Indicators

Info

Publication number: GB2234804A
Application number: GB9017544A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Mcdougall-Baird
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-10
Filing date: 1990-08-10
Publication date: 1991-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-10
Also published as: GB8918234D0; GB9017544D0; GB2234804B

Abstract

The system comprises intermittently flashable lights, one or more to indicate an intended rightward movement of a vehicle and one or more to indicate an intended leftward movement of the vehicle. When all the lights flash simultaneously, it is intended as a hazard warning. The system provides that when the hazard warning system is flashing, a direction indication may still be given by increasing the flashing speed of the indicator on the respective side. <IMAGE>

Description

A VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting system. More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to a system whereby a vehicle may emit a hazard warning by flashing all of its intermittently flashable lights, and also still give a direction indication.

It is common place now for vehicles to be fitted with a vehicle lighting system in which the simultaneous flashing of both left and right direction indicators is used to signal a hazard warning. This may be because they are stopped in traffic or because they are about to be stopped in traffic. It may also be used when they are stopped on the hard-shoulder of a motorway so that their presence is more visible to oncoming traffic. Since all of the lights are flashing simultaneously, it is not possible to indicate that it is intended for the vehicle to change direction.

For example, a car may be stopped on the hardshoulder of a motorway emitting a hazard warning but still wish to inform oncoming traffic that it intends to pull out, in which case it would be advantageous if it could also indicate with its right flasher. Also, vehicles approaching the scene of an accident or stoppage may wish to indicate to the vehicles behind that such a stoppage exists and that they are going to take a leftward turn to avoid it. At present, this cannot be done.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system by which a change of direction can still be indicated when the hazard warning lights are flashing.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle lighting system comprising at least one pair of intermittently flashable lights, one of said at least one pair being adapted to signal an intended rightward movement of the vehicle and the other being adapted to signal an intended leftward movement of a vehicle, the pair being flashable together to signal a hazard warning, said flashing being at a first predetermined frequency, wherein one of said at least one pair of lights may be actuable to flash at a second predetermined frequency, different from said first predetermined frequency, whilst the other of said at least one pair flashes at said first predetermined frequency, in the case that it is desired to signal contemporaneously a hazard warning and an intended movement of the vehicle.

Preferably said second predetermined frequency is substantially twice that of said first predetermined frequency.

Advantageously the vehicle is provided with at least two pairs of lights, respective ones of each pair being flashable substantially in unison.

The system may further comprise a hazard warning switch and a movement direction indicator switch, switchable either to left or right, said switches being arranged to cause one of said at least one pair of lights to flash at said second predetermined frequency and the other of said at least one pair to flash at said first predetermined frequency when both the hazard warning switch and the indicator switch are actuated contemporaneously, the one flashing at said second predetermined frequency being determined by the indicator switch direction.

In one embodiment, the hazard warning switch and the indicator switch may be actuated in any order.

Alternatively, the hazard warning switch must be actuated prior to actuation of the indicator switch.

It is preferred that said first predetermined frequency is in the region of 50 to 70 flashes per minute and said second predetermined frequency is in the region of 100 to 120 flashes per minute.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the system; and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical components of the system.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a system having right front and rear lights, left front and rear lights, an indicator switch within the car, a hazard indicator switch within the car and a switching circuit. The indicator switch may actuate either the right or left set of lights. The hazard indicator switch will actuate all of the lights. Normally, use of the hazard indicator switch will override any use of the direction indicator switch.

In the system embodying the invention, the direction indicator switch may be used additively with the hazard indicator switch to give a different indication to either the right or left lights, depending on the direction of movement of the indicator switch. The different signal is preferably that the respective lights indicating intention to change direction flash at approximately twice the speed of the other hazard warning light.

Referring now to Figure 2, the left-hand lights are shown at 1 and the right-hand lights at 2. The lefthand lights 1 are driven by a drive circuit 3 and the right-hand lights by a drive circuit 4.

The switching system comprises a hazard switch 5, feeding, when closed, to a relay 6. There is also provided a direction indicator switch 7 which feeds relays 8 and 9, depending on the direction of the switch. An oscillator 10, producing approximately two cycles per second is connected to the relay switching system and also to a divider 11 which divides the signal by two and passes the divided signal also to the relay switching system.

When relay 8 or relay 9 is actuated by moving the indicator switch 7, a signal passes from divider 11 to the left drive circuit 3 or right drive circuit 4 respectively.

Alternatively, if relay 6 is actuated by the hazard switch 5, a signal passes from divider 11 to both the right and left drive circuits 3 and 4.

When relay 6 and either of relays 8 and 9 are actuated contemporaneously, one signal is taken directly from oscillator 10 to the respective drive circuit and a signal is taken from divider 11 to the other drive circuit whereby one set of lights flashes at twice the speed of the other. The quicker flashing is on the side to which indicator switch 7 is set.

Once either the hazard switch 5 or the indicator switch 7 is switched out, the system reverts to its normal mode of operation.

As may be seen, the preferred normal frequency ofashing is 60 flashes per minute with a higher speed set at approximately 100 to 120 flashes per minute. This enables an indication of an intended change of direction to be given even though the hazard lights are switched on.

Thus, road safety should be improved.

Visual and/or audio indications-of the flashing lights may be given within the vehicle by means of hazard driver 12 and hazard warning lamp 13, or by indicator driver 14 and lamp or lamps 15. Audio warnings may be provided additionally or alternatively to the lamps 13 and 15.

Claims

1 A vehicle lighting system comprising at least a pair of intermittently flashable lights, one of said at least one pair being adapted to signal an intended rightward movement of the vehicle and the other being adapted to signal an intended leftward movement of a vehicle, the pair being flashable together to signal a hazard warning, said flashing being at a first predetermined frequency, wherein one of said at least one pair of lights may be actuable to flash at a second predetermined frequency, different from said first predetermined frequency, whilst the other of said at least one pair flashes at said first predetermined frequency, in the case that it is desired to signal contemporaneously a hazard warning and an intended movement of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second predetermined frequency is substantially twice that of said first predetermined frequency.

3. A vehicle lighting system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the vehicle is provided with at least two pairs of lights, respective ones of each pair being flashable substantially in unison.

4. A vehicle lighting system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a hazard warning switch and a movement direction indicator switch, switchable either to left or right, said switches being arranged to cause one of said at least one pair of lights to flash at said second predetermined frequency and the other of said at least one pair to flash at said first predetermined frequency when both the hazard warning switch and the indicator switch are actuated contemporaneously, the one flashing at said second predetermined frequency being determined by the indicator switch direction.

5. A vehicle lighting system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hazard warning switch and the indicator switch may be actuated in any order.

6. A vehicle lighting system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hazard warning switch must be actuated prior to actuation of the indicator switch.

7. A vehicle lighting system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said first predetermined frequency is in the region of 50 to 70 flashes per minute and said second predetermined frequency is in the region of 100 to 120 flashes per minute.

8. A vehicle lighting system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.