GB2290621A

GB2290621A - Means for verifying the functioning of a vehicle's brake lighting system

Info

Publication number: GB2290621A
Application number: GB9412785A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald Laurence Haines
Original assignee: BEAUMONT ROBERT PAUL JAMES
Current assignee: BEAUMONT ROBERT PAUL JAMES
Priority date: 1994-06-24
Filing date: 1994-06-24
Publication date: 1996-01-03
Also published as: GB9412785D0

Abstract

Verification means adapted for connection to a vehicle's brake lighting system provides an indication to the driver at the normal driving position of whether or not the brake lighting is functioning when the brakes are applied. The indication may be given by a warning lamp (6, 8), e.g. on a vehicle's dashboard, or an aural signal, connected into a brake lighting circuit having brake lights (2, 4) operated by a brake pedal switch (14). The driver of a vehicle filled with the verification means can readily check, therefore, that the brake lighting is functioning correctly. An actuating switch (10) may activate and deactivate the verification means as desired for checking the functioning of the brake lighting. This may be a manual switch, also containing the warning lamp, or a timer operated at turn on of the ignition. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM This invention relates to a vehicle braking system in which a brake light or other indicator is activated to indicate that the braking system has been operated.

In most countries including the United Kingdom and the United States of America, motor road vehicles are required by law to have brake lights which should give a clear indication to a vehicle travelling behind that the vehicle's brakes have been applied. It is the driver 5 responsibility to ensure that the vehicle's brake lights are functioning correctly before setting out on a journey and yet he may not be able to do that, without the aid of a second person to stand behind the vehicle to see if the brake lights come on and go off when a brake applicator is respectively operated and released. This may not be readily possible or may be inconvenient. Consequently, a driver may often be unaware that a brake light is not working and unintentionally drive a vehicle on the road in contravention of road traffic regulations.

An aim of the present invention is to facilitate the process of verifying whether a vehicle's brake lights are functioning correctly.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides verification means adapted to be connected to a vehicle's brake lighting system and to provide an indication discernible by a driver of the vehicle at the normal driving position of whether or not the brake lighting is functioning when required.

The verification means may be provided by a visual indicator, preferably at the vehicle's dashboard or elsewhere where it may be easily seen by the driver when in his normal driving position. The verification means may be provided by a bulb, a light or a light emitting diode. Instead of, or in addition to, a visual indicator the verification means may perhaps provide an aural signal.

In one embodiment of the invention the verification means comprises a warning lamp which is used to indicate that a vehicle's rear brake lights, which form part of the vehicle's brake lighting system, come on when a brake actuator is operated and go off when the actuator is released. The task of checking that the brake lights are working is thus greatly facilitated.

Where more than one brake light is provided, for example a pair of rear brake lights, separate verification means may be associated with each individual brake light. Alternatively, a single verification means may be associated with more than one brake light so as to indicate that all of the brake lights are functioning or that at least one of the associated brake lights is malfunctioning.

It may be desirable to prevent the verification means responding to actuation of the braking system during road travel of the vehicle to avoid distracting the driver. Consequently, actuating means may be provided adapted to activate and deactivate the verification means. Such actuating means may be provided by a switch adapted to turn the verification means on for use, for example when the car is stationary and the driver wishes to check the brake lights, and to turn the verification means off so as not to create a distraction during road travel. The actuating means may be automatic and may, for example be controlled by a timer associated with the vehicle's ignition. The verification means may be provided at the actuating means; in one embodiment the actuating means is provided by a manual switch and the verification means by a lamp or lamps housed at or in the switch.

In an alternative embodiment, the verification means may be adapted to provide a positive indication that the or one of the brake lights is not functioning. In this way, when the verification means is provide for example, by a light on the dashboard of a car, it may always be activated when the ignition is turned on but only illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed and one of the rear brake lights does not come one.

According to a second aspect, the present invention comprises a vehicle having a braking system including verification means in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a circuit diagram of one embodiment of the invention with the verification means deactivated; and Figure 2 shows the same circuit with the verification means actuated.

The illustrated circuit may be used in a car or other vehicle. The circuit comprises an offside brake lamp 2 and a nearside brake lamp 4 which together serve as the car's rear brake lights and form part of the vehicle's brake lighting system. An offside warning lamp 6 and a nearside warning lamp 8 provide verification means which are adapted to indicate whether the brake lamps 2,4 are working. A warning lamp actuating switch 10 provides actuating means, adapted to activate the warning lamps 6,8 when it is desired to test the brake lamps 2,4 and deactivate the warning lamps 6,8 at other times.

A car battery 12 provides a voltage source for the circuit. In this embodiment, the battery 12 is configured with its negative terminal connected to the car's chassis in a standard negative earth arrangement. The positive terminal of the battery is connected to a brake pedal switch 14 positioned at a brake pedal (not shown). When the brake pedal is depressed to actuate the car's brakes, movement of the pedal actuates the brake pedal switch 14 to allow the passage of electrical current.

Figure 1 shows the warning lamp actuator switch 10 in a first, deactivated position. In this configuration, depression of the brake pedal switch 14 induces a voltage differential across each brake lamp 2,4 between the positive terminal of the battery 12 and a first earthing point 16 which is connected to a common earth with the negative terminal of the battery; each brake lamp 2,4 will then be illuminated, provided that each bulb is working.

Figure 2 shows the warning light actuator switch in a second, activated position. In this configuration, the offside brake lamp 2 is connected in series with the offside warning lamp 6 and the nearside brake lamp 4 is connected in series with the nearside warning lamp 8. A second common earth connection 18 completes the circuit.

When the brake pedal switch 14 is depressed, non-illumination of either of the warning indicator lamps 6,8 indicates that there is a fault in the respective brake light circuit. If neither of the warning indicator lamps come on when the brake pedal switch 14 is depressed, this indicates that both brake lamps 2,4 have blown (which is unlikely) or that there is a fault in the brake pedal switch 14 or in some other common part of the circuit, for example in a fuse (not shown) if a fuse is fitted.

It will be understood that the circuit described is a simplified form of one possible embodiment of the invention. In practical application to a car the circuit could be modified to conform with standard car wiring practice. For example, the connection between the positive terminal of battery 12 and the brake pedal switch 14 may pass through the ignition switch and a suitable fuse, and electrical relays may be used.

Claims

1. Verification means adapted to be connected to a vehicle's brake lighting system and to provide when so connected an indication discernible by a driver of the vehicle at the normal driving position of whether or not the brake lighting is functioning when required.

2. Verification means according to claim 1 comprising a visual indicator which provides said discernible indication.

3. Verification means according to claim 2 in which the visual indicator comprises a warning lamp adapted to be connected into a vehicle brake lighting circuit to be illuminated when a brake actuator of the brake lighting system is operated and ceases to be illuminated when the brake actuator is released.

4. Verification means according to claim 2 in which the visual indicator comprises a warning lamp adapted to be connected into a vehicle brake lighting circuit for activation through the vehicle's ignition and to illuminate only when a brake actuator of the vehicle's brake lighting system is operated and a brake light of said system does not function.

5. Verification means according to any preceding claim which comprises aural signal means adapted to be operated to provide said discernible indication.

6. Verification means according to any preceding claim adapted to be connected to a vehicle's brake lighting system which has more than one brake light and to provide said discernible indication that all the brake lights are functioning.

7. Verification means according to any of claims 1 to 5 adapted to be connected to a vehicle's brake lighting system having more than one brake light and to provide said discernible indication that at least one of the brake lights is malfunctioning.

8. Verification means according to any preceding claim in combination with actuating means adapted to actuate the verification means to be responsive to actuation of a vehicle's brake lighting system, and to de-activate the verification means.

9. Verification means and actuating means in combination according to claim 8 in which the actuating means is a switch.

10. Verification means and actuating means in combination according to claim 8 in which the actuating means is controlled by a timer adapted to be associated with a vehicle's ignition.

11. Verification means and actuating means in combination according to claim 8 and either claim 3 of claim 4 in which the actuating means comprises a manual switch and the warning lamp is housed at or in the switch.

12. Verification means and actuating means in combination according to claim 9 in which the switch has an activated and a deactivated position, is connected to a warning indicator lamp and is adapted to be connected to a brake lamp of a vehicle brake lighting system caused to be illuminated, if functioning, by actuation of a brake pedal switch, the switch being adapted when in its activated position to connect the warning indicator lamp in series with the brake lamp such that in the event that the brake lamp fails to illuminate when the brake pedal switch is actuated the warning indicator lamp will not illuminate either, thereby indicating the failure of the brake lamp.

13. Verification means and actuating means in combination, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A vehicle having a braking system including verification means in accordance with any preceding claim.

15. A vehicle having a braking system including verification means and actuating means in combination as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13.

16. A vehicle according to claim 15 in which the verification means comprises a warning lamp at a dashboard of the vehicle.