GB2274533A

GB2274533A - Signalling device in or for a motor vehicle.

Info

Publication number: GB2274533A
Application number: GB9224837A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Hurst
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-11-27
Filing date: 1992-11-27
Publication date: 1994-07-27
Also published as: GB9224837D0

Abstract

A signalling device 19 is mounted in a motor vehicle adjacent to a rear window 11. The device includes a mask (21, Figure 1) defining a row of windows and a light source (20) for projecting light through the mask and the rear window of the vehicle. The windows of the mask have the shape of letters of the alphabet so that the mask presents information to the driver of a following vehicle. The light source may be tubular in form, and may be connected to the electrical system of the vehicle - thus the light source may be connected to the rear screen heater circuit or the wiper circuit, and may be controlled by a switch in the vicinity of the driving position. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Signalling device in or for a motor vehicle Description of the Invention From one aspect, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle suitable for use on roads and having a signalling device suitable for presenting a visible signal which can be seen from a position behind the vehicle. Motor vehicles usually have a number of such signalling devices. These include tail lights, turn indicator lights and one or more lights for use in fog or other conditions of poor visibility. It is also known to display at the rear of a vehicle a sign which presents information about the vehicle. For example, the sign may indicate that the vehicle is an ambulance or is used by another emergency service.

In the case of a freight-carrying vehicle, the sign may provide information concerning a load carried by the vehicle. In the case of a passenger car, it is known to present at the rear of a vehicle a sign which informs the driver of a following vehicle that a baby or child is in the vehicle.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a motor vehicle suitable for use on roads and having a signalling device suitable for presenting a visual signal which can be seen from a position behind the vehicle, characterised in that the device comprises an opaque mask defining lighttransmitting windows and an electrically energisable source of light which is so associated with the mask that light can be projected from the source rearwards through the windows in the mask.

The source of light may be energised only when there is a need to present information to the driver of a following vehicle, for example for a period of a few seconds, in the event of a following vehicle approaching unreasonably closely to the rear of the vehicle which has the signalling device. The abrupt energisation of the light source renders the signalling device more conspicuous than is a permanently displayed sign.

The vehicle preferably includes a manuallv operable switch which is conveniently to hand for a driver of the vehicle and which controls energisation of the light source. With this arrangement, the light source can be energised for brief periods only. The effect on the driver of a following vehicle of abrupt energisation of the light source is generally more significant than is the effect on the driver of a following vehicle of a continuously illuminated light source, for example a tail light.

The switch may additionally control the energisation of a further device, for example a heater associated with a rear window of the vehicle or a wiper system associated with the rear window. In this case, electrical connection of the signalling device can be confined to a region in the immediate vicinity the rear window of the vehicle and, when adding the signalling device to an existing vehicle, it is unnecessary to install wiring throughout a major part of the length of the vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a signalling device for use in a vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention, the signalling device comprising a housing which has an open face. a light source disposed inside the housing and a mask interposed between the light source and the open face, the mask defining light-transmitting windows.

In use of the device, the open face may be closed by a transparent or other light-transmitting wall.

The mask is preferably elongated and may have a length which is at least five times the height of the mask.

An example of a vehicle embodying the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings which is a diagrammatic representation of a partial cross section through a vehicle in a vertical plane.

The vehicle represented in the drawing is a passenger car intended for use primarily on roads. The vehicle comprises a body 10 incorporating a rear window 11 which, in the particular example illustrated is inclined to the horizontal at an angle in the region of 50". Insicle the vehicle and adjacent to the window 11, there is a substantially horizontal shelf 12. Beneath the shelf is a luggage compartment 13.

A number of electrically energisable devices are fitted to the vehicle body 10. These include a heating element (not shown) on the inside of the window 11 and a wiper (also not shown) for wiping the outside of the window 11.

These devices are arranged in a known manner and controlled by manually operable switches 16 and 17 which are mounted in the vehicle body 10 at respective positions where they are conveniently to hand to a driver of the vehicle.

These switches may, for example, be mounted in a fascia panel of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 2, the switches are connected with a battery of the vehicle via respective fuses. Leads connecting the switches with the heating element 14 and the wiper motor 15 pass through the luggage compartment 13 and at least the lead 18 associated with the heating element is, in part adjacent to the underside of the shelf 12.

There is mounted inside the vehicle body 10 a signalling device 19 which includes an electrically energisable light source 20. In the example illustrated, the light source is connected electrically in parallel with the heating element 14. Leads extend from the device 19 through the shelf 12 to the luggage compartment, where one lead is earthed to the body 10 and another lead is connected electrically with the lead 18 between the switch 16 and the heating element 14. This arrangement provides for energisation of the light source 20 whenever the switch 16 is closed.

Alternatively, the light source 20 may he conllected in parallel with the wiper motor 15. In a further alternative arrangement there is provided a switch (not shown) which is dedicated to control of energisation of the light source 20 and this switch is connected, via a fuse, between the vehicle battery and the light source. The dedicated switch is positioned where it is conveniently to hand to a driver of the vehicle. Thus, the dedicated switch mcv be mounted on a fascia panel of the vehicle, on a console or on a steering colLimn.

The signalling device 19 further comprises a mask 21 defining lighttransmitting windows, one of which is shown at 22 in Figure 1. Except for the windows, the mast21 is opaque to visible light and includes an opaque layer 2k supported on a layer 2Sof light-transmitting material. The material of the layer 24 is preferably adapted to transmit with little loss red light and is less transparent to light in other parts of the visible spectrum. The mask 21 is conveniently in the form of a flat plate and is arranged to be at least approximately vertical, when the vehicle is standing on level ground.

The mask 21 is elongated and is arranged with its longer length extending across the vehicle from one side thereof towards the other. The length of the mask is preferably at least 300mm and is typically in the region of 900mm.

The height of the mask is no more than one fifth of the length of the mask and is more preferably not greater than one tenth of the length of the mask. The height of the mask is preferably at least 30mm and is more preferably at least 60mm.

The windows of the mask 21 are arranged in a row with the length of the row extending in the direction of the length of the mask. Preferably, each of the windows has the shape of a letter of the alphabet and the row presents information which is to be conveyed to the driver of a following vehicle, for example the expression "child on board".

The signalling device 19 further comprises a hollow housing 23 containing the light source 20 and the mask 21. Before being fitted to the vehicle, the housing 23 may be open at one face. This face is directed rearwards when the housing is installed in the vehicle and may be closed by the window 11. To inhibit entry of moisture or other foreign matter to the interior of the housing 23, a bead of sealant may be present around the perimeter of the open mouth of the housing to seal the joint between the housing and the window 11. Preferably, this sealant is adapted to absorb light from all parts of the visible spectrum, to eliminate reflection of red light from the source 20 at surfaces of the window 11 towards the driver of the vehicle. The housing is opaque to visible light.

The mask 21 is disposed in the housing 23 between the light source 90 and the mouth of the housing, being spaced somexhat from the window 11 and being at least approximately vertical.

The light source 20 is preferably elongated and has a length approximately equal to that of the row of windows in the mask 21. The light source may be a fluorescent tube or an incandescent filament lamp of tubular form. The light source 20 preferably has a power rating in excess of 10 watt and, more preferably, in excess of 20 Nvaìt. Electrical energy is preferably supplied to the light source at a rate of at least 3() watt.

The interior of the housing 93 may include one or more reflectors for directing light emitted from the source 20 in various directions through the windows of the mask 21 and through the mouth of the housing.

The housing 23 mav he supported entirely by the window 11 and may be secured to the window by means of double-ided, adhesive tape or by adhesive provided in some other form. Alternatively, the device 19 may be supported, at least partly, on the shelf 12.

The signalling device 19 can convelliently be installed in a vehicle after manufacture of the vehicle. It is envisaged that the device 19 will be used only when the driver of the vehicle wishes to convey intormation to the driver of a following vehicle. Thus, in the event of a following vehicle approaching closely to the vehicle in which a device 19 is installed the driver of the latter vehicle would operate the switch 16 to energize the light source 20 for a few seconds.

This alerts the driver of the following vehicle to the existence of a potentially hazardous situation. Once a driver of the following vehicle has been alerted in this way, energisation of the light source 20 can be terminated. Alternatively, the light source 20 may be energised throughout a period of use of the vehicle, for example throughout a journey during which a baby or child is present in the vehicle.

The height of the windows of the mask 21 is preferably in the region of 50mm. The windows may be separated from each other by a distance of at least 5mm, measured along the row of windows.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle suitable for use on roads and having a signalling device suitable for presenting a visual signal which can be seen from a position behind the vehicle, characterised in that the device comprises an opaque mask defining light-transmitting windows and an electrically energisable source of light so associated with the mask that light can be projected from the source rearwards through the windows in the mask.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 further including a manually operable switch which is conveniently to hand for a driver of the vehicle and which controls energisation of the light source.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the mask defines a plurality of said windows arranged in row.

4. A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the mask is elongated.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the length of the mask is at least five times the height of the mask.

6. A vehicle according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the length of the mask is at least 300mm.

7. A vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the height of the mask is at least 30mm.

8. A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the mask is disposed in an opaque housing which is open at one side only.

9. A vehicle according to any preceding claim which has a further, electrically energisable device and wherein the light source and said further device are connected electrically in parallel with each other.

10. A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the signalling device is mounted on or immediately adjacent to a rear window of the vehicle.

11. A signalling device for use in a vehicle according to any preceding claim, which signalling device comprises a housing which has an open face, a light source disposed inside the housing and a mask disposed in the housing between the light source and the open face, the mask defining light-transmitting windows.

12. A vehicle having a signalling device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.