GB2211472A

GB2211472A - Motor vehicle braking indication

Info

Publication number: GB2211472A
Application number: GB8825095A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Charles Britton; Michael John Long
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-27
Filing date: 1988-10-26
Publication date: 1989-07-05
Also published as: GB8825095D0

Abstract

A visible indication of braking to the front of the motor vehicle is provided by a light bulb F operatively connected to the brake pedal and housed within a bellows-like shroud G which extends between the windscreen N and the rear view mirror body A and can expand or contract as the rear view mirror body A is adjusted about pivot P. <IMAGE>

Description

BRAKING INDICATION It is very well known that a motor vehicle can provide a warning visible to its rear when braking, and indeed is usually required by law to provide such a warning in the form of a pair of red lights which are lit when a brake pedal for the motor vehicle is depressed.

The purpose of the warning is primarily to alert a following motor vehicle that it too might need to brake.

There are, however, other road users including pedestrians who would benefit from knowing whether or not a motor vehicle was braking. For example, a children's crossing attendant might wish to know if an approaching motor vehicle had begun to brake. Moreover, a pedestrian wishing to cross a road junction controlled by traffic lights often cannot see the status of the traffic lights, and thus needs to know whether or not an approaching motor vehicle is slowing down before deciding whether or not it is safe to proceed. A motor vehicle wishing to turn right across a stream of traffic might wish to have confirmation of a judgement that a particular approaching motor vehicle was braking.

In accordance with the present invention, a motor vehicle comprises means for providing a visible indication of braking to the front of the motor vehicle.

It will be appreciated that the front braking indication means could be located anywhere on the motor vehicle which was noticeable from the front. For example, it could be a single indicator located outside at or by the radiator. Alternatively, there could be a pair of indicators located in the same general areas as the headlights, side lights and turning indicator lights.

Preferably, however, there is just a single indicator located inside the motor vehicle centrally of the windscreen.

This tattler location has the advantages of protecting the front braking indication means from exposure to weather, providing a high vantage point with a wide angle of visibility by other road users, and preventing undue obstruction to the driver's own field of vision.

The front braking indication means could be built into the dashboard, or placed upon the dashboard, to be opposite a low part of the windscreen. Preferably, however, it is opposite a high part of the windscreen, and in the majority of motor vehicles, could be positioned between the windscreen and the driver's internal rear view mirror.

To facilitate use at night, the front braking indication means is in the form of a coloured light, or at least a white light visible from the front through a coloured filter, although other less desirable arrangements would be possible.

The provision of a light behind the internal rear view mirror, that is to say behind from the driver's point of view, need not be an undue distraction to the driver. The light need not be particularly bright. To avoid any glare from the light, whatever its brightness, it could be housed within a shroud extending between the internal rear view mirror and the windscreen. To permit the internal rear view mirror to continue to be adjustable, at the driver's discretion, the shroud could be adapted to allow for such adjustment. For example, the shroud could be of a bellows or concertina construction. The end of the shroud closest to the windscreen could be secured to the windscreen, by for example an adhesive, but alternatively could just lie closely adjacent to the windscreen. The other end of the shroud could be either permanently or detachably secured to the internal rear view mirror.The light could be supported primarily by the shroud or the internal rear view mirror or equally by both.

The front braking indication means should be operatively connected to the brake pedal for the motor vehicle in such a manner that, unless cancelled by for example a cut out switch, the front braking indication means is automatically operated when the brake pedal is depressed to give a visible indication of braking to the front of the motor vehicle.

In the preferred situation in which the front braking indication means is a light, the light could be connected to the brake pedal in a manner analagous to that by which the conventional rear braking lights are connected to the brake pedal.

It should be noted that the term front is intended to cover not only a position exactly in advance, but also positions to either side thereof up to, ideally, almost at right angles to either side thereof.

The embodiment which is currently preferred, and has the braking indication located between a vehicle's windscreen and the vehicle's rear view mirror, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a combined braking indication and rear view mirror; Figure 2 is a schematic vertical cross-section through Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the combined braking indication and rear view mirror; and Figure 4 is a schematic horizontal cross-section through Figure 3.

A rear view mirror body A, having a conventional rear view mirror reflective face B, is joined to a braking light indicator body D by a pair of joining blocks C. The inside of the braking light indicator body D is provided with a light reflector E and an electric light bulb F. A shroud is in the form of an adjustable bellows light shield G extending between the braking light indicator body D and a brake light indicator front glazing frame H supporting brake light indicator front glazing J. The rear view mirror body A can be supported in any convenient manner such as by a rear view mirror support bracket K having an anchorage L for fixing to vehicle roof M. The front glazing frame H may be fixed to vehicle windscreen N by adhesive indicated at O. The reflective face B may be adjustable relatively to the windscreen N about a conventional pivot P with the light shield G accommodating said adjustment by expansion or contraction of its bellows as appropriate.

It will be appreciated that the electric light bulb F is to be operatively connected to the brake pedal (not shown) for the motor vehicle in such a way that the electric light bulb F is illuminated when the brake pedal is depressed.

It will be further appreciated that the rear view mirror assembly of body A, reflective face B, support bracket K and anchorage L may be equipment previously supplied and installed in the motor vehicle so that the front braking indication means of the present invention may be an accessory.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising means for providing a visible indication of braking to the front of the motor vehicle.

2. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, in which the front braking indication means includes a single indicator located inside the motor vehicle centrally of a windscreen for the motor vehicle.

3. A motor vehicle according to claim 2, in which the indicator is positioned opposite a high part of the windscreen between the windscreen and an internal rear view mirror for the motor vehicle.

4. A motor vehicle according to any preceding claim, in which the indicator is a light housed within a shroud.

5. A motor vehicle according to claim 3 and claim 4, in which the shroud extends between the internal rear view mirror and the windscreen and is adapted to permit the internal rear view mirror to be adjustable relatively to the windscreen.

6. A motor vehicle according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the light is operatively connected to a brake pedal for the motor vehicle in such a manner that the light is automatically illuminated when the brake pedal is depressed.

7. A motor vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A front braking indication means constituting an accessory for a motor vehicle according to any preceding claim.