GB1577239A

GB1577239A - Vehicle lighting systems

Info

Publication number: GB1577239A
Application number: GB3629577A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-05-16
Filing date: 1978-05-16
Publication date: 1980-10-22

Description

(54) vEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEMS (71) I, DAVID JAMES BARRY (English), 24 Hindley Road, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 2JS, Lancs., do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to vehicle lighting systems including rear fog lamps.

It is well known that tail lamps are inadequate in fog, consequently, fog lamps are often used with brake lamps to increase illumination, causing dazzling to drivers behind.

It has been found to be desirable to be able to vary the intensity of the light omitted by a rear lamp when used in fog, in order to enable the vehicle to be seen, but not to dazzle, drivers behind.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a rear fog light which is provided with means for varying the intensity of the light emitted thereby.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a lighting system for a vehicle, comprising two rear fog lamps and circuit means including two resistances each arranged to be connected in series with a respective said lamp and a switch arranged upon operation thereof to control the brightness of the lamps by controlling the connection of a respective diode in parallel with each resistance.

An illuminated warning light in the driver's compartment of the vehicle, warns the driver that the fog lamps are at full brightness.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described in detail by way of example and wtih reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1-3 show the casing in which components of the system are mounted.

Fig. 4 shows a circuit diagram of the system.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 4 shows two lamps 10 and 11, which are rear fog lamps. The lamps are connected by leads 3 and 4, to resistors 7A, 7B.

The leads 1 and 2 extend to connections 13 and 14, 1 and 2 being the main feed cables for the tail lamps 17 and 18 of the vehicle, and are connected by lead 15 to the side and tail lamp switch 16.

The switch 16 when in the "on" position, allows the current to flow through lead 15, from battery 12, to connections 13 and 14 so illuminating the vehicle's side and tail lamps. The fog lamps 10 and 11 are also illuminated at reduced intensity via the resistors 7A, 7B.

To increase illumination during foggy conditions, switch 8 is closed allowing current to flow from 14 through the switch to lead 5 by-passing the resistors, to diodes 6A, 6B, continuing through leads 3 and 4 thereby increasing the illumination of the rear fog lamps.

For protection, the resistors and diodes are enclosed in a casing. The dimensions of the casing are as follows: 7 8 cms wide, 6 5 cms long and 2 cms in depth.

Attached to the bottom of the casing are two securing clips 1A, 1B for the resistors.

Each clip being 4 cms long, 075 cms in depth, with a distance between each side of 1 cm. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are securing brackets for the casing and are shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 shows the resistors secured in the clip.

Fig. 3 shows an underside view of the casing with securing brackets, for fitting to the vehicle, said brackets are approx. 11 4 cms long and 1-3 cms wide and are secured to the underside of the casing. The fixing holes 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B are 0 3 cms in diameter.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising two rear fog lamps and circuit means including two resistances each arranged to be connected in series with a respective said lamp and a switch arranged upon operation thereof to control the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (54) vEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEMS (71) I, DAVID JAMES BARRY (English), 24 Hindley Road, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 2JS, Lancs., do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to vehicle lighting systems including rear fog lamps. It is well known that tail lamps are inadequate in fog, consequently, fog lamps are often used with brake lamps to increase illumination, causing dazzling to drivers behind. It has been found to be desirable to be able to vary the intensity of the light omitted by a rear lamp when used in fog, in order to enable the vehicle to be seen, but not to dazzle, drivers behind. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a rear fog light which is provided with means for varying the intensity of the light emitted thereby. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a lighting system for a vehicle, comprising two rear fog lamps and circuit means including two resistances each arranged to be connected in series with a respective said lamp and a switch arranged upon operation thereof to control the brightness of the lamps by controlling the connection of a respective diode in parallel with each resistance. An illuminated warning light in the driver's compartment of the vehicle, warns the driver that the fog lamps are at full brightness. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described in detail by way of example and wtih reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1-3 show the casing in which components of the system are mounted. Fig. 4 shows a circuit diagram of the system. Referring to the drawings Fig. 4 shows two lamps 10 and 11, which are rear fog lamps. The lamps are connected by leads 3 and 4, to resistors 7A, 7B. The leads 1 and 2 extend to connections 13 and 14, 1 and 2 being the main feed cables for the tail lamps 17 and 18 of the vehicle, and are connected by lead 15 to the side and tail lamp switch 16. The switch 16 when in the "on" position, allows the current to flow through lead 15, from battery 12, to connections 13 and 14 so illuminating the vehicle's side and tail lamps. The fog lamps 10 and 11 are also illuminated at reduced intensity via the resistors 7A, 7B. To increase illumination during foggy conditions, switch 8 is closed allowing current to flow from 14 through the switch to lead 5 by-passing the resistors, to diodes 6A, 6B, continuing through leads 3 and 4 thereby increasing the illumination of the rear fog lamps. For protection, the resistors and diodes are enclosed in a casing. The dimensions of the casing are as follows: 7 8 cms wide, 6 5 cms long and 2 cms in depth. Attached to the bottom of the casing are two securing clips 1A, 1B for the resistors. Each clip being 4 cms long, 075 cms in depth, with a distance between each side of 1 cm. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are securing brackets for the casing and are shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 shows the resistors secured in the clip. Fig. 3 shows an underside view of the casing with securing brackets, for fitting to the vehicle, said brackets are approx. 11 4 cms long and 1-3 cms wide and are secured to the underside of the casing. The fixing holes 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B are 0 3 cms in diameter. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising two rear fog lamps and circuit means including two resistances each arranged to be connected in series with a respective said lamp and a switch arranged upon operation thereof to control the brightness of the lamps by controlling the connection of a respective diode in parallel with each resistance.

2. A lighting system for a vehicle substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.